My Decolletage

Fashion's Stimulus Package Care of Anna Wintour!

2009-09-25T09:26:00.007-05:00

Fashion Rocks! 2009 Style

Fashion week invades New York but twice a year and the opening ceremony, if you will, is generally an ultra-exclusive ticket to Radio City for a star-studded "Fashion Rocks" music concert, but this year they've added another layer and taken the party to the streets! It's going to be so fabulous that high-heeled women and well coiffed men will open their wallets to full priced items and come away better dressed than when they arrived.

Well that's the plan anyway for Friday September 10, 2009.

Confused?

So was I- but here's the Inside Scoop. According to Vogue's behemoth September issue, Fashion's Night Out was conceived by all the major fashion heavy weights to boost the fashion industry that was heavily wounded by that little R word. So they decided to make shopping fun again (when was it not fun?) by bringing in a slew of fashion celebs like Isaac Mizrahi at Bergdorf, Adriana Lima to Victoria Secret, and music star Estelle to Tory Burch to literally sell the clothes themselves. But don't expect heavy discounts, which Anna thinks are killing the industry, because this is about "stimulating" the economy and encouraging people to want to pay full price.

And she went as far to say that Fashion's Night Out is to act like a stimulus package for the fashion industry.

Who knew the "Devil" had it in her to be a savior? Well it seems like rough times change people, and we think this change is for the better!

Here's a list of some of the events you won't want to miss: Fashion's Night Out

We'll be out on the streets- stay tuned for further coverage!

An Update

2009-07-29T09:52:00.003-05:00

Facebook

Twitter (@andreafeczko)

My Website (www.AndreaFeczko.com)

and Life

Excuses, however valid, are excuses as to why I haven't been updating this blog. I just went through all nearly 400 entries and I am so happy I have this amazing journal.

Since our last update I have been doing a lot. I am still doing all the red carpet reporting as well as hosting shows on the web and doing guest appearances on TV. I am also working at a magazine, which is really rewarding.

I promise to keep you guys more updated!

Until then follow me on twitter @andreafeczko and my website!

The Real Detroit

2009-01-13T20:38:00.002-05:00

Detroit's been getting a lot of flack, but here's an article that shows you the heart of Detroit. Detroit is the heart and soul of the Midwest and despite my 6 years in NYC I still have a lot of it in me. I have forgotten all about Sweetest Day and punchki's (I didn't even know how to spell it- shame on me!), but I do remember where I was when the Russian Red Wings players crashed into a tree in B-ham and why many of my friends have stayed in Michigan.

Read it... and weep:

This was Christmas night. In the basement of a church off an icy street in downtown Detroit, four dozen homeless men and women sat at tables. The smell of cooked ham wafted from the kitchen. The pastor, Henry Covington, a man the size of two middle linebackers, exhorted the people with a familiar chant.

"I am somebody," he yelled.

"I am somebody!" they repeated.

"Because God loves me!"

"Because God loves me!"

They clapped. They nodded.

A toddler slept on a woman's shoulder. Another woman, holding a boy who looked to be about 4, said she was lucky to have found this place open because "I been to three shelters, and they turned me away. They were all filled."

As she spoke, a few blocks to the south, cars pulled up to the Motor City Casino, one of three downtown gambling palaces whose neon flashes in stark contrast to the area's otherwise empty darkness. Sometimes, on a winter night, all that seems to be open around here is the casino, a liquor store and the pastor's kitchen, in the basement of Pilgrim Church. It used to be a famous church, home to the largest Presbyterian congregation in the upper Midwest. That was a long time ago -- before a stained-glass window was stolen and the roof developed a huge hole. Now, on Sundays, the mostly African-American churchgoers of the I Am My Brother's Keeper Ministries huddle in a small section of the sanctuary that is enclosed in plastic sheeting, because they can't afford to heat the rest.

As food was served to the line of homeless people, I watched from a rickety balcony above. My line of work is writing, partly sportswriting, but I come here now and then to help out a little. This church needs help. It leaks everywhere. Melted snow drips into the vestibule.

"Hey," someone yelled, "who the Lions gonna draft?"

I looked down. A thin man with a scraggly black beard was looking back. He scratched his face. "A quarterback, you think?"

Probably, I answered.

"Whatchu think about a defensive end?"

That would be nice.

"Yeah." He bounced on his feet. "That'd be nice."

He waited for his plate of food. In an hour, he would yank a vinyl mattress from a pile and line it up next to dozens of others. Then the lights would dim and, as snow fell outside, he and the other men would pull up wool blankets and try to sleep on the church floor.

This is my city.

"Them Lions gotta do somethin', man," he yelled. "Can't go on the way they are."
We remember the way our city used to be

And yet ...

And yet Detroit was once a vibrant place, the fourth-largest city in the country, and it lives in the hope that those days, against all logic, it will somehow return. We are downtrodden, perhaps, but the most downtrodden optimists you will ever meet. We cling to our ways, no matter how provincial they seem on the coasts. We get excited about the auto show. We celebrate Sweetest Day. We eat Coney dogs all year, and we cruise classic cars down Woodward Avenue every August, and we bake paczki doughnuts the week before Lent. We don't talk about whether Detroit will be fixed but when Detroit will be fixed.

And we are modest. In truth, we battle an inferiority complex. We gave the world the automobile. Now the world wants to scold us for it. We gave the world Motown music. Motown moved its offices to L.A. When I arrived 24 years ago to be a sports columnist at the Detroit Free Press, I discovered several letters waiting for me at the office. Mind you, I had not written a word. My hiring had been announced, that's all. But there were already letters. Handwritten. And they all said, in effect, "Welcome to Detroit. We know you won't stay long, because nobody good stays for long, but we hope you like it while you're here."

Nobody good stays for long.

We hope you like it while you're here.

How could you not stay in a city like that?
We feel like screaming, though it's not our way

And yet ...

And yet to live in Detroit these days is to want to scream. But where do you begin? Our doors are being shuttered. Our walls are falling down. Our daily bread, the auto industry, is reduced to morsels. Our schools are in turmoil. Our mayor went to jail. Our two biggest newspapers announced they will soon cut home delivery to three days a week. Our most common lawn sign is FOR SALE. And our NFL team lost every week this season. A perfect 0-16. Even the homeless guys are sick of it.

We want to scream, but we don't scream, because this is not a screaming place, this is a swallow-hard-and-deal-with-it place. So workers rise in darkness and rev their engines against the winter cold and drive to the plant and punch in and spend hours doing the work that America doesn't want to do any more, the kind that makes something real and hard to the touch. Manufacturing. Remember manufacturing? They do that here. And then they punch out and drive home (3 o'clock is rush hour in these parts, the end of a shift) and wash up and touch the kids under the chin and sit down for dinner and flip on the news.

And then they really want to scream.

Because what they see -- what all Detroit sees -- is a nation that appears ready to flick us away like lint. We see senators voting our death sentence. We see bankers clucking their tongues at our business model (as if we invented the credit default swap!). We see Californians knock our cars for ruining the environment (as if their endless driving has nothing to do with it). We see sports announcers call our football team "ridiculous." Heck, during the Lions' annual Thanksgiving game, CBS' Shannon Sharpe actually wore a bag over his head.

It hurts us. We may not show it, but it does. You can say, "Aw, that's the car business" or "That's the Lions," but we are the car business, we are the Lions. Our veins are right up under the city's skin -- you cut Detroit, its citizens bleed.

We want to scream, but we don't scream. Still, enough people declare you passé, a dinosaur, a dying town, out of touch with the free-market global economic machine, and pretty soon you wonder if they're right. You wonder if you should join the exodus.
We have sports greats who understand true stardom

And yet ...

And yet I had an idea once for a sports column: Get the four biggest stars from Detroit's four major sports together in one place, for a night out. The consensus cast at the time (1990) was clear. Barry Sanders was the brightest light on the Lions. Steve Yzerman was Captain Heartthrob for the Red Wings. Joe Dumars was the most popular of the Pistons. And Cecil Fielder was the big bat for the Tigers.

All four agreed to meet at Tiger Stadium, before a game. I picked up Dumars at his house. He was alone. No entourage. Next we went for Sanders, who waited in the Silverdome parking lot, by himself, hands in pockets. When he got in, the two future Hall of Famers nodded at each other shyly. "Hey, man," Barry said.

"Hey, man," Joe answered.

At the stadium Yzerman, who drove himself, joined us, hands also dug in his pockets. As conversations go, it was like the first day of school. Awkwardness prevailed. Later -- after we chatted with Fielder -- we sat in the stands. The hot dog guy came by, and we passed them down: Lion to Red Wing to Piston. And when Yzerman put his elbow in front of Sanders, he quickly said, "Excuse me."

Somehow I can't see that being duplicated in Los Angeles. ("Kobe, pass this hot dog to Manny") or New York City ("Hey, A-Rod, Stephon wants some mustard"). But it worked in Detroit. The guys actually thanked me afterward.

Stardom is a funny thing here. You don't achieve it by talking loud or dating a supermodel. You achieve it by shyly lowering your head when they introduce you or by tossing the ball to the refs after scoring a touchdown. Humility, in Detroit, is on a par with heroism. Even Dennis Rodman didn't get really crazy until he left.
We live among ghosts as life grows colder

And yet ...

And yet we live among ghosts. Over there, on Woodward Avenue, was Hudson's, once America's second-largest department store; it was demolished a decade ago. Over there, on Michigan and Trumbull, stood Tiger Stadium, home to Ty Cobb and Hank Greenberg and Al Kaline and Kirk Gibson; it lasted nearly a century, until the wrecking ball got to it last year. Over there, on Bagley, is the United Artists Theater, which used to seat more than 2,000 people; it hasn't shown movies since the 1970s. The famous Packard plant on East Grand Boulevard used to hum with activity, but now its halls are empty, its windows are broken and its floors gather pools of water. On Lafayette Avenue you can still see the old Free Press building, where I was hired, where those letters once arrived in a mail slot. It used to house a newspaper. It doesn't anymore.

Any mature city has its echoes, but most are drowned out by the chirping of new enterprise. In Detroit, the echoes roll on and on, filling the empty blocks because little else does. There is not a department store left downtown. Those three casinos hover like giant cranes, ready to scoop up your last desperate dollar. We have all heard the catchphrases about Detroit: A city of ruins. A Third World metropolis. A carcass. Last person to leave, turn out the lights.

For years, we took those insults as a challenge. We wore a cloak of defiance. But now that cloak feels wet and heavy. It has been cold here before, but this year seems colder. Skies have grayed before, but this year they're like charcoal. We've been unemployed before, but now the lines seem longer; we hear figures like 16% of the labor force not working, Depression numbers. I read one estimate that more than 40,000 houses in our city are now abandoned. Ghosts everywhere.
We are a sports town that knows how to care

And yet ...

And yet we remember when the streets were stuffed, a million people downtown at a parade, as our hockey team was given a royal reception; every car carrying a player was cheered. This was 1997, and the Red Wings, after a 42-year drought, had once again won the Stanley Cup. Players and coaches stepped to the microphone and heard their words bounce back in waves of sound and thundering applause. Yzerman. Brendan Shanahan. Scotty Bowman. A hockey team? Who does this for a hockey team? Hockey is an afterthought in most American cities. Here, we wear it as a nickname. Hockeytown. We know the rules. We know the good and the bad officials. We sneak octopi in our pants legs and throw them onto the ice at Joe Louis Arena.

Who loves hockey like this? What other American city comes to a collective roar when the red light flashes? And what other American city goes into collective mourning when two of its players and a team masseur are seriously injured in a limo crash? People in Detroit can still tell you where they were when they heard about that limo smashing into a tree in suburban Birmingham six days after the Cup win of '97, forever changing the lives of Vladimir Konstantinov, Slava Fetisov and Sergei Mnatsakanov. Vigils were held outside the hospital. Flowers were stacked at the crash site. The TV and radio news broke in with updates all day long. How critical? Would they skate again? Would they walk again?

Remember, these were two hockey players and a masseur, Russians to boot; none of them did much talking in English. Didn't matter. They were ours, and they were wounded. It felt as if there was no other news for weeks in Detroit. "You hear anything?" people would say. "Any updates?"

When people ask what kind of sports town Detroit is, I say the best in the nation. I say our newspapers will carry front-page stories on almost any sports tick, from Ernie Harwell's retirement to the Detroit Shock's winning the WNBA. I say sports is sometimes all we have, it relieves us, distracts us, at times even saves us. But what I really want to tell them about is that stretch in 1997, when the whole city seemed to be nervously pacing around a hospital waiting room. I can't do it justice. It's not that we watch more, or pay more, or cheer louder than other cities. But I will bet you my last dollar that, when it comes to sports, nobody cares as much as Detroit cares.
We struggle, too, to make it through an 0-16 season

And yet ...

And yet the gods toy with us. They give us the Lions. Our football team puts the less in hopeless. Its owner, William Clay Ford Sr., has been in charge for 45 years. He has seen one playoff victory. One playoff victory in nearly half a century? Meanwhile, the backstory on Lions failure could fill a library. Blown games. Blown trades. Some of the most pathetic drafting in history, much of it orchestrated by Matt Millen, a former player who was hired out of the TV booth. Honestly, how many teams can use first-round draft picks on a quarterback, a receiver, a running back and two more receivers, as the Lions did from 2002 through '05, and not have a single one of them on the team just a few years later? And two of them out of the NFL altogether?

Wait. Here's a better one. In the last 45 years -- or since Ford took over -- the Lions have had 13 non-interim head coaches, and not a single one was ever a head coach in the NFL again. Not one. Rick Forzano. Tommy Hudspeth. Monte Clark. Darryl Rogers. Wayne Fontes. The list goes on. Nobody wanted them after Detroit. The Lions don't just hurt your reputation, they permanently flatten your tires.

Joey Harrington, a star college quarterback of unflagging optimism who foundered after the Lions drafted him with the No. 3 pick in 2002, once told me of a fog that seems to settle over inhabitants of the Lions' locker room -- an evil, heavy cloud of historic disappointment that becomes self-perpetuating. Maybe it's the curse that Bobby Layne supposedly cast on this team after it traded him, saying it wouldn't win for 50 years.

That was 51 years ago.

No wonder Bobby Ross, who once coached San Diego to a Super Bowl, turned in his whistle and walked out of Detroit in the middle of a season. No wonder Sanders, the best running back Detroit ever had, quit the game at age 30. He actually gave money back rather than continue to play for the Lions.

Against this awful tapestry, in an economic crisis, in the darkest of days, came the 2008 season. What cruel fate could conjure such timing? After going 4-0 in the exhibition season (how's that for irony?), the Lions fell behind in their first regular-season game 21-0, in their second 21-3, in their third 21-3 and in their fourth 17-0 -- all before halftime. Their fifth game was the closest all year. They lost by two points. The margin of defeat? Our quarterback du jour, Dan Orlovsky, lost track of where he was and ran out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

Stop laughing. Do you think this has been easy? Do you think it's fun watching four guys miss tackles on a single play? Do you think it's fun watching Daunte Culpepper arrive, fresh off coaching his son's peewee games, and get the nod as starting quarterback? There were days when it seemed as if all you needed to be on the Lions roster was a driver's license.

Week after week, as our businesses suffocated, as our houses were foreclosed and handed over to the banks, our football team lost -- to Jacksonville by 24 points, to Carolina by nine, to Tampa Bay by 18. And then, on Thanksgiving, the Tennessee Titans came to town with a 10-1 record. In front of the only national TV audience we would have all year, our Lions fumbled on their second play from scrimmage. A few plays later, Tennessee's Chris Johnson ran six yards untouched into the end zone -- the beer vendors were closer to him than the Lions' defenders -- and before you could check the turkey in the oven, the Lions were down, 35-3.

At halftime Sharpe wore that bag over his head and joined his colleagues in loudly suggesting that the NFL take the annual tradition away from the Motor City. "We have kids watching this," Sharpe said. "And they have to watch the Detroit Lions. This is ridiculous. The Detroit Lions every single year. This is what we have to go through."

No, Shannon. This is what we have to go through.
We know about our troubles already

And yet ...

And yet it's our misery to endure. There's a little too much glee in the Detroit jokes these days. A little too much flip in the wrist that tosses dirt on our coffins. We hear a Tennessee player tell the news media that the Thanksgiving victory didn't mean much because "it was just Detroit." We hear Jay Leno rip our scandalous former mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, by saying, "The bad news is, he could be forced out of office. The good news is, any time you get a chance to get out of Detroit, take it."

We hear Congress tongue-lash our auto executives for not matching the cheaper wages of foreign car companies. We hear South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint tell NPR that "the barnacles of unionism" must be destroyed at GM, Ford and Chrysler. Barnacles? Barnacles are parasites without a conscience. Sounds more like politicians to us.

Enough, we want to say. The Lions stink. We know they stink. You don't have to tell us. Enough. The car business is in trouble. We know it's in trouble. We drive past the deserted parking lots of empty auto plants every day.

Enough. We don't need more lofty national newspaper laments on the decay of a Rust Belt city. Or the obligatory network news piece, "Can Detroit Be Saved?" For too long we have been the Place to Go to Chronicle the Ugly. Example: For years, we had a rash of fires the night before Halloween -- Devil's Night. And like clockwork, you could count on TV crews to fly in from out of town in hopes of catching Detroit burning. Whoomf. There we were in flames, on network TV. But when we got the problem under control, when city-sponsored neighborhood programs helped douse it, you never heard about that. The TV crews just shrugged and left.

Same goes for the favorite Detroit cliché of so many pundits: the image of a burning police car in 1984, after the Tigers won the World Series. Yes, some folks went stupid that night, and an eighth-grade dropout nicknamed Bubba held up a Tigers pennant in front of that burning vehicle, and -- snap-snap -- that was the only photo anyone seemed to need.

Never mind that in the years since, many cities have done as badly or worse after championships -- Boston and Chicago come to mind -- and weren't labeled for it. Never mind that through three NBA titles, four Stanley Cups, Michigan's national championships in college basketball and football, and even another World Series, nothing of that nature has occurred again in Detroit. Never mind. You still hear people, when we play for a title, uncork the old "Let's hope they don't burn the city down when it's over."

Look, we're the first to say we've got problems. But there's something disturbing when American reporters keep deliciously recording our demise but nobody wants to do anything about it. We're not your pity party. You want to chronicle us? We've been chronicled enough. As they say when a basketball rolls away at the playground, "Yo, little help?"

This is why our recent beatdown in Congress was so painfully felt. To watch our Detroit Three execs humiliated as if they never did a right thing in their lives, to watch U.S. senators from Southern states -- where billions in tax breaks were handed out to foreign car companies -- tear apart the U.S. auto industry as undeserving of aid, well, that was the last straw.

Enough. We're not gum on the bottom of America's shoe. We're not grime to be wiped off with a towel. Detroit and Michigan are part of the backbone of this country, the manufacturing spine, the heart of the middle class -- heck, we invented the middle class, we invented the idea that a factory worker can put in 40 hours a week and actually buy a house and send a kid to college. What? You have a problem with that? You think only lawyers and hedge-fund kings deserve to live decently?

To watch these lawmakers hand out, with barely a whisper, hundreds of billions to the financial firms that helped cause this current disaster, then make the Detroit Three beg like dogs and slap them with nothing? Honestly. There are times out here we feel like orphans.
We actually like living in Michigan

And yet ...

And yet we go on. The Tigers were supposed to win big last season; they finished last in their division. Michigan got a new football coach with a spread offense and an eye on a national championship; the Wolverines had their first losing season since 1967.

But we will be back for the Tigers and back for Michigan and -- might as well admit it -- we will be back for the Lions come September, as red-faced as they make us, as pathetic as 0-16 is.

And maybe you ask why? Maybe you ask, as I get asked all the time, "Why do you stay there? Why don't you leave?"

Maybe because we like it here. Maybe because this is what we know: snow and concrete underfoot, hard hats, soul music, lakes, hockey sticks. Maybe because we don't see just the burned-out houses; we also see the Fox Theatre, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Whitney restaurant, the riverfront that looks out to Canada. Maybe because we still have seniors who call the auto giant "Ford's," like a shop that's owned by a real human being. Maybe because some of us subscribe to Pastor Covington's words, "We are somebody because God loves us, no matter how cold the night or hard the mattress."

Maybe because when our kids finish college and take that first job in some sexy, faraway city and a year later we see them back home and we ask what happened, they say, "I missed my friends and family." And we nod and say we understand.

Or maybe because we're smarter than you think. Every country flogs a corner of itself on the whipping post. English Canada rips French Canada, and vice versa. Swedes make lame jokes about Laplanders.

But it's time to untie Detroit. Because we may be a few steps behind the rest of the country, but we're a few steps ahead of it, too. And what's happening to us may happen to you.

Do you think if your main industry sails away to foreign countries, if the tax base of your city dries up, you won't have crumbling houses and men sleeping on church floors, too? Do you think if we become a country that makes nothing, that builds nothing, that only services and outsources, that we will hold our place on the economic totem pole? Detroit may be suffering the worst from this semi-Depression, but we sure didn't invent it. And we can't stop it from spreading. We can only do what we do. Survive.

And yet, we're better at that than most places.
We will have a good year

Here is the end of the story. This was back on Christmas night. After the visit to the church, I drove to a suburb with an old friend and we saw a movie. "Gran Torino." It starred and was directed by Clint Eastwood, and it was filmed in metro Detroit, which was a big deal. Last year, the state passed tax incentives to lure the movie business, an effort to climb out of our one-industry stranglehold, and Eastwood was the first big name to take advantage of it.

He shot in our neighborhoods. He used a bar and a hardware store. He reportedly fit in well, he liked the people, and no one hassled him with scripts or résumés.

The film was good, I thought, and familiar. The story of a craggy old man who loves his old car and stubbornly clings to the way he feels the world should behave. He defends his home. He defends his neighbors' honor. He goes out on his own terms.

When the film finished, the audience stayed in its seats waiting, through the closing music, through the credits, until the very last scroll, where, above a camera shot of automobiles rolling down Jefferson Avenue along the banks of Lake St. Clair, three words appeared.

MADE IN MICHIGAN.

And the whole place clapped. Just stood up and clapped.

To hell with Depression. We're gonna have a good year.

From Sports Illustrated- On News Stands Now

Nouveau Paris

2009-01-13T16:40:00.003-05:00

I used to hate Paris.

Or maybe I just didn't "get" Paris. I didn't get why the taxis never wanted to put their gears into drive. I never understood why the French don't pronounce 50% of their letters. And I couldn't understand a city that shut down so early- and so often- was revered as one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world.

And this is how I feel about it now...

Yes, when you have a handsome Parisian as your personal tour guide it does make a difference. It's not like I saw a "new" Paris. I only discovered one new area, the Marais, where I had an amazing falafal that I later paid the price for... but besides that I saw the same things I always saw.

But when you speak the language you get VIP treatment to all the tourist spots. And when you never have to worry about taxis, getting around doesn't cause migraines. And when you're with someone you love it never gets boring, even when things shut down early.

So for all of you who hate Paris, you are not alone. My remedy is to find yourself a good Parisian tour guide- but you can't have mine!!!

The Best New Website

2009-01-13T16:38:00.001-05:00

Andrea Feczko.Com

As you will see you must:

Learn It

Live It

And most definitely...

Love It!

Check it out!!

Lindsay Lohan's Stealing My Threads

2009-01-13T16:30:00.005-05:00

I know I've been a little bit absent- but that's because I've been in love.

Awwwww.

That's my with mon copain (or mon mek if you know me well) in Paris at Midnight on January 1st 2009.

I was so stoked about this dress because I got it 70% off and the designer only sells to 2 places in The States.

Well I grabbed the only XS on the East Coast- but it seems Lindsay Lohan grabbed the one on the West Coast!

Hey, well at least my significant other is hotter!!!!

Bond Quantum of Solace Interviews!

2008-11-22T10:44:00.002-05:00

Yes- I did it!

I interviewed Daniel Craig!

I didn't think it was going to happen because they had the NY press day a month before the film and only the director and Bond Girl showed up.

But voila- a week before the Nov. 14 release I got an e-mail to interview Daniel Craig the day before the big American opening.

And let me tell you, the blond Bond is a super gentlemen. The interviews took place in a screening area so as I was going down the stairs he was standing, waiting to greet me. Then he shook me hand and escorted me to my seat. We had a great interview and then afterwards he stood up again and said goodbye as I was half way up the stairs.

Ok, ok, he did this to EVERY reporter, but it still made me feel super special.

Check out my interviews below- I'm pretty proud of them. :)

Pride & Glory- Have & Have Nots

2008-11-22T10:37:00.002-05:00

So here's my new video from the Pride & Glory red carpet in NYC.

I don't have much to say of the movie (I didn't see it and I heard I shouldn't) or the stars (Colin Farrell has gray hair and smelled like cigarette smoke).

So the real star of the show was- my decolletage!

And I say that not because of the video above, but because of the video below!!

My sister sent me this hilarious link about people who couldn't get the stars- and who do they show with Colin Farrell- moi!

And I will tell you right now, the publicists did not want him talking to me, but who can resist blonde hair, an aggressive attitude, and the work of 2 push up bras?

Not Colin Farrell.....

Obama!! Obama!!

2008-11-05T11:17:00.002-05:00

OMG!

I can't believe it!

Obama won!!!!!

I thought that Obama HAD to win, but deep down I was biting my nails all yesterday worrying that people wouldn't be able to see past skin color or questionable names (Obama-Biden is awfully close in lettering to Osama bin Laden). But alas, the "middle America" of which the East Coast so shamelessly blames for all its political woes pulled through and delivered. Obama won the crucial Ohio and Pennsylvania states- and with that McCain was done.

America has spoken and we want change. Yes we do.

Obama has promised us a lot, and as an educated voter I know he cannot deliver on all those promises, but I do believe he can change America. I have noticed a change in myself, I believe in America and hope that the worst is over. Sure, maybe the economy will get worse and so will the dollar, but I believe that our leadership is now here to help us at home and abroad. This is a statement I couldn't give with Bush in power.

I am so pleased the 44th President of the United States of America is Barack Hussein Obama.

And for the record- I don't think Hillary could have won the election.

Yes We Can v. We Are The Ones

2008-09-19T21:16:00.003-05:00

It's less than two months to go to the 2008 Election and it's time to get political in this biatch.

My sister sent me a link to a lovely "music" video called "Yes We Can." And while I think that Yes We Can is inspirational and interesting, it does not give me goosebumps like Will.I.Am's We Are The Ones.

I mean, the dude is the mastermind behind BEP and My Humps, so I'm sorry Obama, his song in my book is much better.

That's my vote- what's yours??

WE ARE THE ONES

YES WE CAN

It's September? Shit, Cause August Was Cool

2008-09-09T12:05:00.003-05:00

August... as in August the movie.

God, I'm clever.

Ok, you probably never heard of the movie- and neither had I- but I saw Josh Hartnett was going to be there and I said "okay."

You know, I was never a Josh Hartnett fan until I met him. And boy, is he good looking in person. On my first red carpet I was told by veteran entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon that you'll understand why some people are movie stars because they're so charming.

Needless to say I understand why Josh Hartnett is a movie star.

He comes of a bit stand-off-ish in the clip, but he was actually really cool. His PR agent didn't want to stop at our little station, but he did it anyways. He stayed for a while and played along with me and my giggles.

But what I thought was really hilarious was that this was not actually a red carpet. It was a brown octagon carpet at the bottom of the TriBeCa Grand Hotel. You know you're low budget when they can't even get the color right! lol. ;)

Just an American Teen

2008-09-09T11:57:00.003-05:00

I want to firstly apologize for the barrage of TUN/E-Asylum clips I am about to post. I have been doing a horrible job of updating my blog and been doing a lot of work for them, meaning my clips are being taken off the internet before I can blog about them!

So here was a little red carpet I did for American Teen. I never saw the film, but it looked like a cute documentary about the horrible teenage life that happens in American high schools. I really identified with "The Rebel" (from the trailer), because she was artistic but still got the popular guy- sound familiar?- but she was a horrible interview.

But then my girls showed up!!!!

Yes, my old roommate Erin Williams and my PR buddy-in-crime (a la nose job post) were at the carpet. I interviewed both of them and it went from a mediocre carpet to a fabulous one!!

And check out the clips below...

My First French Interview

2008-09-09T11:22:00.002-05:00

While Vin Diesel was having a heart attack over my short shorts, I first had an interview with Melanie Thierry- the French lead who I was warned by all reporters that she can't speak a word of English.

But, with my skills, she turned out to be a better interview than Vin Diesel!

Okay, sure, my questions weren't that difficult and seriously generic (the movie was pretty bad) and I spoke slow, but the real difference was I told her I had a french boyfriend and that if this interview was six months from now I would hopefully be doing it in French.

Okay.. maybe two years from now. This French language is seriously difficult.

Well it seemed to work because instead of being shy she actually spoke. Oh the little tricks you have to do from one blonde girl to another.

The Vin Diesel "Interview"

2008-09-09T11:16:00.002-05:00

Heavily edited I might add... I was there for four minutes and the total product came out to like a minute?

And note that when he says "Nothing" about himself, for twenty seconds before that he had his head in his hands and I finally said "You should say nothing." To which is why he got up and started screaming "nothing!"

Oh boy... just another day and another crazy actor...

Vin Diesel's Kryptonite: Me

2008-08-21T10:08:00.004-05:00

I got two hugs from Vin Diesel- at his request- while interviewing him for his new movie Babylon AD.

I don't know if you could call it an "interview" because he was having issues looking at me and speaking at the same time. I think he was quite enamored with a little phenomenon called daisy dukes and wedge sandals showing off runner's legs... a.k.a. yours truly!

But don't take my word for it all- take theirs!

Here's an e-mail from my editor, Carlos, about whether the interview was use-able:

He wasn't hitting on u.. he was drolling over u..

yeah i think so imma need to cut stuff out because he can't stand right.. Man u drove him crazy..... the guy couldn't talk straight.. Im sure he got a little excited at the end with that hug.. Hes like OH GOD OH MY GOD!!!! ive seen flirting in interviews before but nothing like that once again Andrea u set a new standard.

And even the PR agents were happy that Vin Diesel got "excited" by me when the press junket was running THREE HOURS behind schedule!!

Just wanted to say thanks for coming yesterday and being so patient. Glad you woke him up a bit. :)

Tiffany Chen

20th Century Fox Publicity

Who needs decolletage when you have stems?!

Nose Job Party? Check

2008-08-21T10:02:00.003-05:00

Only in New York do you have parties for your new nose.

Yes my fabulous girl Marissa sent out a facebook invite with an unflattering pic of her nose (it's not that bad!) and invited us all to her "Nose Job Party." Five years of procrastination and an uncle plastic surgeon turned into a nose job booked merely days in advance.

So what does one do a nose job party?

Drink, of course.

I bought a bottle of bubbly for the occasion and forced her to drink until her midnight curfew. Apparently you can't put anything in your body 10 hours before surgery...

And if you think champagne was unnecessary then you don't understand the importance of a person's face- it's her nose for goodness sake!

a.k.a.

If there's a bullshit excuse for a party then there is a bullshit excuse for some champagne.

Cheers to your new nose girl!!

Olympic Glory!

2008-08-11T17:27:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I had around seven tables at my bar during an eight hour shift, but I honestly didn't care because the Olympics were on!

Holla!!!

And thank goodness I was forced to watch it because the men's 4X100 race was absolutely amazing. It's being pegged as one of the best races of all time and it truly was. You can check it out at this link via NBC's website: Men's 4x100 Race on NBC

But I must admit, I wasn't necessarily rooting for the U.S.

I was rooting for Australia because the second person on their Olympic team, Andrew Lauterstein, is the brother of my really good friend. When I lived at the Lauterstein's house in Melbourne last year they were booking their flights to Beijing in anticipation their teenage son would make it through the trials and on to the Olympics.

Well thank goodness he did because Australia won bronze (aka second losers behind the US).

He's the second one on the Australian team and if you can't get a good look at him, feast your eyes on this pic below...

Aaron Eckhardt Is Another Story

2008-08-11T17:20:00.001-05:00

Charming.

Sexy.

And has a butt chin.

Enough said.

Christian Bale's Not Hot

2008-08-11T17:13:00.002-05:00

I don't care what you say, he is so not hot.

He looks emaciated in person and he has a big vein right under his right eye that creeped me out.

And he's so not charming. He is a "serious" actor my friends who hates the glam of Hollywood.

sorry, I just got sick thinking about all the free designer clothes and jewels he's probably turned down because he wants to be taken seriously.

Annnnnd, I'm back.

He's so serious that when I asked him "Who's scarier, Patrick Bateman of American Psycho or the Joker?" and he started seriously pondering this. That's when I tuned out and started admiring my seriously red nails instead of him.

But here's some pics for all you Bale fans:

Why the Green Wig?

2008-08-11T17:04:00.002-05:00

If you were paying attention at all to the videos below I'm sure the first thing you noticed was- holy sh*t, her hair is green.

Yes, I wore a wig to the Dark Knight black carpet. Yes, possibly the biggest red carpet of the year (if not all time) and I am taking "the piss" and wearing a green wig.

I am an ass.

But there is method to this madness I tell you.

Green is for the Joker and I was playing the part of the Joker's female counterpart, Harley Quinn. Sure, Harley Quinn actually has blonde hair, but I thought people would get the point more with the green wig.

Oh who am I kidding.

THE GREEN WIG WAS NOT MY IDEA!

I do not want to wear the green wig. I wanted to be a professional entertainment reporter. But my brazilliant producer Cesar, below, insisted on it. I bought the wig, he died his real hair green, and still I didn't want to put it on.

And finally he said, "If Syma (the other reporter) were here, she'd be wearing it."

Of course I had to do it then.

So I put it on, lowered my eyes in embarrassment, and cursed my producer.

But after all the reporters were done giving me their disapproval looks, I noticed they were all a little jealous by the attention I was getting.

The green wig worked out brilliantly. When you are next to Fox 5, CBS 2, and you are a no-name network, you need a gimmick.

And mine just happened to bring out the green in my eyes. :)

Da Black Carpet Exclusive Interviews

2008-08-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

Who cares if the Dark Knight Black Carpet was a few weeks ago- it's still number one at the box office, right?

Here are the clips: Dark Knight Part Un, Deux, & Trois

-Excuse me as I try to incorporate my Rosetta Stone French Lessons into my daily life-

They are super fierce.

So fierce that my mom was impressed at how "quick" I was when the actors refused to respond to slightly scandalous questions - you know who you are Aaron Eckhardt!

I laughed when she said this because, mom, hello, of course you produced a smart and witty child! Or maybe it's because I was wearing a green wig instead of my usual blonde 'do.....

Da Black Carpet

2008-08-06T12:20:00.004-05:00

Fried Chicken Should Die

2008-08-06T11:32:00.002-05:00

I apologize for being so M.I.A.

So before I go back into the past, I will keep you updated on what's going on right now.

Currently I'm smoking it up in Hotlanta!!!! shooting a pilot for a travel show.

Despite in the production meetings saying I know nothing about cooking (I tried cooking for my boyfriend's birthday and ended up crying in frustration before I unwrapped the groceries!)-

I am of course doing the dining segments.

So yesterday I started off the morning with a healthy breakfast: fried catfish, grits, scrambled eggs, waffles, biscuits, omelette, and to top it off, fried chicken.

Yes, fried fish and chicken is all good in the hood.

I must admit it was quite good. I especially loved fried chicken with syrup- yummy.

But about 45 minutes later I felt sooooo sick.

The day wasn't done though. Two hours later I had another fried-filled lunch ahead of me and by the end of the day put my queasy stomach and throbbing head to bed by 9pm.

TV is glamorous yo.

My Life is Common

2008-07-10T13:14:00.003-05:00

That was a joke.

A really bad joke.

Because if my life was common I'd have a 9-5 job living in a cubicle and would get a regular paycheck. One part of that sentence sounds like my hell, the other part sounds like something I desperately need this month.

But I digress.

Common is seriously cool.

I've interviewed a few musicians (ok- two- Method Man and Common) and both of them are so freaking smooth. I think Common's name should be Smooth, or Twinkle, because his eyes twinkled like crazy. Pay attention to his eyes in the clip and I swear the light reflects off them as if he was a contestant on American Idol.It was pretty charming and totally made me lose focus on what I should be asking him. Thank goodness for editors.

My Encounter with "David Beckham"

2008-07-10T13:11:00.002-05:00

Thomas Kretschmann was also a really cool interview for Wanted.

I seriously have a thing for accents because he is super sexy when he talks about how "Only in American films do you not get hurt". See, Europeans aren't just metrosexual twigs who weigh less than the average adolescent American, they can also be brave, rugged men- who just happen to look like David Beckham.

Ok, ok, I swear in the movie he looks like David Beckham - obviously not here.

I think it's funny that after the interview everyone was talking about how young he looked. Kretschmann plays --

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

-- James McAvoy's father in the film and is actually 20 years his senior. He doesn't look a day over ten years!

James McAvoy is a Liar

2008-07-10T13:03:00.002-05:00

Remember how I told you I was flown out to LA to talk to the stars of Wanted?

Well here's your proof!

I got to interview three lovely blokes (Angelina Jolie will just have to be another time) and had three amazing interviews.

James McAvoy was my favorite.

Everyone was having issues with his "horrible" Scottish accent, but of course I found it to be delightfully charming. He was kind of intimidating at first because I told him my mom is a huge fan of his from Chronicles of Narnia and he gave me a look like "what the fuck are you talking about?" But that was the end of the awkwardness because he couldn't have given a better answer to the google question.

And I'm sorry- no one kisses Angelina Jolie and thinks nothing of it.

Man, woman, it doesn't matter, she is a living Saint and Mr. McAvoy should be thanking the stars every night that he can now die a happy man.

Quick- Save a Frenchie!

2008-07-02T16:47:00.002-05:00

It seems that the "F" in Feczko is actually for Frenchie.

Because we have all jumped off the American bandwagon and started wearing berets and saying such things like "oui oui Pepe" and "J'aime le champagne."

... or that's just me. Hey, red berets are fierce!

It all started with the my bro's dog, The Dupester (the black one below).

And now my Mom and Dad have adopted an 8 year old fawn Frenchie named Emi.

I have never met Emi but I am sure we'll get along. I mean, she's wearing Burberry!!

Although, Emi needs to realize that Burberry is a British brand (no no- non roast beef!) and that she must upgrade to Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, or if she's feeling uber fierce: Chanel.

Feeling that I am missing out on all the Frenchie action in the Midwest I have decided to adopt a Frenchie as well.

Despite my busy schedule, I found the time to adopt a tall, dark, and handsome Parisian from the stress and anguish of Wall Street.

See, here is me showing him Hudson River Park on a hot sunny day...

If you would like to adopt your own Wall Street Frenchie please call 1-800-OUI-OUII. For only three dates a week and 1700 bbm's a day (those Euros are obsessed with their SMS messages!) you can help a poor alien feel welcome in this crazy place called America.

Louboutin Love!!!!

2008-06-25T08:27:00.006-05:00

I know the new SATC movie is out, but whoever thinks Manolo's are the creme de la creme of fabulous shoewear is seriously deranged..

It's all about the LOUBOUTIN'S baby!!!!

The French know how to make the sexiest shoe ever.

And I must've been a good girl because these beauties are now in my possession--- ahhh!!!!

Look at them! In all their double platform, 5 1/2 inch stiletto, crossed peep-toe, slingback heel, Chanel Red sole, and soft pink ("nude") glory.

Did you catch that?

Five and a half inches- yes, 5 1/2 inches!!! I am nearly 5'10" in them!

They are so fierce!

No one can deny the bright red sole that screams- I don't take the subway, hell I don't even take a cab, I only ride my Louboutin's in a towncar baby!

Although I still take the subway, but just make sure to put these on before I enter the door of my final destination... but that's besides the point.

When I put these shoes on in the fabulous Madison Avenue store the heavens started singing to me.

Actually, Dr. Han from Grey's Anatomy was shopping with her daughter and looked at me and said "Those are great!"

I was so blown away that Dr. Han the Heart Surgeon was standing in front of me that I forgot to thank her.

But then the fabulous- and straight!- male sales associate said to me.

"Oh those are it."

"Yeah?" I looked up at him, with a flabergasted smile that I am guessing Cinderella would have..

"The other ones stop traffic, but in those, you'll cause accidents."

Seriously, how do you say no to that?!

Oh, I am so in love with everything French now...

Sweating the Red Carpet

2008-06-25T08:20:00.003-05:00

The clips below look effortless, don't they?

But they so were not.

That day was the HOTTEST day of a crazy heat wave hitting NYC. It was 98 degrees (and no, the pun with the equally hot boy band was not intended) with 7134791875981753% humidity, because that's just how NYC is in the summer- which is why everyone goes to the Hamptons, but I digress...

So here I am sweating buckets as I am interviewing the best in the biz...

But it was really fun. It was my best red carpet to date! I was right next to BBC America and got more stars than they did! The PR people would direct the celebs right past me to BBC, but I had some fake eyelashes on and used them to flirt my way to get the celebs to me first.

See- it's working...

And by the way, Mark Wahlberg is a crazy interview. He is such a star because he has mastered the sound bite. Meaning, he doesn't say much, but what little he says is absolutely perfect for television. M. Night was a dream. He was soo much fun. Everyone wanted him to hurry up but he just kept on giving. :) And John Leguizamo is as funny and energetic and person as he seems. Overall a great red carpet and the stars were awesome!

The only person I was a little disappointed with was Mischa Barton. She showed up at the last minute and refused to talk to anyone.. if I were her I'd be chatting up every journalist in hopes of reviving my career- just saying...

What Happened to Me?

2008-06-25T08:16:00.002-05:00

I know I've been a little M.I.A.

And that's because I am having the best three weeks ever! I am up for best "month" ever on VH1 it's been so good- no I'm just kidding, but my life has been fierce.

Here are the clips from The Happening red carpet I did... and yes, I am a sick bastard to ask the hottest people in the biz what they think the coolest way to commit suicide would be.

Gotta love working for The University Network... :)

I Want Media

2008-06-04T08:33:00.003-05:00

This week is internet week in NYC and I"ll be working at one of the events, the I Want Media Forum, on blogging.

The event is significant for me as it is being held by my former professor, Patrick Phillips, who taught me the "rules" of blogging:

short
strong point of view
& topical (I couldn't think of an "s" word for that)

I think I've gone off the boat on the topic aspect, as I've never been able to narrow down my blogging thoughts to just one niche area, but he definitely inspired me to blog and pursue alternative forms of journalism.

If you're free today come check out some blogging heavyweights, like Erick Shonfield from Tech-Crunch, as well as traditional journalists from the NYT & Vanity Fair.

1-2pm
20 Cooper Square, 7th floor

Oh, and my Kuwait video will be talked about at the forum. :)

I <3 Art

2008-06-04T08:24:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the 30th Annual Museum Mile Festival on Museum Mile in NYC.

For those of you who don't know what Museum Mile is, it's 5th Avenue starting at the Metropolitan Museum on 82 and up through 103rd street.

For those of you who don't know what the Museum Mile Festival is, it's a festival where every museum is open to the public for free, with my favorite part being the crazy street stands and antics that you can only get in New York City.

I was interviewed by WNYC about this event and the reporter gave me a hard time for never coming up to the festival as I've been in the city for five years.

I felt kinda bad, until I talked to my aunt and uncle, who have been here over a decade, and they've never heard it.

Who knew about this- and who knew it was going on for thirty years??

Someone needs a new PR agency...

But besides the cool street stuff (musicians, painters, sidewalk chalk artists)- it was fabulous for networking.

Me and my red dress were stopped by WNYC, MTV, and this amazing artist, Andrew Carr:

He asked me if I'd like to pose for him, to which I gave him a strange look. Is that some sick and twisted pick up line?

But he gave me his card, andrewcarr.net, and I'm pretty impressed.

I'll keep you updated on when I will be immortalized in paint. :)

I Kissed A Girl & I'm Obsessed

2008-06-02T09:07:00.002-05:00

Mom, don't have a heart attack, it's not what you're thinking.

I was listening to the radio this morning- a.k.a. VH1's Jump Start- and heard/saw this amazing video:

I was so intrigued that I started a google search on Katy Perry and saw that she was quite the phenom already.

I mean, once Perez Hilton writes that you're a smarter, prettier, cooler Avril Lavigne then I guess any other blog post after that is "old news."

Whatever...

And HRH Madonna said the song below is her new favorite song.

Her other song, which actually has better lyrics, is called "Ur So Gay."

Hmmm, sound familiar?

How about your boyfriend crosses your legs more than you or their briefs fit tighter than your underwear?

Oh- and that they like to shop with your money more than you do?

But, hey, at least they cook and clean for you!! :)

Memory Lane Isn't So Magical

2008-05-28T16:28:00.003-05:00

My last day I decided to do the perfect London day as I remembered doing so many weekends in the Summer of 2005.

A trip to Notting Hill market-

And a trip to South Kensington and The Crofton.

Walking down the steps of The Crofton felt the same. I still am amazed by the beauty of that "dormitory", with the gorgeous cream columns and the 20 meter jog into Hyde Park. I will always have, and always will, look at that living area with fond memories.

But then I headed to my local: The Queen's Arms.

The three legged dog, Floyd Conti, was still there.

But that's where the similarities ended. It wasn't bustling with students- the crowd spilling out onto the cobbled stone streets while some drank and others admired the now vanished Ferrari dealership.

It was nearly empty.

It felt dark and lonely there- and that's when I decided enough is enough.

You can't relive the past.

I've walked into that pub a couple times before always expecting to feel the magic that I felt that summer three years ago.

I thought maybe this time would be different. I'm no longer a student and I have finally closed the book on the LOML (love of my life). I thought my head and heart would be open enough to really enjoy the Queen's Arms.

And I realized that places change, and the feeling you get from them also change. I can't get that summer back. I can't get the London I love back. That time is over.

And that's okay.

It's time to make new memories.

The memories I created in London this time around are absolutely magical. One day I'll more than likely look back and think "god I wish I could relive that moment" and I won't be able to because I'll be creating a new one in the process. That's the cruel reality and absolute beauty of living.

You very rarely get opportunities in life when you can literally face your past, and I had that moment in the Queen's Arms.

It was a really amazing lesson to "live in the present and cherish it." That saying is pounded into our brains a million times but I've never understood it until that rainy day in London.

Capping it Off Irish Style

2008-05-28T16:04:00.002-05:00

A pub was the next order of business on the itinerary.

at 12:45, time for your first pint. there is a wonderful pub, very famous, directly across the bodlean, called Queen's Arms (which is next to Wadham college), and next to blackwell's, however if you're looking for more original pubs, you'll head down the street that is on the right of the building which houses the Queen's arms. you'll be looking for either the Turl or the Turf, this is where it's at. ... enjoy your pints...

It's actually called the King's Arms (The Queen's Arms being my fabulous local in South Ken).

There I had my first (half) pint of Guinness.

And it was nasty.

I was very tempted to plug my nose and down it, but felt that in England, especially in Oxford, I must have the best manners possible.

We were unable to finish the rest of the tour, which I guess is a reason to just go back again!

Speaking of Romeo and Juliet...

2008-05-28T15:47:00.002-05:00

We decided to take a little detour off the fabulous tour and check out the famous "dreaming spires" of Oxford on top of St. Mary's Church.

And look who became a couple...

Awwwww.

I will say it was very romantic up there, especially considering we had the outlook all to ourselves for a good few minutes...

... Just long enough for me to moon Oxford.

If you thought I was going to be all sweet and innocent in front of a good looking boy, you need to lower your "Andrea Feczko" standards.

Book Worm

2008-05-28T15:31:00.003-05:00

Oxford ain't all about food and boys- there are things weird things with lots of papers with black stuff all over them...

Books

(I was trying to do a WAG impersonation, but I think I failed)

the next college is baliol college, next to the famous bodlean library, which houses the widest collection of books known to man. after this epic literary experience, you may be tempted to buy some books. head around the corner, and there will be Blackwell's.... there are more books in a single shop than the entire collection in new york city, and represents the pinnacle of an academic society more distinguished than the entire ivy league.

Welcome to the grand Bodleian Library.

It is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It is a research only library- meaning you cannot take any books on loan. Not even kings can bend the rules (and apparently they've tried).

They have a large selection of original manuscripts, including a Shakespeare manuscript. Apparently they can tell from the wear of the pages and elbow marks that in the Shakespeare collection "Romeo and Juliet" was the most popular story with the balcony scene being the most worn page.

The Bodleian Library is also famous for being in plenty of television shows and movies- including Harry Potter.

I'm officially obsessed.

In another section of the library is this meeting area...

where they put people on trial (or settle disputes as the English say), including most famously Oscar Wilde for settling debts.

Practicing my Curtsy

2008-05-28T15:15:00.005-05:00

The next stop?

Queen's College.

brunch should wrap up at around 11:30 am. walk across the street and you'll see a entrance to a college called "Queen's College". QC was made specifically in honor of the king of england. we recommend that upon arrival through the gates, and after paying the "tourist's fee", you curtsy the the royal coat of arms (it may be worth practicing your curtsy before trying the first time, you can do this in London in your hotel room or at a location of your choice)...

Unfortunately for us all the colleges were closed due to graduation.

Actually, scratch that, fortunately for me all these Harry Potter look-a-likes were roaming the street with their pristine accents and black capes for graduation.

I swear I'm not a pedophile in the making- just a cougar. Rarrrgh.

And in the end I was able to put my long hours of curtsying practice to use at the gates of Queen's College.

My curtsy's fierce.

Oxford Ain't Royal- It's Grand

2008-05-28T15:05:00.003-05:00

We arrive in Oxford an hour later than recommended.

But everything is going smoothly when we arrive. The bus was waiting there as soon as we got off the train and the High Street stop was only a few minutes away.

But then- well- that's when we got lost.

ask the driver, and say you want to get off at the High St. when you get into oxford (there'll be a bunch of places that you'll pass before you get into oxford city center itself). once off at the high st. have brunch at Cafe Royal, we recommend the salmon and the scrabble eggs and a pot of english tea! bring a book to not seem too much like a loner. we recommend Marcus Aurelius "Meditations" (however if you don't have this, you'll be able to pick it up at the bookshop we'll send you to later in the tour).

Cafe Royal?

We search up and down High Street, which takes us all of 10 minutes, and can't find a Cafe Royal anywhere.

But we do spot a GRAND cafe and go on.

Jack pot!

The Grand Cafe is the first coffee house EVER in England (1650) and the salmon and scrabble eggs were absolutely delicious.

The coolest thing about this coffee house isn't the delicious food or coffee, it's this little contraption by the door.

See it?

It's a tea pot that swings up and down with the door! How cute is that?

Chris thought I was taking a picture of him and his cup of tea, but really I was enamored with the floating teapot.

Oh, it's the details in life...

Oxford Boys

2008-05-28T14:54:00.004-05:00

On Friday I was off to Oxford with my Crackberry in hand to follow an e-mailed tour of the City of Spires from two Oxford alums.

I met the Oxford Boys- Nat and Toby- in Kuwait. Yes, it seems that Kuwait is the hotspot for English people.

One of which, Nat, is the guy to the right:

Here is the e-mail in full. I have to laugh at it because it is the most thorough e-mail I have ever gotten for a place. I simply mentioned I was going to Oxford and I got this tour in response- to the half hour. Love it!!!

you should try to arrive at oxford at around 11am. you'll catch the Oxford Tube from London. You'll catch it at london victoria bus station. it'll take 1hour and a half. ask the driver, and say you want to get off at the High St. when you get into oxford (there'll be a bunch of places that you'll pass before you get into oxford city center itself). once off at the high st. have brunch at Cafe Royal, we recommend the salmon and the scrabble eggs and a pot of english tea! bring a book to not seem too much like a loner. we recommend Marcus Aurelius "Meditations" (however if you don't have this, you'll be able to pick it up at the bookshop we'll send you to later in the tour). brunch should wrap up at around 11:30 am. walk across the street and you'll see a entrance to a college called "Queen's College". QC was made specifically in honor of the king of england. we recommend that upon arrival through the gates, and after paying the "tourist's fee", you curtsy the the royal coat of arms (it may be worth practicing your curtsy before trying the first time, you can do this in London in your hotel room or at a location of your choice).... the next college is baliol college, next to the famous bodlean library, which houses the widest collection of books known to man. after this epic literary experience, you may be tempted to buy some books. head around the corner, and there will be Blackwell's.... there are more books in a single shop than the entire collection in new york city, and represents the pinnacle of an academic society more distinguished than the entire ivy league.

at 12:45, time for your first pint. there is a wonderful pub, very famous, directly across the bodlean, called Queen's Arms (which is next to Wadham college), and next to blackwell's, however if you're looking for more original pubs, you'll head down the street that is on the right of the building which houses the Queen's arms. you'll be looking for either the Turl or the Turf, this is where it's at. ... enjoy your pints...
after this you're gonna head to trinity college, check it out. after that you want to head to christ church college and find the meadows located next to it. either this, or The Oxford University Parks, if the weather is good..... i'm not sure what time it's going to be after this, but you're going to want to head towards and area called Jericho. here you're going to be looking for a street called Little Clarendon st., check it out, there's a bunch of cafes and restaurants...., and check out the shop Uncle Sams clothes if it's before 5pm. at the bottom of Little Clarendon there's a street which runs a long man called Walton St. here you're going to immediately see three bars.. one of them is Raoul's, go there, have a cocktail when you feel like it, but if you head further down the street away from the city center you're going to see more pubs and restaurants.... if you get down to Cranham st. which will be on your right, you can turn down there and head straight towards the canal if you're feeling adventurous and there's still light...... it's the right place around sundown. you'll probably go back to london by now. so head back up gloucester green bus station and peace, you go back...
shopping malls, westgate center and clarendon center... and check out also the Ashmolean, which i believe is the oldest museum in europe. there's also some ghost tour that you can find on st. aldate's st....
too much,
peace
nat and toby

Tosca the Thief

2008-05-28T14:31:00.002-05:00

My drunk ass raced back "home" to Fulham to find a cooked meal prepared for me by the British Boy.

Awwwww.

See, who says I need to cook and clean? The boys always do it for me!

Chris and I then raced over to Covent Garden for Puccini's Tosca and arrived with less than five minutes to spare.

But when we got to our seats someone else was in them.

Hmmm.

The show was about to start so we were upgraded to these fabulous seats:

(Aren't the curtains gorgeous?)

After finishing our champagne during the first intermission, we went back to the front desk to "sort out" the ticket situation.

"Where'd you get your tickets mate?" asked the Opera dude.

"Ugh, my mate got them for my birthday," Chris lied.

"What's your friend's name?" inquired the Opera dude.

"Don't know..." Chris said truthfully.

"Well we need to have your friends name because the tickets are STOLEN" says the Opera dude.

Shit.

I immediately start cracking up. The two of us are notorious for having unromantic nights in the most terribly romantic places in the world. Chris is trying to keep his cool as I am nearly on the ground laughing, well, at him.

"See, mate, I actually got them from eBay. The guy said he was a season ticket holder," Chris said truthfully.

This is the part where, in New York, the Opera dude would say: "You have two choices, the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is you leave the building now, the hard way is we get the police to escort you out." Of course I'm guessing that's how New Yorkers deal with things- it's not like I've ever heard those choices before or anything...

But no, we are in sophisticated London and no police escorts would be necessary:

"Mate, you know you sound a bit dodgy," the Opera dude said. And I quote that correctly, word for word.

My jaw was officially on the floor. Who says "dodgy" at the opera?

Chris nods his head.

"... But I 85% believe you- Go back in," the Opera dude says.

I love it!

And that was that.

We went back into the beautiful theater-

- and enjoyed the rest of the opera. The performers in Tosca were absolutely incredible, with Mario being the favorite of both of us. We then topped off the high brow night with pub and club hopping. Not a bad evening, eh mate?

Vintage Adel & Me

2008-05-28T14:15:00.004-05:00

In Kuwait circa March 2008, wearing Adel's fierce hat.

I really need to get control of my Fedora klepto tendencies when I travel...

My Private Parliament Tour- It's OK to be Jealous

2008-05-28T13:33:00.002-05:00

After the Tate and the Westminster Abbey, I met up with my fellow Kuwait panelist, Adel Darwish, for a private tour of the Houses of Parliament.

Not only was it a private tour, it was a VIP private tour.

There are more than 200 journalists working at the Parliament and only 49 are part of the elite "Lobby System".

And guess who is one of those elite journalists?

Yes, Adel.

We start off at the modern glass Portcullis Building across from The Parliament. From there we take a secret entrance (okay, it's not secret, but just go with me) under the busy streets above and- voila- we're at the Parliament without every going outside.

First thing is first though. Before we can start, we must drink. We head to the press members only bar and have a few rounds with other print and tv journalists. Everything there is off record- so sorry guys! ;)

Then we move through some winding staircases with cartoons of famous politicians dating back to the early 1800's. You have to love the British in their ability to make fun of themselves.

We reach the top of the winding staircase, go through some other small doors, and suddenly Adel is opening up the door to the roof.

I can't believe my eyes as I am literally stepping onto the roof of the Parliament.

How cool is that?

See- here's proof!

The view is absolutely spectacular up there- even on a rainy day. You are so close to Big Ben that you can really appreciate the large, grand, and beautiful clock.

And to your right is the view of the Thames and the Eye.

I was ready to throw my hands up and be done with the tour at that moment. But no, we had more touring to do. We went through the halls where committee discussions are held and through staircases commemorating past Kings and Queens as well as PM's. I gave a special salute to Pitt, who "lost" America, as Adel said. :) The Houses of Parliament are very English in the tiny corridors that are so easy to get lost in and the beautiful green carpeting speckled with gold designs. Walking through the halls you feel like you were a part of history.

All that walking made us thirsty- so we put our Lobby access to use and went to the MP Only bar.

One of the coolest perks about being a Lobby journalist is the access to the Members (short for Members of Parliament) Bar for 'lobby term' interviews. But we weren't there to interview any MP's - although I did meet a few of them- we were there to get our drink on.

We went from the small pub out to the terrace and were greeted with (another) beautiful view of London.

The Members bar stretches for a good 100 feet down the riverbank. The Thames is directly in front of you and looking to your left you have a wonderful view of the beautiful facade, the Big Ben, the Thames, and the Eye.

It was incredible.

After four (or five?) glasses of white wine I cut myself off and high tailed it back to Fulham for the Opera.

Thank you so much Adel for being such a wonderful host and tour guide. It was an incredible experience!

Tate Time

2008-05-28T13:21:00.002-05:00

Apparently I brought the rain to London because it was sunny and 75 when I landed on Wednesday and was drizzling and 60 on Thursday.

A rainy day always means a museum day.

So I went to the Tate. I've been to the Tate Modern before- and hated it. I found it disturbing. There was a lot of modern statue art that cuts apart the human body and consequently makes my stomach really queasy. Just add this as another reason why I'm not a doctor.

But the Tate is really cool. There are lot of cool paintings of royalty (and I'm obsessed with English Royalty- esp. Harry- yummy) as well as other random, pretty paintings.

And, there is a modern section as well:

Nope- not a picture- that's a painting.

Isn't that cool?

Of course I spent about five minutes dissecting this painting:

The fierce blue dress was the initial sight that caught my eye, but I hovered over this picture for way too long because of the title "April Love."

It really should be called "May Love"- and I will get to that later...

Australian Sunshine in London

2008-05-28T13:07:00.005-05:00

What's a girl to do when in London, all alone, on a beautiful sunny day?

(Drink a bottle of wine with the locals in Soho Park...)

Visit friends who are literally like sunshine, regardless of the weather outside.

Amy and I met during the fateful "Girls Night" in Sydney last year. I rocked up to the hottie pow wow a few hours late, I was busy praying to the porcelain goddess from the damn Toxic Thai Red Bull, and was greeted by this beautiful girl:

"Oh my god, You're so gorgeous!"

Wow, thanks, I hope she doesn't realize I was just puking my brains out...

"And you're from New York- oh my god, I love you!"

Double wow, people actually like Americans...

"You're so beautiful," she said scanning me over, and then gave me a big hug.

This is why I love Australia.

So I visited her at her place of employment, The Couch on Oxford and Dean Street, and drank espresso martinis while gossiping about life. She is auditioning and waitressing, just like me, and was so positive in her attitude. It's rare to find people, especially females, who are so supportive and kind and fun.

It was a fabulous- and very boozy- afternoon that turned into a very lovely dinner at the Kensington Roof Gardens complete with fireworks, rose champagne, and a not so bad looking bloke. ;)

Touchdown in Londontown

2008-05-28T12:29:00.004-05:00

Or rather, a total fumble!

My arrival in Gatwick was a total disaster. My crackberry decided it didn't want to read its SIM card. Then I come out of customs to find one bright blue blag left on the conveyor belt. Something inside of me said "read the tag, read the tag"- and what should've been "Andrea Feczko" was actually "Madeline" from Georgia.

Who's named Madeline anymore?

Being a New Yorker I tried, in vain, to talk my way out of the situation. Can't they go through customs really quickly and track down the woman with my bag?

"Uhh, no, miss."

Shit.

So I went through customs, without a bag, determined not to cry.

As I was riding on the express train to Victoria Station I thought, hey, isn't this a cool concept, coming to London with literally no baggage? I also spied my 350 pounds a good friend from my bar left me and then thought- Shopping!!! TOPSHOP come to Momma!

I got into Victoria Station and after 30 minutes of toiling through my crackberry with the Vodafone guy I finally got it to work. This was just in time for me to receive the text messages from my friend (who had been receiving calls from Georgia about the mix up) that my baggage was back at Gatwick.

Being out 80 dollars in less than two hours and dreams of a necessary shopping spree ripped from me, I could find two lessons out of this story:

1. Don't fly into Gatwick. The last time I went there I missed my flight to Portugal on the day of the London Bombings.
AND
2. Even weirdly colored blue bags need interesting luggage tags, like above. I personally dig the "These are my shoes, bitch!" one. :)

The Little Twinkie Was Robbed!

2008-05-22T07:35:00.004-05:00

A fly could've gone into my mouth yesterday and I still wouldn't have been able to pick my jaw off the floor.

David Cook won over David Archuleta on American Idol yesterday.

WTF?

And it wasn't a close race at all, Cook stomped Archuleta's 17 year-old butt with a 12 million vote advantage.

It seemed that everyone around me was happy by this news. What?

My ex-roommate, who was watching it with me, said Achuleta was a "twink" (slang for a small, young gay boy) and he hated those types of Chelsea Boys. I said watch how he gets more girlfriends than Colin Farrell when he turns 18...

And my mom, my sweet innocent mother, called Archuleta (or Archiletta as she spelled it) "ballad boy" and was glad Cook won.

Ugh, conspiracy!

I became a devout Archuleta fan, so devout I only watch his youtube performances, after this amazing rendition of Robbie Williams' "Angels":

Doesn't that give you chills? And Archuleta is playing the piano too, cause he's going to conquer all things music.

And here's David Cook's performance of "Billie Jean." This performance makes me a little angry because the ignorant judges were talking about how innovative his rendition of the song was, not recognizing that he ripped off rock god Chris Cornell's cover, not Michael Jackson's:

Oh, what the hell, that gave me shivers as well.

Facebook's Gangsta, Homie

2008-05-22T07:23:00.002-05:00

This is the new production from Sir Otto Cedeno
a.k.a. Ta Ta
a.k.a Dirka
a.k.a. I'm Obsessed:

Hmmm, I spy some familiar faces...

Who the F*** is Scottie? Is, well, not a Scottie, but a SoCal Nick who should get his tan little butt back to NYC ASAP. :)

The DJ is actually a real DJ who you can hear MC Johnny Utah's on Monday Nights.

Who's that blondie smoking a ciggie? Not me! But one of besties.
(OMFG, I can rap too!)

And if you want to see what the elusive director looks like, check out the second cameo (behind her princess Juana the Chihuahua) on the drum set.

And no worries, I'm sure I can finagle a decolletage cameo on the next "I'm a Facebook Princess" video. ;)

To The Coolest Bro In The World

2008-05-11T11:12:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

I would say treat yourself to a nice glass of champagne on your big day, but I know you're probably already on your second bottle (or third?) bottle of vodka.

So here is my favorite drinking cheer:

If you can't be good, be bad.

If you can't be bad, be very bad.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

To The Best Mom In The World...

2008-05-11T11:06:00.004-05:00

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Love you!!!

P.S. If you were in NYC we would be upgrading from your first tequila shot ever to your first jagerbomb. ;) Celebrate your day!!

Is Decolletage "Risky Business" Or Just Business?

2008-05-10T15:44:00.003-05:00

Sexy equals sex when it comes to black tie business attire, well according to this Wall Street Journal article.

In the new millennium a woman still has to watch her back, literally, when it comes to black tie affairs. The article gave examples from numerous big name companies where a female colleague became a possible manage a trois contender for her male counterparts with a dress that either showed off her lovely rack or fabulous back (or if you have my wardrobe, both).

But if you're sensing this is a double standard that is sexist and unfair, Dr. Louann Brizendine, a female brain researcher and author, poses this question:

Exposed skin speaks louder than annual revenue growth, even to a CEO. "What if the men in your office changed for dinner and came bare-chested?" asks Dr. Brizendine.

Gross.

But on the other hand, I do think decolletages and "risky" work attire can mesh very well, and even improve your relationship with businessmen.

Just try my waitressing uniform at a popular midtown bar. Sure our bar is conveniently located to the Ritz Carlton and the numerous Midtown banks, but what makes it a suit hotspot is, you guessed it, decolletage:

I am, of course, the poorest example of the way this lovely outfit should fit. Every other waitress has a set of (real) D's that fit into an XS top. But what I lack in decolletage I make up for in my award winning personality...

... okay, my legs and hair.

This article does prove a point that when choosing a boring male populated profession one must play it safe at the company black tie functions. This article is yet another example as to why I don't date iBankers and have never been to a black tie dinner.

Thanks Joe!

What A Few Years Will Do...

2008-05-10T14:52:00.004-05:00

When the fam moved on from our childhood 4740 home it had some charming characteristics: a lovely gazebo and indoor jacuzzi.

In order to sell the house in the declining economy (who knew it could go this far!) my parents were advised to tear down all wall paper and turn the jacuzzi room into a sunroom.

Now a few years later we can see there is, in fact, a jacuzzi! Except this one's an outdoor one and therefore not as cool. They have torn down the gazebo attached to the deck and have made a pathway connecting the patio, jacuzzi, and driveway together.

I am sure the teenage kids who (presumably) live there must love the pathway as an easy, clean escape route for their friends during the crazy backyard jacuzzi parties. No one likes to run through cold, wet grass at midnight when the parents came home early. And it also saves you from the awkward question of, "If you didn't have a party, why are there muddy footprint marks all over the driveway?"

Kids these days have it so easy...

A New Trend Has Arrived

2008-04-18T16:35:00.003-05:00

A birthday celebration where no one gets older.

Welcome to the genius idea of a half birthday.

This was something my girlfriends and I concocted way back in elementary school, but only implemented until now.

When I turned 22 I was in Melbourne. Although my trip through Asia was like one big birthday bash, it just wasn't that same without all my New York friends.

So six months later, on April 17, I decided to throw a bash at my brand new (and unashamedly narcissistic) apt for my 22 and a half B Day.

So what do you do on half birthdays?

Drink Champagne, of course.

And match your lipstick with your girlfriend's earrings, err I mean, hang out with friends.

It was soooooo good to see everyone, but unfortunately the party goes through a bottle of champagne and some Jager (I sealed my fate buying the Jager), I wasn't really seeing much of anything...

Except bedtime.

Heads down.

Lights out.

And good night.

Hey, the best (half) birthdays are generally the ones you can't remember.

Cheers to that!

Vogueing in Kuwait

2008-04-17T09:02:00.002-05:00

You can take the girl out of Manhattan, but you can't take the Manhattan out of the girl... even in the Middle East.

I went to Kuwait to speak at the Foundation of Abdul Aziz Saud Al-Babtain's conference on the role of the media in teh dialogue between Arabs and the West.

Got that?

But no worries, I'm a multi-tasker. Not only did I learn from some of the most amazing journalists in the world, I also did some serious shopping. :)

Here's my nice lil' vid on the fabulous experience:

For more information, go to this website: Al Babtain Website

Blogging Kills

2008-04-08T09:45:00.004-05:00

In this New York Times article, blogging is "reportedly" a very dangerous job.

Three high profile bloggers have suffered heart attacks, two of which have been fatal.

The heart attack survivor was 41-year-old Om Malik, who I have a special place in my heart for when he branded me as a "sassy blogger" after I broke the Rolling Stone social network story.

I do agree with the article that the 24/7 demand for news on the internet is a cause for worrying stress, err, fatal stress.

But I can't imagine blogging to be more stressful than, let's say, being a lawyer or an I-Banker.

I would bet 20 bucks (and I'm broke- so that's a lot of money for me) that a higher percentage of people die from heart attacks in the law field than the blogosphere.

Mario Lavendiera of Perez Hilton made a good rebuttal to this on CNN yesterday that blogging should be about passion for the stories, not money for posts. The stress comes when you are forced to write, instead of wanting to write. That's the beauty of blogging, it's a form of self expression for writers you can't really find in other forms of journalism. People who go into blogging to make money should just become a lawyer or iBanker, at least you'll make some real cash before you have a heart attack.

Welcome to Kuwait (Fendi Hijab Not Included)

2008-04-03T15:03:00.005-05:00

For those people who thought I was:

a) crazy
b) lying
c) totally cool (ok, maybe that's just me)

Here is proof that I did in fact go to Kuwait this week:

Voila!

And what did I see when I first stepped off the plane?

Americans

&

McDonald's

True, most of the Americans were contractors on their way to Afghanistan (and I thought I was brave to go to Kuwait!), but it still felt good to not be the only blond in the airport, even if I was the only female blond...

But I digress.

First impressions of Kuwait:
Sure, people were dressed very conservatively (burqas included), but I knew it was gonna be a cool country when the woman taking my visa was wearing a Fendi headscarf and more blue make up than Christina Aguilera.

Beware of the Easter Eggs

2008-03-23T09:57:00.001-05:00

Have a Killer Easter!!

Charlie Bit Me!

2008-03-22T11:26:00.003-05:00

Youtube does it again- another iconic funny video.

It proves that if children have British accents they can do no harm- literally.

Here's a remake that's almost more funny than the original:

And obviously American college students have waaaay too much time on their hands.

Out with "ferosh"- in with "charlay you bit mea!"

Today's a Good Friday

2008-03-21T09:13:00.003-05:00

It's actually not "a" good friday, it's "THE" Good Friday.

And you know what that means...

Save a cow- NO MEAT!!!

So make sure to go to your favorite sushi place because fish is still okay (and mom- please correct me if I'm wrong).

If you're in NYC you must get Kiku's Out of Control Roll- it is simply, out of control.

Actually, it's a hot tranny mess- and I'm obsessed.

P.S. Yes, I am still saying those three words over and over again. Day number 7 and counting...

Hot Tranny Mess

2008-03-19T14:59:00.002-05:00

"You are a hot tranny mess.

No, like seriously, you are a Hot. Tranny. Mess.

Fishnet and stilettos diet- ASAP.

Love it! Fieeeeeeeeeeerce.

No- scratch that- FEROSH."

Yes, that is how I've been speaking for the last few days.

And this hilarious SNL skit is to blame:

You may say that's disgusting, and slightly pathetic, as I am a female pretending to be a fierce gay man, but it's seriously fun.

Just try using "ferosh" (short for ferocious) in a sentence today and watch as your mouth twists into a smile and your belly starts laughing hysterically- at yourself.

P.S. How amazing is it that SNL is on-air - and funny - again!

Diary of the Dead

2008-03-05T21:21:00.002-05:00

The fabulous producer of E-Aslyum, where I am a host/correspondent (I did my first press junket for "Under the Same Moon" yesterday!), created this video trailer for a contest.

It's pretty awesome- especially since he did it "just for fun."

... Ya right, please tell me he slaved over it or else I think I'm going to lose my Lean Cuisine lasagna dinner.

The Beginning: Diary of the Dead Contest

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Hillary Clinton Rally

2008-02-21T12:39:00.002-05:00

Okay.

It's not looking good for Hillary.

I'll admit that.

But I'm still going to support her- so I had the pleasure of going to the Hillary Clinton rally in NYC yesterday and showing her support.

She had some amazing things to say. She has the experience and the perserverence. I was expecting her to be upset after her ninth loss in Wisconsin. But she wasn't, she was inspiring and tough as nails- attacking Obama's lack of decisions and Bush/McCain's "cowboy diplomacy."

I think she's got what it takes.

Here's some highlights:

And yes, I was in the front section and got her to sign my ticket.

I know you guys are sooo jealous. tehehe.

GO HILLARY!!!!

The Perfect Man

2008-02-14T23:09:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

Daft Hands

2008-01-29T11:35:00.000-05:00

When I came back from Australia I came back with the Daft Punk bug.

Much like the travel bug, the Daft Punk bug makes you want to more and more Daft Punk.

My obsession includes downloading their entire Alive 2007 album, living vicariously through Facebook photos of their Aussie tour, and watching countless videos on the internet.

Like this one for the original masterpiece "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger":

Yes, you gotta love youtube for videos by people with too much time on their hands... or rather, ink on their hands.

If you think that's cool, check out Technologic.

It's like HBFS, but HBFS.

Or for people that speak English, it's like the previous one but on ink- crack.

I agree with the poor guy- I have to take a deep breath after that one!

How much do you wanna bet that it's probably an Aussie who made that video??

Heath Ledger Tragedy

2008-01-23T12:12:00.000-05:00

Heath Ledger died tragically yesterday in a SoHo apartment around 330pm.

The autopsy results were initially inconclusive in determining the cause of death. But with the actor suffering from pneumonia and with sleeping pills near the naked and unconscious body, police are saying either a suicide or accidental overdose is the most likely cause of death.

It really is a tragedy.

Heath was just about to start an amazing era of his career. His role as The Joker in the upcoming new Batman was going to be a huge star making vehicle for him. But reading a New York Times article published two months ago, it sounds like the role that was going to make him broke him.

“I stressed out a little too much,” Mr. Ledger said.

He tends to do that. He is here in London filming the latest episode of the “Batman”franchise, “The Dark Knight.” (Mr. Bale, as it happens, plays Batman; Mr. Ledger plays the Joker.) It is a physically and mentally draining role — his Joker is a “psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy” he said cheerfully — and, as often happens when he throws himself into a part, he is not sleeping much.

“Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night,” he said. “I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going.” One night he took an Ambien, which failed to work. He took a second one and fell into a stupor, only to wake up an hour later, his mind still racing.

Even as he spoke, Mr. Ledger was hard-pressed to keep still. He got up and poured more coffee. He stepped outside into the courtyard and smoked a cigarette. He shook his hair out from under its hood, put a rubber band around it, took out the rubber band, put on a hat, took off the hat, put the hood back up. He went outside and had another cigarette. Polite and charming, he nonetheless gave off the sense that the last thing he wanted to do was delve deep into himself for public consumption. “It can be a little distressing to have to overintellectualize yourself,” is how he put it, a little apologetically.

The cause of his untimely death will eventually be known, but it will not erase the fact that this is an absolute tragedy. It's a loss of one of the best actors in Hollywood and my heart goes out to his 2 year old daughter, Matilda.

Rest in Peace.

P.S. The early reports that the apartment where Heath Ledger was found was somehow linked to Mary Kate Olsen have proven to be false.

Get Him To New York!

2008-01-16T17:21:00.000-05:00

This is the follow up interview to the post below.

What a freaking legend- and if he's smart- he should start cashing in.

To all my friends in Australia- PLEASE GO TO THE PARTY IN MELBOURNE, TAKE PICTURES, AND SEND THEM TO ME!

I mean, I have to live in Australia vicariously through someone.

World Watch Out: The Next Big Party Planner

2008-01-16T17:10:00.000-05:00

Are you in need of some popularity?

Do you have no friends?

Are you always overlooked?

Do you think that people don't even know your name?

Well, kids, call Corey from Melbourne and he can help you plan the Best. Street. Party. Ever.

When you call Corey you'll get:

500 rowdy teenagers.

Police helicopters.

The Dog Squad.

Bashed in police vehicles.

News Interviews.

International notoriety.

And, for you boys, you may get the chance to wear Corey's "famous" yellow sunnies.

But don't worry ladies, for you, you may get to touch Corey's fabulous nipple ring. Zexy.

You can get all this for the small price of $20,000.

But hey, you know what they say:

Best Street Party Ever- $20,000 , becoming a legend- Priceless.

Juno Got Jipped

2008-01-14T09:08:00.000-05:00

The Golden Globes happened yesterday. Ya, I forgot too.

I went through the list and I was shocked to see nothing from Juno.

Maybe it's because I haven't seen any movies this holiday season except for I Am Legend (rent it) and Juno, but Juno was a really awesome flick.

So awesome that I thought it would for sure get some sort of award- at least for screenplay or actress.

But instead No Country For Old Men & Marion Cotillard from La Vie En Rose (huh?) won, which is totally ridiculous.

I'd normally say I'm going to boycott the awards, but SAG's already doing that.

Like Britney, I'm F*cking Over It

2008-01-14T08:58:00.001-05:00

Britney Spears & Adnan Ghalib SCREAMING MAD At Paparazzi

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So I've been a pretty good girl lately when it comes the celeb gossip world. Britney's gone totally crazy and watching her make a fool out of herself isn't exactly entertaining to watch, it's just sad.

But I did fold and watched this clip of Britney's new paparazzo boyfriend elbowing a photographer out of the way.

Well at least that's what the blogs are ranting about.

It's the first time I've really watched those paparazzi videos and- oh my god. It is seriously crazy. They're surrounding her, yelling at her, and almost hitting her wherever she goes.

So at first, I was like, wow, I have a little sympathy for her. I would never want to be harassed like that wherever I go.

But then as the tape progresses she goes in and out of each store, not buying anything, just shopping around. It's like, if you are so over it, why are you doing errands that don't need to be done? Take a day off. Have your Starbucks delivered to your house (I mean, she is a preferred customer by now) and watch a movie with your therapist.

To top this off- in the end she yells at the paparazzi in a fake British accent that she's "f*cking over it." It was kind of creepy. And I've decided, after hearing how crazy she sounded, I will be retiring my fake British accent from my repertoire.

Golden Globes Are Cancelled- Chad Michael Murray's Pissed

2008-01-08T23:08:00.000-05:00

The Golden Globes Television Broadcast has been cancelled because of the writer's strike.

That is SAG (Screen Actors Guild) will not allow its actors to cross the picket lines in order to help the writers' (at a stand still) negotiations against the evil studio heads.

Sounds like a fricken movie, right?

Well it ain't, and you know what, Chad Michael Murray is pissed about it.

You may ask- who is Chad Michael Murray?

Well, CMM- as they say- is an actor- a fabulous actor- on the popular show "One Tree Hill" on the prestigious CW network. Yes, that's the same network that has my other favorites: "America's Next Top Model" and the now-defunct "Search for the Next Pussycat Doll."

CMM- not to be confused with CNN- was ordering with his fiancee (see below) from my waitress friend yesterday...

When he was overheard talking about he was so pissed the Golden Globes were cancelled and that this effects him.

I know, I'd be so pissed if I had to show up for another award show and get free swag and free alcohol, even though I wasn't nominated for anything.

Geesh- writers and studios- get it together!!!

For all you ladies gushing: Yes, he's cute and believe it or not, she's totally hotter than him!

**And by the above statement I do not imply that I am a Tila Tequila swinger-in-training.

2008 is Gonna be Fat!

2008-01-04T16:14:00.000-05:00

And not with a "ph".

It's what, a few days into the New Year, and the gym is EMPTY!!

I am shocked!

Apparently people are bucking the trend and giving up on losing weight in 2008 (but it rhymes so great people!)

Or- they're all vacationing in the Caribbean.

Bastards...

Breaking News!!! Britney's a Hospitalized Mess!!

2008-01-04T16:06:00.000-05:00

If you haven't heard the news or seen the numerous paparazzi videos (see above)- Britney Spears was taken to the hospital last night for psychiatric evaluation.

a.k.a. Homegirl is CRAZY!!

And this is neither breaking, nor new news.

But Spears made it to the hospital in a way that made all those "Cops" stars envious.

First, she held her toddler boys hostage for FOUR hours- 240 minutes!!- before finally handing them over to KFed and all the lawyers- from both sides.

Once the faceoff was done, they found Britney seriously out of it and on some sort of something.

Cue: ambulance.

An ambulance/police escort that was probably bigger than Princess Diana's, with fake ambulances included, brought her to Cedas Sinai Hospital in LA where she will stay for 72 hours.

I have to say that I am turning a page in my life in that-

drum roll please!-

I really don't care.

When I saw the video all I could think of was "wow, is this waste of medical talent necessary for some coked up, has-been pop star?"

And the answer is- no.

Something is going to happen to her in 2008 and being locked up in the nutter house better be one of them- for her sanity and the rest of America's.

It's The New Year- Already!

2007-12-31T10:49:00.000-05:00

While everyone Stateside is prepping for the most overrated bash of the year- New Year's Eve- there are people already hungover in 2008.

And those people just happen to be lovely Aussies and Kiwis.

I am uber special in that I've kind of already celebrated 2008.

I was woken out of my drunken stupor (boozy Sunday brunch turned into boozy shopping spree to boozy dinner to boozy movie to booze) at around 6:02am where I was - over the phone- offered a tequila shot and listening to fireworks.

Ahh, you gotta love technology!

Oompa Loompa Called- He Wants His Look Back

2007-12-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

Sure this is a Halloween costume for this kid- but for me this is my real life.

Yesterday I tried mystic tanning.

See since I've turned 22 I feel like I'm (dare I say old?), well, an adult now and need to start taking care of my body. And tanning equates wrinkles and worse.

So I thought I'd give my body a treat and give it UV Free tanning.

Oops.

At first I looked great.

Then two hours later, I still looked good.

Three hours, the people at Wetbar started giving me double looks in the- oh my god, what have you done.

Four hours- I am drinking myself silly so that I can forget that I'm orange. Check out the hands:

10 hours later- I woke up this morning and I'm a freaking streaky oompa loompa. My right hand is like a nice shade of burnt orange that match two fingers on my left hand while the rest of it is nearly white. Throw in a few streaks here and there and you have one nasty looking American.

I should've believed Pink when I saw the parody of mystic tanning in her "Stupid Girls" video. Yikes.

Chuck Norris Approved..

2007-12-10T14:10:00.000-05:00

I know I've been a little MIA, but I've been busy doing Chuck Norris impressions and harassing squirrels.

Check out this video I did for Barely Political about whether or not Baptist Republican Prez Candidate has Street Cred- Chuck Norris style!!!!!

It was definitely a hard video to shoot because I was cracking up soo much, especially during the Chuck Norris jokes. Oh, gotta love him.

BAM!!

P.S. Make sure to favorite it on youtube and so I can get more jobs!!

Black Friday

2007-11-25T10:16:00.000-05:00

Need help shopping for car stuff?

Here's the messiah list for cool gifts.

It's so sublime I've learned how to rhyme.

Ok, I'll stick to my day job.

It's Party Time Somewhere

2007-11-23T18:29:00.001-05:00

Today is Friday November 23, 2007.

It's known as Black Friday here in the States.

But in the tiny island off the coast of Thailand it's-

FULL MOON PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, walking to get a warm cup of coffee in the cold streets of NYC I looked up and saw a Full Moon.

It made me smile that somewhere people are getting jiggy wit it in a warm tropical island....

Thanksgiving- Rande Gerber Style

2007-11-23T16:41:00.001-05:00

Most people get out of New Yorkers get out of the City for Thanksgiving, but sometimes sticking around can be awesome.

Especially if you're hooked up with the W/Gerber Bars.

Meet Stone Rose.

It's on Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Building and has an amazing view of Central Park- and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade:

Yes it also had free champagne and bellinis.

Even if the alcohol, it was still a family affair...

With bartenders in training and mini cocktail waitress carrying napkins.

Awwwww.

But for the big kids, it was still all about the booze....

So for this Thanksgiving I didn't necessarily eat too much (although the duck Joe cooked was incredible!), but I definitely have pushed my tolerance back up.

Cheers!

Seriously Haunting

2007-11-22T22:54:00.000-05:00

This is an amazing song by Aussie artist Missy Higgins.

I originally heard this on my flight from Sydney to Auckland and was completely mesmerized by her voice and the lyrics.

I kind of forgot about how unbelievable the song was until I got out of my tryptophan (or however you spell it) hangover today and heard it on Grey's Anatomy. And btw, Grey's has the best music person ever.

The video, I think, doesn't do the song justice, but take a look/listen nonetheless.

Here are the lyrics:
I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none

There were sounds in my head
Little voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh and I found myself listening

'Cos I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood

See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood

And I won't be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me than anyone I ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself and so I say to you
This is what I have to do

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
Oh, she who dares to stand where I stood

Gobble Gobble

2007-11-22T22:46:00.000-05:00

Happy Turkey Day!!!!

I had a fabulous day today.

I got up early and went to the Stone Rose, which over looks Central Park/Columbus Circle and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Free lox, Free bellinis, and open arms into the W family. :)

Oh- and I even saw 'Santa'! hehe.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Every Rose Has Its Thorns

2007-11-20T22:10:00.000-05:00

That's the tagline for a crazy movie about a virgin who finds out she has teeth where her vajayjay is.

I'm not kidding.

See the above trailer.

Besides all the usual questions like - is this real? Who would actually fund/write/watch this?

I have to ask... why would any actress want to play this role?

I mean, yes, acting gigs are hard to come by- but seriously. A vagina with teeth? C'mon! There's less shame in doing reality tv!

You're right, they're both pretty disgusting.

Shout out to My Aussies

2007-11-20T16:30:00.000-05:00

It was a good day at FLD today.

Shoot went smoothly, was interviewed by Tezly TV, and got to do a story for my favourite people in the world- the Aussies!

Since I just traveled to Oz, I wanted to put in some lingo. Unfortunately, though, all the lingo I learned involved drinking or romance and my Aussie accent is quite, well, pitiful.

So here you guys go!

Stay tuned for the awesome Black Friday episode!

Happy 200th!

2007-11-14T10:01:00.000-05:00

Aston Martin Porsche Cayman - Fast Lane Daily - 12Nov07
Uploaded by FastLaneDaily

Fast Lane Daily celebrated their 200th episode- and I made the cut!

Yayyyyyyyy.

Here are all the fabulous hosts all dressed up for the celebration.

And yes, I am wearing my friend's prom dress. The only clothes I have are dirty beachwear from Thailand, and although that stuff works on a daily basis, I thought the 200th episode deserved a little more attention.

It was a super fun, easy shoot. I must admit a secret- all the hosts are super short! You know how you always hear about celebs being short? Well the FLD crew puts that stereotype to work! I mean, not that we're celebs or anything... yet. ;)

Enjoy!!!!!!!

Vanity Kills

2007-11-14T09:41:00.000-05:00

Kanye West's mom, Donda West, died this weekend from complications from cosmetic surgery.
Reportedly Donda had an allergic reaction to medication given to her while she had a breast augmentation and stomach reduction done.

Yikes.

I can honestly say these horror stories are a major deterrent against my decision to never go under the knife. Oh ya, I'm sure all you guys are rolling your eyes, but wouldn't it be nice to not have to work out on my "Grabowski pouch" for the rest of my life? I've thought- maybe when I'm not broke- I'd entertain the idea.
But I would never want my legacy to read:

R.I.P. Andrea Feczko
"Died 4 Plastic Surgery She Didn't Need"

or

R.I.P. Andrea Feczko
"Was Lazy & Died Getting a Quick Fix"

or

R.I.P. Andrea Feczko
"Couldn't See Beauty Can Have a 'Grabowski Pouch' Too"

Alright, you get the point- before I get too sappy.

Donda West's death is an absolute tragedy and should be mourned. It's a shame that a beautiful, intelligent, loving woman died for something so superficial.

I believe plastic surgery will be like tattoos some day. It will go out of style and those that are natural and stay away from temptation will always have a certain elegance and attractiveness that money can't buy.

Auckland Rebooting

2007-11-09T13:02:00.001-05:00

Finally it was time to leave Australia and all its craziness- and head over to Auckland.

I only had a night there before I flew to the south island so I decided to do the one touristy thing- the Sky Tower:

I say "one" touristy thing to do in Auckland because the largest city in New Zealand is the size of my thumb (well from way up there it is anyway):

That's the downtown, just that little bit. All other areas are suburbia and parks.

So I decided to be a good girl and enjoy the beautiful sunset-

-before calling it an early night and resting fro my plane ride- and bungy jump!- the next day.

Shiny Disco Balls

2007-11-09T12:54:00.000-05:00

The other half of Sydney life?

Party of course!

And THE place to party is Hugo's:

a.k.a. Disco Ball Haven.

They have the coolest house mixes, fabulously gorgeous people, and disco balls! What more could a girl ask for?

Well, for starters, pepto bismal.

After weeks and weeks of pushing my body to the limit my body had ENOUGH and reduced me to praying to the porceilan goddess.

It was supposed to be girls night but I was MIA for the first bit. Beer, champagne, burger, and thai red bull apparently don't mix. Isn't that odd? ;)

But I recovered a few hours later and dragged myself out of bed.

And with a little help from the girls (and a tequila shot) I was back on the mend!

So much so that Airlie and I stayed up to the crack of dawn-

Or as the Aussie's say so eloquently, we "met Dawn last night."

Beach Bums

2007-11-09T12:44:00.000-05:00

Since I had been to Sydney before, I decided to forgo the usual tourist activities and concentrate on being a proper Sydney-er, or whatever they're called.

To be a "Sydnyer" you do two things- sun and drink.

The latter of which I will get to later.

My BA PIC (Blonde Aussie Partner-in-Crime) & I checked out all the Sydney beach hotspots- and picked up all the Sydney beach hotties!

Here we are in the middle of this beautiful walk from Bondi to Bronte Beach- gorgeous!

Bondi.

It's not a big beach, but it's the BEST beach. You must go to North Bondi though because that's where all the Aussies (and hotties) hang.

Trust!!

And drinks at sunset after a long day at Manly Beach.

Manly beach is at the northern side of Sydney and across the harbour. People from Manly are fiercely proud of Manly beach, although it wasn't a very good beach and didn't have as good of a crowd as Bondi.

So Bondi is THE place to sunbathe in Sydney. Its reputation has proven correct!

Rewind!!!!!!!!!!

2007-11-09T12:36:00.000-05:00

Since I have been without reliable internet since I left Sydney (two weeks ago)- I need to backtrack on my life.

Here are some pics to get you in the mood...

Obama Girl/E! Cameo

2007-11-09T12:20:00.000-05:00

It was a good day yesterday- with the great & green FLD episode- as well as my second acting debut in one day!

In the new Obama Girl video (which is also produced by Next New Networks) I played a very difficult role that I needed a lot of soul searching to do...

I played a dumb blonde political assistant.

What a challenge.

While we shot the video, which was all improv and SO much fun, E! was filming a special on Amber a.k.a. Obama Girl.

Ok, so I won't really be on E!, but I may be in the background!!

Alright, back to me-

What do you have to look forward to in the next Obama Girl webisode?

a) A sex video?

b) Rehab?

c) Me Dirty Dancing with Obama Girl?

d) All of the above?

You'll just have to wait until it comes out!

Stay tuned... ;)

Going Green for FLD

2007-11-09T12:15:00.000-05:00

This is a momentous episode-

Not only is it my acting debut (Natalie Portman- watch out!)

I was also finally allowed to wear green!

I got a belated birthday present from the producers when I was allowed to wear green- my fave color to wear on-camera- and without it I've been seriously lost in FLD wardrobe styling.

I really like this episode- although my Tiger beer spare tire is showing a bit.

Off to the gym I go!!

"I'm Broke" Pays Off

2007-11-08T11:08:00.002-05:00

The Phrase of the Day that Pays Is...

(god I'm such a poet)

... "I'm Broke"

INSTANCE 1
I went to Verizon Wireless yesterday on 53 and 3 and needed a new cell phone battery. When the young man tried to upsell me because my out of date LG (which all the Brits have made fun of me for) is due for an upgrade I said, "Sorry, I'm broke."

He backed off immediately- so unlike a New York salesman. Phew.

Then when he said the battery is $40, I reluctantly pulled out my credit card to which he replied "$30- with cash."

Am I still in Asia? Bargaining in a proper store in the States? This is unheard of!

I happily handed over my $30 and waltzed out of the store.

INSTANCE 2

I went to ANOTHER Verizon Wireless store and inquired about a Crackberry- for shizzles and giggles- aka potential Christmas present - hint hint.

Of course I felt the most expensive $400 phone suited me the best. But again I said, "I'm broke- I am not gangsta enough to own a Crackberry." Ok, maybe the second part I just made up- but he replied,

"Ok, let's see if you're due for an upgrade."

Of course, I was.

Usually you get a $50 discount- but since "I'm broke", that turned into a $100 discount which turned into another $100 discount because, well, I don't know why.

So in two words and 15 minutes a $400 crackberry turned into a $200 crackberry.

To which I replied, "But I'm broke."

And was able to walk out of the store with all my money and all parties happy.

Cha-ching.

Back in the Fast Lane

2007-11-06T19:03:00.000-05:00

It feels soooooooooo good to be back at FLD!

I missed the "Fuck coffee, let's drink sugar free red bull at 945am" peepz as we churned out another fabulous show and a funny 200th episode promo.

To give you a hint, the shout-out includes a cameo from a blondish Derek D.

Scandalous... :)

Is This My Life?

2007-11-04T11:21:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I seriously wonder that...

I have been in America for what- less than 24 hours and here is how it's been:

LA- Ran into a smug looking Mario Lopez who was also sporting a Fedora (although not a mustard yellow one like mine) with these 40's style glasses that made him look like a chump. Oh, yes, I also ran into him as I was getting out of the bathroom and he was getting in.

NYC-
11:30pm
Went to some crazy Yale Law/Socialite Party where I met Cyrus the Blind- a blind Yale law student who is the life of the party. Yes, it can be done. At this party I learned about Argentine art (there were classics everywhere darling) and sipped champagne as I tried to drown out people talking about Ivy League Schools.

1:30am
Run into Lance "Frostylocks" Bass as he twirled out of Tenjune and almost hit me as I got in. His hair looked a nice natural shade of auburn though, good for him. Then went into Tenjune where I drank more champagne, jager shots (a bad habit I have aquired abroad) and danced to some killer house music- although not as good as Hugo's in Sydney.

Nov. 4- 11am.
I finally wake up. I get a message from a friend saying "Are you jet lagged" to which I reply "No- hungover."

His reply: "You're awesome. you know that?"

And then I think, is this really my life?

Don't Blame the American...

2007-10-31T00:14:00.000-05:00

Trivia in Sydney.

It's quite a phenomenon.

Every Tuesday certain bars host a balls out game of trivia- with $600 on the table.

And with most of its population being overstressed young professional men- it can get intense.

So my American wise-ass decided to go with an all boys team and brave it.

Hey- I just graduated with a 3.8 GPA from NYU- I can soooooo handle this.

I was doing well-

Contributed a clue for an Aussie Rules Football question (yes I do read the newspaper while I'm traveling)

Named populated countries in the southern hemisphere

And ...

seriously screwed up

Apparently there's a question about who said "Father I cannot tell a lie" or something.

No one had any ideas.

So I said- Jesus.

ERR WRRRRRRRRRRRRRRONG

As the only American on the team I got the answer, George Washington, wrong.

And that's when I learned to shut up and drink beer when you are surrounded by a bunch of competitive Aussies.

At least they smiled for the photo:

My BA PIC

2007-10-31T00:08:00.000-05:00

To My Blonde Aussie (or Bad Ass-whichever you prefer) Partner-In-Crime:

I heart Sydney(ers) as well!

And I learned that:

A) Guys stalk you before they approach you, even if you are creepily filming them for a "Sex in Sydney" episode

B) Clubs don't care if you're hot or not- :(

C) Ryan's Bar is THE place to pick up Aussie iBankers (yum, yum)

D) Australian women can be beautiful, confident, successful, kind and genuinely pro-female- something very rare in women!

E) That Airlie is a popular Aussie

and finally...

F) I will be living there in my five year plan!!

I'll see you in three years (correct?) in NYC- if not sooner!!

Catch Up Kids

2007-10-30T02:39:00.000-05:00

Ok

I just checked out my favorite Aussie in the whole wide world's blog

http://airlie-freshair.blogspot.com/

And feel a little bad that I'm a week behind on my travels. But no worries- I plan on correcting that!

Right now I'm in Queenstown, NZ and just did THE bungy jump- the almighty, holy grail of bungy jumps- the Nevis Highwire Jump.

Sure the Macau Tower may be the tallest-

But this puppy you need to take a gondola right to get to the platform in a giant ravine. It's 134 meters, making it the second longest in the world, and took three years to develop the technology to have a suspended platform.

Needless to say it's a well oiled machine and everyone jumps!

5-4-3-2-1

GO

8.5 seconds of free fall.

Unreal.

It's like skydiving.

And it was so different from Canada where they didn't have a system and didn't tell you how to jump. Here they push you so that your toes are over the edge so you can jump out further (you need to jump out to handle this one) and in Canada they were just like- ok, jump please.

So Canada- more me against myself

This was just pure insanity.

Pictures and video will be coming soon- as soon as I can get some freaking good wireless!

geesh.

Porceilan Goddess

2007-10-27T18:46:00.001-05:00

In all her glory.

You've gotta love Facebook.

**** THIS IS NOT ME!!! Just some random girl on Facebook. I have blonde hair, remember?*****

"Ladies" Drink Champagne

2007-10-27T18:25:00.000-05:00

Well since The Age said I'm not demure- there's no reason why I can't booze it up with the boys.

And let's face it, I wasn't looking classy or sounding classy either.

I had lost my voice from all the birthday extravaganzas and lost feeling in my right arm for about three hours after my 4 hour sleep (but I still managed to put on my fake eyelashes- I am that good!).

So I drowned by fashion no-no sorrows the only way a girl can...

A colorful cocktail to start- at 10am no less.

And "bottle service".

Yes, who needs a flute- real girls drink from the bottle- or at least pose with it.

After 8 very short hours enjoying the races it was off to the clubs...

10 to 2am.

No voice.

&

Inability to walk in stilettos.

Sounds like the way to do Caulfield Cup.

Living Up the Races

2007-10-27T18:06:00.001-05:00

My last day in Melbourne was spent at the lovely Caulfield Cup race.

It was much different from the Guineas.

A) It was sunny and warm outside.

and

B) We had to mingle with the "normal" people for our VIP marquee was gone, which ended up being waaay more fun because then you got to see all the ridiculous outfits everyone was wearing.

Mainly the guys were a bit crazy:

These dudes were from Scotland and proudly showed off their kilts.

This is a fab suit made in Bangkok. If I were a boy I would've totally gotten the same one.

And some steal their girlfriends' hats.

And me- well I wore by far the shortest dress and most bold color.

I definitely stood out- I think in a good way.

But when I woke up in the morning and read The Age newspaper there was an article about how demure is in and miniskirts and decolletage is out.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/fashion/elegance-wins-minis-get-short-shrift/2007/10/20/1192301103418.html

My first fashion "out" list.

Ironically that reporter I talked fashion with after she gave me an advil (my shoes were KILLING me) and complimented me on how fabulous I looked. Sounds like someone at The Age doesn't mean what she writes!! ;)

The New Quote of the Year

2007-10-23T18:10:00.000-05:00

It's Friday in Melbourne and I should've been taking it easy because I had the races the next day- which is a full day in your stilettos, drinking, and debauchery.

But one problem.

There's a club underneath my hotel room and I couldn't get much sleep.

So I had a random mutual friend who got me on a guestlist.

I'd like to say the night started off nice, but it didn't.

It was a sh*tshow from the beginning.

There was an MTV Australia party (free booze) in the back and I just happened to crash it.

And when there's Aussies & Booze, things tend to get very "loose" very quick.

Loose

Looser

Loosest.

Nick (mutual friend) & Andy (mutual friend brother) were quite the pair. Andy's totally crazy (it must be a name thing) because he definitely gave me a piggy back ride in the middle of the club.

But I was not to be outdone.

Drum roll please....

I told Nick the best quote of the year:

"I have a mortgage on this dance floor, it's about time you start paying me rent.

Bow down bitch."

And then put my stiletto on his shoulder once he had bowed down.

Apparently, I'm a legend.