Certified Fake

Certified Fake

Let's begin this post on a positive:

the view of Kibuli Mosque from the food court a the new Oasis shopping mall.  The mosque is very picturesque on top of the hill and can be seen from all over Kampala city.  I was meeting a friend this afternoon at Good African Coffee (trade, not aid; look for it on Tesco shelves in the UK) in Nakawa, and from their balcony you also get a spectacular view of the mosque on Kibuli Hill.

So I was feeling froggy today, and I googles fake Uganda.  These two words were on my mind for a few reasons I guess.  There have been stories in the newspapers recently pertaining to fake goods being sold in Uganda.  Speaking of fake goods, and before I reveal what really motivated me to do the search, let me show you the results of that search.

Fake.  Fake.  Fake.  The fake cement scares the hell out of me.  With all the construction that is going on in this city, it's really scary to think a building might come tumbling down... with me (or anyone) in it.  But I'm a risk taker... so life marches on...

So you know how there are these guys called birthers and they are trying to argue that Barack Obama is not really the president of the United States because he is really ineligible because he wasn't really born on American soil.  BS.  The Orly Taitz camp went as far as to produce a fake Kenyan birth certificate that is so flawed it's incredible that some people are taking it seriously.  Fake.  Fake.  Fake.

Guess what!  You too can attempt to prove yourself ineligible to become present of the United States by generating you very own fake Kenyan birth certificate.  Here's mine:

Fake.  Fake.  Fake.  Yes, my unknown test tube father is an exotic dancer living in the Bat Cave.  You can have your own.  Just go to http://kenyanbirthcertificategenerator.com.  Have fun!

Yes, the ability to produce my own fake Kenyan birth certificate and the birthers' fake effort to debunk Obama as president of the US is the #1 inspiration for my search for fake online today. 

Certified fake.

Club Membership

Club Membership

I dedicate this post to the one... the only... BMac.  

Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me? 

K-R-I-S-T-Y  T-H-O-M-A-S!!!

Unless she dies or is otherwise rendered unable to fulfill her duties, and then Claudia Kishi, with those lovely almond-shaped brown eyes, will take over.  What was Stacey thinking when she permed her hair?  For that, she is forever banned from being president.

Yo, B, guess what they have at the new Nakumatt at the new Oasis Mall that was recently built on what was until recently protected green space:  a whole section of the book department dedicated to The Baby-Sitters Club!!!

Yes.  Look!

So don't worry if your sister's claim that your mom threw them all out comes true, you can just come to visit me in Kampala and buy them all over again.  According to Wikipedia the series is currently out of print.  Well, I guess those unsold books locked in a warehouse somewhere were packed up and shipped to Uganda because there are two whole shelves of The Baby-Sitters Club books at the Kampala Nakumatt!!! 

I, for one, got into The Baby-Sitters Club books as a 27-year-old Peace Corps Volunteer.  Now you might call that strange, but I call it entertainment-via-the-arrival-of-a-free-box-of-books.  I can also claim I was under the influence BMac and mefloquine.  Potent combination.  I'm not one for secrets, so I admit to not only reading one book of the series, but a few.  I don't remember how many, but that's irrelevant.  

I didn't pick up any BSC books during my outing; that's so 2003.  I did, however, purchase Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  I've never read it.  I need to read it before I place my order for

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  

Yes, it's the classic romance mashed up with ultra-violent zombies.

Guess what else they have at the new Oasis Mall that was recently built on what was until recently protected green space:

vultures.

Having these guys hovering around is enough to make one lose his appetite.

The Banana and the Paradox

The Banana and the Paradox

This will be my final post about my weekend in Nairobi, then I'll move on to current affairs and Kampala.  But I had such a fantastic time with my fabulous friends, that I'm trying to drag out the experience as long as I can--even if I've crossed the border.

This is what I noticed while I was minding my own business trying to finish the latest Artemis Fowl novel, Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox, but she yelled out, "For a banana!?!" at the little airport bistro next to my departure gate.

???

I guess the banana was overpriced, and she refused to cave to the demands of the vendor and went for a doughnut instead.  I'm always looking for an excuse like an overpriced banana to give me a reason to buy a doughnut.  What I would not give for a chocolate glazed chocolate doughnut from Duncan Doughnuts right now...  

While the woman was unhappily chewing on her doughnut, I continued to read my book.  I've been trying to complete the Artemis Fowl series since my students got into the series earlier this year.  I'd already read the the first two books in the six-book (so far) series.  Well The Time Paradox is book number six, so FINISHED!  

I completed the book during the less-than-an-hour flight from Nairobi to Entebbe.  In the Artemis Fowl series, The Time Paradox ranks up there with The Opal Deception as one of my favourites.  Maybe that's because pixie super-villain, Opal Koboi, reemerges to reek megalomaniacal havoc in a fashion that only she can which makes her one of the most amusing and dangerous pixie super-villains ever written about.  Oh, and she even has a new pair of red boots in this installment.

She's coming back, bitches!

44's 48th

44's 48th

I had to get this post up while it was still officially 4th August 2009 in my part of the world  As you may know, today is the 48th birthday of U.S. President Barack Obama, his first celebrated as President.  I'm sure he's received a spectacular array of gifts (many he will not be able to keep when he leaves office), but there is one that (at least altitudinally speaking) trumps them all.  One country renamed its highest peak after President Obama.  No, Kenya (where some people would like the birthers' conspiracy theories to be true; I saw t-shirts over the weekend reading OBAMA:  Obama, Born in Africa Managing Americans) did not re-christen Mt. Kenya.  The Caribbean nation of Antigua has renamed its tallest mountain Mt. Obama and did it "as a symbol of excellence, triumph, hope and dignity for all people."

Happy (belated) birthday wishes also go out from me to Bede!!!

Whole Camel Milk

Whole Camel Milk

I had a fantastic long weekend in Nairobi--met lots of new people, visited lots of supermarkets, helped cater a fabulous barbeque for 30, chatted, chatted, chatted... oh, and I drank some camel milk.

In reality, my verdict was not so negative, but it makes for a great photo!  True, my first reaction to the milk's taste was not very positive, but it actually was not that bad.  I think it is an acquired taste.  (Remember the first time you tried soy milk?)  It was just not what I'd expected.  It reminded me of the milk left over after a bowl of Trix or something.

You know how one thought leads to another, how we connect new things to things we already know, and that is how we learn.  Well, the sight of the jug of camel milk made me think of camel toe (yeah, who wants to be inside my mind), which led to the thought of The Camel Toes.

Serial Mom, anyone?

EBB

EBB

(I wrote this while at the airport on Thursday.  Obviously, I'm no longer there.  I'm in Nairobi having a marvelous time with fabulous people.)

So I'm waiting for my flight at the Entebbe airport; I'm on my way to Nairobi.  I've been thinking about this trip for some time, but I did not decide to go until about 10:00 this morning.  So the rest of the day was basically a mad dash to purchase a ticket, make crashing arrangements at a friend's place, packing, calling drivers for pick-ups.  Blah. Blah. Blah.  But I'm here.  Waiting in the terminal.

If you've not been to Uganda, the name Entebbe might only evoke memories of 1976 and  Operation Entebbe or the January 1977 made-for-television movie based on the infamous event, Raid on Entebbe (starring Charles Bronson and Peter Finch).  

Now I just found out that Raid on Entebbe was the second of two films based on the hijacking and rescue that came out in the 1970's, and both made-for-television movies were aired on competing networks about a month apart.  But like the three versions of the Amy Fisher story, one reigned supreme with audiences and critics.  The first film, Victory at Entebbe, must've really sucked because I cannot find much information about it; plus, I'd never heard of it.  And that says a lot, considering it starred Anthony Hopkins, Elizabeth Taylor, Burt Lancaster and Richard Dreyfuss.  

To me, the word entebbe first evokes thoughts of a chair.  After that, I think of fried tilapia on the shores of Lake Victoria, competing in my first triathlon, COS conference 2004, swimming pools, the first International BMac Day, and Susan, oh, Susan.

A Funny Thing...

A Funny Thing...

After a delicious dinner of Thai food, I went out with a couple friends--one of the guys was in town visiting Nairobi.  While at Michelle's in Ntinda, John shared with me a little story about the beer he was drinking:

Tusker Beer is named after the elephant that killed one of the brew's founders.

It's true.  The story of it's 1922 origin is concisely printed on the bottle's label.  You can read a less-detailed summary of this on Wikipedia.  Imagine a beer label containing more information than this article.

Maybe I'm the last to know this story, but you have to admit that it's an interesting one.

What I thought would be an early night (it was Wednesday, remember) ended up being a 2:00 am-er.  We went to Rouge just after mid-night; the place was pretty dead.  But then came the tsunami of people... on a Wednesday night.  By 1:00 am, the place was packed.  Before I knew it, I was grabbed by the arm and drug into the V.I.P. booth and found myself dancing beside Ugandan hip-hop artist, Navio.

Eventually, it was time to go.  

I think I'm going to Nairobi today.  I've not really planned.  But I think I'll go to Nairobi today.

A Lively Bunch

A Lively Bunch

I finally got around to around to watching Gossip Girl.  I know.  How could I not have seen it before?  I mean it has the word gossip in the title and Gossip Girl is Kristen Bell and Blake Lively is the Sister of Robyn Lively--wife of the-guy-who-plays-Troy's-dad in High School Musical (by the way, his name is Bart Johnson), star of Teen Angel Returns, The Karate Kid III and one of the greatest teen masterpieces of 1989:  Teen Witch.  

Oh, how used to love this woman.

Besides having my ass firmly planted in the comfy chair today, I hosted a small dinner for four friends.  I intended to make a salmon lasagne.  Unfortunately, the supermarket didn't have the lasagne pasta, so I opted to make it with another type of pasta and it came out well.  My friend Alex came over to lend a hand in the kitchen.

For dessert, I made whole-wheat strawberry muffins.

Top that!

Canis

Canis

The following headline grabbed my attention yesterday as I was reading the Sunday Monitor newspaper:

100 Wolves Invade Luweero District

The story goes on to describe how the district has been invaded by 100 wolves that have killed 180 goats, raided gardens destroying banana trees and cassava, and instilled so much fear in the local children that they are afraid to go to school.  The article claims that the wolves are pushing some residents of the district to the brink of starvation.

I was like, "Oh, my goodness!  That's horrible... Wait a minute.  Are their wolves in Africa?"  What a great learning opportunity for me!  I did a quick Google search and found this photo and article about the Ethiopian (or Abyssinian) wolf  from National Geographic.

Beautiful creatures really.  But Ethiopia which is pretty far from Uganda.  Maybe some got lost, migrated and ended up in Luweero District.  That's highly unlikely.  According to the National Wildlife Federation's website, there are only 500 canis simensis, Africa's sole wolf, remaining.  

Well, what's going on in Luweero?  During my search for information on the African wolves, I found several sites about the African wild dog.  (Some people would prefer that it be called the African painted dog because 'wild' has a negative connotation.)  This endangered species has a larger distribution, being found in 25 different countries (Uganda, however, not being one of them), and with a larger population (believed to be somewhere between 3500 and 5000), it is perhaps more feasible that a pack took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in central Uganda.

The above map shows that Uganda is on the fringe of the distribution of Lycaon pictus, the African wild dog.  With conflict in some areas, drought in others and human sprawl, is it not possible for the painted dogs to look for new digs?

I have one more possibility to propose.  There are also wolves in South Africa.  I know.  I know.  The Ethiopian wolf is the only African wolf and there are only 500 left.  Yes, but some people, in a effort to produce a super guard dog, imported wolves to South Africa to crossbreed with dogs.  So the wolves are not indigenous, but they are of hearty stock and thrive in the wilds of SA.  Could not someone have done something similar in Uganda?  With the huge market for security companies here and the surge of foreign companies into the country, this would not surprise me.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I finally go around to watching Twilight.  I've also read the first two books in the series and have the other two on my coffee table waiting for me.  Naturally, I could not help but make an association between the Luweero wolf mystery and the Quileute creation myth.  Stephanie Meyer created the myth of the 'cold ones' so I guess we don't have to also worry about vampires also being in the area.

(Oh, and one more funny thing.  In the printed version of the Sunday Monitor, the wolf story was in the National News section.  Online, it appears to be in the Op-Ed section.  Could the whole story have been some type of metaphor?  Wolves invading Luweero... eating...  evoking fear...  What might Dan Wandera really be trying to say?)

Get Happy!

Get Happy!

What a great weekend!  I went for a 13km run on Saturday morning, there was a barbeque at a friend of a friend’s on Saturday night, and Sunday morning I made a successful attempt to host a brunch where I made waffles for the first time—and they came out great! 

Another perk of housesitting:  a waffle iron at my disposal.  I've wanted one for years.  The one I used this morning was this Presto model.

It's handy-dandy and fun to use.  I love the way it flips, and the built-in timer is super helpful.

My boys came over, and we spent the day eating and watching Twilight, season 7 of Friends, Jumping Jack Flash and the 100^th episode of So You Think You Can Dance—the one where Katy Holmes performed Liza’s Get Happy.

Who knew that Katie was musical?  Not the most amazing voice, but she hit the notes.  I'm not sure why she was asked to perform other than to promote her charity, but it was not a painful performance.  Look at those legs!

So after all that crazy corruption stuff in New Jersey last week, I was happy to find out today via a rerun of Saturday Night Live and later the BBC that the state has decided not to ban bikini waxing.  Two women were hospitalized from an infection they developed after being waxed, and the state lawmakers went nuts.  I guess that is old news (from way back in March), but it’s news to me.  Yeah, women were telling the state to “stay out of our pants,” and there were jokes about “the overgrown garden state” and  “the garden state maybe extra lush this summer.”  

How could I not have known about this when it was a hot story? 

Trust

Trust

Who is the person that the majority of Americans trust to deliver them the news?  Katie Couric?  Charlie Gibson?  Brian Williams?

No.  It's John Stewart.

That's right folks.  John Steward, host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central (and co-star of the 1997 straight-to-dvd Drew Barrymore film Wishful Thinking), is the most trusted newscaster in American--the Walter Cronkite of 2009.  At least that was the finding of a nationwide poll conducted by Time Magazine.  

As you can see from this map of the results, 44% of Americans put their trust in a comedian to deliver them the truth over more recognized and formal newscasters--even the good folks of Texas.  What does that say about the state of journalism in America?  

Did you catch the last episode of So You Think You Can Dance this week?  Oh my goodness, Melissa and Ade's performance about a woman with breast cancer nothing was less than amazing, so beautiful, so moving.  I don't think anyone who watched that performance got through it with dry eyes, especially if they have ever known anyone who has battle cancer... and won... or lost.  I've watched it over and over again on YouTube.  Please, if you have not seen it yet watch it:  

This is an example of the amazing power of performance, the way dance can really create a picture with no paint and make a statement with no words.  The trust between the dancers was powerful, the lifts and the leap Melissa makes into Ade's arms were all very moving.  The Maxwell song that provides the backdrop is also beautiful and fitting.  I had to go to iTunes and download This Woman's Work after watching this performance.  Melissa, Ade and Tyce, you have touched this non-sentimental, often cynical heart of stone.  I need moments like this.

Accidental Discoveries

Accidental Discoveries

I'm on summer vacation, right? Six weeks of leave, and tomorrow I complete week two. I'm on leave: which is why I spent about 4 hours in the office today.  It was an extremely productive day; however, I uncovered some information (accidentally) that really pissed me off and just gave further evidence to confirm that the woman I used to work under is a raging incompetent... True, I should not have uncovered what I did, but I did not go snooping for it.  Then, when I found it I asked myself, "What would Veronica Mars do?"  If you know V, then you know what I did.

Speaking of V, I was watching AFN tonight, and I spotted Chirs Lowell (Veronica Mars, Season III, Piz) on the screen in Private Practice.  That show is full of beautiful people:  Taye Diggs, Lowell, Amy Brenneman, Tim Daly, Audra McDonald.  I watched my first episode of the Grey's Anatomy spin-off tonight.  I must say, I kind of like it... I don't want to get too attached because I will not have AFN access after this housesitting gig is over.  Beautiful doctors saving lives.  Saving prostitutes.  Saving fertility.  Saving each other's asses.  Great television.

What Happened?

What Happened?

Ever wonder that happened to the teen group from the 90s Hi-Five?  Remember their hits I Like the Way (The Kissing Game), I Just Can't Handle It, and I Can't Wait Another Minute.  Like tens of other people, that question has been scratching at the back of my mind for some time now.  I mean they were not just another one-hit-wonder band; I've just listed three hits by them.  Plus, they had that song from one of the Sister Act movies, and I'm pretty sure they performed at Grad Nite 1994 at Walt Disney World, or maybe I just fabricated that memory out of desire.  Maybe I am delusional because wikipedia says they disbanded around 1993.  Then again... it is wikipedia.

This was a boy-band that I did not know any of the names of the individual members.  They have been compared to New Edition, but come on, everybody could identify Ronny, Bobby, Ricky and Mike.  Not to mention Ralph and later Johnny.  So, no, Hi-Five, (as good as their songs were) were not the new New Edition of their time.  I just found out today that the lead singer of Hi-Five's name was Tony Thompson...  and he died in 2007.  That was shocking news to read today as I looked for album artwork to use to update my iTunes library.  

Sadly, Thompson, died a little over two years ago (1st June 2007) in his hometown of Waco, Texas.  He was only 31.  I find his cause of death even sadder:  an accidental overdose of freon gas.  He reportedly had a history of "huffing".  How does one go from a string of hits, including a #1, to huffing gas?  Poor guy.  

He's Just So Into Ro and Drew

He's Just So Into Ro and Drew

I had a date tonight with my favourite princess and a half-blood prince.  RoRo finally came out of the bush, and it was a pleasure to have her on my arm as my date for the evening.  Even suffering from a cold, which she jokingly/seriously thinks is H1N1, she is a dazzling beauty. 

We went to see the latest installment in the Harry Potter series—no picnic before hand, not as creative of an outing as the one BMac slept through, but we did meet for juice, coffee and cinnamon buns before the show.  Two friends me us for the show, but one had never seen any of the other Harry Potter films, nor had he read any of the books—no better place to start than the sixth one.  He was lost and did not have a very high opinion of the film.  I, on the other hand, really like this film; it was one of my favourites in the saga of Harry Potter so far.  My other two favourites are The Prisoner of Askaban and The Order of the Phoenix.  My least favourite is The Goblet of Fire.  The Half-Prince installment was quite dark.  Of course, it would have to be with the death of a main character.  The actors are maturing with their characters and are becoming better actors with each film.  I appreciate how the Harry Potter films have relied more on story and characters to drive the film more than special effects as the series has progressed.  The first two and the fourth films were too eye candy heavy for my taste. 

Tuesday is half-price movie day at Cineplex, so I also caught the 2 o’clock showing of He’s Just Not Into You.  Yes, some films take a lifetime to arrive in Kampala; HJNIY was showing in the UK when I was there in February.  However others, like The Half-Blood Prince, open here at the same time they do worldwide.  HJNIY received mixed review, and my review (if I was giving one) would be just that:  mixed.  Some parts of the film were great, but I did find myself checking my watch for the time, which is not a good thing.  A positive statement:  I think this is the first film I ever enjoyed a character played by Ben Affleck.  I got a little choked up when he was washing the dishes.  Ginnifer Goodwin is fantastic.  The reason I decided to see this film… Drew Barrymore.  I’ve expressed my admiration of drew on my blog before.  I love Drew.  I think she is amazing.  She is a beautiful creature.  I’m really looking forward to finally seeing Grey Gardens, which just came out on DVD.

By the way, her directorial debut, Whip It, is scheduled to be released on 9^th October.  Drew+roller derby+Juliette Lewis+Eve+Jimmy Fallon=A MUST SEE!!!

Fishy

Fishy

So, I'm from Florida.  I must say I am taken aback by the natural beauty of the beaches of the Florida panhandle every time that I go back to the area that (for better or for worse) I call 'home'.  I check up on the hometown news semi-regularly on www.starfl.com.  (The New Vision ain't got nuthin' on it!)  Well there is some controversy brewing in the Gulf/Franklin area.  Besides the story about Gulf County's first confirmed case of swine flu--which I'm sure has some people freaking out--there is the story of a giant grouper.  Photo: 

Now that's some fish.  Some people think that it could've been of record-breaking size.  Funny thing:  they didn't weigh it.  I guess they were not out for records, just holiday fishing.  They snapped their photos, alerted the local media (I guess because there's a story in the paper), filleted the king-sized grouper, packed it and went separate ways to Alabama and Kansas.  End of story...

...That is until questions started to bubble up after the story not only ran in the local paper but in a few local papers and a larger regional newspaper.  Was the fish a legal Warsaw grouper or a protected goliath grouper?  Oops!!!  Can't what happened in the Gulf of Mexico stay in the Gulf of Mexico?  Not when the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission know what you did this summer.

Investigation is underway.  Now, I think the tourists  really thought that they'd done nothing wrong when they caught this fish; otherwise, they would be some of the dumbest visitors to the coast this summer.  They.  Put.  The.  Photo.  In.  The.  Paper.  But if they are guilty, they could face 6 months in jail and a $500 fine.

Wow!  Small-town news, super fun!

Do you know what else is super fun?  Dressing up as a castaway, donning a homemade banana-fibre hat and having a wiener (made from poultry, no pork or beef) roast.  It takes me back to my days as a pirate marooned on the island of Tutuila in the South Pacific.

Rain Forest Sundays Can Get You Down

Rain Forest Sundays Can Get You Down

This was a fantastic Sunday.  I went with three friends to spend a day at the Rain Forest Lodge in Mabira Forest.  I blogged about stopping by there on the way back from Jinja after the hash relay there two weeks ago.  I still think the place is stunningly beautiful.  We spent the day pool side; the water was icy, but jumping into the cold water after spending time in the sauna was very refreshing.  Lawrence, the guy by the pool, was a big help and very friendly.  If only the rest of the staff were that useful… Lunch was more stressful than it was worth.  A set menu:  set soup, set salad, choice of a main course, set dessert, 30,000 shillings, done.  Simple, right?  I wish.  The incompetence of the staff in the restaurant was almost bad enough to ruin an otherwise great day.  After waiting an hour for the meals to be prepared, they still came incomplete, then either the waiter or the chef tried to change the price and add charges.  Apparently they were not prepared to accommodate the crowd of today, so some parts of the meal either did not come at all or the portions were significantly reduced.  True to my fashion, I insisted on seeing the manager.  He was friendly enough, but I felt his response to my concerns seemed to rehearsed and fake.  I could almost accept this as just a fluke, a bad day in the kitchen, but I was warned about the restaurant by a friend of mine before I came.  His sister was there in the past and also had a horrible experience.  It’s quite a shame because the place is so beautiful.  The food that we did get was well presented and tasty.  

Despite lunch not going as planned (and I'd really looked forward to this trip being superb), the day was otherwise fantastic.  I spend the day lounging, reading Vanity Fair, chatting/gossiping with fabulous friends, and enjoying nature in a very non-rugged way.  I also made a discovery when I got back to my housesitting digs and got on the internet:  a dvd of the broadway staged version of Rent was released in February.  How did I not know about this?  Well guess what I shopped for on Amazon.com today.  No day but today...

Oh, and Leo came by from a bbq at his sister's place.  He came bearing gifts of roasted pork, chicken, goat's meat and potato salad.  In return for his kindness, we tuned in to So You Think You Can Dance on AFN and shared our bounty.  I'm not sure what kind of delay there is in broadcasting, but the Black Eyed Peas were on performing I Gotta Feeling.  The song makes me smile and want to dance.

My web browsing also led me to discover on Rollingstone.com that Xtina is shooting a new video.  Does this mean we can expect new music from her in the new future?  She looks great.  I don't know if I've ever seen her so simple, but I love it.  I'm a big fan of the white t-shirt.

Assassin

Assassin

About two years ago I blogged about Margaret Cho (one of my favourite Cho quotes from that post:  Why is Viagra everywhere?  Doesn't it make more sense leave the bullets out of the gun than to just try to avoid being shot?  Especially when the gun is an old musket, that you gotta pour gun powder in and tap it down.)  Well, I've been inspired to blog about her again, so be prepared.  Here's the inspirational photograph:

There it is.  Yes, I bet some of you are borrowing a statement from Paris Hilton:  That's hot!  While others are disturbed by both my Hilton reference and by the Margaret Cho bondage scene on the cover of August's Unzipped magazine.  I'm not familiar with Ricky Sinz, but I think that Ms. Cho is sizzling on in this shot.  Apparently, she is the first mainstream actor to be featured on the cover of Unzipped, and she is the first woman too.  I'm not rushing out to get my copy of the magazine, but I will admit to being tempted.  You can also see a short segment with behind-the-scenes exerts from this photo shoot on You Tube.  Looks like fun!

Oh, and I must not forget the important stuff:

Happy birthday Kristen Bell (aka Veronica Mars)!!!

July 18th

She's 29.

Chasing Vermeer

might finally make it to the big screen in 2011

with Brad Pitt as a producer!

What about me?  Well, I kind of feel like a Kato Kaelin without the fame of being part of a murder mystery.  I'm housesitting and living in a house I could never afford to live in myself.  I was asked to take care of a cat.  For the past two nights I've woken up thinking the cat was dead.  What if it died?  That would be horrible.  To add to my anxiety of the cat, I left the drier running when I left yesterday to spend the evening at my friend Lynne's, and I kept thinking that the timer would not work, the drier would keep running, the clothes would combust and the house would burn down.  Needless to say, I have a very active imagination, and I'm not always optimistic; I think of worst case scenarios.  

The Year of Numbers

The Year of Numbers

I had dinner with my friend Paulina (aka the author of the fantastic new novel The Year of Numbers--if you've not had the chance to pick up a copy, I highly recommend it) last night night at Haandi, probably my favourite Indian restaurant in Kampala.  The mutton vindaloo was delicious, and the conversation was spirited--both very spicy and satisfying.  It had been a while since we'd hung out, maybe more than a year, so it was good to catch up.