Blowing Leaves

So, how cool is being a kid?

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My brother-in-law was blowing leaves this weekend and Jack and Nora thought it was the greatest thing ever. I love this photo because they don't have a care in the world. Very lucky kids.

(For the record, Jack doesn't run around in leggings; he had them on underneath his Halloween costume.)

One more favorite:

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Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2010/10/31/blowing-leaves.html

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Stone Temple Pilots Reunited In Hopes Of Opening For Led Zeppelin, Bassist Says

'If time allows, there will definitely be new music,' Robert DeLeo adds of STP's future.
By Chris Harris


Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images

There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.

Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.

On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.

"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."

Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.

"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."

DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.

"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."

As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.

"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."

While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?

"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1586020/20080422/stone_temple_pilots.jhtml

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Conan O'Brien Back on TBS

Conan O'Brien Back on TBS

"Welcome to my second annual first show," said Conan O'Brien, kicking off his monologue in the premiere of his new talk show, Conan (TBS, weeknights at 11 p.m. ET) on Monday night. 

If any fans worried that the show would be different on TBS, those concerns were quickly put to rest. O'Brien's signature quirky humor was on display from the opening sequence, spoofing the events of the last year. (Lost his NBC job. Took funny-sad jobs to get by. Contemplated suicide. And finally, took Larry King's suggestion to try a show on basic cable.) What came next was an hour of self-deprecating jokes about both himself and his new network.

"People asked me why I named the show Conan," he cracked. "I did it so I would be harder to replace." And later: "I'm really glad to be on cable," he said. "I have dreamed of being a talk show host on basic cable ever since I was 46." Naturally, there was the obligatory stab at TBS's modest stature: "We are already number one in TBS' key demo -- people who cannot afford HBO."

Aside from a new set with an ocean view and a remote-controlled moon, the show was very much what you expect from O'Brien. He had plenty of goofy stunts, like when he announced the winner of "our rigged first guest contest," an elderly woman who's the curator of the Nutcracker museum. Then he and sidekick Andy Richter modeled some hideous Halloween masks of Conan's face. "For legal reasons they couldn't call it a Conan O'Brien mask," he explained. Viewers then got a close-up of the mask's label, which read "Ex-Talk Show Host."

The rest of the show was typical, self-effacing Conan fare. There was a pre-taped bit from Ricky Gervais, who wished his friend well but expected that he'd be downgraded to a radio show within seven months. When guest Seth Rogan used the "s" word, Conan blanched and said, "Thank god we're on TBS." And when a knocking noise interrupted Glee's Lea Michele mid-sentence, he quipped, "Basic cable. Someone rented out a space right there. There's a Meineke muffler shop."

O'Brien joined rocker Jack White during his musical performance, and then, almost as soon as it started, his premiere was over. "That went fast," he said. But with a little luck, the show itself will have a good, long run. Longer than the last one, anyway.

What did you think of Conan's first show on TBS? Chime in below!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/conan-obrien-back-tbs/1-a-297106

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Heidi Montag: living the island life

Heidi Montag

On Tuesday (September 8), Heidi Montag continued her stay in the tropical locale of Costa Rica. The bikini-clad former MTV reality star sipped on a drink while taking a dip in the pool at her villa as one of her dogs joined in on the waterbound action. In related news, Spencer Pratt has spoken out about his misguided steps when it comes to being a husband to Heidi Montag. Pratt tells, "Divorce can be a trying, draining, and emotionally devastating experience for all involved. Despite these hardships, most individuals manage to conduct themselves with dignity and maturity. I did not ? I failed spectacularly." Expressing his remorse over his sex tape sell attempt, the 270year-old tells, "I horribly embarrassed the one person that meant the world to me. For my outrageous and infantile behavior, I offer Heidi my most sincere apologies." Continuing on, Spencer gushed, "Over the years, her love, support, and friendship were always given, but never properly cherished. I let her down. She never deserved the pain and anguish I put her through, and although I don't expect it, I hope in time she'll be able to forgive me. Even though our relationship has changed, I will always count her among my best friends." Enjoy the pictures of Heidi Montag living the good life in Costa Rica (September 8). [gallery=736]

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/general/celebrity-couples/heidi-montag-living-the-island-life/

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