My Music @ Work

Yeah, I probably shouldn't blog about work - you know, just in case. Well, I guess I won't. Not entirely.

Things at the office are still in flux - I'm sure this couldn't be the cause of my still visible cold sore. Nope. Not at all.

All signs point to me doing very similar things to what I have been doing and most likely with the same clients. What is less certain is the person I'll be reporting to - the third one on 18 months. I don't know here, I don't know how we'll get along. I also don't know if my clients will be the same.

The biggest thing is I don't know if there is or will be any growth for me here. The Magic 8 Ball would say 'all signs point to no'.

A guy I work with has lamented that there are no good pubs in town. He's right. Not that I go out drinking anymore, but I don't know of one place I'd want to go to - let alone in, or for multiple visits. He keeps bringing up the thought that we should open one.

g-d help me, it is an intriguing idea. Not that I want to work every night or mop up someone's vomit the next morning. But that's what you hire 'help' for - right? I can be in charge of the books and the jukebox. I can deal with what anyone picks on the box, since I've selected everything in it. In my head, I've immediately picked "Is That All There Is?" by Miss Peggy Lee as the first song selection. I loved it in the movie After Hours, but I always remember it on the jukebox at the oldest bar in Houston, that Becky took us to.

Owning a pub might be a job instead of a career, but right now, my career just looking like just a job.



Song by: the Tragically Hip

Came So Far For Beauty

Because a wart on the thumb and another one on the bottom of my foot isn't enough - I now have a cold sore.

Denton says you can't see it or notice it at all. ....clearly he's lying. I think it is the size of Rhode Island. And naturally, I think everyone is staring at it and mocking me the second I'm out of earshot.

That is probably not different than before, but now they have a new point of mockery and it sits on and above my lip.

You're probably asking why this picture of Nigel Tufnel. Go ahead - you know you are. Well, I couldn't find a picture of him or David St. Hubbins, who both sported gargantuan cold sores in one scene of This is Spinal Tap.

I'm assuming they are called 'cold sores' due to the fact you can get them from colds? But I haven't had one of those for months. But it 'tis sore. Most on-lines sites reference stress as a factor. g-d knows I have enough of that these days.

I have no idea how long these last. I can only remember one before this - and it was when Morty and I were out in Palm Springs visiting David. No stress there - just lots of liquor and/or drugs.

Do those cause herpes simplex 1 or 2? Because that would make a lot of sense.



Song by: Jennifer Warnes

RECORD OF THE MONTH

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!

These may or may not be newly released disks. They might not even be a good disk - just what is been in heavy rotation in my car (as usually the iPod is playing anywhere else). Yeah, I'm a big fan of Aimee Mann - but not a huge fan of @#%&*! Smilers......and you just know I want to be.

Something about it isn't pulling me in. Yes, there are certain songs I really like and play over and over, but then it hits a certain track or tracks an my interest wanes. That can't be good - right?

I keep reading reviews (not the amazon ones, but trade publications) that say it is her best album yet - and I keep wondering 'what am I missing here?'.

Sure she switched it up a bit - gone are the electric guitars and more moogs, wurlitzers and strings, but that's not making it a better album. To be fair, those items are not making it a worse one either. Actually, the synths make the disk have some Lost in Space tendencies - not such a bad thing since I like that disk a lot.

While there are really good songs on the disk, there is something on here I never expected: throw away songs. I can't think of a disk she's done (ok, maybe her debut one, Whatever) that had a song I would go out of my way to skip over. Smilers has a few of them ("Phoenix" or "Medicine Man" anyone? - and how does the latter song intro not sound like 1976 Elton John?). Not good.

I concede that some of this might grow on me over time, but I've had the disk in continual rotation for three weeks and not much is growing on me - past the keepers like "Little Tornado", "Freeway", "Thirty One Today", "The Great Beyond" and "Borrowing Time".

I still like Mann and think that she is a more than competent singer/songwriter/musician - but this disk isn't displaying it.

Birth-Day (Love Made Real)

Last night we attended a party for Cletus (we call him Clete), my uncle, who turned 90.

90!!!

He has outlived two of his five children. He has 18 grandkids and almost as many great grandkids. He is still married to his wife, Marge, of what I am guessing is up to 65 years? Yeah, it has to be about 15 years since I attended their 50th anniversary.

Though I do not relish getting old(er), and really thought I would be dead by this point in my life, the odds of dying "young" are slimmer and slimmer for me. Genetics being the big thing, I suppose.

Clete, obviously, is 90. His brother and my father both turn 88 this year (Clete and his brother are on my mother's side). My paternal grandmother kicked it at 94. My mother turns 80 in a few months. I'm kind of screwed on the leaving a beautiful corpse kind of thing, aren't I?

As we were driving out there I was thinking - was it just genetics or medical involvement too? In a 14 month period, I lost three of my four grandparents. I was in 5th & 6th grade. I am currently the same age my mother was when she lost her parents (technically, my grandfather wasn't her father - but that's another story). She has now almost been without her mother as long as she had her at this point.

I have friends who are my age who still have some of their grandparents, a few with both sets. Was I the anomaly in the fact that my grandparents died when I was younger? I didn't think so, but now I wonder. Is it all just luck of the draw or roll of the dice?

I would venture to say "yes". And as it turns out, regardless of what age - it was doubtful I could have gotten in on the Beautiful Corpse Club.



Song by: Suzanne Vega

War of Man

Not that the political 'season' didn't kick off over a year ago, but there will be no slowing down on it until after the courts decide a winner. ....well, you don't think the popular vote or the electoral college will have anything to say about it anymore - do you?

I assume I will vote for Obama in November, but in no circumstance could I ever conjure up where I would vote for McCain. I wasn't a big fan of his in 2000 when he ran, but as I saw clip of some pundit the other day saying the McCain of 2000 would never endorse the McCain of 2008.

It is quite amazing how much of one's self and soul would be sold for a chance to inhabit the White House. I am sure I've said it before - but imagine the ego. I really don't think it is about 'change' or making a difference in the world. It's 100% ego.

I haven't seen any Obama ads running yet in Ohio. Or if I have, they aren't memorable. And I have only seen on McCain ad. One that I don't truly get at all.



Is there a message here? War, Bad? I don't think so. ....though with the first line of the ad, I think he just called W a 'fool or a fraud'. Or both. ......and you can't argue with that one.

Yeah, his grandfather, father and himself went to war. He doesn't like it. We get it. I also get that he neglects to mention that he wants to keep troops in Iraq until at least 2013. He can't hate it that much.

But this is what I'm expecting of the 2008 election - lots of 32 second ads that say absolutely nothing.



Song by: Neil Young

Devil with the Green Eyes

I kind of know better than to even post this - but apparently, if I can write about my lack of deodorant habits, I can talk about my singing habits.

It would be no shock to anyone here that I enjoy music. You read about the monthly records I select to feature here. You sometimes hear about the concerts I have attended. And you get some iPod updates now and again.

And I use said iPod a lot - especially when I travel. It makes the airport stays, the plane rides and the hotel room (unless they have an iPod dock - which many now do) much more palatable.

....the Metro too. Which is really where I was going with this post in the first place.

I like to sing - though I have no idea if I'm any good at it. Apparently, for the most part, I don't care. I do it around the house. I do it in the car too - usually when alone. And I'm not completely ashamed to kind of, sort of, sing when walking down the street with the iPod on. I mean - not in all out, full voice....and not with anyone really really around. Hell, half the people on the street have headphones on anyway.

But yesterday on the Metro, I was the only person in my car. That has never happened. And I mean for like 15 minutes. No one.

Naturally, I already had my earbuds in before I ever got to the Metro stop. So, I had a nice performing hall all to myself. No need to hold back - if I didn't want to. I thought about it - and then thought, 'what the hell'.

Not until now (while writing this) did I think of "sing out, Louise!" - I'm clever for sure, but not that clever - or queeny (shut up, each and every one of you!). Honestly, I don't know which songs came up in the shuffle rotation, except for the title of this post.

But sing out I did. There was no one around, and the rumble of the train on the tracks at 40 miles per hour made my voice sound better than I'm sure it is.

Then someone at Friendship Heights got on the train. I guess I could have kept up with my performance, but I am not quite that psychotic mass transportation rider..............yet.



Song by: Matthew Sweet

Jeremy

Is it just me or does the "guy" in the new print-ad for something McDonalds is trying to shove down our throats......

look eerily like straight porn star Ron Jeremy?

Song by: Pearl Jam

Road to Dead

It is not Arlington, but Cleveland has a pretty impressive cemetery all its own.

Right down the street from us is Lakeview Cemetery - and I suppose like most, it's rich in history. You can say that of all, since where there are dead, there is bound to be some history - whether it is boring or not.

Except for riding my bike through Lakeview (which is actually prohibited), I have never really been there. Supposedly, it is quite a tourist attraction. I will say, the grounds are beautiful.
Not only are they fairly expansive but they have a few prominent folk taking the big dirt nap, including Eliot Ness, Jeptha Wade (founder of Western Union), John D. Rockefeller (founder of Standard Oil) and one president, James Garfield.

Garfield was only in office six months before he was assassinated. Actually, he was shot two months prior to his death - so I don't know how history views those last 60 days or so of his 'serving'. Anyhoo - he has this gianormous monument at the cemetery:

Not too shabby of a final resting place for someone who wasn't president all that long.

I love the ornate tile work and the $8.79 Home Depot 'welcome' mat. I love the fact that they are welcoming you to someone's tomb. JFK could learn a thing about hospitality from JAG.

......at least the crypt got top billing!

I wasn't expecting the caskets to be above ground, or not encased in marble. Ruckiry, (not Jon's boss) the stench has mostly dissipated over the last 120 years. The two urns (if you can see them) are his daughter and son-in-law.

And from the observatory deck (yes, they have one) you see downtown Cleveburgh.

The woman at the information center in the monument was quite unhelpful. Yes, Garfield had other children. No, she didn't know where they were entombed. She made it quite clear she really didn't know about anything she was supposed to know about. Nor did she seem to care.



Song by: Paula Cole

Cool For Cats

We are bad dads.

We almost missed Sophie's 2nd birthday!

We haven't had her for two years (that's in October), but the shelter says she and her brothers and sisters were born on June 15th. ...and we almost missed it - because I thought yesterday was the 16th. Even though I had been talking it up for the last month.

She's a long little girl - and she does like to stretch out quite a bit. The things that make her comfortable would make a contortionist wince just at the idea of doing what she does. For some reason she really likes her head to hang down when she sleeps - over an ottoman, off a table, off the bed. We don't get it at all.

Don't let this docile behaviour fool you. She may as well be a 5 month old kitten. She is still a bullet that races from end to end of the house, trying to make corners she can barely navigate (and sometimes doesn't), even with all back claws out. Or bounds down the steps - two, three or four at a time. Her goal: to get there before you do, even if she has no idea where you are going. She'll win. She always does.

Sophie is a gifted kibble hockey player too. One piece from her bowl, to her mouth, to the floor and she dribbles that thing all over the kitchen for days on end. Pele was never this adept.

Tovah tolerates her pretty well, though I won't say she's happy happy. The bites on Tovah's butt....then her tail.....then her ear, all her bold attempts at becoming alpha cat, when just the speed and agility of Soph annoy the fuck out of Tovah.

Denton is Sophie's favourite - and I'm ok with that. I mean, sure, I was all like, 'why doesn't she like me like that?' and yeah, I'd like her to curl up on my chest now and again, but it's always nice to look over and see the two of them together. There is some special bond there and we don't understand the 'why' of it. It just is.




Song by: Squeeze

Sexy Sadie

As unnatural as it sounds, I read Helter Skelter when I was in 7th grade!

Yes, most kids in that grade are still reading something like the Narnia series. Not me. A teacher actually took the book away from me - and probably rightfully so. But I also got it back the very same day. Maybe she wasn't a very good teacher.

It really is a fascinating read. If you haven't - you should. Fiction was never this good. Most of it doesn't seem real. You almost have to suspend your disbelief to get through it. That might be easier for a 7th grader. But I have re-read it several times since.

Suffice to say - I wasn't your normal elementary school student. A year earlier I had read the entire Warren Commission Report. What any of this did to me developmentally is anyone's guess. All I think it did was make me grow up much quicker - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It might help explain my cynicism. I said 'might'!!

In the last few days I've seen a number of news reports that say, Manson Family member and 'Sharon Tate killer', Susan Atkins, wants to be released from prison on a 'compassionate release' - as she has 6 or less months to live.

True, she was a Family member, but more than likely it was one of her counterparts who killed Sharon Tate. But undoubtedly, she helped kill others too.

Neither here or there, but I would say - why not let her out?

She has spent almost 40 years in prison - which is a fuck of a lot longer than most will ever spend and who have done as heinous of crimes - or worse. Oh, and she has terminal brain cancer and has at least one amputated leg. It's not quite like she's going on some massive killing spree (unless someone gives her a car that requires a clutch!).

Even by the California Penal system admission (hehehe - I said 'penal) - she has been a model prisoner for most of the entire time she has been incarcerated. I suppose, except for that burning a swastika into her forehead with a red hot bobby pin. But kids will be kids!

Atkins, was by no means a saint that went astray, but let's face it -acid and an allegedly charismatic man? - well, who would not kill for that? Literally.

In all seriousness - when does a prisoner's debt to society end? I think it is the more gruesome crimes with less press coverage that have an easier chance of getting out of the clink, whether they are model citizens or not. True the Manson girls got life, but not life without parole (technically, they got the death penalty, but reduced to life sentences after they abolished the gas chamber in 1972). Press coverage still comes and goes over this stuff for these. Every two years I see something in the news about their parole being denied. I never see that about the "Hillside Stranger".

So if not released, California would be responsible for her care - and the cost of it - whereas, if she were released, it would be her family's burden. Her biological one - not that crazy weirdo and Squeaky Fromme.

For all intense purposes, it is highly unlikely anyone would have been caught for the crime if it weren't for Atkins (or Sadie - which was her alias, which was indeed taken from this post title). Assuming that is what she was arrested for - instead of grand theft auto - she yakked to a few cellmates in detail about what she/they had done. Only for one of those cellmates talking, did people put 2+2 together. She should get something for being that stupid - no?

Not even six months out of jail before she kicks it?



Song by: the Beatles

Shopping with Blobby

Yet another installment in the drudgery that is everyday shopping. The camera-phone makes it a bit more fun - though I get looks whenever I take pics of products. Like I care what people think!

WHERE NOT TO FIND A DATE:

Seriously, could the folks at CVS have not taken just a little bit of time to come up with something a little more clever - and maybe a little less ostracizing?

Maybe consult with a marketing professional before the sunk a few hundred thousand into signage for their 6,000 store? (I'm assuming this is nationwide branding.)

It's not like they called this Rubbers & Spermicide!!!

Talkin' Baseball

Went to our first Indians game of the season last night. It was a beautiful night and some great seats - right behind first base, about 15 rows back.

I should have known not to go, since anytime I do go, we lose. And since we've been playing so iffy anyway, but on a two-game winning streak, I should have reconsidered going.

It started bad. Real bad. First, my doppleganger was on the DL. That's the Disabled List, not the Down Low. Though I'd be really really ok if he were on that.

And then by the second inning we were losing 6-1. The Twins had six hits and six runs! We had six hits and one run. Pathetic.

But Casey Blake got a homer with two folks on base, so we came much closer to winning.

Alas in the 9th, they pulled ahead and stayed there: 8-5.

...me being me, couldn't help but think of Buddy Cole and his Sappho Sluggers, during most of the game. Yes, I'm that gay. So for most of you out there who read this and could care less about America's pastime, even I think you can enjoy this:





Song by: Terry Cashman

Second Hand News

So I somehow found a link to my blog from another site. For non-bloggers, you should know this happens now and again and you usually stumble over it. Normally it is just another blog site, but this one seemed a little different.

I had heard from Large Tony that a while back that he got mentioned in an article in his local paper about this blog (that must be SOME racy local paper, if you axe me).

Well my link was also from our local paper. The on-line edition only - it wasn't put into the real paper. And our on-line site is so fucked up, it is not even funny. If you can navigate to find the front page, more power to you. So if too many people found my link, they must be bored to tears to be on that site (the PD, not mine) or some kind of social archaeologist.

I suppose the lead up to the actual blog entry is something someone might get offended at on some level. I'm not just anyone. I'm a big boy, I can take it. However, like most media and how they deal with the "stars", they only take a portion of what I wrote and things now look a bit out of context.

You can click here for it and then read the fourth entry from the top. You'll see it. You're smart folk.

For the record, Denton was mortified x 2. Once that I wrote about it in the first place. Second that it got picked up by the paper.

Me? Any press is good press - right? RIGHT?



Song by: Fleetwood Mac

Readin', Rightin', Rt 23

Ms. Flowers read again from her novel a week ago at Joseph-Beth. Yes, I'm just getting to posting about it now, but the way I see it is that if anyone here missed my first 4 dozen posting on her book, they'll catch it now and will slowly build and stagger the book sales.

....well, it sounded plausible in my head.

Naturally we attended the festivities. It was a dark and windy night. Ok....it was light, but wet. Lots and lots of rain making it a laborious drive for almost any event - but of course, we'd do it for friends.

The crowd may have been a bit smaller then when we were in DC, but the group had better questions when we finally got to the Q&A session.

Though I have heard Becky read from her novel before, I just kind of reflected on not how only writes a book, but so easily reads it aloud to a group of people. That too is kind of an art. It's not quite public speaking and it's not reciting lines of anything per se. We all have our styles of how a character says their lines when we read by ourselves, so that anyone can pull it off with style is a good thing. ...and she did.

Even though I got to spend time with her parents the day before, it was always good to see them again. Some of her other family attended as well - nieces, nephews, brother and sister-in- law.

If nothing else, I would always go to a setting with her sister-in-law.

Ok that is a blatant lie.

Let me rephrase: when it is a limited time frame, a somewhat controlled atmosphere and multiple distractions - I can spend some time with her sister-in-law.

Let's put it this way - someone at the Q&A asked if any character in the book was based on her sis-in-law. Becky's response was: 'who would believe a character like that? People would think a character like that would be totally made up - IF anyone could make it up'.

I enjoy her (kind of....sort of...) because I can torture her with out any real repercussions, since any dig I get in won't be realized for about 3 full days....if at all. Yet I still get the satisfaction out of it and everyone else around smiles knowingly in real time.

I purchased yet a fifth copy of the book - this time for my mother, since the weather kept her from getting to the reading. But I also picked up David Sedaris' new one too.....so far, so fair.



Song by: Dwight Yoakam

Bread & Circuses

On Saturday we went back out for some tile, fixture and other stuff to get our quote for the master bath to be a bit more accurate or to see where we needed to do some cost savings.

But as always, I got shopping fatigue (it doesn't take much) and got hungry (it doesn't take much), so we had to stop for lunch. There was a Panera near by and it is really hard to fuck that food up, so we went.

Before we left, Denton wanted a scone so he could have it for breakfast the next day. But since we were going to my parents on Sunday for dinner, we also picked up two loaves of bread (for my mother) and two cinnamon rolls (for my father). Then I overhear the person ringing him up say, "will this be for here or to go?" - which I just found amusing as hell and broke out into a grin.

Denton did to0 - not only for this instance, but for one Tom Green told us about eons ago, which I'm beginning to think is just urban legend, but is still funny:

A woman goes into KFC by herself and orders two full buckets of chicken with all the fixins (is that spelled correctly?). The cashier rings her up and asks, "will this be for here or to go?", to which the customer barks "does it look I can eat all this by myself????"

But it was the cashier's response that was priceless: "girl, I do not know your life".



Song by: Billy Bragg & Natalie Merchant

Heatwave

I try really hard not to complain about the heat - because I hate the cold so much. I figure I can choose one or the other, but can't bitch about both. It's not fair to Mother Nature.

But frick, is it HOT these last few days.

Over 90 on the NorthCoast. And about 95% humidity. Oh - and we have a 98 year old house that retains the heat like no one's business. And no a/c. Well, not true, we have window units. Not that they are in or anything, but that's another story. Yes, we store them on the 3rd floor which is about 120 degrees, so to go up there and move them has us lose 20lbs each - not that we couldn't stand that.

Once or twice per year we talk about having central air installed. It is pricey, for sure. And it's not the duct work kind of a/c, but the new fangled tubes that are installed into older abodes. Probably not the prettiest thing in the world, but I keep thinking what it would do for resale for a house like this in a sluggish market. Not that we're planning on moving - but one never knows - does one?

Anyway - here is how hot it is: last night before going out to dinner at friends, I put on deodorant /antiperspirant.

It might sound gross to some, but I stopped wearing it about 5-7 years ago (for the most part). I just don't think anything like that clogging your pores can be that good for you.

It's not like I smell or anything - and even during high activity times, I just don't sweat much. Granted, when I'm in DC in July and August and know I have to see clients, I'll roll it on. But we're talking maybe 3-4 times per year.

Dinner was great and we ate outside. It was late enough in the evening and a nice breeze kicked up, so it was all good. Grilled veggies, meat and strawberry shortcake. And lots of water - as our hosts do not drink. I wasn't about to have them open a bottle of wine - though some alcohol would have been nice. ....but whatta gonna do?



Song by: Linda Ronstadt

Cancer


"I'd like that with a side of glioblastoma, please."



Song by: Joe Jackson

Working on a Building

We are slowly, but surely, making a little progress on our master bathroom renovation.

Now now....don't get all excited on me. We're haven't started demo or anything. With our work schedules and travel schedules, we haven't even regrouped with the architect, as I insisted on a second quote from another contractor. The reality is, I'll probably want three.

Denton really likes our architect since he works on historic houses (like ours), but I'm not wedded to this guy nor to the notion that the bathroom has to be in line with the style of the house. It's a place to do my personal business and wash my twig and berries. And floss. Not necessarily in that order.

So what progress have we made, you ask?

Floor tile - picked out!
Cabinetry - picked out!
Counter tops - narrowed down!

Hey - two out of three ain't bad. I mean - we haven't even gone down the fixtures road yet. First things first.

For those of you who are unaware, our last bathroom renovation - which we did almost completely by ourselves - could have ended in mandatory jail time our relationship. And that was just over the picking out of tile.

I've come a long way, baby. I let more stuff roll off my back and again, it's just a place to shave and drop the kids off at the pool. Not necessarily in that order.

The cabinetry thing was odd. We walked into the store last Saturday and though it wasn't the first thing we saw, it was one of the first things. We both just knew it. That was it. 10 minutes. Boom. Done.

The guy who helped us was great. And a true salesmen - in the fact that two guys coming in together didn't phase him one bit. I still just assume the straight male (if he is one), still cringes on the inside at the thought of two guys. Sometimes that inside cringe manifests itself on the outside.

But he was great and we're happy to give him the business.

Yes, I'm aware many gays in the home improvement / design business frequent these places, but that doesn't always change one's fews of gay men together. I wish I could link to you the Plain Dealer's 'Question of the Day' about Gay Marriage (the link is not working). The responses were nauseating. Only one was funny - saying, they'd be for it, right after we could get gambling legalized in Ohio.

So back to decorating! Here are some slabs of (cary) granite we saw last Saturday (as always, click on image to enlarge them).

We're not really interested in this. Denton pointed out if they had called it Ebony Granite, I never would have even given it a first look, let alone a second.

It's not like I'm a leather nut. Though I still have a leather scented candle that Morty gave me about 15 years ago. It smelled great then - and it still does. I've never lit it even. Now that I think of it, I am not quite sure why he gifted it to me in the first place. Even putting that in print here might get a comment that I don't want others to see - but I'll take my chances.

We're not really interested in this either. It looks a lot like Jupiter, don't you think? It was more the name - and it made both of us immediately think of Rebecca and her malaprop:
'a little calypso will get that out!'.

We do expect to start this oft delayed project this summer.

I just don't know what to do with the cats when this work is going on. Bother!



Song by: the Cowboy Junkies

Radio Radio

I'm just taking a chance to plug Rebecca and her book. Again.

I am a frickin' one-man marketing machine - because I believe in her and her work.

I do!! (say that like Linda Evans in her commercial about some shoe she used shill for).

Becca has been in town these last few days to promote Nice to Come Home To. She did a reading last night in Akron and will be doing one tonite in Cleveland. Unfortunately, I didn't make it down to Summit County, but I will be hitting Joesph Beth to see her read.

Since I knew she was coming to town, I contacted our local NPR station to see if they wanted to interview her. We exchanged a few emails and I finally got them in touch with her publicist, and the rest is history. Recent history, mind you, but still.....

Yesterday, Becky was on our local show, Around Noon. It was a nice piece and you can listen to it here. You have to listen to the audio part. The video part was only for the second guest! The nerve!!!! Becky wasn't sure she did a good job, but as usual she did just fine. Better than fine.

After the show, I did meet Rebecca and her parents for lunch. It was great. But I love her parents to death, so how could it not go well?

During lunch, Eileen (her mother), told me about a piece the Akron Beacon Journal had done on the book. And you can read that here.

Hopefully the reading will be fun and something to blog about tomorrow. At least pictures. If the blog editing machine isn't being temperamental and not allowing me to upload. After the reading, Denton and I are taking her to dinner....before she flees town.

So that's that. I think my work is done here for the day.



Song by: Elvis Costello

Site of the Month

Has anyone even realized I have not done a SotM for the last two months?

I didn't think so.

I did - I just haven't cared that much. Nothing has grabbed my interest enough I guess - and we all know if I'm not interested, you're not interested.

It's a fact!

I have pondered giving you three entries this month just to make up for it all, but we'll see how it goes. If I am finding myself waning on doing actual writing, as I had been this last month, I might just use them as filler. Hell - they were filler to begin with.

So ladies and germs, I bring you: Sarah Jessica Parker Looks Like a Horse

Yes, it is rude and crude and not nearly as funny as it could be (save the above image - which I actually laughed out loud at). Had they tried just a little harder, it could have been hilarious.

But it's what we're left with. It's what you're left with.

g-d, no wonder I haven't been doing these posts.

Sour Times

Clearly I've taken a few days off from writing. That seems to be happening more and more - doesn't it?

I don't think it is intentional - just a confluence of events or moods or both that have left me tired, uninspired and/or just downright lazy.

As the transition at work moves its way through the channels, I no longer peak and valley with my emotions 2-3 times per day. Now it is about 2-3 times per week. That's progress, right? But I will not know my exact fate (my actual job or reporting structure) until then end of June. I'm thrilled. NOT!

Current client and staff issues have also constituted stress for this entire week. I am sure the on-going headache I've had for the last three days has nothing to do with these events. (insert major sarcasm here.)

I won't even get into 24 hour notice of a guilt trip my mother tried to instill upon me for not going to a memorial service for one of my cousins. Before you side with her, this was a woman 20 years my senior whom I have seen twice in 25 years.....and until a year ago, even her sisters and brother didn't talk to her. I didn't know her. And again, I was given less than a 24 hour notice.

As it turns out, I had a dentist appointment anyway. ....and we all know how much I look forward to those. The visit went fine. Teeth and gums are in pretty good shape.

I do hate when they scrape for tartar. I just assume that the pick (or whatever is called) is going to slip and be lodged right into my gum. It's only a matter a time. There are laws of averages at play here.

Lots of discussions went regarding the replacement of a badly placed crown (from a previous dentist). For the last 8 years or so, there has been so much space there, you could drive a Buick through it. Naturally, every single item of food I eat gets trapped. It is no wonder I have floss in my car, my desk, my computer bag as well as my bathroom.

But since there is so much room, as they scraped, a slightly exposed nerve was struck and you just about had to get my claws out of the ceiling. Ok - maybe not that bad, but the cringe I gave told them everything.

We agreed we would replace it with a better fitting piece of porcelain in November. At a mere cost of $225 to me. You know - at this point, I don't even care about the money. Maybe I should have it done earlier.



Song by: Portishead

The Black Parade

Becky was asking the other week what (y)our favourite fair ride is or was.

It was a bit tongue in cheek - as they all pretty much suck. Amusement parks are different. Fair rides are bit scary. I think they were even scary when I was a kid.

But whomever you are, it probably wasn't this one.

Someone should tell the manufacturer that he had no need for that 's'. ....think about it.....

For the second time in three years (and the second time in about 30 years) we went to Blossom Time....for that frickin' parade! Talked into by my little sister to take my niece and nephews to the cavalcade of crap. Let's just say - never again.

There is almost nothing redeeming about a parade.

Except this

and him

and him again.

Song by: My Chemical Romance

Crystal

"Thank you for going with me to an incredibly mediocre movie". Believe it or not, that quote didn't even come out of my mouth, but Denton's.

I've been woefully behind on my promise to do an average of one movie per month. Not rental or HBO movies, but ones out at the theater with living, breathing people. Ok, at least breathing. And eating. L-rd, those movie goers can put away the nachos (and really - how disgusting are those anyway?)

Yesterday, we went to go see Indiana Jones and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I'm sure we were the ones who pushed it over the $120 million dollar mark.

While I will try not to give any spoilers, I will comment. I must comment. If you haven't seen it or don't want to know my thoughts, you might want to stop reading now. If you want to comment on it or to know more - feel free to email me.

I'm glad it was Denton who said "mediocre", because I knew if it came out of my mouth first, I would have been the person deemed to be too harsh.

That being said, Crystal Skull was better than either Temple of Gloom or the Last Crusade - but how could it not? I mean, nothing is going to really touch or top Raiders of the Lost Ark. The latter still ranks in my top ten movies....maybe top five.

There is clearly more Spielberg than Lucas in this film. When you see it you'll know what I mean. At one point, I wrapped my fingers around an imaginary shaft and made jack-off motions, it was so bad. Denton, who tends not to be happy with that stuff sometimes, even laughed. You'll know exactly which scene I did that in too.

The great thing about Raiders was that it was steeped in biblical and historic legend. Crystal Skull may have been also - but only to a degree. Spielberg just cannot let AI go and he really really really really needs to. Really!

Where in Raiders, you were kind of on the edge of your seat or your pulse would race - that didn't happen here. The action scenes weren't bad - however, they were a little predictable. There was one that even Helen Keller would have rolled her eyes at.

Cate Blanchett was actually pretty good, as was Shia LaBeouf. Karen Allen, whom I thought was the best thing about Raiders, seemed kind of forced in this movie. But so was Harrison Ford. He's more than showing his age and when Indy and Marion kissed, I turned and said, 'wow, she almost knocked out his dentures'...which illicited another laugh.

I'm glad I saw it. I'm glad I saw it the first weekend it was out. It met, nay, exceeded, my expectations - which clearly weren't high. It was ok, but nothing more.

Now, I'm looking forward to Sex and the City Wall-E.



Song by: Fleetwood Mac

Record of the Month

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!

These may or may not be newly released disks. They might not even be a good disk - just what is been in heavy rotation in my car (as usually the iPod is playing anywhere else).

What kind of homo would I be if I didn't use Madonna's new disk, Hard Candy as one of my Record of the Month postings?

Well, I wouldn't be a homo at all!!!! Shit like this is about all that keeps my membership active in the Gay Club anyway.

I'm sure this review could get me kicked out the club entirely, but it's a risk I'm wiling to take.

Total review in a few words? Overall, I'm non-plussed. It's better than American Life - but really, what does that say? To paraphrase Medusa, 'it's just cold boogers on a paper plate'.

Ok - maybe not as bad as snot, but there is nothing on here that isn't anything Nelly Farturdo, Gwen Stefani and a host of other middle of the road artists haven't done in the last five years.

This kind of bland hip-hop that is meant to cater to white folk and radio programmers is just lame. Releasing Hard Candy makes Madonna the equivalent of the 55 year old man who wears a pony tail and an earring to make him feel young and hip, when all it really does is bring attention to how old he really is.

The first single, "4 Minutes" is probably the most accessible, but it isn't as much 'a song' as it is spliced together phrases that they've edited into a complete song. Ironically, they go over by 0:00:03 (since they have 4 minutes to save the world) but the song effectively ends at the 3:41 mark. They couldn't even muster up the energy for 20 more seconds of real or looped music. It's also weird how Justin Timberlake's vocals are almost indistinguishable to that of Madonna's.

The only other song that kind of, sort of, resonated with me was "Give It 2 Me". The "rap" in the middle is horrible and distracting from what is/was otherwise a decent song, even if it has elements of Kylie Minogue's "Slow" (yes, thank you LOGO's NewNowNext for making me figure that one out).

But the rest is pretty much throw away. The overused lyrical phrases and the 'moon-june-spoon' rhyme scheme is boring.

I finally figured out why all the "guest artists" keep saying/singing the word "Madonna" - because, they have to remind you whose album you're actually listening to - since it could be just about anyone. Or that her ego is so huge, she has to hear someone say it at timed intervals.

This has been placed into our digital catalog, but I won't be rotating through it often. Take away my membership if you must.

Once More, With Feeling

Curtis insinuates that those of us here in North Ohio are "uppity". I guess it's all relative.

He mentions that he is a "hilljack" and not a "hillbilly". I always thought that latter term was a derogatory one. I'm not sure I've heard of the former.

On a road trip to Florida, Jon and I stopped in a Denney's, or some such place, in Georgia for breakfast. As we were waiting for a table a family of four came in behind us: mom, dad and two teen boys. The mother says to her brood, in her somewhat twang of an accent, "I wonder what they think of boys with earrings here in the south". (at least one of her sons had an earring.).

Jon and I just turned to each other and without a word knew what each other was thinking (we have that ability dontcha know): 'here in the south?' Honey, where do you think you came from???

Relaying this story to others upon our return, a physician who overheard turned and said, "oh, they were probably hillbillies". I was aghast. I can't believe someone just said that. She must have noticed my face and said, "I'm one. We don't see ourselves as being southerners." Who knew?

I have to say, we currently live in an uppity neighborhood though. I can't even deny that. We hear about people coming into our 'hood and thieve things. Mind you - most of the ones who get stuff stolen are kind of asking for it. Our neighborhood email group (of which I am now in charge of) will say things like - "someone stole my wallet from my car. It was on the front seat, the doors were unlocked, windows rolled down and sitting in the driveway". "Someone broke into my house. The doors were unlocked and open and I was only gone for an hour!".

It got to the point where folks were saying, "I saw a 'strange man' walking (!) in the neighborhood" (read: non-white). The next email "oh that was just someone doing work at our house". We are uppity. And white.

Our old neighbor told me, right after we moved in that someone stole their bikes from their open garage. But he was good about it, saying, 'they needed them more than we did'.

But this last Thursday, someone a few door down was robbed at gunpoint in his own garage. I'm not quite sure if when he opened the garage the other guy darted in before the neighbor opened his car door or not, but it has put a number of people on alert. Myself included.

A number of folks mentioned a car that drove slowly through our streets on that very day. Even in our little enclave, the cars zip through at speeds higher than they should, so a slow driver probably brought attention to themselves.

Yesterday, I was on the way to store when I saw one. VERY slow driver looking at each and every house. Possibly they were looking for a specific address, but I admit I doubled back and made sure no one was 'casing the joint(s)'. It was kind of pathetic on my part. I'm not sure how much better I am from the guy who told the valet 'joke' the other day.

So, yes Curtis, you were right. If I'm the benchmark, we are uppity here in Northern Ohio. We easily fall into mob-rule mentality (apparently), we enunciate differently and we don't call our pets "critters" or "varmints".



Episode by: cast of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer

Baby, You Can Drive My Car

I probably already used this title for something, but no worry - you'll all live.

No post yesterday, and I really considered no post today. Mind you - it hasn't really helped that I've been out drinking every single work night this week, and will continue this trend tonite.

I would like to say I woke up hungover this morning, but in reality, I woke up a little drunk.

But I really wanted to tell you, even in a tipsy haze of last night, how mortified I was when I attended a Harvard Business School function last night. Mind you, I did not attend HBS, but I think I mentioned last year when I went, folks ignore me in mid-conversation when they found out did not go to Harvard.

The only person last year to talk to me was probably an odd man out: an african-american graduate. Even among his educational peers he was a leper.

This year they increased the minority population by 100%. Yes, there were TWO (!!) in attendance. Next year, I'm guessing there will be none - and here is why:

A man (not an HBS alum) got up to accept some leadership award thingy. He was from Ashland, OH - which he admits is a farming community. But he teaches Economics, probably at Ashland University. But he goes on and on about coming to 'the big city'.

...and how he ran into gangs!!! Gangs with their colors on!!! Red VESTS!!!! Who demanded that he give them his car and to get out!

Yes folks, it was the valet staff.

Joke or not - anecdote or not, it was horribly offensive on every single level you can think of. Naturally, all the alum laughed and laughed and laughed. My scanning around the side of the room, the wait staff did not - nor did I. I'm sure my eyes were bulging with Cabernet and white guilt hyperthyroidism.

I don't care next year if the boss asks me to go and if my job is in potential peril. Sometimes the cost is too high.

At least this year, I went with a co-worker and we stood around talking through clenched teeth about our yachts and summer houses on the lake.



Song by: the Beatles

Sleep

If I could sleep forever/then I would forget about everything.....

So the song goes.

I'd kill for a great night's sleep. Anytime soon would be good. Lately it seems a bit worse than usual, which was never good to begin with.

My dreams include warm feelings about and conversations with Josh Lyman. And that is when I can turn my brain off....or down.

I'll assume most of my pseudo-insomnia is due to work and the uncertainty that brings. As of yesterday, I'm feeling a little bit better about where I am in where I will fall out into the new structure, but don't want to speculate on it just yet. Some hours I feel like I'll be better than safe, other times I feel like I will get a raw deal.

Oddly enough, even the rawest of their deals would keep me employed, just in a reporting structure I could not possibly abide by. Or worse, having to relocate.

My deviated septum is worse - I swear it. Though I have perfected a sleep mode (since I'm not doing it much at all anyway) to hold a nostril open while I actually snooze. Don't ask about the Breathe Right strips. They are ok....for a day or two, then they just irritate the skin like no one's business.




Song by: Dandy Warhols

Shopping with Blobby

Yet another installment in the drudgery that is everyday shopping. The camera-phone makes it a bit more fun - though I get looks whenever I take pics of products. Like I care what people think!

Yes, normally I will blog a food item - if not always. This is kind of a food item, but kind of not.



While shopping the other day, I couldn't help but chuckle a little at the pseudo-irony of the Quick Ones sample station which wasn't very quick at all.

There are certain days in grocery stores that have these stations in almost every aisle. The food companies ply their wares for the hungry and buying consumers. I've never figured out when, how or why. You think I would have, since back in the day, when I was really broke, I could would have to go from station to station to eat.

I did wonder what poor (literally) guy had to wait around until 2:30 to get his freebie of the not so Quick One.....and whether it was worth it.

Everyday I Write the Book

So last night we went to see world-famous author, Rebecca Flowers, read from her debut novel, Nice to Come Home To.

I think things went swimmingly. Most of the chairs were filled. Granted, many of those folks attending were friends and family, but it was still a nice turn out.

The reading was at Politics & Prose. If you ever watch C-Span 16, you'll notice many of the televised readings that they put on are done at this store. Unfortunately, Becky's appearance was not filmed for television, but was audio taped for use later. I' m not sure how.

The poor moderator looked like he was just miserable as he sat in a wingback chair up next to the podium and table. In my mind, I back-storied that he sat there going, "what a bunch of crap! she gets a book deal and I get nothing and am stuck working at a bookstore and not even getting to introduce Chuck Palahniuk!".

It turns out he was just nervous as hell, as this was his first event. And he read the chick-like novel, which did surprise me. That he liked it didn't. Just getting a guy to read it is a huge coup.

The excerpt was good and the Q&A was just fine. I opted not to ask any questions. Many folks bought copies whom you would have thought had already acquired them - ourselves included.

We bought four (yes FOUR) copies ourselves - mostly for friends and family we know who did not have it. Naturally, we had her autograph them. Then the store brought a dozen or so for her to sign to they could sell autographed copies. That left her display looking a bit anemic (click on image to make larger) - but that's a good thing - right?

After the reading, about 14 of us (not including the 6 kids) went next door for pizza. Most of the folks I knew, but hadn't seen since Becky's wedding. And after that, Becky, Denton & myself wandered further into Adams Morgan for a drink and dessert.

The place isn't what it once was. It has gone from a bit of a cool hipster hangout to looking and feeling like every college campus main drag. Maybe we're old, but we were all ok with calling it a night at 10:30p. It'd been a long day for all of us. A long week and weekend, actually.

We'll do it all again, when Rebecca reads in the Cleveland area in about two weeks.



Song by: Elvis Costello

Fame

Apparently the 'red carpet' isn't as big of a deal as the Oscars and E! might lead one to believe.


Hell, this thing is barely a remnent. I've had bathmats bigger than this piece of cloth.

To be fair - this was a festival/premier/exhbition for some GI (yes, as in 'the military') film, but I saw no black limos, no press or papparazzi clamoring for space to accost the non-stars who were not in attendance.

The lack of scene (like the picture) seemed kind of sad. Earlier in the day, we helped direct an Iwo Jima survivor/veteran make his way to the Carnegie Institute, which we figured he was traveling there probably for this event. The poor guy was so nice, but could not figure out why the 1800 block of P St didn't have an address of 1500. Honestly, I don't think he could distinguish between an 8 and a 5. But sometimes I can't either.

He wanted to walk and not take a cab - which we offered to hail for him. I'm wondering how he made it up those steps. Or if.

The best that can be said is that none of the attendees had to encounter a Ryan Secrest or Star Jones. That would have been the biggest insult to our veterans.



Song by: Irene Cara

Finest Worksong

Sorry for the delay in any postings. It's been one of those days. Or two. Possibly even three.

Yes, I've been on the road - working. And as usual, I've been in DC. But worse, I've been staying out in Tysons, which is in Northern Virgina. More corporate headquarters and malls than you can shake a stick at.

My days have been non-stop, but at least they seem to have been productive. Well, this afternoon I took a 2 hour nap. Not productive in the big sense, but apparently I needed it.

I'm staying in DC for the weekend. Denton is/has joined me. Rebecca and her husband are here too - which is fun. Denton and I will do some touristy things, I'm sure - Rebecca will get ready for her reading at Politics & Prose. Naturally, we will be attending.

I had dinner with the couple last night and lunch with the world-famous author today. I ate, she had a lemonade. We froze. The temp outside must have dropped 15 degrees in 10 minutes as we sat outside.

The big re-org announcements regarding the acquistion of our company are beginning on Monday. I'm not sure how I feel - as I peak and valley a few times per week. This is better than a few times per day than I had been, but right now I'm valley-ing. The Big Valley (starring Miss Barbara Stanwyk). There are too many unknowns and what-ifs. There are too many scenarios of, 'I cannot report to x, y or z and remain sane'.

After my last job go-around, I know there are no certanties. I thought I could deal with this better having done it before - but today.....right now.....I'm floundering a bit.

At least I have Becky, Andrew and Denton to distract me this weekend. And alcohol. I'm going out now and getting drunk. Wish me luck.



Song by: R.E.M.

All About Chemistry

I was reading the NYT on Sunday morning, with the TV on, as we normally do. Mind you - our Sunday morning routine is usually breakfast, papers, coffee (not for me, thank you) and occasionally flipping back and forth between HGTV or Food Network (hehe, I just typed 'foot network').

While not really paying attention to the show, almost out of my peripheray, I see something that makes me get the DVR remote and hit rewind.



I know it is a small step for gays everywhere, but it is out there and I loved it - and on multiple levels.

Obviously, I liked that chemistry.com even produced the ad and that they have same sex dating criteria. jdate has finally done something similar with that too.

I liked that the ad is almost under the radar and wouldn't gross out middle america - though maybe I'm not a good judge of what middle america actually is and what their tolerance level might be.

I also liked that those are the type of vows I would want at my commitment ceremony, and if it is in front of a butcher counter, mores the better. And I am very down with the 'cilantro' issue.

It certainly make sense that this airs on Food TV and HGTV, as they often have gay men or couples on any of their cooking shows, but often on House Hunters. It might air on other networks, but I haven't seen it.....yet.


Song by: Semisonic

Giving Up the Ghost

I'm a guest blogger at Rebecca's site.

She axed, I said yes. I just can't say 'no' to that woman. ....well, I can, I just try not to that often.

You may have read about the encounter before, as I blogged the spiritual event on Halloween of 2007. Somehow I think the retake I did on Becky's blog was a better job than I did on my own site. If you write it enough, you automatically edit it - usually for the better.

Her intro is good, though I believe she speculates on my promiscuity - or at least that is the way that I took it. Eh - she's probably on the mark. Now, that's scary!!!

I know I'm supposed to be a guest blogger on Large Tony's site too - and I have something in the works, but I fear he's lost interest in me doing something. I haven't - I've just lost track of time. If he still wants me to do it, I promise that one won't be about ghosts.


Song by: Don Dixon

Freeway

On a whim, this weekend I went and test drove a Prius. I've been in one a few times and they are surprisingly roomy. I can sit in the back seat for a few hour drive with plenty of head and leg room.

The visit to the dealer was in response to my car breakdown the other week, the fact that the warranty and roadside assistance is up in a few months - and that gas here in NE Ohio is at a whopping $3.79/gallon. I thought it would be at least worth it to take a look.

...and as Aimee Mann sings on her soon to be released disk, "you've got a lot of money, but can't afford the freeway". (you can stream the song from her website.)

But worth is a funny thing. What is my time worth? Clearly way too much for the likes of a sleazy car salesman. Poor Jordan, the salesguy, tried hard too win me over by trying to bond for with him. He was adopted at 2, is Korean and just got out of the army and moved from Los Angeles to be with his girlfriend who is going to music school. Like I gave a flying fuck!

5 minutes wasted, though it seemed longer.

The cost-breakdown of the models - after I told him I'm not looking to buy or order today, just test drive.

5 minutes lost.

Then he gave me a lightening speed course in Economics 101: supply and demand. How long it takes to get the cars because they ARE in demand, but they had 'rented' cars that could be purchased. I couldn't get from him what 'rented' meant. He said they weren't leased cars or demos....or used. So what the fuck are they? If I wanted to buy one, it would be a six month way, because of the supply. (what he didn't say was the 2009 models - completely redone (see above pic) will be out by then.)

7 minutes down the tubes.

What color car did I want to test drive? I told him I didn't care and why would it matter - as it was a test drive, not a sale. To which he replied, 'oh we don't have a car to let me leave with today anyway' to which I had to reiterate, I was only looking for a test drive, not a sale. Jordon had to 'go to the back to get the car'....he'd be back in 5-10 minutes.

I'm assuming he just went out back for a cigarette, since he came back reeking of smoke - oh, and the car we test drove was sitting right out front - the same place it was when I walked in the fucking door at least 17 minutes earlier.

10 minutes pissed away.

The test drive....through Cleveland Heights, which has no freeways....and no streets that you can go faster than 35 mph. It wasn't the test drive one dreams about for opening up the car for an all inclusive ride. It was kind of tame.

On the plus side, I did get to ride behind this guy (click on image to make it bigger). Who knew the King of Gondor would make his way around in a PT Cruiser?


15 more minutes.

Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), he had a customer waiting for him when we returned, so I could make a quick getaway.

I really liked the ride and the car, though it is very disconcerting when you stop and the battery really kicks in. It feels/sounds like the car has stalled.

The price was not bad at all. I would seriously consider it, but I will not get it from this dealership. The next one I'll go into and tell them about these guys and how the first hint of that kind of treatment, I walk.

And that is all an IF I get one....or dump Viggo. Like I said, it was just a whim.



Song by: Aimee Mann

g-d is a real estate developer

You know the Bible 69%!

Wow! You are truly a student of the Bible! Some of the questions were difficult, but they didn't slow you down! You know the books, the characters, the events . . . Very impressive!

Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes

I totally swiped this from Curtis' blog. He went to bible college - and clearly, I think we all know that I did not.

Though they say I'm 'very impressive' - and I am, just not in bible stuff - some of the questions were just a little too easy if you went by process of elimination. Many have them have nothing to do with biblical knowledge.

I was a little disappointed they didn't tell me which questions I got right or wrong. How will I ever learn??? Don't say by reading the book - that's never gonna happen.

It's probably not a coincidence that my score was a 69. I guess I couldn't get a 666, so that's the number they had to settle on.


Song by: Michelle Shocked

Love is the Drug

Oh no!!!! The pope says that sex is like a drug!!!!

Fuck - let's hope so!!! It's not like I have any other vices left - unless you count food and chocolate.

Actually CNN says the pope says that. If you really look/listen further into the text/quote, he says it, but not in the context to which you (or I) think.

When talking about THE church's 40th anniversary on their document that condems contraception, Benedict expressed concern that human life risks losing its value in today's culture, and worried that sex could "transform itself into a drug" that one partner had to have even against the will of the other.

Well, that's just rape. Or manipulation. I'm sure the catholic church wouldn't know anything about that!

I was really hoping for a story on sex addiction or something.....which usually include rape, manipulation and an altar boy or priest. What? Too sweeping of a generalization?



On an unrelated note (or is it) - some naval rear admiral (hehe, I said 'rear') was demoted and fired for having an affair 18 YEARS ago!!!!

Are you fucking kidding me??

Oh - and he nailed the broad in the White House during Bush 1's term. Apparently the big faux pas wasn't that he had sex, or in the White House, but that he lied to the woman saying he was a widower when he was actually still married!!!

OH NO!!!!! A man lying to get into someone's pants?? What has this world come to??? (Maybe we should ask Fr. Flanagan!)

But I am dying that the Department of Defense if finally catching up with this guy almost two decades later. It leaves our current soldiers free to rape Iraqi civilians without fear of punishment.....in two decades.



Song by: Roxy Music

Different Names for the Same Thing

I have to be honest, in 2003-2004, I was a big supporter of moveon.org. But in the last two years, I've moved on from moveon.

Besides selling, or giving, my name to every on-line liberal organization, they've been as effective as the DNC and the democratic run congress. ....which is, of course, to say they haven't been effective at all. Now they just clog my email box with endless crap about things they say they are attempting or whines about the GOP.

They need to focus - considering 'we' have the house and senate and the White House is a bunch of lame birds of some species and/or genus - or their attempts at changing the political landscape are slim.

But I haven't quite been able to 'unsubscribe' myself from their emails, as it is a presidential election year. I know - it makes no sense, but what if I end up missing something???

The other day I got to take the Bush/McCain quiz. They claim over 300,000 folks had already taken it - and that was with the email I got! So, are they beta-testing this thing on other moveon members before it finally became my turn? Maybe it goes by donor $$$ or something.

Play if you'd like. I got 4 out of 5. Story of my life.


Song by: Death Cab for Cutie

I Know But I Don't Know

I know I made Parallel Lines one of my Record of the Month postings about 20 months ago, and I'm back to post about it again.

I'm not necessarily re-writing this as a Record of the Month - there is too much music out there not to comment on - good and bad.

But this is one of the 'oh fuck, am I old' posts. Blondie's disk is hitting its 30th anniversary. THIRTY!!!!!

That means I was the hippest 14 year old of anyone I knew and not because I owned it. But because Parallel Lines was not the first Blondie disk I ever purchased means I was the hippest 12-13 years old of anyone I knew! (I didn't know Jon then!) I was considered an outcast by my peers (as if I had any!) because I wouldn't listen to the Doobie Brothers or Aerosmith. (I said.....I didn't know Jon then!!!)

It's easy to spout off the songs you know - "Heart of Glass" or that Swiffer song, "One Way or Another" - but it really is the non-radio songs that still get to me: "Fade Away and Radiate", "Picture This" and "Just Go Away" - all great!

Well Blondie is re-re- releasing the disk. About 6 years ago, they put out a remastered version, which was far superior to the original cd release. The soon to be new one has bonus tracks and a DVD. I probably won't get it - I rarely watch those DVD adds and I have two of the four songs of the bonus tracks.

But the disk is really nice to go back and visit. On my iPod, I always have a healthy selection of Blondie songs. They never get old to me. Clearly - after 30+ years, I would have grown bored of them by now. The beauty is - the songs were with their time and ahead of their time all at once. They still are.


Song by: Blondie

I Feel Pretty

It's not the prettiest post in the world, I'll admit that right up front. And I'm not even sure why I'm telling you about it at all. Maybe I just have nothing else to say.

Because I'm not repulsive enough, I now have a wart. Well, two actually. The second one I've had for years.

One is my right thumb. I swear it appeared overnight to where I thought it was just a callous. Denton is the one who had to tell me it was a frickin' wart.

Immediately I felt so dirty! I kind of still do. Icky. It's a virus - and nothing I can do to (th)wart it off. So what else is there to do but attempt Compound W? It is the first line of defense - I guess.

Not that it worked on my other wart. But I don't know that that stuff is supposed to be effective on plantar warts. Especially ones on the bottom of your foot. Maybe those can only be on your feet. I don't know. I could Goooooogle it, but honestly, I don't want to read about it.

That thing has just become a part of my life because I've had it so long since I'm big enough of a wuss. That and the ability to get into a dermatologist is a full-time job.

Honestly, I went there once about it and I came away with physician advice to use duct tape on it (yes, you heard that right). ....and a prescription for wart removal. Genital warts!!!! Seriously, that's what they sent me home with. Yeah, that was fun to be filled. It hurt. It burned. It was expensive. And it didn't work.

I'd slather it on (ok...dab) and then put on the duct tape. Now it turns out the tape doesn't really get rid of it, but it does keep it at bay.....from growing and hurting. Maybe on others it works, or maybe I just have a mutant wart. Dunno.

I just stick a piece of tape on until it falls off and then put a new one on. It usually stays on for a few days.

I know I have to get it burned off - or whatever they do - eventually. But it is not today or tomorrow....or anytime soon.

I will have to remain repulsive for a while longer.


Song from: Maria from West Side Story