Stupid is as Stupid does.

Dance As If The World Is Dancing With You!

I LOVES ME SOME PS 22!

Egads. Is Marge Simpson Really Baring All?

Will wonders ever cease? Case in point, Marge Simpson, the matronly blue bee-hived lockstress of animation comedy is gracing the cover of... wait for it... PLAYBOY! WTF, you utter? MY point exactly. In tribute to The Simpsons 20th anniversary for being the longest running comedy series in the history of television, newly hired CEO of Playboy Enterprises, Scott Flanders, has pushed forward with this campaign. Well, this is his answer to sagging magazine sales due to competing downloadable porn, anyways. The history making cover will be released in November, along with more "photos" of Marge in a 3-page spread posing in sexy lingerie. I can't help but shake my head at Playboy's choice of "first ever cartoon figure" to land on the cover. Wouldn't Jessica Rabbit, Betty Boop, or She-Ra have been more suitable? I'm not sure if I'm ready to see Marge Simpson's twin peaks. D'oh! In this case, the buck (bust?) stopped with Marge Simpson. Ironically, Playboy has adopted a Bart Simpsonesque attitude by thumbing their noses at the nay sayers as if to say in Bart's squeaky little voice, "Don't have a cow, man. Eat my shorts."

On the Quest for Early Christmas Finds!

I have found myself hitting the Coptic Cairo market several times this past week, as the lure of exotic treasures for "special prices" have tripped the lights fandango for my early Christmas shopping quest. This avenue of outdoor vendors, antiques, and retail therapy shops have become my purse string's new found friend.

I found the full length simulated mummy case below interesting. It was marked down to $6,000 from the lofty sum of $8K. It opened up and in my opinion had a plethora of uses - coffin, trunk, coffee table, plant holder... LoL. Anything!

I especially liked these Egyptian instruments. The one below is called an "ood".

These mother of pearl tables and octagonal jewelry boxes were especially worthy of a second look.

As were these chandeliers....

And these lamps were to die for!

What do you think of this embroidered coverlet? I haven't decided yet if I should go back and get this, but it definitely caught my eye when I entered the room!

I left both times with several bags of hard earned haggling bargains. Will be sure to head back closer to the holidays. What I purchased will have to remain a secret until Christmas, but here are some past purchases that I thought were noteworthy to post.

This lovely Egyptian tea pot....

And this delightful antique copper pot over 100 yrs old! Don't you just love the Arabic lettering on the outside?

And last but not least, my very own Aladdin's lamp... I sure do wish Aladdin's genie was still accessible though! :(

Lunching at the Mena House

Got to eat at a swanky restaurant last week inside the luxurious hotel of the Mena House Oberoi. Formerly the king of Egypt's hunting lodge, it was bought by Sir Hugh F. Locke-King, who was also responsible for solely financing, Brooklands, the first permanent race car track in the world built in Surrey, England. Sir Lock-King turned the sprawling hunting lodge into a 5-star hotel in 1869. Since its opening, the Mena House has played hosts to royalties, dignitaries, and celebrities. This was also the place that Agathy Christie penned her Hercule Poirot novel, "Death on the Nile"; by far Agathy Christie's greatest work! Who could resist Hercule Poirot, "the little man with the funny-looking moustache?"

The east side of the hotel, and the balcony view of the restaurant, faced manicured lawns and the Giza Pyramids.



A private luncheon was being set up outside, as we made our way into the hotel. Sure would have loved an invitation!







Inside, the hotel was opulently decorated with tasteful exotic antiques and original artwork that oozed "old Cairo" charm.



This magnificent chandelier graced the center ceiling and grand stairwell of the hotel as we walked up to the Mena House Restaurant.





Through darkened portals unfolded a naturally lit room of Arabesque furnishings, and floor to ceiling windows facing the Pyramids.

The outdoor terrace was full, but a cosy table for two was found in the corner as I put away my camera. Imperious stares from the restaurant's more "established" clients, reminded me none too gently of my poor dining room manners. LoL.

Exiting through the gated archway of the Mena House Oberoi, I knew this was one swanky eatz that would see my return!