New York

I recently went to New York City with my two teenage boys. I was quite surprised that they wanted to take a trip with me at all, but I suppose the lure of the BIG city got them enthused. It was their first time there, and we played tourists from day one until we left.

Matthew's request was to visit Times Square and 42nd Street. Here he is feeling the power of the city....

....and this blogger trying to get in on the action!

My two boys, Andrew and Matthew, who will be quite appalled that I have put their photo on my blog!

I could not resist the lure of the Statue of Libery's Crown (tiara?). I definately think they should consider making a version in green sequins!

Matthew and our our new friend, Sito, from Japan. We met him while standing in line for tickets to "The Statue" and had fun getting to know him while visiting Liberty Island. He was on a three month tour of the US on his own. Quite an interesting man.... retired and now owns a restaurant in Japan. We lost him on our way to Ellis Island - he found another family to hang out with.

Chillettes on the 4th of July

The Fabulous Chillettes celebrated the 4th of July in style by participating in the City of Decatur Parade. Although all were present, not all of us were available to wave to the adoring fans from the Official Chillette Vehicle.Violette and Tiffany Dawn were escorted by Captain Bill, who came all the way from Gainesville to show off his favorite ladies.

Kirk (Mr.Bambi Jo) showed off his new Smart Car, while Bambi Joe herself (in the tiara, of course) showed off her four grandchildren.

Alma (a Chillette Fan and Friend) assisted Moanique in keeping the paradegoers under control. She was wearing her wonderful smile as usual.

Although not officially IN the parade, Moanique sported her new red sequined tiara while working. Notice the adorable matching red purse,purchased at the Decatur Arts Festival.

The Flamingo Queens gave the Chillettes a run for their money - seen here taking up the rear ofthe parade.

And what would the 4th of July be without Decatur's Fire fighters, seen here relaxing before the big parade!

Fireworks as seen from the top of the deck.

A Trip to Gainesville

Ah yes- a trip to the BIG city of Gainesville, where our precious Tiffany Dawn lives. Nothing like a girl's weekend to wake up the inner self and remind us of who our true friends are. Even though we are separated by miles, our hearts are never far apart.

Now- for dish on the trip! We traveled to the BIG city and had BIG plans. First, food and wine; then a concert. Here is Bambi Jo talking musical talent to a soon to be dance partner. And what a great dancer he was!

Tiffany Dawn spent some time networking at the concert, as Chillettes are apt to do. Isn't she pretty?

Violette was longingly awaiting the performance of The Jesters, while Bambi Jo tunes up in the background. Unfortunately, Moanique was so busy taking photos, there are no tell-tale ones of her to be shown. (Or were there, and she just didn't like them? No one knows for sure except this writer!)

Unfortunately, the concert was held outside, and for the first time in over a month, it rained cats and dogs. But not to be discouraged, we danced the night away indoors.

Saturday, we visited Cottage Garden Antiques- not sure if it should be called a store or not - maybe a cross between an upscale junkyard and unbelievably creative yard art.

The owner had a great knack for taking seemingly unwanted items and putting them together to make seriously creative art.

Saturday evening brought us to Lake Lanier for dinner on Tiffany D's friend Bill's houseboat. Bill was the perfect host and acted as though he had celebreties on his boat. Oh wait-he did! Did I mention that he brought us all a dozen roses on Friday night? He won my heart right then and there. And that was before he told us how pretty and lovely we all were! Oh why doesn't he have a brother??

This Chillette finally got a break from her photographic duties and had an adult beverage on the boat. She also learned how to make mojitos (Captain Bill was busy captaining, so someone had to learn how, and quickly, I might add).

Captain Bill and TD on our way to an island for dinner.

Moanique, Tiffany Dawn and Captain Bill enjoy the breeze.

And last but not least, a precursor to the 4th of July: The Stars and Stripes

Stay tuned for 4th of July in Decatur report.....coming soon.

Rodney the Watch Cat

Rodney is my cat who likes an adventure as much as, if not more than, The Chillettes. My Neighbors, who moved and I miss them very much, took this photo while we were out. I thought he was being a good boy and guarding the house, but they said he was staking out the squirrels. To my knowledge he has not caught one yet.

He has brought home several chipmonks which my son Andrew has had to catch or chase out of the house.

We do beleive Rodney is a bit touched, as he jumps up inside walls trying to catch things we cannot see. But hey, he does guard the house and he is able to get down from the roof by himself!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and staying cool.
Moanique

I Met Carl Hiassen!

I had the priviledge of meeting Carl Hiassen on his recent visit to Decatur to promote his new book The Downhill Lie. Having read many of his fiction books, this was a great evening for me. Such titles as Stormy Weather, The Lottery Winner and Nature Girl have given me many hours of entertainment.



When I first heard he was coming to town, courtesy of the Georgia Center for the Book, I immediately contacted my friend Joe and let him know that I was ready and willing to volunteer at the event. Held at the GA Perimeter College Decatur Campus, many fans showed up to hear Carl talk about his new book, as well as answer questions about his writing, his appearance on The Colbert Report, and of course, his new book on golf. I was thrilled to be the "bodyguard"; standing at the signing table holding the fans back while they waited for him to sign their books. In true Chillette style, I wore a lovely pink apron that coincidentally matched the book!



The Downhill Lie is actually a journal of his return to golf after a twenty five year hiatus. He said that he doesn't know why he took up a sport in middle age that he wasn't any good at as a young man. Like his fiction books, the new book is humorous. If you are not familiar with him, Carl is a columnist for the Miami Herald. His columns are wonderful and can be found in some of his "collections". I highly recommend his books for entertaining as well as enlightening reading.



During his talk, Mr. Hiassen was questioned about his recent appearance on Colbert. He said that while in the green room before his interview, Colbert comes in and says "Remember that I stay in character during your interview, and that character is an idiot. Talk to me like you are talking to a drunk". As a fan of both Carl and Stephen, I enjoyed hearing about him. I always wondered how the people he interviewed on his show felt about his behavior. Now I know that they are educated on what to expect.



Mr. Hiassen is NOT a fan of Disney and lamented that he had not been banned from Disney World after writing unfavorably about "the mouse". He has a friend that has been banned, and he is very envious. I know how he feels. After a few visits with my children, I have absolutely no desire to return.



If you have not yet read Mr. Hiassen, I urge you to rush out and get at least one of his books. Great summer reading.

I came away from the evening with a great Father's Day gift as well as my own copy personalized to "my bodyguard". I now have an even bigger crush on him!






Me and Carl- aren't we cute together? Too bad he is married!

"Chillettes Is Smart!" says an awed fan

From the fashion wire services
Dateline Scottdale, Georgia, May 21, 2008

It is often lost -- in the worldwide chatter about the beauty, fashion sense, and sparkling personalities of the Chillettes -- that they are, in fact, among the most brilliant of women as well. All have graduated from prestigious universities and have pursued lofty careers in addition to their singing/performing careers. As one impressed fan put it, “Chillettes is smart!”

Today more evidence of the ingrained Chillette genius comes to us with news that Bambi Jo Chillette has been named “Outstanding Student” in her basic statistics class (Math 1431) at Georgia Perimeter College’s Clarkston campus. Bambi Jo was stunned when she received notification of her award, saying “I love statistics, and my instructor Mrs. Davis, and my fellow students so much, and I had no idea that I was the outstanding student among so many bright classmates! I want to thank my husband Kirk, my daughter Laura and son-in-law Douglas, my sister Chillettes Tiffany Dawn, Moanique, and Violette . . .” The rest of her statement was lost when this reporter had to leave the scene. We are fortunate, however, to have two pictures from the great day of the Award Ceremony and a statement from Tiffany Dawn Chillette.

Tiffany Dawn was the only one of her Chillettes sisters who could attend the Awards Ceremony, but Bambi Jo was overcome with gratitude to have her beautiful Tiff D with her. Tiff D remarked on the fabulous diversity of the presenters and the award recipients, and exclaimed that it was possibly the most well-produced awards ceremony she had ever attended. "The speeches were short and sweet, the outstanding students were obviously very smart, and the ceremony was over in less than an hour. I wish more awards ceremonies could be that well done and brief, given how many I have to go to every week."

Bambi Jo

Things My Mother Never Told Me

She must have done it in the privacy of her own room. She couldn’t have done it in the bathroom because there were 5 of us (three girls, my mother and father) all sharing the same small bathroom. Time in the bathroom was a premium. I never saw her do it. But now I know she must have. Even into her 80s her face was smooth and free of unsightly whisker hairs; her upper lip was clean; no long strands coming from her nose; and her eyebrows did not touch in the center. I know she must have plucked feverishly when no one was looking.

Being a Chillette, it is important to put my best face forward. And that face must be free of hair. So naturally, I have to pluck. Constantly! I have found that the very best place to pluck is the car, in the daylight, using the rear view mirror. Things appear bigger in the rearview mirror. That wonderful natural light coming in and shining on my face in that crystal clear mirror makes finding those little hairy demons much easier, and so gratifying.

So on some bright Saturday morning, if you happen to drive by my house and see me sitting in my car crying, it not because I am fed up with my dear mate and I am going to leave him once and for all. No, it is because I am plucking my nose hairs. Plucking nose hairs makes me cry, and scream some times, although not because I am sad to see them go. Clipping with scissors just doesn’t get the job done. One thing my mother DID tell me was “beauties must suffer.”

Although looking in the mirror is a MUST when plucking eyebrows, I have perfected chin, nose and upper lip plucking while working on the computer, or watching TV, or reading. Sometimes I get bored reading all those long admiring emails or watching commercials, so scanning my face with the constant motion of nipping tweezers is a fun way to divert my boredom. I have found it actually helps me concentrate.

For convenience, place a pair at every location -- the car, your desk, your night stand, your bathroom, your dressing table, right beside the TV remote. And please do buy the best you can afford. There is nothing worse than coming up empty handed while plucking with a bad pair of tweezers that lets the hairs slip out of their grasp. Grabbing onto a hair, pulling, and feeling the painful release is quite satisfying. My favorite kind is slanted flat-edged tweezers. They have a wider area for grabbing and you can place them against your face in constant pinching motion without the fear of puncturing your pretty face. I also have a pair of medical quality “dressing” tweezers with serrated teeth that have awesome pulling power. I am quite attached to this pair.

Darlings, please do not keep this dirty little secret of plucking from your daughters or nieces. You much teach them well. They need to know we all have them and we all pluck them.

Violette