EastGirlsWest

An Inconvenient Truth ends with a call to action. The producers ask the audience members to “tell everyone you know about this film.” So, assuming I know most of you reading this, and happy to reach those that I don’t, here’s me enthusiastically doing my part.

We went to see the movie last night, and left impressed, horrified, and galvanized. I suppose our reaction was predictible, but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful. Even if you feel you don’t need any more convincing that global warming is terrifying and real - go see it. Even if you think this film has nothing new to teach you - spend the $10, it’s worth it. And if you’re worried Al Gore will be boring? He’s not. It’s gratifying to finally see the Al we knew was in there all along, but who became so lost when he was running as fast as he could for president and Naomi Wolf was advising him to wear more brown. He doesn’t wear brown once in this movie, and he’s funny and passionate and earnest and real. You’ll want to listen to what he has to say.

The 10 warmest years on record were all within the last 14 years, and 2005 was at the top of the list. The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years. Cores of polar ice show that carbon dioxide is much, much higher than ever before. The film is packed with powerful statistics, and stark photos of melting ice, receding rivers and rising oceans. It’s depressing, for sure…but it won’t leave you without hope. Gore shares his conviction that the solution is in our hands. And he provides some easy ways to start right here.

UPDATE: I just read that yesterday was the hottest June 27 on record in San Diego.

Our friend Dave Rolland, who is the editor of San Diego CityBeat, wrote a great column in this week’s issue about recently meeting President Clinton. The gist is that he discovered the stories about Bill are true: he IS that smart, that charming, that thoughtful.

Sigh.

Oh, it’s so good to be back on the elliptical. Angela and I finally crawled back to the gym together - after my long absence and several days of trying to get ourselves there since my return. It was insanely hot here today, and we were NOT motivated to go sweat even more. But somehow we made it, and managed to converse while panting through 45 minutes of sheer workout hell. Today’s discussion included:

The determination that a certain evil, blonde, nasty, pointy, souless and bilious conservative pundit/author needs to just GO BACK TO THE SLUDGE PILE SHE CRAWLED OUT OF. I’m taking a cue from the wise Jason Kottke here and NOT mentioning her name. Because you know what? If we all just stop giving her the attention she seeks when making “controversial” statements, then she will not sell books. If she does not sell books, we will not have to see her vile face anywhere except FOX News, which we don’t watch anyway. Right?

Tonight she was on MSNBC, wearing an excessive amount of makeup, especially green eyeshadow. But all the facepaint in the world couldn’t camoflauge the fact that she has no soul, which led Angela to observe that she looked like some kind of ghoulish peacock. And then we wondered: who has sex with her?

Angela has put together a Very Special second hour of These Days today (for those of you who don’t know, that’s the KPBS radio show for which she is a producer). Tune in to hear Adam Sternbergh, author of the much-discussed Grups article, along with the author of a new book called Rejuveniles. It’s a hipster, 30-something edition of These Days! If you can listen live, tune in at 10. Or you can always check out the podcast later.

Jessica

Originally uploaded by bestgesture.

Awww, shucks. She says the sweetest things. But, PENN forgot one of my best photos. I went ahead and posted for you all to see.
A smile like champagne bubbles!

Oh, by the way, promise not to use the blog to gush about each other’s talents…

Ah, screw it… eastgirlswest rules!

So you’ve probably noticed by now that Angela and I are the Penn & Teller of bloggers. Or something like that. It’s become clear that I write and she photographs - and both are essential to making this whole EGW thing work.

Now that we’re in a groove, we’re going to try to find ways to integrate the words and pictures a bit better. “Photostream” has been renamed “Angela’s Photos” - and if you aren’t already clicking there every day, I suggest you look at her fabulous photos right now. I have too many favorites to mention, although this one, this one and this other one are all good candidates. Also, check out her most recent shoot with Michelle. Outstanding.

Angela posts new photos regularly. I’d also add that she’s immensely talented, but if you’ve seen the images you already know that.

Bike rides: 2
Lobsters: 1
Lobster rolls: 2
Ice cream cones: 3
Marriage proposals: 1
Wild animal sightings: 2 (large turtle crossing the road, and a coyote in the yard!)
Yoga classes: 3
Hours of TV: 0
New Yorkers read: 6
Books read: 1
New freckles: countless
Visits to places where The Pilgrims landed: 1
Naps on the couch: several
Oysters: 8
Walks on beach: 7
Steamers: 10
Glasses of wine: many
Mosquito bites: none!

Okay, I feel a little tacky doing this… but I’ve had so many requests!

(photo credit: Chris Szwedo)

It’s true. You will no longer see reference to The Boyfriend here at EastGirlsWest. Things have changed due to a dramatic turn of events.

The Boyfriend will now have to be known as The Betrothed, because he has offered me a proposal of marriage, and I have accepted!

Of course The Boyfriend (pre-betrothal), being of the Dreamy variety, orchestrated a perfect, romantic, unique, memorable, scenic and tears-of-happiness-inducing proposal. I was, and remain, overwhelmed with love and joy.

Did I mention there is a lovely, sparkly ring involved, as well? And apparently Angela was in on this for weeks! Turns out if you ever need a secret kept, she’s your girl.

Stay tuned. I assure you there will be more on this topic…

So vacation here on Cape Cod is a true step back from the usual pace and activities of our real life. For instance, we don’t usually play board games in San Diego, but every summer here we end up gathered around one at the dining room table. A few nights ago, it was the game of LIFE.

Remember LIFE?

You start off with a car, a little bit of cash and a dream. Then you start spinning to move around the board. One of the first decisions you have to make is whether or not to go to college. I choose the academic route and lucked out by landing on the space that made me a doctor. A doctor! My $20,000 salary added up, which is important because GUESS WHAT? In the game of LIFE, the person who ends up with the most money wins.

It’s so sick. You either end up on the ‘Poor Farm’ or at ‘Millionare Acres’. Clearly, Milton Bradley was able to predict the dissappearance of the middle class long before it started to actually happen. And did I mention that every player is FORCED to get married? My mother rebelled by putting another pink figure in the car next to her own.

Plus, you have to buy insurance, worry about your investments, pay too much interest on debt and shell out lots of money for gifts every time another player has a child or a wedding.

Really, I can’t explain why it’s fun to play.

Oh - there is one thing: it’s really fun when you win, which I did. It’s Millionaire Acres for me, suckers.