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G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
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Alessar
10/12/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
And now to completely underscore the awesomeness of Grace Jones, I present this 2009 clip of her performing Slave to the Rhythm live, while using a hula-hoop.
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ampersandparade
10/10/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
You picked wonderful examples for the duality of the name Grace. Grace Kelly is a wonderful character study in history, because beneath her poise and patrician beauty she was an incredibly complex human being who suffered despite her popularity and the attention she received. I remember reading in some book about her that during the first few years of the 1960's she literally stayed in bed with the shades shut, completely depressed. She was the princess of one of the most wealthy and lavish municipalities in the world, and she was miserable because it wasn't feeding her in that way her art did. I loved finding out someone with such talent actually understood her gift and I felt badly for her that she missed it so badly after her marriage.

Grace Jones is fucking amazing. If I had to pick one person from the 20th century to define America and what it means to me, it would be her. Everything about her is aspirational; she follows no trends, she listens to no critics, she does only what she wants. She has outlived and outlasted all of her contemporaries, and in her sixties continues to put out an amazing body of work. When I think of her I always think of the Bowie line from "Life On Mars" where he sings, "she could spit in the eyes of bulls." A wonderful steely take no prisoners original.
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pumpkinsoup
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
I named my daughter Grace, because I've always been in love with name. For me Grace meant elegance, poise and certain ease with oneself, which I know sounds terribly old-fashioned, but those were asperations I had, and I wanted for my daughter. (I also inherited my mom's girl-crush on Grace Kelly).

But, you know, my daughter is very much fits with your definition: she's studious, but also very stubborn and tenacious, and def. not shy. We'll see if she grows into elegance. She's only nine.

I also want to give a shout out to another influential Grace: comedianne Gracie Allen. I guess I watched a lot of old movies growing up, because she is the second Grace I think of, after Grace Kelly. Her routines with George Burns still crack me up, and he always talked so lovingly about her even decades after she passed. True love.
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meritxell: an erotic life
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
I have nothing to contribute other than the statement that I MOTHERFUCKING ADORE GRACE JONES. That is all.

*puts on headphones and listens to Warm Leatherette*
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KatyLou
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
Battlestar Galactica posts on Jezebel always make me ridiculously more happy than they actually should.

Grace Park is incredible - I'm so glad you mentioned her. She did just a good job as all the different 8s.
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Beets.Go.On is the Fat Yogini
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
DAS MY NAME, BISHEZZZ! :D
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rollsnide
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
Yay! My daughter's middle name is Grace. We call her Gigi because her first name is a G name, too.

All the predispositions are true. She's very girly but curses like a sailor. And is 4 years old. Yeah, we're very proud. ;-)
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Plum-Pie
10/09/09

@rollsnide: My middle name is Grace too. Not great when I was an awkward teenager but I have grown to love it.
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lo-mantang
10/09/09

@Plum-Pie: Our baby's middle name is Grace. I suspect it's no.1 as a middle name for girls because it's a nice shrapish, classy name that you can stick after those lalala names like Isabella.
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Plum-Pie promoted this comment lo-mantang was starred lo-mantang was unstarred

Aesop's Foibles. YES.
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
One of my best-liked characters in a work of fiction was named Grace. She's not a real person, of course, but her name fit her so beautifully, and made me love the name.

Signed,

A Nerd.
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Anna N.
10/09/09

@Aesop's Foibles. YES.: This is un-Grace-related, but I actually know someone whose name is A. Nerd. True story.
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gracie1117
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
I LOVE that you picked Grace for the letter G!

As a very proud member of the Grace club, I can say that although some of the stuff doesn't apply to me (being demure, sweater sets etc), I'd say I've got a lot of tricks up my sleeve.

I'm happy to have such great company! We're a pretty bad ass group of chicks.
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Beets.Go.On is the Fat Yogini
10/09/09

@gracie1117: yes we are!
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hfree
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
Love the name Grace. Not to be silly, but I think it's impossible to be ungracious or ungraceful when your name is Grace. It's a self-fufilling proficy.

My initial is next week! I really hope my name is chosen (and may very well be as I can think of at least two examples who are Jez favorites).
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Edited by hfree at 10/09/09 3:38 PM hfree was starred hfree was unstarred

Rare Affinity
10/09/09

@hfree: There was only one Princess Grace but there have been Queens with my name and a whole era named after it as well.
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Plum-Pie
10/09/09

@hfree: "impossible to be.. ungraceful"

Darling, I wish it were so.

I'm 5'4'', have immense feet and am always bumping into stuff because I forget how wide my hips are. I once gesticulated so violently whilst holding a carrot stick, that it flew across the room. A bunch of Jezebels saw me do this, so I have to fess up otherwise they will be laughing at your comment because they know my middle name is Grace.
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morninggloria
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
My cousins had a wild Brittany Spaniel named Grace that would sleep curled into a tight little ball. She was thin and nervous and knew how to open car doors.
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BeRy51
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
I can't help but think of the secretary from Ferris Bueller ("GRAAAAACE!!!") She was the quiet force behind Edward Rooney, and had the astute observational skills of an anthropologist in describing the highschool's social scene. She was a good egg.
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Aesop's Foibles. YES. promoted this comment Edited by BeRy51 at 10/09/09 3:46 PM BeRy51 was starred BeRy51 was unstarred

Aesop's Foibles. YES.
10/09/09

@BeRy51: She also (perfectly) delivered my favorite line of the whole movie:

"What a little asshole."
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Zombie Ms. Skittles
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
Craaaaap double post. Demote me!
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Edited by Zombie Ms. Skittles at 10/09/09 3:43 PM

overnightly
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
It's been quite popular with Americans of Chinese or Korean descent, hasn't it? Most of the Graces I've met have Chinese or Korean ancestry. It really is a beautiful name, with a beautiful meaning.
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banh mi
10/09/09

@overnightly: There's an Asian American woman who made a documentary on this called "The Grace Lee Project." I haven't gotten a chance to see it yet, but I've been wanting to. As one of many Grace Lees, she goes around the country and interviews other Asian American women with the same name.

Grace Lee Boggs is in it, and she's always awesome.
[www.gracelee.net]
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Rare Affinity
10/09/09

In reply to G Is For Grace — What's That Up Her Sleeve?
Whenever I hear the name Grace, I always think of Grace Poole, the servant hiding a devastating secret from the eponymous heroine of Jane Eyre.
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