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The Dish - 11.06.09
Doni: What do you think is the sexiest thing for a man to wear?
KellY: The scent of fresh soap.
Doni: You funny. I’m talking about clothing.
Kelly: OK. White shirt, blue jeans, cowboy boots. And a twinkle in his eyes. And a smile. And the scent of soap. You?
Doni: Jinx, we’re practically the same! Oh, about the white shirt - it must be ironed cotton, long-sleeves and cuffs rolled up twice. Yes on the soap, and oh, my gosh, clean hair and teeth and short, clean nails. Also, I really like a nice cologne. I’m an olfactory kind of gal, as long as it’s subtle, not an English Leather chemical spill. I love Armani Mania, which I bought for Bruce a few years ago. Sadly, he rarely wears it. He really ought to. It’d be worth his while.
Sorry. Overshare.
Kelly: Au contraire, mon chere. We’re all eyes. Anything else you’d like to tell us?
Doni: Hey, we’re flush with questions today, aren’t we?
Kelly: I think I know where you’re going with this. Want to talk about our new Question of the Day feature?
Doni: Happy to. The incredible Troy Hawkins will submit and post one question a day here on anewscafe.com. He’s done it for a while on Facebook, and people love it. Actually, this is a good example of great minds thinking alike because friend Charlie Price suggested a question a day as a feature more than a year ago. We’ll have no shortage of questions, what with all these inquiring minds, not to mention we tend to think we have all the answers.
Kelly: We apparently have all the same answers, at any rate.
Doni: If I’m not mistaken you have a very special birthday this year, Miss Kelly. Refresh my memory. When is it?
Kelly: November.
Doni: Yes, we know. When in November?
Kelly: All of it.
Doni: LOL. Do you always celebrate all month, or is it because this is one of those ends-with-a-five-or-a-zero birthdays?
Kelly: I celebrate all month, not just one day. I’m not being cagey, cross my heart. I like to get as much mileage out of a birthday as possible. Also, I’m not keen on putting the exact date on the Internet. Gremlins! Ask me anytime, I’m happy to tell my true and accurate age. Hint: This birthday has a five and a zero in it. Can I tell you a secret?
Doni: Sure you can. It’ll be just between us.
Kelly: Every day of the year feels like my birthday. I look around and see all my gifts — wonderful family, fantastic friends and colleagues, a gorgeous city to live in, meaningful work to do, good health and a steady nervous system. Knock wood. My gratitude list is miles long. I’ve got your basic Happy DNA (thanks, Mom!). You do too, I’ve noticed. Some people just have their default switch set on “cheerful” from the beginning. I feel lucky to be alive, lucky to have made it to this milestone birthday, and lucky to be surrounded by people I love and respect. (Cue Mary Chapin Carpenter… Now eleven million later, I was sitting at the bar / I’d bought the house a double, and the waitress a new car / Dwight Yoakam’s in the corner, trying to catch my eye / Lyle Lovett’s right beside me with his hand upon my thigh… I feel lucky!…)
Doni: I like the way you think, Kelly, and I can relate. Maybe that’s why we’re so good together. Want to hear something crazy? A person once accused me of faking happiness - couldn’t image anyone that happy. Happy? Happy, happy, birthday, Kelly. You are amazing, you look amazing, you do amazing work and I thank my lucky stars that we have each other. I consider your birth a gift to us all. Really.
Kelly: You’re much too kind. That’s quite enough, now. I mean thank you.
Doni: I know you’d rather change the subject but I must say, I would have loved to have thrown you the mother of all birthday parties with hundreds of adoring people who’d shower you with presents and well-wishes, but you were adamant about not going there. How come?
Kelly: If anybody can throw a ringtail tooter of a party, it’s you. I appreciate the thought. But nobody needs that much attention. What if I got The Big-Head? I’d have trouble going through doorways. I’d have to scratch my ears waaaaay out here. Attractive. No, too much commotion might catch the eye of various mischievous cosmic forces and they’ll be all LOOK WHO NEEDS A LESSON IN HUMILITY LET’S MESS HER UP.
Doni: I guess I understand. And as much as I love parties, I’m not that comfortable having the attention on me - stop laughing, I’m serious. Really, I’d much rather throw a party and be in the background filling food trays than be the star of the show. Will you at least allow me to bake you a birthday cake?
Kelly: 1) I’m not laughing; I know it’s true, and B) WAY YES. Birthday cakes are very important. Chocolate-chocolate please, no raspberry goo filling or pastry cream or anything extra. Just a glossy chocolate cake, the kind that requires a gallon of milk as the perfect beverage pairing. And that’ll be the only time you’ll ever see me drink milk.
Doni: I’m on it. Because you deserve only the best, I’ll use the Scharffen Berger chocolate I bought at the Redding Grocery Outlet Bargain Store for just $1.99.
Oh, before I forget, I want to congratulate the three lucky winners of tickets to the 2009 AAUW Home Tour and Art Show: Jenni Middleton, Melissa Mendonca and Janice Powell. I believe there’s still time to buy tickets for Saturday’s Home Tour.
Kelly: Saturday is also the annual Authors Fair at Mt. Shasta Mall. Some of our favorite people will be there — Steve Brewer and Phil Fountain, among others. That’s one of the few events that will bring me to a mall. I generally prefer to shop at one-of-a-kind local-owner stores whenever possible. Although, if the mall offered free wi-fi, I’d probably spend more time there. Wouldn’t it be a huge attraction for the laptop crowd? It works for coffeehouses. I think many people (like me) would sit in the food court with our computers, spending money on pizza and onion rings and Diet Pepsi. Pick up a six-pack of socks at Penney’s before we leave. Cruise the shoe sale at Macy’s on the way out.
Doni: I second your thoughts on the mall, but yeah, you’d think a huge indoor space like that would provide free wi-fi for all the reasons you mentioned. Hey, December’s coming. The Authors Fair would be a good place to stock up on local holiday gifts. Oh, and gift, that reminds me. We each have Jennifer Jewell’s gorgeous 2010 calendars and notecards, and wow, are they beautiful. Put those in your local gift baskets, too.
Kelly: We only have 20 days left until Thanksgiving and 49 until Christmas. I went back and read our holiday resolutions from last year, and guess what? I’m already thinking about doing Thanksgiving the day before, like you suggested. And I did buy a Christmas present already (back in June, actually) that I haven’t lost or forgotten about yet. Great refresher.
Doni: Thanksgiving a day early is brilliant! Then on Thanksgiving you can put your feet up, watch movies, read and eat leftovers. And Christmas? The days of trolling stores in December for gifts are over for me. I now look for interesting things all year - sometimes in thrift stores, sometimes among my own belongings, things I love but are happy to pass on to someone I love.
Kelly: Me too. So much easier. Before we go, want to talk about the readership numbers (speaking of milestones)?
Doni: I can’t believe you’re letting me take this one. Sure you don’t want to tell? Go ahead. It’s your birthday month.
Kelly: Thank you so many. Here’s the lede: Since January, anewscafe.com readership has doubled. It has gone from 20,000 unique visitors (or computers) a month to more than 40,000 a month. Much of that growth has happened very recently. Here’s the readership growth chart, for stats geeks like me (thanks, Bruce). And it is getting more than 800,000 page views a month. We owe a lot of people a lot of gratitude for reading and contributing in so many ways to this website. Thank you, thank you.
Doni: I almost feel as if we should stop and weep with joy or smoke a cigarette or cue a marching band — something! I mean, Kelly, these numbers are huge! To have our little media business grow with the kinds of leaps and bounds anewscafe.com’s enjoying … in this economy … at a time when the 500-lb. gorilla is practically anorexic print dailies are losing readership by the thousands … it’s nothing short of a miracle.
Kelly: It’s fun to watch it grow, that’s for sure.
Doni: While we’re counting our blessings, from the bottom of our hearts we thank our continued advertisers for their ongoing support, and as we begin this month we give a shout-out to anewscafe.com’s newest advertising family members: Win-River Casino, Prime 11 Cinemas (Anderson, Weaverville and Red Bluff), Clyde’s TV, Pasta Pronto, Take Shape For Life, American Furniture Company, Dill’s Deli, La Conquista Mexican restaurant. Have we forgotten anyone?
Kelly: As of this moment, that’s the list. Ask me again tomorrow. The ad staff works wonders.
Doni: No segue, but here’s a question: Dare to guess the local paper’s weekly paid circulation these days? It was around 40,000 when I first started there in 1997, and when I left two years ago I heard it was limping around just above the mid-25,000 range. I’m guessing it’s even worse now. On a related note, did you see E.W. Scripps’ third quartly report? Holy declining assets, Batwoman! I’ve started saving newspaper samples so my grandchildren will have media relics for show-and-tell someday.
Kelly: Golly, look at the time. Mind if we backtrack a little bit?
Doni: I can take a hint. You bet we can backtrack. To what, your birthday? Have you changed your mind? Do you want a big birthday bash? Shall I rent chairs? Dash off some evites? Lease the Igo Inn?
Kelly: Very funny. No, I’d like to return to our Question of the Day. It starts Monday, but just to get a fun head start, let’s throw this out there for the weekend — readers, what’s the sexiest thing a woman can wear?
Doni: And in the spirit of equality … readers, what’s the sexiest thing a man can wear?
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I’m with you on the jeans and cowboy boots — that look does me in. I also happen think that it’s VERY sexy when a man puts on reading glasses - don’t ask me why. Maybe it’s the maturity factor? Maybe there’s just something wrong with me.
Love Troy’s “Question of the Day!” I think it will be a great addition to A News Cafe.
Happy Birthday, month, Kelly - celebrate!
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Happy Birthday, Kelly. Enjoy that beautiful cake Doni will make you.
And, congrats to you for all you have accomplished with the A News Cafe! Good going. ;o)
God Bless.
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I think the sexiest thing both a man and a woman can wear is….. a smile.
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An apron.
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Ann Webber Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Only!
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Hey, wait a minute. I don’t own any cowboy boots! Are ugly, crackling-Velcro sandals considered sexy? Bare feet? Those I got.
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Ken D Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
A month of birthday? Kelly you’re my new hero.
What’s sexy on a woman? I too think it’s hard to beat a great smile; on the lips and in the eyes. Intelligence is danged sexy.
But any smart woman will have figured out that walking around town wrapped only in a great smile and sparkly eyes will, sooner or later, become a complicated thing.
Fortunately clothes can be sexy. My personal favorite is, interestingly, the same basic white shirt and jeans (okay, tight jeans), with either sandles with a slight heel. In this fantasy outfit, the blouse should be open just enough to show a simple gold necklace. Necks are very sexy. Oh, a necktie belt is a nice touch. (What’s this thing I have about necks? Do I need professional help?)
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Congrats on the readership; I gave up the Wretched Flashlight over a year ago. Happy Birthday, Kelly.
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Happy Birthday Kelly! Hope ths year offers you lots of love, laugh and fun adventures.
Newscafe, we are so glad you came along. You are all doing a wonderful job. We stopped the Searchlight when they no longer carried Doni’s columns and weren’t sure what we’d replace it with. We’re so happy you’re here!!
As far as what’s sexy. I agree with all above, I love an easy smiler in a crisp white shirt, dark blue jeans and boots when dressing up ( think George Strait) and jeans and a long sleeve flannel plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up ( not too much) and a baseball cap for everyday. That being said, I have never seen a man in a tux that didn’t look sexy.
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Hey Happy Friday! Is the Author’s fair this Saturday? I thought it was last week…. ? I really would like to go.
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Steve Brewer Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 9:31 am
It is indeed this Saturday. Mt. Shasta Mall, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Hope to see you there.
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dustin salsi Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Thanks!! I hope to see you there!
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Happy Birthday to you, Kelly! Enjoyed the dish. I agree with the smile on a guy. Best thing anyone can wear!
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Since Doni & Kelly are sharing October statistics, I have a new statistic that I think is fun. Yesterday, anewscafe’s pages were viewed 62,888 times in one day. Congratulations to the contributors and readers who make this website such a cool place to hang out.
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Janice Powell Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
WOW! Those are some incredible numbers….keep up the great work!
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The success of your site is richly deserved and it clearly fills a need in the community that was sorely lacking before. The world will beat a path to your door if you give them what they’re looking for. Congrats on those numbers!
And happy birthday Kelly!
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Kelly,
Happy Birthday Month. What a great idea to celebrate all month long!
Doni and Gang,
Congratulations on your news cafe’s success!
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Happy birthday Kelly. I agree with you on the feeling that everyday is your birthday. I feel so blessed everyday that I wake up and can get out of bed and do things I enjoy.
Congrats you guys on your readership stats. There was never any doubt that you would be successful.
Ok, onto the sexy thing….I have to agree on the jeans (kind of tight, not those baggy things), any button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I like either cowboy boots or tennis shoes. Short hair and a little facial hair………Oh slow my beating heart!!
I love the question idea. I have really been enjoying Troy’s questions on Facebook.
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Gosh, I am right there with you girls this morning!
1. I have always had the notion that everyone is entitled to a birth month. One day a year is far to short a time to celebrate ones life.
2. It must be mating season because my heart skipped a few beats when you started talking about men in sexy clothes and a hint of cologne. When my guy puts on the levi 501’s, crisp button down shirt, leather shoes, sport coat, and aftershave, he still manages to take my breath away. Not bad after 23 years of marriage.
Have a lovely weekend.
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OK- Steve has been the only guy with the courage to weigh in on the sexy thing(I’ve got your back, Steve.) Here’s what I think.
Sexy is a look across the room. It’s hard to pinpoint. I just know it when I see it.
Sexy is when a woman with a nice body dresses to leave it to the imagination.
Sexy is a quiet thing. Sensual more than sexual.
I have to go now. I’m off to buy cowboy boots and cologne
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Daria Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Bruce,
Your post put a big smile on my face.
You go boy!
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Sexy comes in all sizes and packages, but almost always starts with a smile. I’m a big fan of the warm smell of my wife after a long soak in bubbles, covered with a long flannel night gown.
At a minimum, everybody should celebrate a birthday week. As we get older, filling out the month becomes an even better idea.
If you’re looking for a nice small gift, locally made, for your friends and acquaintances, I’d suggest the new Christmas CD from the Straight Ahead Big Band. Available at Sunset Market and Turtle Bay for now - or email me and I’ll get it to you. http://www.straightaheadbigband.com
Keep up the good work at the News Cafe.
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Happy Birthday, Kelly!
Sexiest thing a man can wear is definitely a smile. Button fly 501’s faded the ‘right’ way, and a polo shirt aren’t a bad way to say ‘howdy’ either.
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Good job you guys.
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Sexiest thing a man can wear?
A Giants cap.
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Happy Birthday Kelly.
I shouldn’t let the cat out of the bag, but I believe Steve has been out shopping for a Kilt. It is to be worn in the traditional manner on your birthday.
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Air kisses to all for the sweet birthday wishes… thanks.
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Better late than never @ 7:25 PM!
Kelly, very happy birthday wishes to you! The big 5-0, huh? Mine is coming up 12/29/09! I celebrate the whole week between Christmas and New Years, with my bday smack in the middle! I feel like I am turning 30… well, that may be pushing it~~ some days are better than others! So glad you are enjoying your life with many new friends and fans. I love your take on life! So refreshing and happy!
Doni, I would like the same cake you are making for Kelly! Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! And, heavy on the frosting! Afterall, I do have a figure and reputaion to keep up on!
My sexy man is the one I know and love: he works very hard, sometimes too hard, but he loves what he does. I love it when he is freshly showered after working so hard, has dressed in his BLACK wranglers, with a nice shirt, a little stubble on his face, and the waft of a light cologne, and then takes me out for a nice dinner.
Can’t wait for the ? of the day!!! It should be fun!
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Happy happy birthday, Kelly! You’re another year SMARTER! It gets better and better, too.
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Happy Birthday Month, Kelly.
I’m happy to see that not one respondent said that the sexiest thing a man can wear is a suit made of removable credit cards.
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Happy birthday month, Kelly. It is my birthday month as well. I have noticed that the sexiest men have white hair now. Strange, huh? They used to be old farts.
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Happy birthday Kelly! I’m convinced that we’re still not at a stage in history where a woman’s age isn’t an issue. Try this. When you’re watching the news, mentally place a gal’s wig on any male news commentator and he will age by about 20 years. Cut any woman’s hair in a short style and she will lose 15 years. You are who you are. Numbers tend to confuse most people. Oh, and sexy is intelligent. Intelligence will keep nails, clothes and breath clean and is sexy in or out of any clothes. Thank you for the great dish.
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Happy Birthday Kelly! I am a bit ahead in the age race, it actually gets easier, knowing that you have happiness is a gift at every age. Good friends and health always.
The sexiest thing my man wears is desire in his eyes. Clothing-wise I have to agree on the Levi’s. I love a soft earth toned shirt and that’s about all. Clean is good too!
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