Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes...

suddenly look quite strange. Don't get me wrong: the relationship has seemed strange since it began. But now, the fresh, young, pretty Katie--sporting a layered sweater vest, pleated khakis, and dull, windblown soccer-mom hair--looks like a 40-year old British woman recently returned from horseback riding in the country. I thought Victoria Beckham was on top of this, and I really thought she was the gal for the job. I swear, a few weeks in Germany, and all of Posh's couture education has fallen right out of Katie's mediocre-coiffured head. Speaking of hair, Tom's new haircut is heinously, stupendously terrible and seems to emphasize his shortness (And what is with his outfit? He's either trying to imitate a frat-boy, or he's wishing that he sold real estate for a living...). The best looking one of them is baby Suri, with her to-die-for Burberry dress and adorable little-girl bob. Her parents should get some fashion tips from her stylist.

House News

Staci shared with me today news that four new actors have been hired to play House's lackeys next season. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this. I mean, yes: I cannot adequately express my joy that Cameron is gone. And Chase had gotten a little whiny, but he was still tolerable. I'm going to miss Foreman, though.

My summer reading list...

...is dedicated entirely to Heather White. I just placed an ENORMOUS Amazon.com order, and I think that perhaps every single book is one recommended by her. I'm very excited! There's tons of Barbara Pym, along with The Emperor's Children, Cold Comfort Farm, The Line of Beauty, and Jasper Fforde's The Fourth Bear. Raving reviews to follow soon, I'm sure.

Hmmm...

Today, I shared an elevator with a defense attorney...considerate of me, I know. (You can just tell the defense attorneys from the prosecutors...a practiced eye can even tell the private attorneys from the public defenders. This guy was private. For sure). He commented on my Starbucks muffin, and when I responded, he asked me where I got my "sweet little accent."

I'll admit that I was somewhat reassured by comments like these the first 600 times it happened. At home, no one even thinks I have an accent, so when people here notice the accent, it's nice. But at the same time, I'm pretty sure that when this particular defense attorney decided to ask me about my accent, it never entered his mind that I was 1) educated, and 2) employed by the County Attorney's Office. I also think it rather presumptuous of him to categorize me as "sweet" without even knowing me.

My supervisors tell me that jurors are going to love me. I'm not sure what commentary it is on my lawyering abilities that I'm apparently supposed to depend on a few "y'alls" to win my trials.

DiorShow

The only mascara that anyone should be allowed to sell, anywhere. Here's how I discovered it:

I went to Nordstrom a few weeks back because I was in the market for a new mascara. Having done my research, I decided to buy Chanel because I read that their new line was *the best* mascara on the market. So, there I am, at the Chanel counter, chirping along with the sales lady, when she tells me that their mascara is out of stock. {whine}

So, I saunter on over to the Dior counter, where I was introduced to DiorShow (in brown), and I love it.

LOLA!

What can I say about Lola lipstick? Well, I can say that it's wonderful and silky, and that it's not tacky or sticky. I can say further that it's appropriately opaque and appropriately matte, and that it accomplishes both without making its wearer look like a hooker, circa 1992. Also, I can say that it comes in so many pretty colors that I had a hard time choosing which to buy (which is saying something, really, because there are some tremendously hideous lipstick shades out there).

I could talk for days about how much I love what's inside the LOLA lipstick tube, but what's really important is the tube itself. See for yourself here: http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P35719&categoryId=C15111

My favorite shade: BITTEN!