Though the quotes below don’t begin to explain the greatness that was Paul Newman, I think they give a good idea of what kind of person he was. When you have time, I highly suggest reading the entire article. I included some pictures because yes, he was as beautiful a man on the outside as he was on the inside.

He is more than a distinguished actor. He’s also an award-winning director, a champ racecar driver, a committed political activist, and, for the past 20 years, a truly amazing philanthropist. Newman credits his unparalleled success in so many areas to what he calls “Newman’s luck.” (He has always attributed his great good fortune to a series of “lucky breaks.”) “It’s allowed me to take chances, to take risks,” he has said. “To get close to a lot of edges without falling off.”

- Vanity Fair, September 2008

photograph of Vanity Fair Paul Newman Article

Movie star Paul Newman has quietly turned over the entire value of his ownership in Newman’s Own - the company that makes salad dressings and cookies - to charity. Completed over a two-year period in 2005 and 2006, the amount of his donations to Newman’s Own Foundation Inc. comes to an astounding $120 million. This is unprecedented for any movie star or anyone from what we call Hollywood. Of course, Newman and actress wife Joanne Woodward have never been Hollywood types.

- Fox News, June 11, 2008

photograph of Vanity Fair Paul Newman Article

via ABC Family

Then, while indulging in my morning ritual of reading the 1,258 blog posts that have clogged up my reader over the weekend, I find out that she’s also one of the characters in the new Dragonball movie.

via Dragonball Movie Official Site

I don’t really have anything interesting to say except 50% “WHA?!” and 50% “You go girl!”

(via cwtv.com and mtv.com

I must’ve said “i LOVE this show” about 50 times last night between 8-9pm and 10-10:30pm. Mondays ROCK!

Peter always turns me on to interesting new things. A few days ago he showed me Jeff Staple’s blog post on Postalco, a small stationary/accessories/bags store run by a husband and wife team.

Though I loved being introduced to a great new brand, what I loved more was how Jeff Staple used them as an example to make a statement about small business, branding and attaining perfection.

Even if it means staying small. I think Mike operates his business on the perfect cusp of where “hobbies” end and “business” begins. You can tell by his output that he loves his work. And he crafts each piece with pride. For him (and the thousands of others who own businesses like Postalco), the secret to creating a great brand, is maybe to stay exactly the same.
(Jeff Staple on Postalco)

Such a simple concept. Stay small enough where you can still make an impact - where every part of your business has your heart and soul imprinted on it. Sounds pretty darn perfect to me.

Giant Robot does this thing in each issue where they ask people to write about their perfect day.

Here’s mine:

8am wake up, rub eyes, put a pot of coffee on, make some eggs and toast for me and peter. today peter doesn’t go to work because he’s going to come to the store and help me do something cool to it (what store? you ask. this post is called dreaming because on this perfect day, i am the owner of a lovely boutique)

8.30am go to wake biscuit (and his new sister?!). sniff the top of his head (i think it’s just me, but he smells so good in the morning) and laugh as he stretches and immediately starts scarfing down his food

9am walk toward the store with peter and biscuit. on this day, he can walk off leash without crashing into dogs, cars and our legs, and he also picks up his own poop and wipes his own toosh. ah, just that in itself makes it a perfect day.

noon yum, time for lunch! today, it’s one of my favorites - hot pressed sandwiches with those to-die-for spicy carrots at tartine.

3pm our friends stop by and we hang out at the store on a big couch. the space is huge so we can do that. we don’t worry about selling lots of stuff today because it’s our perfect day and that’s not really what counts.

8pm we arrive at gary danko’s for dinner. one of our greatest meals was had here and i’d like to repeat it.

11pm in bed. biscuit’s allowed to sleep with us and he doesn’t shed or doodoo in his sleep so we’re all good.

Dreaming is good.