This article was originally published a few years ago as a guest column in the Edwardsville Intelligencer’s “Edge” weekend insert.
While out shopping with a female friend, we stop to examine a kiosk selling trendy purses and belts made entirely of big, dangly sequins in bold, fluorescent colors. I fear someone has accosted a figure skater and stolen their outfit for raw materials.
“I should get one of those,” my friend says, her face a canvas for disco-ball refractions cast by sparkling handbags. I raise an eyebrow. This young woman, characterized by …

Originally Posted to Blogger – Monday, December 17, 2007
It’s been some time since I’ve written here. As you may or may not know, I lost my mother at the end of October. It was very unexpected, and the single most difficult and damaging experience of my life. You expect a trauma like that to affect you, but I think ‘how’ is always the big surprise. My family and I are healing, and I appreciate all the help we received during this trying time – particularly from The Armada who, as …

Originally Posted to Blogger – Sunday, March 04, 2007
I used to hate Hugh Grant in every movie he appeared in. Then he was a part of the fabulous ensemble cast of ‘Love Actually’ and his suckage rating went way down. Today we saw him with Drew Barrymore in ‘Music and Lyrics’, which was a helluva lot of fun. Drew is as cute as I’ve ever seen her (and that’s pretty darn cute) and Grant’s character is likable, funny and altogether someone you’d be pleased to know. It’s a light movie …

Originally Posted to Blogger – Wednesday, August 02, 2006
I heard recently that Kelly Clarkson had signed an endorsement deal with Vitamin Water, but the company was refusing to pay her or use her services until she dropped 10-15 pounds. The flavored water-ish distributor has a health-oriented image to maintain, (you know, that’s why they aligned themselves with rapstar 50 Cent – feuding with other rappers and getting shot 9 times just screams healthy) so a “fat” Clarkson was unsuitable for their campaign.
Beyond her considerable singing abilities, I admire Kelly for …

From MySpace blog: Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Today’s pseudo-celebrity run-in: the alternative/emo band Hawthorne Heights.
You may be asking, “Who?” To be honest, I don’t really know either. But I do know they’re hip with the indie kids. I think I’ve seen their shirts at Hot Topic. They’re in town tonight to do a show with Fall Out Boy – the band developing a reputation (with anyone over 18 or that have been to more than 3 concerts ever) as the group that manages to sell out every show whilst being notoriously …

From MySpace Blog: Wednesday, March 15, 2006
For those of you that don’t know about my day job, my work at the radio station has exposed me to a string of minor, up-and-coming and pseudo celebrities and rock stars. The notable include Rob Thomas, Korn, Joe Satriani and Breaking Benjamin (see my photos). The not-so-much pile consists of Playboy Playmates, various Howard Stern cast members and alternative knock off bands (anybody remember Earshot? Sounded like Tool? No, not Chevelle, but just like that…)
Today I met (albeit briefly) an honest-to-goodness Red Carpet …