Well, it's 5:30 in the morning and of course, I'm still up so I thought I'd write a little something to see if I could bore myself to sleep. I think I'll just share a silly story that I happened to remember today that made me laugh. It's probably one of those things where you "had to be there" but I don't care. I'm telling it anyway.
I must have been about 20 when my roommate Ann, my friend Mary Ann, and my cousin Mark decided to go see a movie. My crush at the time, Steve, was over at our place and although he had a double date with his roommate (Todd), his roommate's girlfriend, and her friend, he didn't want to go because he wasn't interested in her so he blew off the date and came to the movie with us instead. When the movie was over the five us went into the lobby and immediately ran into Todd, his girfriend, and the girl Steve had stood up. We all just kind of froze in place and the two groups just stared at each other. This lasted for about 10 seconds when Steve just up and ran. I'm not kidding. While we were all still standing there with our mouths wide open he just took off running out into the little mall where the theater was located. Steve's date looked at Todd and then Todd looked at me and I didn't know what to say. I mean, it wasn't my fault any of this happened and the girl looked so hurt, I felt really bad for her. Truth is, Steve was really just a friend so I honestly had no blame here.
Anyway, I just said sorry to Todd and then we left while the three of them went into the movie. We go out into the little mall and looked around and we couldn't find Steve. So I told Mark to go into the men's room to see if he was in there. Mark goes in and apparently there was only one person in one of the stalls. Since he could only see a pair of feet Mark called out to him.
Mark: Steve?
Steve: Yeah?
Mark: You can come out now.
Steve: What do you mean?
Mark: The coast is clear.
At this point the stall door opens and it's a completely different (and somwhat confused looking) guy. Mark's face turns bright red and he turns around and runs out of the Men's room and almost knocks us down. Mark is sputtering and laughing, trying to tell us what happened when Steve #2 comes out and asks what our problem is. I explained to him as best as I could between laughing my ass off and trying to hide my cousin behind me so he wouldn't get his ass kicked. So, fake Steve finally walks off and then we decide to leave before anything else crazy can happen. Then we realize, we still don't know where the hell Steve is.
We left the building and started walking towards the car when the asshole comes out of the alley. He had been there the whole time waiting for us to come out while making sure he could hide from Todd and the two girls. We took him home and that was that.
Oh well, at least my crush was cured.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Christmas Rocks!
Christmas. I just love this time of year. I'm coming to realize that I seem to be in the minority on that score, but I don't care. I love the smells, the music, the movies, the decorations, and most of all that Christmas feeling. I'm fairly cynical most of the rest of the year, but not in December. In December I am watching all of my favorite holiday movies, putting up my Christmas tree, and listening to Christmas music. Make fun of me if you want to, but even though for the past couple of years I have been away from my family during the holidays I never get sad because I love the season too much.
I do miss my Mom though. It hasn't quite been the same since she passed away, but I still have my memories. We always had this kind of challenge every year. She would try her hardest to hide what she was getting me for Christmas and I would always try to find my presents. You see, as much as I loved my mother, she had terrible taste in clothes. If a store had one article of clothing that was made from cheap polyester she would find it...and buy it....for me. Okay, that's not the only reason. I'm just not a patient person. I wanted to see what I was getting.
I remember one year, my Mom went to a Christmas party and left me home alone. She had already wrapped all of her gifts and put them under the tree. When she left I went under the tree and found all of the presents with my name on them. I carefully unwrapped just one side of each gift, slid it out, and checked it out to see what it was. When I was done I would slid the gift back in, retaped it and put it back under the tree where I had found it. On Christmas morning, after I opened my gifts, I told Moo what I had done. She scolded me, as I knew she would, but I was always honest with her and I knew I deserved to be yelled at. Afterwards, we laughed about it because it was hilarious.
Oh, did I mention that when this happened I was 22? Yes. I'm totally awesome. :)
I do miss my Mom though. It hasn't quite been the same since she passed away, but I still have my memories. We always had this kind of challenge every year. She would try her hardest to hide what she was getting me for Christmas and I would always try to find my presents. You see, as much as I loved my mother, she had terrible taste in clothes. If a store had one article of clothing that was made from cheap polyester she would find it...and buy it....for me. Okay, that's not the only reason. I'm just not a patient person. I wanted to see what I was getting.
I remember one year, my Mom went to a Christmas party and left me home alone. She had already wrapped all of her gifts and put them under the tree. When she left I went under the tree and found all of the presents with my name on them. I carefully unwrapped just one side of each gift, slid it out, and checked it out to see what it was. When I was done I would slid the gift back in, retaped it and put it back under the tree where I had found it. On Christmas morning, after I opened my gifts, I told Moo what I had done. She scolded me, as I knew she would, but I was always honest with her and I knew I deserved to be yelled at. Afterwards, we laughed about it because it was hilarious.
Oh, did I mention that when this happened I was 22? Yes. I'm totally awesome. :)
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
I'm Just Sitting Here Watching the Wheels Go Round
December 8th. Sigh. Today is a very sad day for me and for a lot of others. Today is the 30th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. I'm sure you all probably already knew that, but I'm just explaining why I might not be in the cheeriest of moods. No, I didn't know him, and I was really young when he died, but I was already a Beatles fan and I remember waking up and hearing the news. I was devastated. If you can be devastated at the age of 9. Still, at the time, I was too young to truly comprehend what a major loss Lennon's death was to the music world and to the world in general. I do now.
John Lennon was one of the most gifted and prolific songwriters in history. More than that, he was a humanitarian. He truly cared about the world and the people in it and tried to make changes for the better. He always stood up for what he believed in and used his celebrity to spread his message. He didn't get dressed up in expensive designer clothes and hold benefits and so forth like celebrities do today. Not that I'm discounting the efforts of today's celebrities who DO raise a lot of money for charities and people in need. They do a lot of good and deserve credit. I'm just saying that John Lennon put his whole heart and soul into his causes. They were a part of him and you just don't see that today. He raised awareness and spoke out, even when it was not the "popular" or "safe" thing to do. He protested the war in Vietnam even though it pissed of the U.S. Government who tried to have him deported and kicked out of the country for doing so. He always fought for what he believed in and was always ready to face the consequences.
John Lennon was no saint. There are stories of his sometimes cruel sense of humor that he would unleash on Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles, and others, and his neglect of his first son, Julian. He, of course, cheated on his first wife Cynthia and eventually left her for Yoko Ono. He wasn't perfect, but who is?
This is probably cliche, but John Lennon is definitely one of my heroes. I am just so sad at the loss we've all suffered because Mark David Chapman is a nutjob who shot one of the greatest men of the 20th Century. We'll never know what songs he might have written or what impact he might have made on the music industry in general. If John Lennon had lived would we have had to be subjected to the likes of Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.
It's a heady thought, isn't it?
John Lennon was one of the most gifted and prolific songwriters in history. More than that, he was a humanitarian. He truly cared about the world and the people in it and tried to make changes for the better. He always stood up for what he believed in and used his celebrity to spread his message. He didn't get dressed up in expensive designer clothes and hold benefits and so forth like celebrities do today. Not that I'm discounting the efforts of today's celebrities who DO raise a lot of money for charities and people in need. They do a lot of good and deserve credit. I'm just saying that John Lennon put his whole heart and soul into his causes. They were a part of him and you just don't see that today. He raised awareness and spoke out, even when it was not the "popular" or "safe" thing to do. He protested the war in Vietnam even though it pissed of the U.S. Government who tried to have him deported and kicked out of the country for doing so. He always fought for what he believed in and was always ready to face the consequences.
John Lennon was no saint. There are stories of his sometimes cruel sense of humor that he would unleash on Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles, and others, and his neglect of his first son, Julian. He, of course, cheated on his first wife Cynthia and eventually left her for Yoko Ono. He wasn't perfect, but who is?
This is probably cliche, but John Lennon is definitely one of my heroes. I am just so sad at the loss we've all suffered because Mark David Chapman is a nutjob who shot one of the greatest men of the 20th Century. We'll never know what songs he might have written or what impact he might have made on the music industry in general. If John Lennon had lived would we have had to be subjected to the likes of Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.
It's a heady thought, isn't it?
Friday, December 3, 2010
Playlist: 70s Rock
I know. A lot of my entries are about music, but dammit, I love it so I can't help it. This post is going to be about bands from the 70s, so some of you kids are going to have to ask an adult for clarification. Try to keep up.
Van Halen
Anyone who follows me on twitter may have noticed that I've tweeted a bit about VH in the past week or so. I started listening to Van Halen II in my car the other day and all of those memories of hanging out with my older brother and his friends started to hit me. I then listened to their eponymous album Van Halen, then Women and Children First followed by Diver Down. Granted, Women and Children First is from 1980 and Diver Down is 82, but that's just semantics. If you claim to love rock but you don't love Van Halen then you are a poseur.
Heart
No, I'm not talking about the 80s debacle of "These Dreams" and other truly gaggifying songs. I'm talking about 70s Heart. Dog and Butterfly, Little Queen, and Dreamboat Annie. It's surprising, but my brother and his friends used to play Dreamboat Annie as much as they played Van Halen II. Why not? Heart rocked like dudes. I would put Ann Wilson's voice and Nancy Wilson's playing up against any of the guys playing today. Just listen to "Barracuda" which has one of the best opening guitar riffs of all time to see what I mean. Listen to Ann's vocals in songs like "Crazy On You" "Magic Man" or "Straight On" and you will hear what is, in my opinion, the best female voice in rock history.
Supertramp
For my money, there are very few albums as good as Breakfast In America. The title song is awesome, as is "The Logical Song," "Goodbye Stranger", "Take the Long Way Home", and "Gone Hollywood". If you've never heard any of these songs, do so immediately. The music has a jaunty feel to it which flies in the face of their sardonic lyrics. While you're at it don't miss some of their other great songs like "Dreamer" "Give a Little Bit" "School" and "Bloody Well Right". So I guess you'd better get Breakfast In America and Crime of the Century. Well worth it, I promise you.
Styx
Fuck Mr. Roboto. Just kidding, I kind of like that song, but their 70s music is so much better. Okay, they're a little schlocky, but they still have some great songs. My favorite is "Renegade". It just brings back a lot of happy childhood memories. "Lady" "Babe" and "Come Sail Away" are also great.
Queen
I think everyone knows by now that I love Queen. If Ann Wilson has the best female voice in rock history then Freddie Mercury has the best male voice. I just love songs like "Killer Queen" "Don't Stop Me Now" "You're My Best Friend" "Somebody to Love" and of course "Bohemian Rhapsody". Anyone who doesn't love Queen is crazy, and not in a good way.
The Who
Okay, I realize that they actually got their start in the 60s, but their 70s music rocks like a motherfucker. Albums like Who's Next, which has some classic Who songs like "Baba O'Riley" "Won't Get Fooled Again" "Getting In Tune" and "Behind Blue Eyes". There's also Who Are You which has some of my favorites like "Who Are You" and "Sister Disco" (which is what my brother used to call me - long story). If you are able to listen to The Who without the stereo at full volume, jumping on your couch, playing air drums or air guitar, then you are a better man than I. It's been a lifelong struggle.
Led Zepplin
Duh. How can you have a discussion on 70s rock and not talk about Led Zepplin? It would completely nullify my entire thesis. What can I say about them that would be interesting and new? I mean, it's obvious that they fucking rock like no other and that all of their albums are great. Is it cliche that my favorite album is Led Zepplin IV? Probably, but I don't give a fuck. Hopefully, the fact that my favorite Zepplin song is not "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll" or "Stairway to Heaven', but is instead "Misty Mountain Hop" might help me to redeem myself. If only just a little.
There are so many other groups from this era that I could name. AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, etc., but I don't want to be writing this blog forever. Hopefully, everyone who reads this will agree with me since I have impeccable taste. Mostly.
Van Halen
Anyone who follows me on twitter may have noticed that I've tweeted a bit about VH in the past week or so. I started listening to Van Halen II in my car the other day and all of those memories of hanging out with my older brother and his friends started to hit me. I then listened to their eponymous album Van Halen, then Women and Children First followed by Diver Down. Granted, Women and Children First is from 1980 and Diver Down is 82, but that's just semantics. If you claim to love rock but you don't love Van Halen then you are a poseur.
Heart
No, I'm not talking about the 80s debacle of "These Dreams" and other truly gaggifying songs. I'm talking about 70s Heart. Dog and Butterfly, Little Queen, and Dreamboat Annie. It's surprising, but my brother and his friends used to play Dreamboat Annie as much as they played Van Halen II. Why not? Heart rocked like dudes. I would put Ann Wilson's voice and Nancy Wilson's playing up against any of the guys playing today. Just listen to "Barracuda" which has one of the best opening guitar riffs of all time to see what I mean. Listen to Ann's vocals in songs like "Crazy On You" "Magic Man" or "Straight On" and you will hear what is, in my opinion, the best female voice in rock history.
Supertramp
For my money, there are very few albums as good as Breakfast In America. The title song is awesome, as is "The Logical Song," "Goodbye Stranger", "Take the Long Way Home", and "Gone Hollywood". If you've never heard any of these songs, do so immediately. The music has a jaunty feel to it which flies in the face of their sardonic lyrics. While you're at it don't miss some of their other great songs like "Dreamer" "Give a Little Bit" "School" and "Bloody Well Right". So I guess you'd better get Breakfast In America and Crime of the Century. Well worth it, I promise you.
Styx
Fuck Mr. Roboto. Just kidding, I kind of like that song, but their 70s music is so much better. Okay, they're a little schlocky, but they still have some great songs. My favorite is "Renegade". It just brings back a lot of happy childhood memories. "Lady" "Babe" and "Come Sail Away" are also great.
Queen
I think everyone knows by now that I love Queen. If Ann Wilson has the best female voice in rock history then Freddie Mercury has the best male voice. I just love songs like "Killer Queen" "Don't Stop Me Now" "You're My Best Friend" "Somebody to Love" and of course "Bohemian Rhapsody". Anyone who doesn't love Queen is crazy, and not in a good way.
The Who
Okay, I realize that they actually got their start in the 60s, but their 70s music rocks like a motherfucker. Albums like Who's Next, which has some classic Who songs like "Baba O'Riley" "Won't Get Fooled Again" "Getting In Tune" and "Behind Blue Eyes". There's also Who Are You which has some of my favorites like "Who Are You" and "Sister Disco" (which is what my brother used to call me - long story). If you are able to listen to The Who without the stereo at full volume, jumping on your couch, playing air drums or air guitar, then you are a better man than I. It's been a lifelong struggle.
Led Zepplin
Duh. How can you have a discussion on 70s rock and not talk about Led Zepplin? It would completely nullify my entire thesis. What can I say about them that would be interesting and new? I mean, it's obvious that they fucking rock like no other and that all of their albums are great. Is it cliche that my favorite album is Led Zepplin IV? Probably, but I don't give a fuck. Hopefully, the fact that my favorite Zepplin song is not "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll" or "Stairway to Heaven', but is instead "Misty Mountain Hop" might help me to redeem myself. If only just a little.
There are so many other groups from this era that I could name. AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, etc., but I don't want to be writing this blog forever. Hopefully, everyone who reads this will agree with me since I have impeccable taste. Mostly.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Response to Ballgame32
That's true that parents are capable of instilling bigotry into their children, but it's a cop out to only blame parental guidance. My father was racist and used the 'n' word quite often, and initially I did too when I was too young to know better. Luckily, I've always had a mind of my own and when I got older I realized that the things my father was teaching me were just wrong. I broke the cycle and others can too. Most people are not so hard-wired that they can only believe one way for the rest of their lives. Blaming our up-bringing for our hatred of a group of people is a cop out of the worst kind and it's cowardly. If someone is going to be a racist prick they should at least own it.
Just For One Night
If you only know how much I want you
I want to hold you in my arms
Feel your arms around me
Holding me tight
Feel your hands touching my body
Have you inside of me
Just for one night
My feelings for you are animalistic
Raw
Powerful
I want to do things to you you've only dreamed of
If you could see me
You'd see the world I want to give you in my eyes
Just for one night
If I traveled the miles to be where you are
I would give you all of this and so much more
I would make love to you like you deserve to be loved
Passion that only I can give you
It's a dream I have for us
One I wish could come true
Just for one night
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above is an original poem written by me. I don't care if it's good or not. I just needed a catharsis.
I want to hold you in my arms
Feel your arms around me
Holding me tight
Feel your hands touching my body
Have you inside of me
Just for one night
My feelings for you are animalistic
Raw
Powerful
I want to do things to you you've only dreamed of
If you could see me
You'd see the world I want to give you in my eyes
Just for one night
If I traveled the miles to be where you are
I would give you all of this and so much more
I would make love to you like you deserve to be loved
Passion that only I can give you
It's a dream I have for us
One I wish could come true
Just for one night
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above is an original poem written by me. I don't care if it's good or not. I just needed a catharsis.
Response to Anonymous...
Thank you so much for your comment. While I obviously wouldn't dream of trying to offer any advice which I am neither qualified or capable of giving, I can commiserate with you on feeling like you're stuck in a place where you are no longer happy. That's actually my current situation which I am taking steps to fix. I am fortunate in that I don't have anyone else to consider in my plans as they will affect no one other than myself. Still, I wish you luck and happiness whatever you eventually decide to do. Everyone deserves to be happy. Even me. Even you.
Response to Ed...
Thank you so much for your comments. I try not to forget that while I have suffered a lot of loss there are others who have had pain too. I hope that your Thanksgiving was better than you anticipated. You probably saw what mine was like. I got way too drunk, but I had fun anyway, making an ass out of myself on twitter. For my Thanksgiving dinner I had leftover Chinese chicken fingers and blueberry pie, which was actually pretty awesome, so I have no complaints. Well, except for the fact that I was hungover all day yesterday, but that's the price I paid for drinking three bottles of wine. Ugh. I feel sick just thinking about it.
Anyway, thanks again, and I'll see you on twitter!
Anyway, thanks again, and I'll see you on twitter!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thanksgiving
Ah, Thanksgiving. A day when millions of Americans will get together with family that might or might not annoy them, eat copious amounts of food, and watch football. If I was in Milwaukee I would be in the same boat as many of you, but luckily (or not depending on my mood) I am in Connecticut instead which means that I will be spending the day drinking and watching dvds. I'll probably be drunk tweeting too, but it depends how I feel.
I suppose I could have accepted any of the invitations that were issued to me or even flown home to Milwaukee to be with mi familia, but I would just rather be alone. My parents and my only brother are gone now and being in Milwaukee with my aunts, uncles, and cousins would just be kind of sad without them. Besides, this is definitely a holiday that is wasted on me. I am not a big eater. I'm the kind of person who goes to a restaurant, orders her meal, takes three bites and then has to have the rest boxed up. Half the time I then leave the leftovers on the table anyway. I can't see the point in loading up with all this food and calling it a celebration. It just seems kind of gross if I'm being honest. Not that I'm judging anyone who enjoys a feast. I'm just not one who does.
My favorite Thanksgiving is one that took place a few years ago when I still lived in Milwaukee and both my Mom and my brother, Vini were still alive. We had Thanksgiving at my Mom's house and all of my cousins and their spouses and kids were there. At some point, my Mom went to her room, the aunts, uncles, kids, and spouses had left and it was just me, Vini, and all of our (blood) cousins left. We got so drunk. We were listening to Elton John and singing along to "Crocodile Rock" and having a lot of fun when my Mom kicked all of us out (yes, her own kids!) and we decided to go to a bar to continue the party. We first went around drunkenly knocking on neighbors doors and Christmas Caroling just for the fun of it. Yeah, we were douchebags.
Anyway, we staggered to a bar down the block, because in Milwaukee there is practically a bar on every corner, and we were the only people there so we basically took command of the jukebox, the pool table, the dart board, and the bartender (hot!). We drank beer, did shots, danced...it was so much fun. Once the bar closed (yes we closed the bar) we stumbled back to my Mom's house and my brother and I went in and passed out. I can only imagine that the rest of my cousins somehow drove themselves home, but if asked in a court of law I will deny, deny, deny.
So, in honor of my best Thanksgiving memory I am going to get totally shitfaced, listen to music, and cause havoc on twitter. Remember that you've been warned!
Please Note: I might just get drunk, curl up in a ball in a puddle of my own puke, and cry so maybe you'll all get off lucky! :D
I suppose I could have accepted any of the invitations that were issued to me or even flown home to Milwaukee to be with mi familia, but I would just rather be alone. My parents and my only brother are gone now and being in Milwaukee with my aunts, uncles, and cousins would just be kind of sad without them. Besides, this is definitely a holiday that is wasted on me. I am not a big eater. I'm the kind of person who goes to a restaurant, orders her meal, takes three bites and then has to have the rest boxed up. Half the time I then leave the leftovers on the table anyway. I can't see the point in loading up with all this food and calling it a celebration. It just seems kind of gross if I'm being honest. Not that I'm judging anyone who enjoys a feast. I'm just not one who does.
My favorite Thanksgiving is one that took place a few years ago when I still lived in Milwaukee and both my Mom and my brother, Vini were still alive. We had Thanksgiving at my Mom's house and all of my cousins and their spouses and kids were there. At some point, my Mom went to her room, the aunts, uncles, kids, and spouses had left and it was just me, Vini, and all of our (blood) cousins left. We got so drunk. We were listening to Elton John and singing along to "Crocodile Rock" and having a lot of fun when my Mom kicked all of us out (yes, her own kids!) and we decided to go to a bar to continue the party. We first went around drunkenly knocking on neighbors doors and Christmas Caroling just for the fun of it. Yeah, we were douchebags.
Anyway, we staggered to a bar down the block, because in Milwaukee there is practically a bar on every corner, and we were the only people there so we basically took command of the jukebox, the pool table, the dart board, and the bartender (hot!). We drank beer, did shots, danced...it was so much fun. Once the bar closed (yes we closed the bar) we stumbled back to my Mom's house and my brother and I went in and passed out. I can only imagine that the rest of my cousins somehow drove themselves home, but if asked in a court of law I will deny, deny, deny.
So, in honor of my best Thanksgiving memory I am going to get totally shitfaced, listen to music, and cause havoc on twitter. Remember that you've been warned!
Please Note: I might just get drunk, curl up in a ball in a puddle of my own puke, and cry so maybe you'll all get off lucky! :D
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Playlist Part 3 - Sexy Music
If you're thinking that my blog seems to be very music based, well, you're correct. Like I said in my first Playlist blog, music is what sustains me. If I had to choose between my iPod and food, I'd pick my iPod. I'm not joking!
So, this playlist is basically one I created of music that I think is sexy or romantic and definitely good to get down to. The songs are eclectic and some are a little old and way before my time, but I've found that once your parents are no longer around you tend to appreciate the music they forced you to listen to as a kid much more than you used to. With that said...
"Sex and Candy" - Marcy Playground
I'm not really sure why this song is on this list other than I really like it, it sounds pretty sexy, and people have been tweeting about it a lot...including myself.
"All Night Long" - SWV
Possibly one of the sexiest songs ever recorded. It's from the soundtrack to Waiting to Exhale and if you've never heard it you just have to look at the sample lyric below to see what I mean.
You can melt in my body
And I will slowly melt onto you
Caress your face in my valley
Let me feel the sweetness of you
And baby you know I'll keep it special each and every time
I never do nothin once and never quite the same
And baby you know if there is anything you want from me
I will supply so you can have it your way
"Baby I'm Yours - Barbara Lewis
This is a very old song, but I just think it's sexy to say that you belong to someone although I don't personally believe in all that "for eternity" crap. Either way, it's a nice little song.
"My All" - Mariah Carey
I'm actually not a huge Mariah fan, but this is one song I really like. Her voice sounds really good in it and I like the lyrics.
I'd give my all to have
Just one more night with you
I'd risk my life to feel
Your body next to mine
'Cause I can't go on
Living in the memory of our song
I'd give my all for your love tonight
"It's Gonna Take a Miracle" - Deniece Williams
Great tune.
"Tell Me Something Good" - Chaka Khan & Rufus
This song is a total eargasm. From the funky guitar and bass, to the grunting/panting before the chorus, to Chaka's sultry voice...this is the way funk is supposed to sound...like the music itself is a sexual act.
"Teach Me Tonight" - Dinah Washington
You may have never heard of Dinah, but she is my favorite singer of her era, and we're talking about an era that included Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughn. To me, none of them holds a candle to Dinah Washington. Her voice is magical and amazing. If you don't believe me, sample her music at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Best-Dinah-Washington-Millennium-Collection/dp/B000069HLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289595318&sr=8-1
"I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" - Otis Redding
Otis is one of the best soul singers of all time and this is one of my favorite songs by him. So heartfelt and romantic.
"Sway" - Michael Buble
There are many versions of this song and I really like the one by Dean Martin also, but Michael Buble's version is a little faster and sounds a little more contemporary. I just love the rhythm and the horns. I'm a big sucker for horns in a song.
"If This World Were Mine" - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
I love Motown and I especially love the Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duets. This one is my favorite though. It's a lot slower than "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and has more of a romantic feel to it.
"Tonight" - Ready for the World
Most will probably not remember this group, but they were moderately successful in the 80s. This song is probably one of the sexiest songs ever recorded. Below is a sample lyric.
You're so wet, you can barely wait, girl
But see it's alright, honey, it's alright
It's so dark, but I don't even care, girl
I know where to go, I know what to do
The chorus is a trip too with lots of moaning and groaning.
"Always and Forever" - Heat Wave
This is probably the quintessential slow jam. Love it!
"Spend My Life With You" - Eric Benet
I actually met Eric Benet twice when I used to live in Milwaukee. That has nothing to do with the reason that I love this song, but I just wanted to brag.
"If I Were Your Woman" - Gladys Knight and the Pips
I love this song. Gladys, I think, is somewhat underrated. She tends to take a backseat to Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin, but there is such emotion in her singing. I love the lyrics to this song.
She tears you down, darling.
Says you're nothing at all.
But I'll pick you up, darling.
When she lets you fall.
You're like a diamond.
But she treats you like glass.
Yet you beg her to love you.
But me you don't ask.
If I were your woman
If I were your woman
If I were your woman
Here's what I'd do.
I'd never, no, no, stop loving you.
"I Wanna Be Loved" - Dinah Washington
Another great song by Dinah. One of my favorites by her.
I wanna be kissed until I tingle
I wanna be kissed starting tonight
Embrace me 'til our heartbeats intermingle
Wrong or right
"These Arms of Mine" - Otis Redding
Another outstanding song by Otis. You can hear and almost feel the love, desperation, passion, and so many other things in his voice. I don't know how he is able to convey this in his singing, but he does.
"Let's Stay Together" - Al Green
Luckily, American Idol has not yet ruined this song for me. I don't actually believe in "happily ever after" or even long-term monogamy, but it's still a great song. One of the best ever.
"Insensatez" - Astrud Gilberto
I love the Brazilian sound of Astrud's music. It's so floaty and dreamy. This song is amazing and is sometimes labeled as "Insensitive". Either way, it's a great song.
"I Will" - Dean Martin
Yes, this is way before my time, but I LOVE Dean Martin. If he were alive today I would...well, never mind. I'm not going to get all nasty. This is my blog, not twitter!
"Quando, Quando, Quando" - Michael Buble (with Nelly Furtado)
Whatever. Don't judge. It's an awesome version of this song.
"I Miss You So" - Diana Krall
I love Diana's low, sultry voice. It's like honey. Elvis Costello is one lucky man, but Declan is highly doable, so I guess they're both lucky. I still have my fingers crossed for that threesome. Oops. I forgot again that this isn't twitter.
"Ooh Baby Baby" - The Miracles
Again, if you don't like Motown, why the hell not? Some of the best songs ever created came out of Motown and Smokey Robinson had a big hand in that. This is one of my favorite songs by The Miracles because I love to hear a man beg. Ha-ha.
"Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye
Duh. This could not possibly be a legitimate "sexy music" playlist without this song. It's perfection.
Okay, that's it. I know this was kind of long, but I hope you will try out some of this music, and please offer any suggestions for songs that get your motor running. I'm always looking for new music.
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Please note that there is another new entry from yesterday Nov. 12 that I didn't tweet if you would like to check it out.
So, this playlist is basically one I created of music that I think is sexy or romantic and definitely good to get down to. The songs are eclectic and some are a little old and way before my time, but I've found that once your parents are no longer around you tend to appreciate the music they forced you to listen to as a kid much more than you used to. With that said...
"Sex and Candy" - Marcy Playground
I'm not really sure why this song is on this list other than I really like it, it sounds pretty sexy, and people have been tweeting about it a lot...including myself.
"All Night Long" - SWV
Possibly one of the sexiest songs ever recorded. It's from the soundtrack to Waiting to Exhale and if you've never heard it you just have to look at the sample lyric below to see what I mean.
You can melt in my body
And I will slowly melt onto you
Caress your face in my valley
Let me feel the sweetness of you
And baby you know I'll keep it special each and every time
I never do nothin once and never quite the same
And baby you know if there is anything you want from me
I will supply so you can have it your way
"Baby I'm Yours - Barbara Lewis
This is a very old song, but I just think it's sexy to say that you belong to someone although I don't personally believe in all that "for eternity" crap. Either way, it's a nice little song.
"My All" - Mariah Carey
I'm actually not a huge Mariah fan, but this is one song I really like. Her voice sounds really good in it and I like the lyrics.
I'd give my all to have
Just one more night with you
I'd risk my life to feel
Your body next to mine
'Cause I can't go on
Living in the memory of our song
I'd give my all for your love tonight
"It's Gonna Take a Miracle" - Deniece Williams
Great tune.
"Tell Me Something Good" - Chaka Khan & Rufus
This song is a total eargasm. From the funky guitar and bass, to the grunting/panting before the chorus, to Chaka's sultry voice...this is the way funk is supposed to sound...like the music itself is a sexual act.
"Teach Me Tonight" - Dinah Washington
You may have never heard of Dinah, but she is my favorite singer of her era, and we're talking about an era that included Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughn. To me, none of them holds a candle to Dinah Washington. Her voice is magical and amazing. If you don't believe me, sample her music at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Best-Dinah-Washington-Millennium-Collection/dp/B000069HLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289595318&sr=8-1
"I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" - Otis Redding
Otis is one of the best soul singers of all time and this is one of my favorite songs by him. So heartfelt and romantic.
"Sway" - Michael Buble
There are many versions of this song and I really like the one by Dean Martin also, but Michael Buble's version is a little faster and sounds a little more contemporary. I just love the rhythm and the horns. I'm a big sucker for horns in a song.
"If This World Were Mine" - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
I love Motown and I especially love the Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duets. This one is my favorite though. It's a lot slower than "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and has more of a romantic feel to it.
"Tonight" - Ready for the World
Most will probably not remember this group, but they were moderately successful in the 80s. This song is probably one of the sexiest songs ever recorded. Below is a sample lyric.
You're so wet, you can barely wait, girl
But see it's alright, honey, it's alright
It's so dark, but I don't even care, girl
I know where to go, I know what to do
The chorus is a trip too with lots of moaning and groaning.
"Always and Forever" - Heat Wave
This is probably the quintessential slow jam. Love it!
"Spend My Life With You" - Eric Benet
I actually met Eric Benet twice when I used to live in Milwaukee. That has nothing to do with the reason that I love this song, but I just wanted to brag.
"If I Were Your Woman" - Gladys Knight and the Pips
I love this song. Gladys, I think, is somewhat underrated. She tends to take a backseat to Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin, but there is such emotion in her singing. I love the lyrics to this song.
She tears you down, darling.
Says you're nothing at all.
But I'll pick you up, darling.
When she lets you fall.
You're like a diamond.
But she treats you like glass.
Yet you beg her to love you.
But me you don't ask.
If I were your woman
If I were your woman
If I were your woman
Here's what I'd do.
I'd never, no, no, stop loving you.
"I Wanna Be Loved" - Dinah Washington
Another great song by Dinah. One of my favorites by her.
I wanna be kissed until I tingle
I wanna be kissed starting tonight
Embrace me 'til our heartbeats intermingle
Wrong or right
"These Arms of Mine" - Otis Redding
Another outstanding song by Otis. You can hear and almost feel the love, desperation, passion, and so many other things in his voice. I don't know how he is able to convey this in his singing, but he does.
"Let's Stay Together" - Al Green
Luckily, American Idol has not yet ruined this song for me. I don't actually believe in "happily ever after" or even long-term monogamy, but it's still a great song. One of the best ever.
"Insensatez" - Astrud Gilberto
I love the Brazilian sound of Astrud's music. It's so floaty and dreamy. This song is amazing and is sometimes labeled as "Insensitive". Either way, it's a great song.
"I Will" - Dean Martin
Yes, this is way before my time, but I LOVE Dean Martin. If he were alive today I would...well, never mind. I'm not going to get all nasty. This is my blog, not twitter!
"Quando, Quando, Quando" - Michael Buble (with Nelly Furtado)
Whatever. Don't judge. It's an awesome version of this song.
"I Miss You So" - Diana Krall
I love Diana's low, sultry voice. It's like honey. Elvis Costello is one lucky man, but Declan is highly doable, so I guess they're both lucky. I still have my fingers crossed for that threesome. Oops. I forgot again that this isn't twitter.
"Ooh Baby Baby" - The Miracles
Again, if you don't like Motown, why the hell not? Some of the best songs ever created came out of Motown and Smokey Robinson had a big hand in that. This is one of my favorite songs by The Miracles because I love to hear a man beg. Ha-ha.
"Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye
Duh. This could not possibly be a legitimate "sexy music" playlist without this song. It's perfection.
Okay, that's it. I know this was kind of long, but I hope you will try out some of this music, and please offer any suggestions for songs that get your motor running. I'm always looking for new music.
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Please note that there is another new entry from yesterday Nov. 12 that I didn't tweet if you would like to check it out.
Friday, November 12, 2010
I Loved You
I loved you like a little girl loves her first ice cream cone.
Licking the icy sweetness.
Tongue becoming numb from the cold.
Not understanding how anything could be so delicious.
The taste of happiness.
I loved you like a little girl loves her first bike ride.
Time standing still.
The world passing by in blurs of color.
Heart beating fast in excitement.
The wind of happiness.
I loved you like a little girl loves her first doll.
Brushing the beautiful hair.
Cooings of wonderment and joy.
Holding it in close arms.
The heart full of happiness.
I loved you with my heart.
My soul.
My mind.
My body.
With the trust and care of a little girl.
But every little girl must grow up.
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The above is an original poem written by me. I'm not quite happy with it so I may edit it later. I fashioned it after my favorite poet, Dorothy Parker, though it's crap and Dorothy's work is amazing. If you are not familiar with her work, look up the poem "A Certain Lady" (my favorite by Parker) and you will see what I mean about what a genius she was.
Licking the icy sweetness.
Tongue becoming numb from the cold.
Not understanding how anything could be so delicious.
The taste of happiness.
I loved you like a little girl loves her first bike ride.
Time standing still.
The world passing by in blurs of color.
Heart beating fast in excitement.
The wind of happiness.
I loved you like a little girl loves her first doll.
Brushing the beautiful hair.
Cooings of wonderment and joy.
Holding it in close arms.
The heart full of happiness.
I loved you with my heart.
My soul.
My mind.
My body.
With the trust and care of a little girl.
But every little girl must grow up.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above is an original poem written by me. I'm not quite happy with it so I may edit it later. I fashioned it after my favorite poet, Dorothy Parker, though it's crap and Dorothy's work is amazing. If you are not familiar with her work, look up the poem "A Certain Lady" (my favorite by Parker) and you will see what I mean about what a genius she was.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Playlist Part 2 The Beatles Edition
No discussion of music that I love would be complete without discussing The Beatles. They are my all time favorite musical artists. When I listen to their music it isn't only like an eargasm, it's like my soul is uplifted. I don't think I can accurately describe how I feel about their music, or about the men themselves. I can't watch The Compleat Beatles without getting all teary. I know I'm a pussy, but this is the one time I don't mind. They are that amazing.
Now, keep in mind that I was not yet born when The Beatles were together. I came a bit late to the party, but my cousins are all decades older than I am, so they introduced me to their music, probably while I was still in the womb. I just can't remember a time when I didn't love their music. I'm pretty sure the first song I ever learned to sing was "Love Me Do". I have all of their albums on vinyl, cassette, and cd. Yes, I am that much of a freak. If you look at my Twitpic you will also see my most prized possession. No, not my boobs, but a gigantic framed picture of The Beatles. Are the autographs authentic? Doubtful, but I don't care. I just love looking at them.
I've had people ask me how I can love their music so much when The Beatles no longer relevant. I find this an absurdly stupid question. First of all, the movie Across the Universe just came out three years ago and was a huge hit. Second, good music is TIMELESS. Let's see where Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga are 40-50 years from now and see if they are as popular then as they are today. I'm sure we will all be saying, "Who?" Third, so much of today's music is a direct descendant of The Beatles. Their music has been inspiring other musicians since 1962 and probably won't ever stop. Even Lady Gaga said she is inspired by them, although I consider that more of an insult. Sorry, but I hate Lady Gaga.
So, what are my favorite Beatles songs? There are so many but I'm just going to touch on a few.
"For No One" - Revolver
I know it's a little weird because it's kind of sad, but I think that's what I love about it. There's such a sense of despair but acceptance at the same time.
And in her eyes you see nothing.
No sign of love behind the tears.
Cried for no one,
A love that should have lasted years.
It breaks your heart but it's also so beautiful.
"She's Leaving Home" - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
When I was 18 years old I moved out of my Mom's house for the first time. I was so excited to be on my own, but I loved my Mom too so it was kind of bittersweet. I remember putting Sgt. Pepper's on the turntable and listening to it as I began to pack up my room. When "She's Leaving Home" came on I started to cry a little because I knew that my Mom didn't want me to move out. The lyrics don't actually have anything to do with my situation, but I was 18...what can I say?
"Birthday" - The Beatles (aka The White Album)
I admit it. Every year on my birthday I HAVE to hear this song. My friends and family always played it for me at my birthday parties or sometimes if I had nothing planned they'd call me up and play this song over the phone for me. One year, not only did they have this song played at a bar we were celebrating at, but when I got home I had 26 messages on my answering maching all playing this song. It's a tradition. I love it.
"Run for Your Life" - Rubber Soul
I know. This song is probably like the wife-beaters credo, but I just think it's hilarious.
Well I'd rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man
You better keep your head, little girl
Or I won't know where I am
You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand, little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end, little girl.
I'm Happy Just to Dance With You - A Hard Day's Night
I think this is one of their more romantic songs. I can listen to this song over and over and never get sick of it. It's also nice to hear George singing for a change.
Got to Get You Into My Life - Revolver
I just love the expansiveness of this song. Also, I'm kind of a sucker for horns.
Helter Skelter - The Beatles (aka The White Album)
Even if there was no creepy side-note to this song, this song still fucking rocks. George's guitar, Paul's bass and vocals, Ringo's beat...it's just a perfect rock song.
Come Together - Abbey Road
I just love the lyrics to the song and how Ringo lays down an almost tribal beat during the verses and a rolling beat at the end of the chorus. It's all like a giant mind fuck...and I love it!
You Like Me Too Much - Help!
I have no reason for really liking this song other than I can't hear it without absolutely needing to sing along. It's just a great tune.
With a Little Help from My Friends - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
I love this song because of the whole sing-sing back thing. It's also nice to hear Ringo singing for a change.
Do You Want to Know a Secret - Please Please Me (The Early Beatles in the US)
For some reason, this is one of my favorites from The Beatles' earlier recordings. I just love the harmonies and the up-tempo beat. Oh,, and George sings this one too.
Your Mother Should Know - Magical Mystery Tour
Let's all get up and dance to a song
That was a hit before your mother was born
Though she was born a long, long time ago
Your mother should know
Your mother should know
Need I say more?
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles (aka The White Album)
Written by George, sung by George, amazing guitar licks by George...okay, have you figured out yet that I love George? I love all 4 of them, but I admit that George was the Beatle I most wanted to get naked with. *sigh* Also, I used to sing this song in a band I was in several years ago. So there!
When I'm Sixty-Four - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
I wasn't going to include any obvious songs on this list, but then this song came on my iPod and I just had to. I like playing air-bell to this song. Don't ask.
I'll Cry Instead - A Hard Day's Night
Angry dude rock is actually a lot more rare than angry chick rock which is why I like this song. I also love the juxtapostion of the cheery beat along with the bitter lyrics. Very oxymoronic.
Across the Universe - Let It Be
I know, another obvious song, but it's so fluid and poetic and lovely. I love it and I even love the cover by Fionna Apple.
Michelle - Rubber Soul
This song taught me the only French I know besides "Lady Marmalade" (Voulez-vous coucher avec moi) which is why I love this song.
Okay, there are sooo many more. I mean, I didn't even pick any off of Hey Jude or some of their earlier albums. I just think this blog has gone on long enough. Let me just leave you with these last words.
Her majesty's a pretty nice girl
but she doesn't have a lot to say
Her majesty's a pretty nice girl
but she changes from day to day
I wanna tell her that I love her a lot
but I gotta get a belly full of wine
Her majesty's a pretty nice girl
someday I'm gonna make her mine
Oh, yeah, some day I'm gonna make her mine
You either get it, or you don't.
Now, keep in mind that I was not yet born when The Beatles were together. I came a bit late to the party, but my cousins are all decades older than I am, so they introduced me to their music, probably while I was still in the womb. I just can't remember a time when I didn't love their music. I'm pretty sure the first song I ever learned to sing was "Love Me Do". I have all of their albums on vinyl, cassette, and cd. Yes, I am that much of a freak. If you look at my Twitpic you will also see my most prized possession. No, not my boobs, but a gigantic framed picture of The Beatles. Are the autographs authentic? Doubtful, but I don't care. I just love looking at them.
I've had people ask me how I can love their music so much when The Beatles no longer relevant. I find this an absurdly stupid question. First of all, the movie Across the Universe just came out three years ago and was a huge hit. Second, good music is TIMELESS. Let's see where Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga are 40-50 years from now and see if they are as popular then as they are today. I'm sure we will all be saying, "Who?" Third, so much of today's music is a direct descendant of The Beatles. Their music has been inspiring other musicians since 1962 and probably won't ever stop. Even Lady Gaga said she is inspired by them, although I consider that more of an insult. Sorry, but I hate Lady Gaga.
So, what are my favorite Beatles songs? There are so many but I'm just going to touch on a few.
"For No One" - Revolver
I know it's a little weird because it's kind of sad, but I think that's what I love about it. There's such a sense of despair but acceptance at the same time.
And in her eyes you see nothing.
No sign of love behind the tears.
Cried for no one,
A love that should have lasted years.
It breaks your heart but it's also so beautiful.
"She's Leaving Home" - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
When I was 18 years old I moved out of my Mom's house for the first time. I was so excited to be on my own, but I loved my Mom too so it was kind of bittersweet. I remember putting Sgt. Pepper's on the turntable and listening to it as I began to pack up my room. When "She's Leaving Home" came on I started to cry a little because I knew that my Mom didn't want me to move out. The lyrics don't actually have anything to do with my situation, but I was 18...what can I say?
"Birthday" - The Beatles (aka The White Album)
I admit it. Every year on my birthday I HAVE to hear this song. My friends and family always played it for me at my birthday parties or sometimes if I had nothing planned they'd call me up and play this song over the phone for me. One year, not only did they have this song played at a bar we were celebrating at, but when I got home I had 26 messages on my answering maching all playing this song. It's a tradition. I love it.
"Run for Your Life" - Rubber Soul
I know. This song is probably like the wife-beaters credo, but I just think it's hilarious.
Well I'd rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man
You better keep your head, little girl
Or I won't know where I am
You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand, little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end, little girl.
I'm Happy Just to Dance With You - A Hard Day's Night
I think this is one of their more romantic songs. I can listen to this song over and over and never get sick of it. It's also nice to hear George singing for a change.
Got to Get You Into My Life - Revolver
I just love the expansiveness of this song. Also, I'm kind of a sucker for horns.
Helter Skelter - The Beatles (aka The White Album)
Even if there was no creepy side-note to this song, this song still fucking rocks. George's guitar, Paul's bass and vocals, Ringo's beat...it's just a perfect rock song.
Come Together - Abbey Road
I just love the lyrics to the song and how Ringo lays down an almost tribal beat during the verses and a rolling beat at the end of the chorus. It's all like a giant mind fuck...and I love it!
You Like Me Too Much - Help!
I have no reason for really liking this song other than I can't hear it without absolutely needing to sing along. It's just a great tune.
With a Little Help from My Friends - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
I love this song because of the whole sing-sing back thing. It's also nice to hear Ringo singing for a change.
Do You Want to Know a Secret - Please Please Me (The Early Beatles in the US)
For some reason, this is one of my favorites from The Beatles' earlier recordings. I just love the harmonies and the up-tempo beat. Oh,, and George sings this one too.
Your Mother Should Know - Magical Mystery Tour
Let's all get up and dance to a song
That was a hit before your mother was born
Though she was born a long, long time ago
Your mother should know
Your mother should know
Need I say more?
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles (aka The White Album)
Written by George, sung by George, amazing guitar licks by George...okay, have you figured out yet that I love George? I love all 4 of them, but I admit that George was the Beatle I most wanted to get naked with. *sigh* Also, I used to sing this song in a band I was in several years ago. So there!
When I'm Sixty-Four - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
I wasn't going to include any obvious songs on this list, but then this song came on my iPod and I just had to. I like playing air-bell to this song. Don't ask.
I'll Cry Instead - A Hard Day's Night
Angry dude rock is actually a lot more rare than angry chick rock which is why I like this song. I also love the juxtapostion of the cheery beat along with the bitter lyrics. Very oxymoronic.
Across the Universe - Let It Be
I know, another obvious song, but it's so fluid and poetic and lovely. I love it and I even love the cover by Fionna Apple.
Michelle - Rubber Soul
This song taught me the only French I know besides "Lady Marmalade" (Voulez-vous coucher avec moi) which is why I love this song.
Okay, there are sooo many more. I mean, I didn't even pick any off of Hey Jude or some of their earlier albums. I just think this blog has gone on long enough. Let me just leave you with these last words.
Her majesty's a pretty nice girl
but she doesn't have a lot to say
Her majesty's a pretty nice girl
but she changes from day to day
I wanna tell her that I love her a lot
but I gotta get a belly full of wine
Her majesty's a pretty nice girl
someday I'm gonna make her mine
Oh, yeah, some day I'm gonna make her mine
You either get it, or you don't.
Music I Hate
As I've said in a previous post, I love music. In fact, I'll probably do another blog after this one about my favorite music of all time, but for now I need to talk about I song I hate more than any other song in the universe because I just heard it on my car radio. First, some background.
I an descended from a very musical family. All three of my uncles on my mother's side were musicians. They had a big band back in the day much like The Miami Sound Machine. They had horns, and percussion, and maracas, and they were very talented. My mom and her two sisters used to sing on the radio. It's no surprise then that all of my cousins have some musical ability. I play a little guitar, a little bass, and I can sing. My brother Vini, however, was the true musician in our family. At least of all of us first cousins. He could play the drums, guitar, bass, piano, and he had an amazing singing voice. He played in many "garage bands" when he was just started out, and that was the problem.
My parents were very permissive when it came to my brother so they allowed my brother and his friends to play their instruments in our basement. I don't know how old any of you are, but many of you who are around my age may know what song my brother and his friends chose to cut their teeth on when first starting out. If you guessed "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple you are correct.
I used to love that song too. The problem is that the opening lick is just the kind of thing a beginning guitarist wants to learn to play. Duh-duh-DUH duh-duh-DUH-NUH duh-duh-DUH-duh-duh. They played it over and over and over until I was ready to start the house on fire and all of the people in it, including my parents and my dog. To this day when I hear those first couple of bars I start screaming like Linda Blair, "Make it stop! Make it stop!"
One day I know my head will turn all the way around.
I an descended from a very musical family. All three of my uncles on my mother's side were musicians. They had a big band back in the day much like The Miami Sound Machine. They had horns, and percussion, and maracas, and they were very talented. My mom and her two sisters used to sing on the radio. It's no surprise then that all of my cousins have some musical ability. I play a little guitar, a little bass, and I can sing. My brother Vini, however, was the true musician in our family. At least of all of us first cousins. He could play the drums, guitar, bass, piano, and he had an amazing singing voice. He played in many "garage bands" when he was just started out, and that was the problem.
My parents were very permissive when it came to my brother so they allowed my brother and his friends to play their instruments in our basement. I don't know how old any of you are, but many of you who are around my age may know what song my brother and his friends chose to cut their teeth on when first starting out. If you guessed "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple you are correct.
I used to love that song too. The problem is that the opening lick is just the kind of thing a beginning guitarist wants to learn to play. Duh-duh-DUH duh-duh-DUH-NUH duh-duh-DUH-duh-duh. They played it over and over and over until I was ready to start the house on fire and all of the people in it, including my parents and my dog. To this day when I hear those first couple of bars I start screaming like Linda Blair, "Make it stop! Make it stop!"
One day I know my head will turn all the way around.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
A Fairy Tale
Note: The following is an exercise in creative writing and is not intended to depict actual events or persons living or dead...or zombies.
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Once upon a time there was a pretty princess by the name of Marigold. Princess Marigold lived in a magical land far, far away called Milwaukee with her parents, the King and Queen, and her brother Prince Rupert. Marigold was quite doted on by her parents. The King showered her with toys, and jewels while the Queen delighted in dressing up her pretty princess in the finest gowns the King's money could buy. The King and Queen were very proud of Princess Marigold and enjoyed showing her off to the rest of the Kingdom.
Princess Marigold's life was idyllic and she loved her family very much, even her brother Prince Rupert who sometimes teased her beyond limits. She grew up pampered and loved and mostly happy. Sometimes, however, she was prone to bouts of melancholy. You see, Marigold had other gifts besides being pretty. Her parents hired the best tutors in all the land to see to the education of Rupert and Marigold. While Rupert only did enough to get by, Marigold excelled at all things intellectual. No one cared. Marigold also sometimes told funny jokes that made people laugh, but still, no one cared. All they cared about was that Marigold was pretty. Marigold longed to be loved for something other than her looks.
Marigold was often courted by many handsome princes trying to win her hand. She even became betrothed on three separate occasions. Each time Marigold begged her father to allow her to break her engagements. She was unable to see herself married forever to any of them and would get sick her stomach at the thought of it. She was happy as things were and didn't want them to change. The King reluctantly complied and life went on as before.
One day, an evil witch came into town and decided she wanted the Kingdom to herself. She was also jealous because, though the witch was very lovely she wasn't anywhere near as pretty as Princess Marigold. In a fit of anger and spite the evil witch cast a spell that made the King, Queen, and Prince Rupert disappear. Princess Marigold fled the Kingdom in fear and grief and struck out on her own...alone in the world.
Princess Marigold found an ivory tower and put herself into it. She needed a place where she could grieve for her family who she loved and missed very much. Also, she was unsure what to do with herself, never having to go without her family to support her. She hid in her tower as protection from the world which had been so cruel to her.
Princess Marigold's tower was located in a small village by the name of Glaston. It was filled with lovely, hard working people with normal families and lives. She often looked out the window at the villagers running around in their daily pursuits. She envied them their simple lives and happy families. She longed to go down and be a part of their community but couldn't find the courage to venture out of her tower. To pass the time, she often wrote down jokes she would think up onto little slips of paper. This amused her very much, but she wished she could share her jokes with the villagers down below. One day, she decided that she was going to throw her slips of paper out the window and hope that any passersby would pick them up and read them. The next day she showered all of her slips of paper out the window and waited to see what would happen. She ventured a peek to see if anyone was picking up the papers and, sure enough, there the villagers were picking up her jokes and reading them. Soon, she could hear the sound of laughter rising up to greet her and her heart was filled with joy.
Everyday after that Princess Marigold would write her little jokes and throw them out the window. She knew that some of them were funny and some of them were not, but she didn't care. The villagers appreciated them anyway, and liked her for something other than being pretty.
The End
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once upon a time there was a pretty princess by the name of Marigold. Princess Marigold lived in a magical land far, far away called Milwaukee with her parents, the King and Queen, and her brother Prince Rupert. Marigold was quite doted on by her parents. The King showered her with toys, and jewels while the Queen delighted in dressing up her pretty princess in the finest gowns the King's money could buy. The King and Queen were very proud of Princess Marigold and enjoyed showing her off to the rest of the Kingdom.
Princess Marigold's life was idyllic and she loved her family very much, even her brother Prince Rupert who sometimes teased her beyond limits. She grew up pampered and loved and mostly happy. Sometimes, however, she was prone to bouts of melancholy. You see, Marigold had other gifts besides being pretty. Her parents hired the best tutors in all the land to see to the education of Rupert and Marigold. While Rupert only did enough to get by, Marigold excelled at all things intellectual. No one cared. Marigold also sometimes told funny jokes that made people laugh, but still, no one cared. All they cared about was that Marigold was pretty. Marigold longed to be loved for something other than her looks.
Marigold was often courted by many handsome princes trying to win her hand. She even became betrothed on three separate occasions. Each time Marigold begged her father to allow her to break her engagements. She was unable to see herself married forever to any of them and would get sick her stomach at the thought of it. She was happy as things were and didn't want them to change. The King reluctantly complied and life went on as before.
One day, an evil witch came into town and decided she wanted the Kingdom to herself. She was also jealous because, though the witch was very lovely she wasn't anywhere near as pretty as Princess Marigold. In a fit of anger and spite the evil witch cast a spell that made the King, Queen, and Prince Rupert disappear. Princess Marigold fled the Kingdom in fear and grief and struck out on her own...alone in the world.
Princess Marigold found an ivory tower and put herself into it. She needed a place where she could grieve for her family who she loved and missed very much. Also, she was unsure what to do with herself, never having to go without her family to support her. She hid in her tower as protection from the world which had been so cruel to her.
Princess Marigold's tower was located in a small village by the name of Glaston. It was filled with lovely, hard working people with normal families and lives. She often looked out the window at the villagers running around in their daily pursuits. She envied them their simple lives and happy families. She longed to go down and be a part of their community but couldn't find the courage to venture out of her tower. To pass the time, she often wrote down jokes she would think up onto little slips of paper. This amused her very much, but she wished she could share her jokes with the villagers down below. One day, she decided that she was going to throw her slips of paper out the window and hope that any passersby would pick them up and read them. The next day she showered all of her slips of paper out the window and waited to see what would happen. She ventured a peek to see if anyone was picking up the papers and, sure enough, there the villagers were picking up her jokes and reading them. Soon, she could hear the sound of laughter rising up to greet her and her heart was filled with joy.
Everyday after that Princess Marigold would write her little jokes and throw them out the window. She knew that some of them were funny and some of them were not, but she didn't care. The villagers appreciated them anyway, and liked her for something other than being pretty.
The End
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Memories of Moo
I get a lot of traits from my Mother. I have her hands, feet, ears, bone structure, and most of all, her silliness. I don't think many people knew just how silly she could be. She couldn't tell a joke to save her life, but she did have a great sense of humor and could be very whimsical. For some reason, maybe because I just always have to be different, maybe because of the aforementioned silliness, I gave my Mom a nickname when I was about 15. I started calling her Moo. Because my Mother was so cool she went along with it. She didn't like it when I called her "dude," but "Moo" she was okay with. I started thinking about Moo last night as I was struggling with another bout of insomnia and I recalled my favorite memory of her. That's what I want to share right now.
It was the summer between my Junior and Senior year of high school which means I was 17. It was mid-morning and my mother was in her bedroom getting ready for work. She worked 2nd shift so she didn't have to be in until early afternoon. Her bedroom was right off of the kitchen and she had her door open. I walked into the kitchen and saw the 2 water guns that my older brother and I had bought and filled with water the day before sitting on the kitchen table. I was feeling mischievous so I grabbed one of the guns went into Moo's bedroom and started squirting water at her. She yelled at me, naturally, and then chased me out of her bedroom. She saw the second gun sitting on the table, and she grabbed it and started shooting me back. Soon we are chasing each other all over the house spraying each other with water and laughing our asses off. All of a sudden, my gun either jammed or I ran out or water or something, so now I'm trying to surrender. Moo would have none of it. I had started the water gun fight, and come hell or high-water (pun intended) she was going to finish it. She chased me down, shouting "HA-HA" in glee, soaking me to the skin with her water gun. Moo was going to have her revenge and love every minute of it!
Seeing that I had no recourse but to run away I ran out the front door, down the porch steps, down the stone stairs, to the sidewalk. Moo comes tearing out of the house after me and stops for a minute on the porch. Suddenly, she looks down at herself and realizes she's only wearing her pants and a bra! She screams, tries to cover herself, and runs back into the house. I literally collapsed on the sidewalk laughing until both my throat and my stomach hurt. It was hilarious!
Moo was a little mad at me, but even she had to admit it was her own fault for not accepting my surrender. She was so much fun. We were always doing crazy things like that. Whenever I miss her too much (which is always) I conjure up that memory and it makes me laugh to remember the look on Moo's face when she realized she was half-naked.
As much as it hurts to have lost her so soon, I am so grateful to have had her in my life at all. Someone who loved me so fully and unconditionally that I still feel it 4 years after her death. The best thing I could wish for anyone reading this is that you have, or did have a Mom as great as mine. If she's still around, why don't you give her a call?
Just a suggestion.
It was the summer between my Junior and Senior year of high school which means I was 17. It was mid-morning and my mother was in her bedroom getting ready for work. She worked 2nd shift so she didn't have to be in until early afternoon. Her bedroom was right off of the kitchen and she had her door open. I walked into the kitchen and saw the 2 water guns that my older brother and I had bought and filled with water the day before sitting on the kitchen table. I was feeling mischievous so I grabbed one of the guns went into Moo's bedroom and started squirting water at her. She yelled at me, naturally, and then chased me out of her bedroom. She saw the second gun sitting on the table, and she grabbed it and started shooting me back. Soon we are chasing each other all over the house spraying each other with water and laughing our asses off. All of a sudden, my gun either jammed or I ran out or water or something, so now I'm trying to surrender. Moo would have none of it. I had started the water gun fight, and come hell or high-water (pun intended) she was going to finish it. She chased me down, shouting "HA-HA" in glee, soaking me to the skin with her water gun. Moo was going to have her revenge and love every minute of it!
Seeing that I had no recourse but to run away I ran out the front door, down the porch steps, down the stone stairs, to the sidewalk. Moo comes tearing out of the house after me and stops for a minute on the porch. Suddenly, she looks down at herself and realizes she's only wearing her pants and a bra! She screams, tries to cover herself, and runs back into the house. I literally collapsed on the sidewalk laughing until both my throat and my stomach hurt. It was hilarious!
Moo was a little mad at me, but even she had to admit it was her own fault for not accepting my surrender. She was so much fun. We were always doing crazy things like that. Whenever I miss her too much (which is always) I conjure up that memory and it makes me laugh to remember the look on Moo's face when she realized she was half-naked.
As much as it hurts to have lost her so soon, I am so grateful to have had her in my life at all. Someone who loved me so fully and unconditionally that I still feel it 4 years after her death. The best thing I could wish for anyone reading this is that you have, or did have a Mom as great as mine. If she's still around, why don't you give her a call?
Just a suggestion.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
My Love
He enters my life through the front door.
Using the key I have to him.
I watch him enter and my breath quickens in anticipation.
Knowing what's to come.
He takes me in his arms and holds me fast.
I grab on to him.
Like a drowning person holding on to a life preserver.
Without feeling my feet moving we are suddenly in my bedroom.
Our clothing becomes pools of fabric at our feet.
Finally we are in bed, in each other's arms, where we belong.
He looks deep into my eyes and caresses my cheek.
He slowly moves his head forward until his lips touch mine.
Our tongues move in a dance that has no beginning, no end.
His large calloused hands move over my skin.
Touching, rubbing, cupping...
Until I can't breathe from the sensations.
Our bodies are pressed together.
Flesh touching flesh.
I can feel his heart beating,
Its rhythm matches mine.
He enters me and we become one.
I can no longer think, I can only feel.
I hold him to me tightly with my arms and my legs.
Sensations wash over me like a tidal wave.
Colors I have never seen before dance before my eyes.
My every nerve ending is alive and singing.
They reach a crescendo, an explosion!
I yell out his name!
He yells out mine!
He collapses next to me and pulls my trembling body into his arms.
We cannot speak.
We can only breathe.
Sweet ecstasy.
Finally, he caresses my cheek again and kisses my forehead.
As I watch him dress my heart starts to sink.
One more kiss and then it's goodbye.
He leaves my life as he entered it.
Through the front door.
Using the key I gave to him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The passage above is an original poem written by me. Even though I write a lot of it, I NEVER share my poetry with anyone so this is really scary for me. It's at this moment that I don't care that no one actually reads my blog. Ha-ha.
Using the key I have to him.
I watch him enter and my breath quickens in anticipation.
Knowing what's to come.
He takes me in his arms and holds me fast.
I grab on to him.
Like a drowning person holding on to a life preserver.
Without feeling my feet moving we are suddenly in my bedroom.
Our clothing becomes pools of fabric at our feet.
Finally we are in bed, in each other's arms, where we belong.
He looks deep into my eyes and caresses my cheek.
He slowly moves his head forward until his lips touch mine.
Our tongues move in a dance that has no beginning, no end.
His large calloused hands move over my skin.
Touching, rubbing, cupping...
Until I can't breathe from the sensations.
Our bodies are pressed together.
Flesh touching flesh.
I can feel his heart beating,
Its rhythm matches mine.
He enters me and we become one.
I can no longer think, I can only feel.
I hold him to me tightly with my arms and my legs.
Sensations wash over me like a tidal wave.
Colors I have never seen before dance before my eyes.
My every nerve ending is alive and singing.
They reach a crescendo, an explosion!
I yell out his name!
He yells out mine!
He collapses next to me and pulls my trembling body into his arms.
We cannot speak.
We can only breathe.
Sweet ecstasy.
Finally, he caresses my cheek again and kisses my forehead.
As I watch him dress my heart starts to sink.
One more kiss and then it's goodbye.
He leaves my life as he entered it.
Through the front door.
Using the key I gave to him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The passage above is an original poem written by me. Even though I write a lot of it, I NEVER share my poetry with anyone so this is really scary for me. It's at this moment that I don't care that no one actually reads my blog. Ha-ha.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Playlist Part I
As I sit here typing on my very old, very slow laptop I have my earbuds in and my iPod going at full blast. I always feel like I can concentrate better, and do everything better, if I am listening to music at the same time. I'm not sure why that it is, but it's always been true. My parents were always confused how I could study Algebra in high school with Motley Crue cranked full blast on my stereo. I always just told them "don't fight it people, just go with it." I just feel like my life needs a soundtrack, and I've always had one. From LP records, to 8 track tapes, cassettes, cds, and finally to MP3s, I've always made sure that I had my favorite music on hand. Everything also reminds me of music. Someone could say to me that they're taking care of business and suddenly Bachman Turner Overdrive pops into my head and I might start humming. I used to partly embarrass/partly amuse my mother when we would go grocery shopping because I could sing along to just about every song they played on the overhead speakers whether it was Barry Manilow, The Supremes, or Madonna. I must know the words to hundreds of thousands of songs. I know songs in French, Spanish, Italian, and German. Yes, I'm a freak.
What I'm getting at is that there are so many songs that have shaped my life or taken part of some scene in my life that they have become intrinsic to these events. If I tried to discuss all of them this blog would be more like a book so I'm just going to touch on a few for now and write about the rest as the mood hits me, hence the reason this is Part I.
"Irvine" by Kelly Clarkson
I don't care what anyone says about Kelly Clarkson, she is the best vocalist to ever have come out of American Idol and she will always be my favorite winner. Kelly has many great songs and I feel that her album My December was unfairly judged by critics and fans due to all of the controversy that stemmed from Kelly's disagreement with Clive Davis. In any event, this album contains the single "Irvine" which strikes a very resonant chord with me. It's about reaching the end of your rope and asking God if he's still paying attention and for a little help. I know where she's coming from. I sometimes can't hear this song without crying.
I know you're busy, I know I'm just one
But you might be the only one who sees me
The only one to save me
Why is it so hard?
Why can't you just take me?
That's exactly how I feel when I get into my depressive moods. EXACTLY.
"Hurt" by Christine Aguilera
This is another song that makes me bawl like a baby. I heard it shortly after my Mother's death and it seemed like it was written for or by me.
There's nothing I wouldn't do
To hear your voice again
Sometimes I wanna call ya
But I know you won't be there
Some days I feel broke inside but I won't admit
Sometimes I just wanna hide 'cause it's you I miss
And it's so hard to say goodbye
When it comes to this, oooh yeah
Would you tell me I was wrong?
Would you help me understand?
Are you looking down upon me?
Are you proud of who I am?
There's nothing I wouldn't do
To have just one more chance
To look into your eyes
And see you looking back
I'm sure Christina or whomever wrote this song is talking about a break-up of some kind, but you can see how I could interpret the words to fit my situation.
Just in case you think I'm having a dark day my next song is a lot cheerier...
Oye Como Va - Santana
This song brings back so many childhood memories. It's really just the same couple of lines over and over, and I was really little when it came out, but I just remember riding around in my cousin's red Malibu car with the little red fabric balls that hung off of the top of the interior, wearing a hooded, red sweatshirt that had a "Chicano Power" patch on the sleeve and being happy. For the life of me I can't remember if the car belonged to David, Alex, or Michael (my cousins, brothers to each other), but I'm pretty sure all of them were there. The three of them, along with my cousins Joe and Robert, instilled in me a pride in my Mexican heritage that I've carried with me all my life. I don't know if I could ever thank them enough for that.
I think I'm going to do one more song and then call it a day.
Waiting for a Girl Like You - Foreigner
Don't ask me why, but this is one of my favorite songs of all time. I just like the idea of a guy who has been waiting for his dream girl and has finally found her. I just think it's romantic, and I've always wanted to be that girl. It hasn't happened yet, but fingers crossed.
Okay, I've embarrassed myself enough for one day, although it's not like anyone is even reading this besides myself, but I still have fun writing it. Also, if you're not familiar with these songs, check them out. They are great, and "Irvine" has the bonus song "Chivas" attached to it which is HILARIOUS. My favorite part? When she says:
I take the Chivas instead.
Over Your Bed
It wasn't even good,
Trust me
I must have been so, so, so, so lonely
You are crap, yeah
Kelly can be kind of bitter at times, but she always entertains!
What I'm getting at is that there are so many songs that have shaped my life or taken part of some scene in my life that they have become intrinsic to these events. If I tried to discuss all of them this blog would be more like a book so I'm just going to touch on a few for now and write about the rest as the mood hits me, hence the reason this is Part I.
"Irvine" by Kelly Clarkson
I don't care what anyone says about Kelly Clarkson, she is the best vocalist to ever have come out of American Idol and she will always be my favorite winner. Kelly has many great songs and I feel that her album My December was unfairly judged by critics and fans due to all of the controversy that stemmed from Kelly's disagreement with Clive Davis. In any event, this album contains the single "Irvine" which strikes a very resonant chord with me. It's about reaching the end of your rope and asking God if he's still paying attention and for a little help. I know where she's coming from. I sometimes can't hear this song without crying.
I know you're busy, I know I'm just one
But you might be the only one who sees me
The only one to save me
Why is it so hard?
Why can't you just take me?
That's exactly how I feel when I get into my depressive moods. EXACTLY.
"Hurt" by Christine Aguilera
This is another song that makes me bawl like a baby. I heard it shortly after my Mother's death and it seemed like it was written for or by me.
There's nothing I wouldn't do
To hear your voice again
Sometimes I wanna call ya
But I know you won't be there
Some days I feel broke inside but I won't admit
Sometimes I just wanna hide 'cause it's you I miss
And it's so hard to say goodbye
When it comes to this, oooh yeah
Would you tell me I was wrong?
Would you help me understand?
Are you looking down upon me?
Are you proud of who I am?
There's nothing I wouldn't do
To have just one more chance
To look into your eyes
And see you looking back
I'm sure Christina or whomever wrote this song is talking about a break-up of some kind, but you can see how I could interpret the words to fit my situation.
Just in case you think I'm having a dark day my next song is a lot cheerier...
Oye Como Va - Santana
This song brings back so many childhood memories. It's really just the same couple of lines over and over, and I was really little when it came out, but I just remember riding around in my cousin's red Malibu car with the little red fabric balls that hung off of the top of the interior, wearing a hooded, red sweatshirt that had a "Chicano Power" patch on the sleeve and being happy. For the life of me I can't remember if the car belonged to David, Alex, or Michael (my cousins, brothers to each other), but I'm pretty sure all of them were there. The three of them, along with my cousins Joe and Robert, instilled in me a pride in my Mexican heritage that I've carried with me all my life. I don't know if I could ever thank them enough for that.
I think I'm going to do one more song and then call it a day.
Waiting for a Girl Like You - Foreigner
Don't ask me why, but this is one of my favorite songs of all time. I just like the idea of a guy who has been waiting for his dream girl and has finally found her. I just think it's romantic, and I've always wanted to be that girl. It hasn't happened yet, but fingers crossed.
Okay, I've embarrassed myself enough for one day, although it's not like anyone is even reading this besides myself, but I still have fun writing it. Also, if you're not familiar with these songs, check them out. They are great, and "Irvine" has the bonus song "Chivas" attached to it which is HILARIOUS. My favorite part? When she says:
I take the Chivas instead.
Over Your Bed
It wasn't even good,
Trust me
I must have been so, so, so, so lonely
You are crap, yeah
Kelly can be kind of bitter at times, but she always entertains!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Bitch Session
Today's entry is going to be a little different in that it is going to be somewhat personal. I tweeted a joke earlier where I said "both of my parents passed away before giving me the 'sex talk'. Now I'll never know how it's done." Now this was a joke, but it's actually also the truth. My father died when I was 16 and my mother died just a few years ago in 2006. My older brother also died back in 1997. So now it's just me. The last remaining person of my family. I have cousins and aunts and uncles, but to me it's not quite the same thing. I sometimes feel like Kung Fu.
I'm probably one of the most contradictory people you could ever meet. I have a natural optimism but I also have serious bouts of depression since the death of my mother. I take that back I've been having depression since my mother's health began to deteriorate rapidly back in 2004 which also led to a lot of compulsive behavior such as internet addiction, insomnia, shopaholism, and terminal laziness. Prior to my mother getting sick I was at the top of my game. I had reached a very top level of my career in banking and had just been offered a management position with the company I was with which would have entailed relocating to California. It was like a dream come true. I think of it as "when I was rich." I was making excellent money, I have family around, I had lots of friends, a great boyfriend, an awesome car (relatively), and just about everything I needed. Then the bottom fell out and as Achebe tried to tell us "things fall apart".
Now I live in a state 1000 miles away from what remains of my family, I am currently unemployed because of the recession, I have a boyfriend who I see twice a week (if I'm lucky - long story), and my car is a piece of crap. I have made a couple of friends, but they live in different cities of CT and I never see them. Sometimes I get so depressed that I purposely revel in doing things that are bad for my health or ignore health problems because I just want something to kill me. I know that's a stupid thing to say, but it's just how I feel sometimes. Don't worry though. I am way to Catholic to ever take my own life. Too chicken too.
Keep in mind though that this is only how I feel some of the time. Most of the time I am optimistic. I know I will find an even better job in my field, or maybe even go into a different field because I am good at so many things. I just wish I knew what I really want to do with my life. Too bad I can't make some kind of living telling dirty jokes on twitter all day.
Okay, I am sick of myself whining. I need to go do something constructive like get some ice cream.
I'm probably one of the most contradictory people you could ever meet. I have a natural optimism but I also have serious bouts of depression since the death of my mother. I take that back I've been having depression since my mother's health began to deteriorate rapidly back in 2004 which also led to a lot of compulsive behavior such as internet addiction, insomnia, shopaholism, and terminal laziness. Prior to my mother getting sick I was at the top of my game. I had reached a very top level of my career in banking and had just been offered a management position with the company I was with which would have entailed relocating to California. It was like a dream come true. I think of it as "when I was rich." I was making excellent money, I have family around, I had lots of friends, a great boyfriend, an awesome car (relatively), and just about everything I needed. Then the bottom fell out and as Achebe tried to tell us "things fall apart".
Now I live in a state 1000 miles away from what remains of my family, I am currently unemployed because of the recession, I have a boyfriend who I see twice a week (if I'm lucky - long story), and my car is a piece of crap. I have made a couple of friends, but they live in different cities of CT and I never see them. Sometimes I get so depressed that I purposely revel in doing things that are bad for my health or ignore health problems because I just want something to kill me. I know that's a stupid thing to say, but it's just how I feel sometimes. Don't worry though. I am way to Catholic to ever take my own life. Too chicken too.
Keep in mind though that this is only how I feel some of the time. Most of the time I am optimistic. I know I will find an even better job in my field, or maybe even go into a different field because I am good at so many things. I just wish I knew what I really want to do with my life. Too bad I can't make some kind of living telling dirty jokes on twitter all day.
Okay, I am sick of myself whining. I need to go do something constructive like get some ice cream.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The 'N' word
I can't believe that it's 2010 and the use of the 'n' word is still an issue. It's unbelievable to me that racism still exists. Let's just put aside, for the moment, the ignorant bias so many seem to have right now against Muslims. This is wrong also, obviously, but that's a topic of discussion for a different day. Maybe even for a different person. I'm talking about the insanity that is use of the 'n' word and the ignorance and stupidity of the people who use it.
I remember several years ago when I used to spend a lot of my internet time on the message boards of IMDb. Yes, I know, --LOSER! Anyway, I also spent some time expressing my extreme dislike for Paris Hilton. I was shocked that this bimbo actually had fans. When it was disclosed that she used the 'n' word I was not shocked that Skankis (as I used to call her) would use this word since all evidence of her background seemed to indicate a very serious lack of intelligence and an over-inflated sense of self. What was shocking was the fact that her fans chose to defend her actions and even argued that Paris is not a racist because she was in a movie (House of Wax) where she had to play the girlfriend of a black person. (Insert eye-roll here.)
When a few years later Michael Richards was shown yelling the 'n' word at a couple of hecklers during a stand-up comedy show I was very disappointed. Who doesn't love Seinfeld's Cosmo Kramer? Even now when I watch reruns of the show I sometimes have a hard time enjoying his performance as much as I used to now that I know what he's really like. Okay, so he was apologetic, but that doesn't erase the fact that he yelled out the racial slur 6 times with what felt like glee.
Don't even get me started on Mel Gibson. Is there any group of people he hasn't offended? Jews, women, Mexicans, the black community, homosexuals,...if he hasn't gotten to your particular group yet, don't worry, he will.
I suppose the reason I am so hesitant to forgive the use of this word is not only because of the very hateful and disgusting connotations, but because I believe that if you use this word, even by accident, it is because it is in your mind. What do I mean by that? I never use this word, even to myself in my head. I can't even bring myself to type it in my blog because that is how much I hate that word. I don't understand how everyone doesn't feel this way. The point is that if someone like Paris, Michael, Mel, or Laura Ingram can so easily say this word it is only because they have been thinking it all along. That is what, in my opinion, makes them racist.
Are people ALLOWED to use the 'n' word? Of course. There's no law against it and we still have Freedom of Speech in this country. That's one of the caveats of this particular freedom. We have to listen to a lot of bullshit from a lot of assholes who I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire (ooh I have to remember to tweet that). The good news is that most of us are cognizant of the fact that these people are douche bags and there is never any shortage of people who are willing to stand up against racism. Luckily, our side happens to be quite vocal, so we need never fear that one of these losers will slip by our watch.
I remember several years ago when I used to spend a lot of my internet time on the message boards of IMDb. Yes, I know, --LOSER! Anyway, I also spent some time expressing my extreme dislike for Paris Hilton. I was shocked that this bimbo actually had fans. When it was disclosed that she used the 'n' word I was not shocked that Skankis (as I used to call her) would use this word since all evidence of her background seemed to indicate a very serious lack of intelligence and an over-inflated sense of self. What was shocking was the fact that her fans chose to defend her actions and even argued that Paris is not a racist because she was in a movie (House of Wax) where she had to play the girlfriend of a black person. (Insert eye-roll here.)
When a few years later Michael Richards was shown yelling the 'n' word at a couple of hecklers during a stand-up comedy show I was very disappointed. Who doesn't love Seinfeld's Cosmo Kramer? Even now when I watch reruns of the show I sometimes have a hard time enjoying his performance as much as I used to now that I know what he's really like. Okay, so he was apologetic, but that doesn't erase the fact that he yelled out the racial slur 6 times with what felt like glee.
Don't even get me started on Mel Gibson. Is there any group of people he hasn't offended? Jews, women, Mexicans, the black community, homosexuals,...if he hasn't gotten to your particular group yet, don't worry, he will.
I suppose the reason I am so hesitant to forgive the use of this word is not only because of the very hateful and disgusting connotations, but because I believe that if you use this word, even by accident, it is because it is in your mind. What do I mean by that? I never use this word, even to myself in my head. I can't even bring myself to type it in my blog because that is how much I hate that word. I don't understand how everyone doesn't feel this way. The point is that if someone like Paris, Michael, Mel, or Laura Ingram can so easily say this word it is only because they have been thinking it all along. That is what, in my opinion, makes them racist.
Are people ALLOWED to use the 'n' word? Of course. There's no law against it and we still have Freedom of Speech in this country. That's one of the caveats of this particular freedom. We have to listen to a lot of bullshit from a lot of assholes who I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire (ooh I have to remember to tweet that). The good news is that most of us are cognizant of the fact that these people are douche bags and there is never any shortage of people who are willing to stand up against racism. Luckily, our side happens to be quite vocal, so we need never fear that one of these losers will slip by our watch.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Quick word
I only have a few minutes, so I can't go into much. Had an excellent day with my boyfriend where we did discuss politics for a while and he didn't call me a Marxist. No, he called me a Fascist. Not much of an improvement, but he only did it because I handed his ass to him in a debate about Liberals and Conservatives. He still thinks he's a Liberal though. He bought a book by Ann Coulter and one by Laura Ingram today and he calls himself a Liberal. I love him, but he really needs to wake up from his delusions.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Gay Marriage
For my first official blog I want to talk about gay marriage and homosexuality in general. I just can't understand why anyone would be against gay marriage. In fact, I agree 100% with the ruling in California that banning gay marriage is unconstitutional. There is no valid LEGAL reason to ban same sex marriage. Think about it. Why do we have laws? We have laws to maintain order and to protect the people. How does same-sex marriage threaten either one of these areas? I have asked this question of my boyfriend who is a conservative in liberal clothing (he SAYS he's a liberal but he calls me a socialist and he likes Beck, Palin, Limbaugh, Coulter, et. al.) and he says that marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman. That's it. That's not a legal reason. That's an OPINION.
Where does that leave us? Oh, yes, religion. We cannot allow same-sex marriage because of religious beliefs. Okay, sports fans, I hate to break it to you, but we cannot base laws on that principal. According to the First Amendment to the Constitution there must be a seperation between church and state. Funny that so many people who are always waving the Constitution like a battle-torn flag to protect their right to be gun-toting racists tend to ignore this part of their favorite document.
Why bring religion into any of it anyway? Why should anyone have to follow laws based on Judeo-Christian principles? How is it YOUR place to tell ME how to live my life. As long as what I do doesn't hurt anyone else, what business is it of yours? Are you trying to save someone's soul? Take care of your own damn soul and let everyone else take care of their's. Besides, I don't believe that this is the motivation anyway. If it was there wouldn't be so much anger and hatred directed at people of the LGBT community. Besides, are any of these people so perfect in their own faith that they have the right to judge other people? Do they follow the 10 Commandments to the letter and if they don't should we start making laws to punish them? How many days in jail or how big a of a fine should we impose when someone texts OMG or says "Oh my God" in casual conversation? What if they decide to skip church because they want to watch the Packer game, should they then be shunned?
What is it that you're really protesting anyway? When you come right down to it, aren't you trying to legislate love?
There will probably be a part two to this, but right now everyone is tweeting me, sending me messages on facebook, and emails that I can't concentrate any more. My brain only works in 20 minute increments and then it makes a whirring noise and shuts down. Pffffffft...........clunck.
Where does that leave us? Oh, yes, religion. We cannot allow same-sex marriage because of religious beliefs. Okay, sports fans, I hate to break it to you, but we cannot base laws on that principal. According to the First Amendment to the Constitution there must be a seperation between church and state. Funny that so many people who are always waving the Constitution like a battle-torn flag to protect their right to be gun-toting racists tend to ignore this part of their favorite document.
Why bring religion into any of it anyway? Why should anyone have to follow laws based on Judeo-Christian principles? How is it YOUR place to tell ME how to live my life. As long as what I do doesn't hurt anyone else, what business is it of yours? Are you trying to save someone's soul? Take care of your own damn soul and let everyone else take care of their's. Besides, I don't believe that this is the motivation anyway. If it was there wouldn't be so much anger and hatred directed at people of the LGBT community. Besides, are any of these people so perfect in their own faith that they have the right to judge other people? Do they follow the 10 Commandments to the letter and if they don't should we start making laws to punish them? How many days in jail or how big a of a fine should we impose when someone texts OMG or says "Oh my God" in casual conversation? What if they decide to skip church because they want to watch the Packer game, should they then be shunned?
What is it that you're really protesting anyway? When you come right down to it, aren't you trying to legislate love?
There will probably be a part two to this, but right now everyone is tweeting me, sending me messages on facebook, and emails that I can't concentrate any more. My brain only works in 20 minute increments and then it makes a whirring noise and shuts down. Pffffffft...........clunck.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Blogging
Don't ask me why, but I've decided to start blogging. I made that decision because while I talk a lot of crap over on Twitter, I'm rarely serious and I'm sure all of my follows think I'm a sex-crazed idiot. Well, I am, but that's besides the point. Seriously, I really do have a working brain and a lot of opinions about life, love, politics, man's inhumanity to man, pizza toppings, and so many other important issues. If it also opens up some kind of dialogue with open-minded, intelligent people then all of this stupid typing will have been worth it.
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