From the monthly archives:

June 2009

Anne Frank, A Supermodel and Me

by Marinka on June 30, 2009

A few weeks ago something odd happened. I blame Twitter.

Someone that I follow on Twitter retweeted Kathy Ireland. Quoting Anne Frank. For those of you still communicating via cave etchings, “retweeting” is basically copying and pasting something that the original person tweeted and attributing it to them. In this case, the original person is @KathyIreland, the Sports Illustrated supermodel. @KathyIreland was quoting Anne Frank.

If by now you’re thinking that David Letterman was right in that if you have to explain a joke, it’s not a good one, you’re totally wrong because I am not telling a joke. I am relating something that happened. Like a documentary.

The Twitter message struck me as strange. I mean, it’s weird enough to have ’80s icons mingling on Twitter with the great unwashed, but throw Anne Frank into the mix and it takes it up a notch.

So I tweeted:

And Kathy Ireland responded:

Uh-oh.

I called John for back up.

“Is she the one that I like?” he asked.
“Which one do you like?” I asked, still dizzy that an actual MODEL responded to me on Twitter.
“You know, the pretty one.”
“Oh, that one.”
“Kim Alexis.”
“Oh, I like her too!”
“She’s my signature favorite model!” John protested. He thinks I co-opt his favorite concepts. Like Creed perfume. And half-caffs at Starbucks. Which I totally do because he has better taste than I do and I’m a follower.
“I’m taking about Kathy Ireland.”
“Oh, she’s the one with the distinct voice, right?” John asked (note: “distinct” may not be an exact quote).
“I don’t think so.” (another note: my own voice is so “distinct” that people bring their pets to hear me speak because it causes them to become sterilized.)
“Right,” he says. “That was Andie McDowell.” And he tells me the story about how Andie McDowell’s voice is so annoying, Glenn Close had to dub in for her in Graystoke. Which sort of makes me think, how badly do you want to have Andie McDowell in your movie if you have to have someone else do the voiceover for her? I mean, wouldn’t it be easier to get someone else to begin wth? Like Kathy Ireland?

So John’s no help and I dig deep for a response:

and she writes back:


which is 14 years longer than I’ve worked as a model, for those keeping score.

My work? So I’m mentally composing a Pulitzer Prize winning tweet (140 characters or less!) and then I see this:

My profile? In courage?
Let’s review my profile, shall we?

* Name MarinkaNYC
* Location NYC
* Web http://nycmomandm…
* Bio Mom in NYC. Emotionally drained. And exhausted. Sometimes tipsy.

Great, she thinks I’m a lush. Fuck. No! This is just part of the mommy blogger uniform, like stilettos, which I totally can’t wear. If I didn’t drink on top of that, they’d totally throw me out of the club and take my blog from me. And I can’t lose my blog, it’s all I have. Except for the bottle, of course.

I am mentally composing a response and before I type it out, I see:

Great. The dreaded three dots. I was slightly worried that she was so worried about me that she was going to Demi Moore me.

So I finally respond:


and then went on to explain how I am a mom and work for causes that are close to my heart, like the legalization of gay marriage, although my involvement in that cause has so far been limited to being a fag hag.


And Kathy Ireland was very nice. She actually thanked me for not judging her, which made me feel a little bad because I still, after all that, sort of think that quoting Anne Frank is odd. But Kathy Ireland took the time to talk to me on Twitter, to explain herself, when she did not have to, and it made me feel like she is genuine in her quest.

And in her farewell to me, she suggested that I follow a friend of hers:

@DameElizabeth?


Of course.

Don’t miss a moment of Twitter fun! Follow me!

{ 1 comment }

Welcome to Remedial Blog School

by Marinka on June 29, 2009

I’ve been blogging for over a year, which means that I am totally a blog expert with tons of blog wisdom to share.

So, if you’re a new blogger, or a pre-blogger, considering carving a place on the internet for yourself, you’re in luck! You know, because of the whole wisdom-sharing that I will be doing.

Although like the best teachers, I will sort of be winging this as I go along, I did want to give a brief overview in the EZ 2 Read Q&A 4mat.

Q: When and where will Remedial Blog School meet?
A: Every Tuesday, right here. Please show up bright eyed and bushy tailed, like a rabid squirrel.

Q: I am looking for excellent guidance on topics such as such as blog etiquette, the use of social media or the mysteries of StumbleUpon. Will Remedial Blog School help me?

A: Yes and no. Yes, because I will direct you to Jennifer of Playgroups are No Place for Children. Her 14-part series Blog Tips may be the most valuable lessons that I’ve learned about blogging. I still have the Blog Tips page bookmarked on my computer and review it periodically. If you are considering starting a blog or are relatively new to blogging–check it out. You can thank me later. No because I will be providing more of the do’s and don’ts of blogging, based on my personal experience. And a lot of the technical “how-to” questions will be answered by “hire someone to do it for you.” (Don’t worry, I’ll have suggestions of who!)

Q: Didn’t someone already write a sort of “Blogging for Dummies” post?

A: Well, Aunt Becky wrote Blogging for Dummies post, (like TWO WEEKS AGO, so it’s totally stale) which is great if you’re one of those weirdos who likes humor and information mixed together in one pithy post. But if you like several posts that drone on forever with their own self-importance over a series of months, then make yourself at home! Because Remedial Blog School is in session!

Q: What if I have a question that I would like addressed in a future Remedial Blog School post?

A: No problem! Just email your question to me at MarinkaNYC@Gmail.com and I will try to answer it in a future Remedial Blog School post. Please put “Remedial Blog School” in the subject line of your email.

Q: You keep saying “Remedial Blog School”. It’s really annoying.
A: Sorry.

Q: Will you stop saying it then?
A: No.

Q: If I faithfully read Remedial Blog School and take your advice, what can I expect?
A: A more satisfying blogging experience. And fewer wrinkles. Remember, I made many, many blogging mistakes, so you don’t have to.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Well, I think we can all agree that the Q&A session was both fun and informative, or perhaps, neither.

Please join me back here next Tuesday for our first official lesson:

I’m Starting a Blog! I Should Tell Everyone About It, Especially My In-Laws, Right?

{ 0 comments }

Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Getting a Cleaning Lady

June 28, 2009

I admit it. I just can’t get it up for the mommy wars. Medicated or Natural Childbirth? My eyelids are getting heavy. Stay at home mom vs. Working Outside the Home Mom vs. Working at Home Mom? Very heavy. Breast or Bottle? This is the most relaxing sleep I’ve had in weeks. Circumcision or Uncut? […]

Read the full article →

I’m Worried About My Ass. Where "Ass" is Code for "Being Fat"

June 26, 2009

I’m not sure how it happened, but it looks like that after a year of sitting my ass, eating everything in sight and not exercising, I’ve gained some weight. I’m just as shocked as you are. I thought that things would be different with the Obama Administration, but apparently not. So much for change. Papa […]

Read the full article →

Pride

June 25, 2009

This Sunday is the Gay Pride Parade in NYC. It’s my favorite of all parades and I love the message of inclusion and fun. I know it’s not just “fun” for everyone, but is cathartic. I have friends who faced unbelievable challenges for simply being themselves and having the courage to live their lives honestly. […]

Read the full article →

Is That It?

June 24, 2009

My mother thinks that I do not spend a lot of time teaching my kids manners and she often gives me hints. Last week was my son’s 8th birthday and after the party, mama called me to lodge a formal complaint. “You know, I gave him a t-shirt and a Barnes & Noble gift certificate […]

Read the full article →

Recovering

June 23, 2009

You know how I usually blog every day and I haven’t for the past two days and you probably thought that I was dead? Well, the good news is that as of 3:30 Tuesday afternoon I am not, but the bad news is that I am recovering from last night’s Jon & Kate Plus Eight […]

Read the full article →

Hatemongering 2-for-1 Special!

June 21, 2009

So, the economy sucks, so the humanity-challenged folk who brought you the “God Hates Fags” signs and protesting outside of American soldiers’ funerals are bringing you a 2-for-1 hatred special, this weekend only! They are targeting NYC synagogues, and on Sunday morning, as most of us are busy clogging our arteries with bacon byproduct, they […]

Read the full article →