Dear Mr. Lord

How could you do this to me? You sent me a link to Facebook, a site I have never visited before. Now I'm hooked. I hardly have enough hours in a day to get my commitments accomplished, and now you've given me a shiny new toy.

Oh (Spencer) Lord, what's a guy to do?

ToddSpot Obeisance II

To Doodle Whore for obliging my request for an AnderDoodle.

Kismet - Sissy Style

Last night I picked up Brett Easton Ellis' Glamorama, for lack of anything better to read. I'm not a huge fan of Ellis, although I did love Less Than Zerofor it's poignancy of time & footing.

Glamorama is peppered, (to say the least) with all the names, places, and nuances of the 90's. In fact it is quite shameless in it's name dropping. I was on page 49 when I read a name I hadn't considered in a long time; Kevin Sessums. My first thoughts were, "Oh. My. God. I haven't thought about him in ages." &, "I wonder if he is still alive?" I jotted his name down in my Moleskine so that I would remember to look him up this morning.

I didn't need to write a note to myself. This morning I woke up with Kevin Sessums on the brain. You see, back in the 80's & 90's when he was executive editor for Interview and then contributing editor forVanity Fair, I thought he was the bomb. I not only admired his talents as a writer, but I had a huge crush on him to boot. I thanked my luck stars that he was a New Yorker and not a Chicagoan, because I would have unavoidably stalked him.

Kevin Sessums is alive an well! And I'm unabashedly gushing. In fact he had a book published this spring called Mississippi Sissy. Where have I been? Who knew? As soon as I finish this post I am running out to find a copy.


Still sexy

I've spent the morning reading up on Kevin via his website and blog. (You'll find the link in the blogroll column to the right.) My crush remains intact. I was also surpised to find that it was only this weekend past that the New York Times had an article about Kevin (and his pup Archie) in the real estate section. [READ HERE]

Alors. I'm off to find a copy of Mississippi Sissy. I suggest you do the same as it will make a great little last minute gift next week:


"Mississippi Sissy" is the stunning memoir from Kevin Sessums, a celebrity journalist who grew up scaring other children, hiding terrible secrets, pretending to be Arlene Frances and running wild in the South. As he grew up in Forest, Mississippi, befriended by the family maid, Mattie May, he became a young man who turned the word "sissy" on its head, just as his mother taught him. In Jackson, he is befriended by Eudora Welty and journalist Frank Hains, but when Hains is brutally murdered in his antebellum mansion, Kevin's long road north towards celebrity begins. In a memoir that echoes bestsellers like "The Liar's Club," Kevin Sessums brings to life the pungent American south of the 1960s and the world of the strange little boy who grew there.

12/18 NOTE TO CHICAGO BOOKSELLERS: Do you think you could actually keep at least one copy of this book in stock? I even tried setting foot in that Borders to no avail. Not pleased. -Todd

Barak and Oprah - Doodle Whored

If you haven't checked out this blog, then click here for a laugh jollier than Santa's. Doodle whore is my new very most favorite blog. I've already submitted requests for celebrity doodles: Anderson Cooper & Miss Ross.

Soul Food

I enjoy profiling my favorite bloggers from time to time, and this one is; without a doubt, my favourite.

I've been reading Shark Fu's blog; Angry Black Bitch, since it's propitious beginning in February of 2005, when she drank the kool-aid and joined the blogging world. (I made my first comment here.)

Suffice it to say, I absoulutely adore her. I've watched that little blog grow from it's salacious start to a readership that today counts in at 550+ a day. All because her friend Rob gave her a blog for her 32nd birthday. (Incidentally her birthday is Feb. 22nd, so mark your calendars.)

I really on ABB every day to get all of my political updates and happenings, which is cool because pretty much all of my views fall right in line with hers. She is, without a doubt the Queen of Kick. And the Queen reigns Supreme from the city of Saint Louis, where she dispenses her wisdom through a brume of Sudafed, Smarties, and the occasional vodka cran. (She's given up the cigs.)

I've always intended to meet her face to face, but logistics and location seem to get in the way. Needless to say, she has always been there for ToddSpot, throughout it's various bumps, tribulations and darkest hours. Alors. If you haven't already, click on a link and make her a habit. It's an addiction well worth the trouble.

P.S. I never fail to think of her when I listen to Sister Sister singing Yesterday.

Weltanschauung Revisited

I happen to think that Spencer has one of the best blogs around, although I will admit to having been remiss about reading it every day this summer. So. I've been catching up, and if you haven't checked it out yet (and how could you dare have not?) then head over to Weltanschauung (or Streaming Weltanschauung for even more sartorial rapture). They're worth the read.

Refridgerator Reveal

About A Boy and Rosie got me turned on to this concept:




Photographing the innards of one's fridge; it is rather an interesting concept, except when I realize that mine is quite pedestian.


Anyhew, check out the boy in case you haven't already. He writes a good blog. I always check in for the Words of Wisdom.

ToddSpot Seperated @ Birth:

.25 Life Crisis Kid and Jason Ritter?

Reason #18 Why I Adore Moby

"I'm straight but I've grown up around gay people and gay clubs. They are superior to straight people. If you have a gay child you're more inclined to be a prouder parent."

Puntabulous Gets Nominated!

Natalie Portman his wife must be so relieved. Now do some good and vote for Craig (and Dan). It'll get you revved up for Tuesday.

SuperStar

I'm just plain delighted. CLICK HERE for the article.

Blog Envy

Amigachos, you know I'm not one to gush or get enthusiastic, but I've recently discovered the most enchanting little blog. Literally. Almost word-for-word. Robert's little voice is an addition to my blogroll that I'm absolutely mad about. I've been reading it end to end since last night.

This gives me pause to stop and wonder what it us that captivated me and kept my attention. For one, I feel acquainted with this blogger, as if I already know him. He reminds me of myself when I was his age: modern in the city, working my arse off at school and job, building a social life, etc. It makes me crack a wry smile.

It's also fun to discover someone who has some of the same obsessions; namely one Miss Patti LuPone, whom Robert idolizes and I of course adore because of my own Evita. I vividly remember the first performance I saw of Evita at the Schubert in 1981. I was mesmerized, and it changed my life. In the lobby of The Ritz Carlton I got to meet Miss LuPone, which is of course a manifesting event for any gay teenager. I still remember what I was wearing, and I still have the Playbill. Robert was 1 year old.

Puit alors Well then. Go check out little voice. It's charming, hardly diminutive, and his pooch is the bees knees. Obviously time well spent.

ToddSpot Weekend

CORRECTIONAL FLUIDS

If you can't see the show this Friday then at least order a thong. It will be absolument requis for any event this summer. (Fabriqué aux Etats-Unis amigachos!)

HEAR YE, HEAR YE:



CORRECTIONAL FLUIDS

Our homegrown panjandrum will premiere in less than a month! I bought my tickets months ago, but in securing additional seats for friends I discovered there is still time. Hop to it amigachos!

Johnny Hazzard, Meet Alan


Alan, in updating my blogroll I found a new boyfriend for you. [CLICK HERE]

The synchronicity of our world never ceases to amaze me.

ToddSpot Genre:

Pat Boone, George Peppard, & Spencer Lord.

The Hottest Ticket in Town

I had my tickets reserved months ago, although you still have some time. This is going to be one of the ToddSpot must attend events of the summer. See you at the theatre!

Good Day NoFo


As I was having breakfast this morning and flipping through Woody's Genre I stumbled upon this. I suppose I'm the last one to find out about it. I do think that it's lovely Jake got some print exposure, but I was perplexed that there was no mention of his blog. I suppose that's keeping the private life seperate from the professional. I'm now going to lobby to get Chicago's two most eligable men in print: Spencer and Alan. As you know amigachos, these days there's only so much limelight to be handed out.

Dan-O-Rama


Woods is studying the manual for the Mercedes (We got a new one yesterday, and yes, this is the official Diamond Black color we obsessed far too long about in the showroom Woody!) and I snuck in here this morning to see if one of my favorite links was still active. Those who know their ToddSpot well are aware of my huge adoration for montage artist Dan-O-Rama. Dan Rucks studied at New York University's film school and graduated in the late 1980s. He took with him a proverb from a campus sage: "The director shoots the movie, the editor tells the story." I was pleased to find today that his site is still alive and kicking. Whether you're a fan of "Blue Monday," or "Blue Moon," should you have the time this New Year's Eve or New Years Day (We will be in the Hinterlands) check out his brilliance.

[Our Roué Auteur]

Genius is Such a Turn-On


Randy Barbato. Writer-Director-Producer. He's a brilliant filmaker and documentarian; The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Monica in Black and White, Party Monster, and soon Tammy Faye: Death Defying. If you havn't seen Inside Deep Throat you are really missing something. I remember back in the 70's when my mom told me how she and a girlfriend snuck into the iniquitous Studio Blue to see what all the fuss was about. Good times.
[Photo via MovieMaker.com]
Oh, there's that Brit Fenton Bailey too. He and Randy have been together since college. I decided to be nice and not crop him out of the picture.