Adventures in Cyberia

If you haven't seen the site where bloggers become Sims, do it now! I have recruited additional goddesses, Xtessa, Redelicious, Robin, and Plain Jane. They are doing a GREAT job of creating fun and compelling storylines for all our participating bloggers!

If you volunteered to have a Sim created of you but haven't checked in recently, do it soon... we Goddesses have ways of dealing with those who don't come visit...

Photo Friday: One

Today's Photo Friday entry is more "snapshot" than art. It's my daughter Emma telling me how old she is (was... she turns 20 next week).

Another item of note in this photo is my mother's haircolor. What is it about moving to Florida that causes dark-haired lovelies to go "blonde"? I call her particular shade "Palomino". When I go down to visit her I can't help but notice all the olive-skinned women with beige hair and upside-down glasses (the ear piece on the bottom instead of the top of the lens). Must be peer-pressure or something.

Since the networks are in Fall Preview mode, I decided to give my readers a little "Fall Preview" of what's to come here at The Dog's Breakfast over the next few months:

"The Orifice" - A real life look at some of the assholes I've worked for (and almost worked for)

"The Pedo Files" - An edge-of-your-seat account of the multiple times I narrowly escaped being sold into white slavery.


"Big Sister" - Family drama, starring me and my estranged (and strange) older sister, seen here on the left. Think of it as "La Cage Aux Folles" meets "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?"

"Pantherella" - A documentary about child labor, with my mother playing the part of Kathy Lee Gifford.

"Before There Were Air Bags" - A stranger-than-fiction account of the thirteen car accidents and one moped accident that did not take my life.

"You Missed Me" - Inspirational tales from one who has been struck by lightning, run over by a horse, thrown out of speeding vehicles and subjected to my mother's cooking and survived to tell about it.

And, of course, more vintage photos and stories from the past featuring my parents, the fugly twins, and people with names like "Mary the Buttonhole". Stay tuned!

The Doggie Is Getting a Makeover!

Stay tuned.... The Dog's Breakfast is getting a new look! In the next day or so, you'll see what I mean. I designed it myself, and Ro from Ciao! My Bella is working on the template.

The summer's almost over, and I'm going to be back in the swing of things very soon...posting daily (or close to it). I've been walking 3 miles or so every few days, and during those walks I often plan future blog posts. I know I've slowed down considerably this summer, but I promise to keep you entertained come Fall.

In the meantime, has anyone noticed how many television shows being touted for the Fall season seem to have several similarities? Semi-creepy, unseen aliens or predators, one word title. ("Surface", "E-Ring", "Threshold", "Numb3rs"). Remind you of anything?



How about this word? "Original". What a concept! But it'll never sell.

Are You a Cheapskate?

Just turned on The Today Show, and they are doing a segment called "Cheapskate Week". I have to admit that watching this, featuring people who do things like fill their own jelly donuts, make diaper pails out of popcorn tins, and bring ziplock bags to the movies to divide up popcorn... makes my hair go on fire.

One of my ex-husbands said I would "go across the street and around the corner to avoid a sale", and he was probably right. I've only been to Wal-Mart twice (and couldn't wait to get out), don't comparison shop, and am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". I know it's irrational at times, but hey...I've never claimed to be a completely rational person.

Why this visceral aversion to bargains? As with most of my other neuroses, I have to blame my parents. As children of the Great Depression, they turned penny-pinching into an artform. My mother made a lot of our clothes, and in doing so made them about three sizes too big so they'd fit for several years. This explains why, in most old photos, we look like refugees from Uzbekistan. She also made clothes for my Barbie doll, which was great except for the fact that she didn't want to have to buy special snaps (you know, the right SIZED ones), so the clothes had closures as big as Barbie's head.

Getting a greeting card from my mother meant (and still means) receiving one that had been previously sent to her, with the inside cut out. All of the food in our house was "Brand X" or awful store brands like "Ann Page" and "Krasdale". Although my father loved ice cream, the best we got was Breyer's Neopolitan, or maybe a Cookie Puss cake from Carvel for a REALLY special occasion.

My father loved electronics and gadgets of any and every kind (we had air-conditioning before anyone else), but I still remember the "brand names" that graced them all... Setchell-Carlson, Bonsonic, Royce Union... some of which, I think, fell off the back of a truck. Since he was a mailman, our house was FILLED with tiny versions of many products (free samples that had been addressed to houses that didn't exist). We used miniature cans of Rite Guard and Arrid Extra Dry, ate from little packettes of Carnation Instant Breakfast, and read magazines that had a big square cutout on the cover. Occasionally we'd score big and get someone's 8 free records from Columbia House, if they moved away before it was delivered. And there was Joe the Dented Can Man, my father's favorite place to shop for canned food.

I guess it's all about priorities. My parents did manage to raise three kids on a postman's salary (although my mother also worked or collected unemployment most of the time), and we always had new cars that they paid cash for. They never had credit cards until they retired and we never felt like they were strapped for cash.

Still, while I appreciate their efforts, it has left me with a psychotic disdain for sales and bargains.

So... fess up. Are you a Cheapskate? Are you the child of a Cheapskate? Or are you, like me, the Anti-Cheapskate?

How 9/11 Changed My Life

Aside from the obvious, bigger-picture ways...

Every morning, the first thing I do is turn on the television. I keep the remote on the bed next to me, and put it on as soon as I open my eyes. If I see a commercial, I know that everything is ok.

I can hardly believe it's been almost four years. Maybe on the anniversary we should all post our stories from that day...where we were, how we heard...

Not a Self-Portrait...

Twins, originally uploaded by panthergirl.

...although it looks like one!

High School graduation, 1973. Call the makeup police.
(thank god for the cap and gown, because the outfit underneath was vintage '70s hooch.) I fancied myself a real ar-teest, although the painting makes me cringe today!

Photo Friday: Violet

This week's entry is another in the "No Cameras Allowed" series from my trip to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The artists are the same as the one's in last week's entry (Complexity).

The funny thing about these pictures is that for all my wacky escapades, I really am a "rule follower". (Much to the amusement of my close friends). I cross at the corner, keep to the right, don't litter, etc. etc. Aside from my arrest when I was 19 (more material for the Fall Exblogaganza), and a few personal indiscretions, taking pictures in a place where I am not supposed to is a BIG transgression for me! In fact, the only reason I did it was because it was a business trip and a group of us had an assignment to complete in the museum which required pictures.

So... all of that aside ... this is my "violet" entry for today. Hope you like it!

Wednesday's Child: Jordis Unga

Not a blog this week... but my Wednesday's Child is SO WORTHY of your attention.

Eliminated from "Star Search", way too good for "American Idol", Jordis Unga is a standout talent on this summer's "RockStar: INXS". I know, I know...it seems like a dumb concept (replacing the irreplaceable Michael Hutchins), but all of the singers are surprisingly good, and Jordis is G-R-E-A-T.

Her haunting and soulful rendition of Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World" is permanently etched in my brain. Don't take my word for it... download it here. Then come back and thank me.

Panthergirl's Songwriting Skills

"You say 'i-RACK-i', I say 'i-ROCK-i'
You say 'AL-KAY-da', I say 'AL-KAI-da'
iRACKi, iROCKi, alKAYda, ALKAIda... let's call the whole thing off."

Summer Re-Run: Don't Stand So Close To Me...

Original post date: March 3, 2005. I have so many good Catholic school stories...will write more in the Fall when everyone is back in blog mode. In the meantime, here's a good retread for the newer readers.


Since so many of you liked my "made out with my high school science teacher" factoid, I decided to provide some visual reference of him, and two other guys who would be arrested if they did this stuff today. In the tradition of Glamour do's and don'ts, I've obliterated their identities.

If you can't read what Mr. Science Guy wrote, it says: "Dear Marian, I don't think it's necessary to wish you anything. You have it all -- use it well. My love always, Tony." Although this was written in Senior year, our flirtation started when I was a Freshman (14 years old). What is most astounding to me now, looking back, is that one day when we were making out in a locker room, a PRIEST walked in on us and said, "Oops...sorry!" and left! He was probably getting busy with the altar boys.


These two clowns were Math teachers, but I had no interest in them. Mr. Geometry on the left wrote: "To Marian, I want your body. Love & pinches, Joe." Mr. Algebra on the right said "Marian, good luck & all that with ya future and especially with your latest bounce of life!" (what can I say? It was 1973. I went braless. We had to spice up that uniform SOMEHOW.)

It was probably unrealistic to think that you could put 20-something guys in that situation (all girls' Catholic School) without having them go a little crazy, and we were more than happy to do the crazy-making. I'm convinced we would have behaved better in a normal, co-ed public school environment with boys our own age.

Why We Need to Protect Roe v. Wade

If you have not seen "Vera Drake" , get thee to the video store ASAP.

Aside from the incredible performance by Imelda Staunton and the brilliant direction by Mike Leigh, the story makes it crystal clear why abortion needs to remain safe and legal for all women. The movie is about so much more than abortion...it's a riveting character study and a glimpse into a still-reeling post-WWII England. But I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, knowing that if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned in this country, we will be catapulted back into a past where women had to rely on the services of the inept and untrained (albeit, in this case, well-meaning).

Although rich women will always be able to have their pregnancies disappear at will...poor women will die. Or give birth to babies they don't want, can't afford, and can't care for. Some of those babies/children will wind up abused or dead. And while I do welcome dissenting opinions, I would ask anyone who reacts with "adoption is an option" to get real. There are already thousands of "less desirable" babies and children in this country who are without homes. Couples who can afford it are going outside the US for white or Chinese infants. Or, paying upwards of $10,000 for healthy white babies in this country (one classified ad I spotted even specified "male". Yeah, those people really just want a baby. Uh huh.)

The reality is, unwanted pregnancies happen. They don't need to result in unwanted children. It's all well and good to be "pro-life", but when that does not extend beyond childbirth it's just a hypocritical load of bullshit. Don't believe in abortion? Don't have one.

Can you tell this is a real hot-button issue for me? ;)

Photo Friday: Complexity

This week's entry was taken secretly at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, hence the soft focus. A pile of junk, a spotlight, and an incredible result.

Edited to add a link to the artists' website: Tim Noble & Sue Webster. Really great stuff!

Belated Wednesday's Child: Blogging Out Loud

One of my absolute faves... Alan is political, hilarious, insightful and I just love him to death. Not to mention the fact that his "code words" (the ones you have to type in order to comment) crack me up.

Please go and tell him his big fan Panthergirl turned you on to him!

Summer Re-Run: Interview with a Panthergirl

Original posting date: 2/28/05. Part of the Regurgitation series, so my apologies to those who have seen this post already.

My blogbud Frally has come up with five questions she'd like me to answer, so here goes:

Q: What's the special ingredient for a great wedding? (If anyone's going to know, it's you my dear)

Although I had three unsuccessful marriages, the weddings were great. My first husband and I decided to get married on the 1 year anniversary of our first date (which was also the night he moved in with me). We made plans to go to Hawaii and have a private ceremony there. We kept it a secret from everyone but our parents, but they weren't invited either. The first few days were spent getting our license and finding a location (Waimea Falls Park on the North Shore of Oahu at dawn), a justice of the peace, a photographer and a witness (the woman who worked in the park volunteered). We hired a Rolls Royce and driver to take us from Waikiki to Waimea. I wore a little white cotton mini dress and an orchid in my hair.

My second wedding was the best of the three. We decided to get married in October and have a costume wedding (you know how much I love Halloween). My future ex-husband was a Broadway stagehand who came from a very blue collar town in New Jersey, so all of his friends and family were either stagehands, cops or firemen. It just so happened that one friend's girlfriend worked at a costume store and she provided the most amazing outfits for most of the guests. We went as Rhett and Scarlett, the best man was the Phantom of the Opera. There were cops in Renaissance costumes replete with tights and plumes. The wedding and reception took place at a restaurant that overlooked the Hudson River so we arrived by speedboat to the great amusement of our guests. Our "aisle" was a long rickety pier, and we did our slow processional to the blaring strains of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Wedding March. Very campy. The ceremony was performed by a Nakota medicine woman. It was a great wedding. The marriage, however, lasted a little more than a year. (the happy ending is that he and I have remained close friends, and he has maintained a loving relationship with my daughter.)


The third was a smaller event at Tony's home because his mother was dying of ovarian cancer. We were married by a minister from the Ethical Culture Society. Tony's mom was a real trooper and danced with her husband while my then-five-year-old daughter tried to pull the hem of her skirt down to cover her catheter tubing. She passed away 3 months later, the day before another one of her son's got married. Our pictures are among the last that were taken of her.


Fun facts: The same photographer worked my 2nd and 3rd weddings. It's quite hilarious to look through his portfolio and see me getting married twice. Wedding #2 was featured in Bride's Magazine. That photographer went on to shoot celebrity weddings including Whitney Houston's.

Q: Is there anything you can tell us about New York that we possibly wouldn't know?

A: If you are in New York, you are expected to walk according to traffic patterns (keep to the right) on crowded sidewalks and public stairways, like going into or out of the subway. It's always easy to tell the tourists because they are constantly bucking "traffic".


Q) What is your most embarrassing moment?

MOST? Ah, that's a tough call. But there's a funny one that comes to mind. On the trip to Hawaii described in my first answer, the in-flight movie was "Raggedy Man". It was 1982, in the olden-days when in-flight movies were actually MOVIES, not DVDs or videotapes. We're all intensely watching a particularly suspenseful scene when I felt something tickling the back of my head. It startled me, but I figured it was my husband-to-be trying to freak me out so I ignored it. Again, I felt my hair move every so slightly, this time closer to the top of my head. I looked over at him, annoyed and rethinking this whole wedding idea, but he was staring straight at the screen. Finally, I felt it again and I reached up to see what the heck was touching me and it was a PILE of movie film that had unraveled from the projector above my head. The whole plane cracked up laughing. (At the very end of the movie, when we were about to find out the identity of the murderer, the film burned up inside the hot mechanism. A woman who had seen the film before had to stand up and tell us all how it ended.)

5) When you come back in the next life (that is, assuming that we do), what would you like to come back as?

Me, with money.

Last Girl on Earth's New Movie!!!

Deni Bonet, my talented violinist friend behind The Last Girl on Earth blog, has posted another video she shot in the streets of New York. She asked people to give her brief lines they'd want to hear uttered by random people on the streets of the city, and then off she went to recruit strangers to do her bidding.

The results are, once again, amazing. New Yorkers are SO up for anything, so totally uninhibited, and so much fun. My requested quote was, "Hey Panthergirl...would you make a Sim of me?" So now I'll have to actually DO it!

Having met Deni in person, it doesn't surprise me that people respond so happily to her. Go visit, watch the movie, and be on the lookout for her new CD!!

Photo Friday: Somber

Today's Photo Friday entry is my greyhound Kelso, who looks somber even when he's happy. My favorite thing to say to him is "Hey Kelso...why the long face?"

(To read my post about greyhounds and greyhound adoption, click HERE )

Wednesday's Child

Every once in awhile I'll direct my readers to what I affectionately called a 'Wednesday's Child"... a wonderful blog that has yet to be discovered and needs to be. (I know it's still Tuesday, but I couldn't wait)

This week's is ESPECIALLY close to my heart, because it's written by my incredibly wonderful and witty cousin Mary. She's a terrific writer with wonderful life experience for such a young whipper-snapper. I don't need to say more. Go see her HERE . Her blog is brand new, so you can easily read everything she's written so far. And, of course, tell her that Cousin Panthergirl sent you. ;)

Factoid #13 - Panthergirl's Cult Film Appearance

As reported in my 100 Factoids, I have a 10-second cameo appearance in the very last segment of the cult film "The Groove Tube" (filmed in 1971 when I was not quite 16 years old.)

Although many people know about the movie, they don't know that it actually originated as a television production that was shown on closed-circuit tv sets in a small upper East Side theater called "Channel One". My friends and I went to see it a couple of times and were huge fans. Most of the segments in the movie were retreads from the Channel One days.

During the summer of 1971, I was working in Manhattan with my aunt at an allergist's office. Most days I wore a nurse's uniform (yeah, yeah...lots of stories about THAT, too) but this was not one of them. As I was on my way out to lunch, my aunt gave me a pack of checks to deposit at the bank. Thousands of dollars. I went to the bank, made the deposit, but on the way back, as I walked down Park Avenue, Ken Shapiro in his pink suit began to sing and dance around me. I saw all the cameras but just assumed they were doing another Channel One thing.

They told me it was for a feature film and asked me to go back to the corner and do several takes. Hundreds of people were inside the lobby of the building, watching the whole scene. The camera guys were cute so I hung out...they asked me to go see the "rushes" the following day. I signed a release (no one ever bothered to see if I was actually 18), they gave me $1, and off I went.

When I excitedly got back to the doctor's office, TWO HOURS later, my glee was quickly extiniguished by my FURIOUS aunt who thought I had been mugged and killed for the deposit money. Needless to say, I didn't get to see the rushes the next day. What you can't see in the clip is that my hair was really, really long which made me pretty recognizable. For the next several weeks people would stop me on the street and say "Weren't you the girl who was in that movie on Park Avenue?"

See my 10 second clip HERE

Get Out Your Handkerchiefs

Lucas and I spent a wonderful day in the city yesterday. We went to the Central Park zoo which is always a treat, but yesterday especially so. A polar bear decided to get a break from the heat and situate herself where everyone could get a good look (you can see the reflection of the crowd she drew in the glass). All I could think was, "I hope that glass is strong enough to hold her!"





Then we went to see The March of the Penguins. I started weeping before the opening credits were over. It is amazingly beautiful. However, Lucas was sobbing and wanted to leave after the first penguin death. I kept him calm but there were several more sad scenes and he could barely take it. When the final predator scene was beginning, I convinced him to close his eyes and we made it through the entire movie. Afterwards I explained that it was a film about survival, because most of them make it through impossible odds.

See it, but be prepared. If you or your children are sensitive (like me, who still blubbers at "Day of the Dolphin"), bring tissues.