DOWN with Consumer Fetishism....and Other Post-Thanksgiving Sundries

I almost forgot what today was. And because I am too tired to write somethign intelligent, I shall copy and paste:

Buy Nothing Day also exposes the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism. The developed countries - only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth's natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and unfair distribution of wealth.


As consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies who produce them. What are the true risks to the environment and developing countries? The argument is infinite - while it continues we should be looking for simple solutions - Buy Nothing Day is a good place to start.

Thanksgiving was fun yesterday. I am STILL stuffed and have no room to eat any more food. And I have YET to go to the bathroom; my body is hanging onto the food for dear life. Thanksgiving at Sara's was fun...barring the cooking of the turkey which was hiarious, yet delicious. She didn;t know to thaw it out, the oven was on 325, and the oven was being psychotic. We ended up blasting it to 500, then broling it, then cutting it, then nuking it. All in all, it was a good dinner....and traditional, thank god. I alsmot met her dad who is way too cool. Seems like a hoot to be around.

Then I ventured to the frivolity and hilarity of my cousin's house. I was shocked to see how all my second cousins have grown up so much and how my older relatives have aged so much. It always craks me up that the only part of Thanksgiving food they get right is the turkey. The stuffing usually consists of a rice based dish with raisins, chestnuts, cranberries and other such sundries.....Martha Stewart would be proud. Everythign else pretty much revolves around the different cultures that make up my extended family....which would be Armenian and Greek. Don't get me wrong, it;s not bad food. It just makes me chuckle. I got ot make the gravy again this year which is always a fun thing to do. I chatted with my cousins and their children, convince my second cousin to come to my dance studio, and hopefully secured myself a good job so I can stop working three and just do one. All in all it was fun. I enjoyed myself. And now back to the grind.

Thanksgiving, Part 1

After two dinners, a four hour night-nap, no bathroom relief, and no tiredness:

Ain't I a ball of fucking sunshine? I'll update more tomorrow....but I had a fun-filled long day. It was nice seeing the whole family again and meeting Sara's dad.

Just When You Thought You Couldn;t Get Closer

Oh yeah....I won;t go into details and names, but let me just put it this way. I think I have covered almost every aspect of being close with this person after tonight. I have only one thing to say: Put the hummanahuh in the whatchathing and pull yer shemshemshema up the bliblibli. Ya know? It's also funny to know that some things can still get me tongue-tied and confuzzled. "Fadi, just fix it for me." We have reached a new level.....and I am both ecstatic....and frightened. Camel toe all the way.

PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.47

1. Have you ever made a wish that came true?

Yes. Although I tend not to wish too much, I prefer to work for whatever it is I want. But sometimes a little extra help for the fate and karma fairies never hurts.

2. How about any wishes that you are happy never came true?

Oh god yes. Wishing that I woudl get a job that turned out to be some bad scam.

3. Do you like who you are? Are you the person you hoped you would become?

That's a relative question since I am always looking to improve and never satisified with who I am and what I do. For themost part, I kind of life who I am. I am the kind of person I hope I would become: independant, creative, trusthworty, respected, honest, and FREE. There are things I want to be different. But I am only 25 and I continue to grow and learn everyday.

4. I recently found some job applications that I never turned in. Back in 1986 I intended to apply at "County Seat" and "Chess King" but got an offer from Penny's (where I worked all through college). It was a good thing, since only one of the three is still around. Have you ever applied for positions, or had any interviews, where you later are glad you never got the job?

Some whack job temp agency for an insuranc company. I would have been bored out of my mind.

5. While on the topic of career opportunities, what was your very first "real" job? What job was the most embarrassing?

A busb oy for a 5-star restaurant. I will NEVER do that again. Dressing up in a gorilla suit while my girlfriend at the time drove me around from house to house to deliver birthday invitations for this obnoxiously rich family.

6. Speaking of news, have you had your 15 minutes of fame yet? Such as being in the newspaper, on television, linked on a high-profile site or otherwise caught in the spotlight of the media?

No. I have appeared in newspapers several times in the last 7 years for plays and such and recently made the front page for my green card (altho almost all the information was erroneous. But no 15 minutes yet.

7. In the USA, many of us will celebrate Thanksgiving this week. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving (or something like it)? Do you enjoy getting together will your extended family for these types of celebrations?

Yeah, altho the food has that mediterranean twist. LOL....this year I am not sure WHO I am going to be with.

BONUS: Where is the tenderness?

In a smile and a laugh.

And then there is this:

I'm a White Russian, discover your ALcoHoLiC personality!

I'M 41.5% X-rated. HOW HORNY ARE YOU?

Should this come as ANY surprise? I am surprised it was THAT high.

Turkeys and Dancers

Well, this has been an interesting and exhausting week so far, and I am not sure if I have even done anything to warrant being so tired. Things are going amazingly well with the dance class, altho I am getting some serious daggers from one of the teachers and two of the parents. It is amazing to me that adults can act so childish sometimes and over the stupidest things. The one dance teacher refuses to look at me, talk to me, and yesterday flung my bag at me when I asked nicely and would not even respond to my thank you. From what I understand she is my "nemesis" because she was to have taken over the jazz class and when she taught it no one showed up and didn;t like it, and since I have shown up pretty much everyone has been there and loves the class. I thought Mark was kidding when he said people were threatened by me, but it all seems so pointless. The one bitchy mother needs to just take a chill pill because she an unwarranted nastiness for everything. I have noticed that the studio is highly political because the parents are always there and watching over like a bunch of harpies. I guess I should not be surprised since it is just microcosmic of how the industry works. Nevertheless, when it comes time for my stuff, I ain't playing that shit. I will whomever I think is the best. Simple as that.

The great part is that Mark asked me to stay and watch and help and talk to him about what I see. He let me re-choreograph a section of the show (my first ballet work...altho it is tap) and has me working with Nate on some ofhis sections. I guess last year Nate pretty much stood around and was thrust on the stage with no direction or clear movements. I simply refuse to have that happen this year. I am doing the best I can in helping him with movements for this show, and although I know enough about ballet to help, I can't help feeling that my lack of clear proficiency makes me the wrong person for him to be coming too. Guess it's all a part of the confidence thing. I'm sure it would be better if i got off my lazy ass and showed him the moves full out instead of half-assing them. In any event, he has come a long way and seeing him do the finale correctly with all the moves and counts truly made me a proud teacher. There is a lot to be said in the dissemination and learning of knowledge in any shape or form. While it may be frustrating sometimes and while je may get pissed off at me, I hope he understands it is all for a greater purpose.

I find myself simply falling in love with those girls and their infectious energy. I love being there every night and watching them and laughing with them. They are a true inspiration and get my creative juices flowing every single time I see them. It truly is an amazing experience and I am thankful I was asked to be a part of it.

And speaking of thanks, my mother and I are in a wee bit of a riff over what to do for Thanksgiving. This year it is split up again between my larger family traditional gathering, and my brother and his wife's family gathering. I won't go into the details since I know the prying eyes just LOVE using this blog for inane fodder, but we are st a standstill over who is going where with neither understanding the logic of the other. Of course, I do have another option....go with Sara and spend Thanksgiving with her, which would be great. We had an awesome 2-person Thanksgiving one year and I could definitely go for that again.

Sigh....some things can be so trivial...

PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.46

1. When I was a teenager, I used to ride all the "spin-y" rides at the fair and fun parks. I'd never get dizzy or sick, and I could ride them all day. My favorite was the Tilt-A-Whirl. Now I should call it the "Tilt-A-Hurl" because it seems I can't even get on a Merry-Go-Round without feeling queasy. Is there anything you used to be able to do physically that you no longer can? What changed?

Hm. Not that I can think of. Pretty much everything I used to do I still do or could do.

2. If you could go to lunch with someone famous, anyone living or dead, who would you choose? What questions would you ask them?

Well Bob Fosse, of course. I would ask him about his life and his career and his inspirations. THen I would ask to do one of his signature pieces with him.

3. On that same thought, there are probably several Bloggers you enjoy reading but have never met in real life. Which one Blogger would you most like to meet for dinner? Why did you pick that person? What would you talk about? What do you have in common? What would you do after dinner?

Ernie Hsuing of Little Yellow Different because the man cracks me up and I think we would have a ball talking to each other. He seems like a real trip.

4. Money (or the lack thereof) is the number one cause of arguments amongst couples. Do you find this to be true? If there really was a "Money Tree" you could go an pick, would this really solve a couple's problems?

I would not know and hell yes I would. When opportunity knocks you run to the door naked, open it, and give it a big old hug.

5. Speaking of arguments, have you ever been drawn into any nasty, hateful arguments? The kind where hurtful things were said that had nothing to do with the fight at hand? What was that all about? How did it turn out?

Yes. I seem to always be drawn into other people;s messes. Usually to help resolve them, but often my participation opens the doors to all kinds of shit thrown in my direction. The best example is with a former director I worked with for a long time. She was replaced as the director for a summer musical program for which she got me the job as choreographer. When they let he go she basically forced me to drop out as a show of support for her. When I refused I was drawn into a nasty muddy campaign where I was dragged through the mud simply because I was doing my professional duty and not making it personal. But to that I say a hearty....whatever....crack ass.

6. When was the last time you had to admit you were wrong about something? How did that go?

Almost often never :) I try not to speak or act unless I KNOW I am right. But when I am wrong I have no problem admitting it as long as the person knows I am not going down without a fight.

7. Now for a slight change of theme....what song should never have been written?

"Who Let the Dogs Out?" What a stupid ass song.

BONUS: Are you ready for a new sensation?

Sure. As long as it does not involve needles or peeing in a bottle.

i can;t figure out why my blog is looking all wonky....or is it just me? someone clue me in

"My own belief is that one regards oneself, if one is a serious writer, as an instrument for experiencing. Life--all of it--flows through this instrument and is distilled through it into works of art. How one lives as a private person is intimately bound into the work. And at some point, I believe one has to stop holding back for fear of alienating some imaginary reader or real relative or friend, and come out with personal truth. If we are to understand the human condition, and if we are to accept ourselves in all the complexity, self-doubt, extravagance of feeling, guilt, joy, the slow freeing of the self to its full capacity for action and creation, both as human being and artist, we have to know all we can about one another, and we have to be willing to go naked." — May Sarton, from Journal of Solitude

Memory Lane
After about 2 months of playing phone tag, my childhood best friend and I finally got to talk to each other last night. It was very cool, the more we speak the more we reconnect with each other again. It was very tough after the war and being seperated. But last night was very cool, we took a HUGE trip down memory lane and reminisced about our friends and teacher and crazy things we did as kids. It was a lot of fun. We even seriously talked about moving to NY together because I found out that she really wants to be there, and I would prefer to move with someone, so it seems opportune. We'll see. Right now I am trying to nurse myself back to health from being sick. I managed to stay healthy for a year and a half, guess it was time to get ill again. Also need to rest up my body after 3 days of dancing my ass off -- 2 days of private lessons for the Elf, and one day of my class. I am having a lot of fun doing both. I get a kick out of seeing how far and quickly Nate progresses -- at least in terms of his agility and flexibility. It inspires me to get off my duff and do the same thing since I always talk about it; if nothing else but for me. I just need to get my flexibility up even more. And the class is just ah oot, those girls crack me up and I love the feeling of working with trained dancers. It is a very different experience. Unfortunately, I have the next 2 weeks off because they are rehearsing for Nut-Crack-Ho. So I will miss it, but I have enough work to keep me busy.

This-or-That

1. Hershey's Kisses: with or without almonds?

WITH almonds. I LOVE almonds, thanks to eating the imported chocolate my mom used to get when I was little. I fondly remember Cadbury chocolate with almonds or hazelnuts. Oy yeah.

2. Wizard of Oz: Scarecrow or Tin Man?

Neither? Never seen the movie.

3. Meat eater or vegetarian?

If by meat you mean red meat, then vegetarian all the way. I would be fine living on vegetable sand fruits for the rest of my life.

4. Buy books or borrow them?

Borrowm them. I only buy books if I REALLY like them or they are specialty books like for research or cooking.

5. At the bank: ATM or human teller?

ATM. Quicker and more friendly.

6. Oil or gas (or other) heat?

SUNLIGHT. NOthing beats natural heat.

7. Pen or pencil?

Pen. I can't stand pencils. They give me the shivers....unless it;s a mechanical pencil.

8. Drive or use public transit?

Drive. Having endured a 24-hour bus ride to Denver from Houston I know now I NEVER want to be on a public bus again. Oh Hell no!

9. Who IS James Bond: Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan (or any of the others in between)?

Ssean Connery.

10. Your ideal breakfast: full (bacon/sausage, eggs, pancakes, etc) or continental (bagels, muffins, fruit, cereal)?


Full. I loves me bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Hmmm...Sara, I feel the need for pancakes!

Hiatus

My self-imposed hiatus and exile is over, and, yes, do not ask. Been going through some things and re-evaluating some stuff. Getting back on the horse slowly but surely. Seems odd to have a blog so closely connected, but they are, and mine is.

So let the fun ensue again, let the bitching and rants come back out again.

And not sure how to say this nicely, but there are two people connected to me who read this blog, whom I prefer no longer read it. I can;t physically stop you, but I would prefer you keep out of my life, including this aspect....since you seem to apt to judge me and decide what I am based on this without even asking or being able to add 1 + 1. Please take this the nice way: Fuck Off.

Everyone else, thanks for the support and for being there. You know who you are.

PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.45

1. Although I was told before hand by my mother, my Grandfather finally told me he has cancer and it was speculated he has about 12 months to live. Has someone you know ever told you they had a terminal illness? What was it like for you when you found out. How did that change your relationship with them?

Yeah, my friend Ricki died of AIDS. It was very hard for me because he the first person I had know with the disease. He was huge influence in my life in terms of theatre and saved me at a time when I wanted to abandon the whole thing. He passed away on the day I was supposed to go see him at the hospital. I found out the day before and it crushed me. I felt so guilty.

2. The concept of having 12 months comes as somewhat of a shock. Often those estimates are wrong and a person lives much longer. But still, it makes me think. If you found out you had 12 months to live, what would you do with that time? How would it change the way you live? Or would it?

Wow. I woudl probably change nothing. Why do in 12 months what I normally would not do in that year. It would make everything seem so meaningless. The one thing I woudl do is spend as much time with my loved ones as I possibly could and dance and sing every single day of that year.

3. My Grandfather has decided to undergo chemotherapy. He was told it would not cure him, but it could prolong his life, however his quality of life could diminish. Having watched my father go through all that to no avail, I am not so sure I would choose that option. If you were (or are) in a situation where chemotherapy might cure you, or might not, would endure the usual side effects and discomfort?

Nope. Never would. Woudl want to just slip away peacefully.

4. How is your health? How are you doing?
Sick right now. A little lachrimose. But otherwise ok I guess.

5. Speaking of health, I was in a Health Food Store Saturday and learned about something called "Ear Candling." It
involves having a helper insert a cone-shaped candle in your ear, lighting it and having the reverse pressure suck the wax out of your ear. Apparently it is very popular. Do you use, or have you ever tried, any alternative heath remedies or procedures? How did that work out? Anything out there we should try (or avoid)?

I have heard of that too; always wanted to try it. I usually stay away from meds, except for aspirin. I do the tea/herb route. I remember my grandmothers used to perform this old worl treatment on my dad when he wasn;t feeling well, to "draw the bad spirits out." She would wrap cotton around the end of a wooden spoon, dip the end in rubbing alcohol, light it, then she would swipe the lit end into several glasses and suctiont hem to his back and let them rest. The pop them off.

6. Which reminds me, this week at work they are giving flu shots for $15. I hate getting shots, so getting one by choice, and paying for it, is tough for me. How do you feel about Flu shots. Do they give them where you live? Are you going to get one or take your chances?

Flu shots are pointless. They inject you WITH the flu virus. Hell no I am getting one. I cannot STAND needles (the hospital iv/shot kind)

7. I'd like to see either "Spirited Away" or "Bowling for Columbine" before they vanish from the multiplex at the mall. But I will probably have to go see it alone (which I hate). Do you like to go to see flicks at the movie theater alone? Or would you rather have company? Seen any good (or bad) movies lately?

Sometims I do like going by myself, but I like going with others so I can sit and talk abotu the movie after. My favorite part is analyzing the movies and discussing the theme and the "meanings."

BONUS: Don't you want somebody to love?

Yup. And I do.