 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
||
|
 |
|
|
||
I say everyone here at the office is a lil’ obsessive. Lulu will stay up until 2 am on a school night rereading Nancy Drew mysteries, Chris will see some Old Navy commercial, then turn to me and say, “Put your shoes on. We’re going to buy Performance Fleece NOW!!!” and me, well, it seems each week I’ve got a new crush. On Tuesday I can’t stop talking about Vinnie and his tampon cases and then by Sunday I suddenly must know everything about Claire Grogan of 80’s band Altered Images. Whatever did we do before Google? Actually, I remember. When I was a kid I would go to the library each week and carry out mini research projects. I’d scroll through the microfiche to learn all I possibly could about Doug and Suzie Tompkins of Esprit or check out back issues of any magazine that mentioned the CK model Josie Borain. But I’d also have these weird fascinations with people in my every day life, like Alice the lunchlady who had the word “Elvis” inscribed in her gold tooth. Those subjects were more difficult to discover, but not really. I’d simply interview them for my zine “Hurricane.” We’d talk up a storm! Turns out working at a high school is the perfect set-up for Elvis fans. This way you’ve got summers off and never miss your yearly pilgrimage to Graceland to honor the King on August 16th, the day of his untimely passing... Point is, you can learn a lot from a crush. Best case scenario, your life will completely be changed. Try to remember that the next time you see some cute boy or girl on the bus and then let shyness get the best of you. I’m living proof! I met Chris and Lulu at a birthday party in 1996 and now can’t imagine what I would be doing without them. There would be no fredflare.com, that’s for sure. This year for my birthday those two gave me my very own column which you are reading right now! (Thanks, guys.) This is where you’ll learn about some of my all-time fave people as well as a few new discoveries. I’m actually pretty shy myself but here you’ll find me to be a real people person! I’ll give raves, I’ll gush and every coupla weeks I’ll tell you a secret crush... Email me anytime at keith@fredflare.com and tell me yours. I’d love to hear from you! Xoxox, Keith |
Teeter Sperber from 31 Corn Lane but I just kept drawing big ballpoint bubbly hearts like I’m back in 7th grade. I can’t help it! She’s totally the kind of girl that I would befriend in Social Studies back in 1985. We’d pass notes in class and hang out on the monkey bars at recess. On weekends we’d pool our allowances and buy ice creams at the Dairy Dream. While in my mind I’m still 13, some things have certainly changed. Last week, Teeter and I went out fer lunch like grown-ups at Oznot’s in Williamsburg! I told her I had some work stuff to chat about when really I just wanted to hang out and get to know her better. (Secret crushes are the best!) The minute she shows up my day is going great! She’s so super cute, smart and full o’ pep and just makes ya happy. Her big bright eyes sparkle and her infectious laugh makes you feel like they just called yur name on The Price is Right. And she has the cutest pixie cut ever! (I love pixies! We give ‘em a lil’ shout-out in our list of fave things in our song Sparkle Pop.) Imagine if Tinkerbell hired Punky Brewster’s stylist and you get an idea of her hot look ‘n vibe. Recently Teeter left her city job and moved back home to New Jersey to work on 31 Corn Lane full-time. She was telling me all about her new life out there over lunch. She has an lil’ office in a town called Little Silver. It’s in a two-story building, the tallest around, and her studio is right above the pizza place. What a slice o’ heaven! Sometimes, when she’s bored, she’ll go down and chat with her uncle who runs the liquor store next door. Or she’ll watch old 80’s flicks like Pretty in Pink, the Goonies or Rad on her VCR in the office. Or she’ll go bowling. Chances are, though, she won’t soon have time for any of that. Her and her sisters, twins Heather and Amy, have big plans for 31 Corn Lane in 2004. They’re all so super talented we can’t wait to see what they do next! I only hope Teeter will still have time for lunch every once in a while... Click here for Teeter on Tour 03/02/04 |
