Oh Jeanne.....You Bitch!

What an interesting weekend to say the least. But let me preface all of this by saying that I really enjoy watching Growing Up Gotti. I know a lot of people and pundits poo-poo'ed the show, but really, it is just some silly fun to watch this little dysfunctional family. Although, if I were Mrs. G, despite how much she obviously loves her kids, I would have them lobotamized and given salt peter shots. They are out of control, but it's all so funny. Guess it must just be a cultural thing.

Sought haven yesterday at my mother's house after I woke up around 9 to no electricity and the sound of wind howling outside my window. I have been so out of it that I did not even realize that a hurricane was headed for our county. Of course, driving IN this weather was not the best thing in the world, but it was an experience I can add to a resume. It was a ghost town. Luckily, my mom had power and cable, so I did a little reading, a little channel surfing. However, at the apex of the storm I heard some rather interesting noises which turned out to be the top half of two trees snapping off and falling, one pinioning the cable wire tot he ground the other resting on the power line and the roof. I crossed my fingers that nothing would happen. Thankfully, it did not, so I called up ma boys because the boredom was getting to me. Tony and David came over, unfortunately, the cable had gone out earlier in the evening and my mom has no DVD player, so boredom was on the horizon. I made dinner while they tried to find some open store to buy at least some playing cards. I decided to start grading papers and that seemed to keep everyone entertained for hours and they came to realize the rhetorical nightmares I have to grade. We ventured out and found ONE Wal-Mart that was open, bought Scrabble, Monopoly, cards and desert and played out the rest of the evening. I won the round of Scrabble (which has never happened), David bugged out, Tony and I played Monopoly until 2 am, I won (which has never happened), he bugged out, I read until 3:30 am, then I bugged out.

Woke up this morning not having to go to school, no dance class tonight, so I headed home, met Jorge for brunch at Village Inn....stay FAAAAR AWAY from any Village Inn. Awful, just awful. The highlight of the day, and this will make not be as funny unless you were there, but some traffic lights were out and the cops blow whistles for warnings....of course, in a car with the windows up, you can't hear it. Jorge rolls down the window, the cop goes "toot-toot" and I bust out with, " Aaaaaaaah toot toot!" I had to pull over because we were both laughing so hard. I had actually turned a cop whistle into a Donna Summer disco reference.

I came home and spent about 6 hours cleaning out my closet and organizing everything. It was a monumental task and I still have two boxes of stuff to organize, but Gotti is calling to me.

This was indeed a boring diary-esque entry, but I don't care. It's all interesting and funny.

Stop the Sci-Fi Insanity

While I am a fan of such great Sci-Fi series such as Stargate-SG1, I feel that some of their original movies suck the big one. And I mean HUUUUUUGE. I just wasted two hours of my evenin watching Dark Light and I want to send a nasty letter to the execs. It has the typical sci-fi bad, schlocky, predictable writing but an interesting idea. The premise?

Her true nature concealed by a powerful spell, Lilith lives as a 24-year-old woman with no memory of her ageless past — until William Shaw of The Faith recruits her to help him stop the Demonicos, a rampaging monster that is spreading a lethal plague across the Earth and whose only vulnerability is to Lilith's unique mystical power, known as Darklight.

For those who don't know, Lilith was the first woman in creation. Despite some bible-thumping mongers, Eve was not in fact the first one. In fact, Adam and Eve were both not the first creation. If you look at the first opening pages of the Bible (any version) you can see that God did in fact have many versions before he finally got it right. So much for divine omnipotence, right? Lilith is also the first feminist because she found Adam unworthy and told him to bugger off. For that, she was cast out. Now this little biblical anecdote has NOTHING to do with the movie in which Lilith is an immortal who is turned into a human-killing demon then thousands of years later defeated with a piece of wood from the Garden of Eden, has her memory erased, then is reawakened to battle this demon. All the while....she is being controlled by men (go ahead Sara...scream). I want to run screaming into the night at this awful attempt to make a movie.

However, I feel that Sci-Fi could POSSIBLY redeem itself with the miniseries of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea. I admit I have not read her books, but find the premis fascinating and want to get the books. Apparently, she and her works are right up there with Tolkein and C.S. Lewis. The cast looks promising; however, one look at the discussion boards and bibliophiles are rabidly chomping at the bits at how badly the adaptation is and will be. Then again, many purists poo-poo'ed the LTR movies and look how amazingly well they turned out. Yeah, they played with the sotry and left stuff out and such, but considering the scope and the final product, it was an amazing adaptation. Notice the keyword "adaptation." Pretty tough to literally translate a book onto the screen. Will purile and futile bitching never cease.

Random Observations in Life on Life

I don't what is wrong with me but I have these INSANE migraines and keep sleeping all the time. I keep thinking of people who have anneurisms and are dead in like 10 seconds. You bitches had better stay away from my cd collection. I know people are drooling for some of my goodies (not MY goodies).

Teaching is advancing along just fine although I actually had to defend my grading the other day to two students who ended up with egg on their face when they blurted out that they didn't understand what I was asking for, but never did anything to be informed. It is amazing how much student laziness contributes to poor scores that always get blamed on a teacher. ASK THE QUESTIONS!

We ducked another 'cane, and there is another lurking around (good ol' Jean). So this is what a real 'cane season is like huh? It sucks. The more I research B.C. and Alberta, the more I am falling in love with it. Plus looking at all the pictures reminds me of Anne of Green Gables which I watched endlessly as a child. Who knows...

I went to Target today to get some supplies for my more-than-bare apartment and was struck by the whole experience. And I don't know why. Watching silent people push squeaky carts through red aisles filling empty spaces with the two-fors-, five-fors, three-fors, 5-by-nine, shuffling along to the beat of consumerism. Scratch that. The syncopated beat of consumer fetishims. Buying what you don't need and what you think you want, takinf advantage of the deals with the booby trap ingredients and feeling better because the green leaving means the sunny coming in. Surrealims in a red bullseye target. Heh...

I love subcultures and am friends with a wide spectrum of people. I am one of the most accepting and open people. But there are certain aspects of subcultures that push the "other" way past the marginalized due to their behaviors that are seen out of the social norm. Gay people have it hard enough in this society despite the huge leaps in acceptance and civil rights (despite some of THOSE setbacks). Stereotypes and appearance, unfortunately, play such a large part in bias and prejudice. Ignorance of the "other" is the root of so many problems. But it is worse when those stereotypes are perpetuated. For example, older gay men who fawn and prey on younger ones and find it necessary to use whatever deceptive methods to land them in bed. It is even worse when they young guys are straight. This urks me to no point and I find it rather disgusting and disturbing. It is a slap in the face to other homosexuals and to the strides being made and attempted. Keep it zipped!!!! Ugh....

WARNING: Entering High Volume of Bitchery, Part 2

In a continuing series of recent things that make me irate beyond belief:

People who are so antiquated and antideluvian in their thoughts and beliefs that they have no concept of modern society and pop culture, though they may purport to be studiers of pop culture. Why is that people seem so much more interested in puffery than honesty? If you don't know shit, then you don't know shit....move the hell on.

Students ritualistically shoot themselves in the foot because they are products of the laziest school system in the world. Granted, Northern Americans are MUCH more prepared and intelligent (as is evidenced in my UT class), but it still stands that many students coming into college are unprepared and unaware of the world around them or what constitutes as proper behavior both in the classroom and for their schoolwork. I despise apathy and laziness. I eschew the acceptance of lazy excuses. You are paying the money; don't waste a dollar or a minute of your time and cry to me because your high school failed you. Wake up. They did.....move the hell on.

I find myself intolerant of the creulty inflicted upon me when I have to listen to the bitchery and whinings of illogical and senseless things. People need to grow up and find some maturity and stop needling every little action or event. Youth truly is wasted on the young and while I don't begrudge someone their human inalienable right to bitch and moan when something shitty happens, I do want to bash someone's face in when they repetitively talk about the same issue or introduce new ones that have no bearing on any kind of realistic life. Do not miscontrue this to mean that I am not there for my friends, but sometimes enough is enough. Life is just too short....move the hell on.

I find it abominable that any self-respecting American who understands and knows the ideals upon which this country was founded would actually support and vote for Bush. These are the people who wear their morality on their sleeves and surgically attach their bibles to their hearts. There is no sense of logic, only that of faith. Sorry, 1 + 1 = 2, but the father, the son and the holy sheet-wearing ghost show no formulaic existence. When we start voting people based on ethereally metaphysical ideas or simply because we are aligned with a certain party, we malign this country and what its people fought for. Ben Franklin would surely have a coronary were he alive today. There is no justice, there is no freedom, there is no acceptance, and there sure as hell is no morality. So when it comes time to vote, if you can't make an intelligent choice...move the hell on.

And now I, who has exhausted his mental acuity, must move the hell on.

WARNING: Entering High Volume of Bitchery

Watching the UK edition of Queer Eye and am astounded that 1) they use subtitles....for English dialogue, and 2) they have little pop-up definition boxes for British colloquialisms....but the terms they define are American terms. I am mortified and not surprised that the US sees something so familiar as "the other." I am telling you what, there must be an overwhelming amount of stupid people in this country beyond what I perceived. Just makes me want to move to the UK or Canada even more. Moreso the second. I mean really....NOTHING bad happens there and it's a great country...except for Quebec. [shudder]

People lack a sense of humor when it comes to satire and sarcasm on TV. Father of the Pride I think is absolutely great. It's humorous, timely, and is a complete reversal of what we expect. I read these statements of how people find it offense and degrading and abad sign for where this country is going. I ask: How far UP your ass IS your head??? Did these people never watch Beavis and Butthead? Ren and Stimpy? Family Guy? Don't hand me a pile of shit about how it is animated and thus must appeal to kids. And don't hand me the shite (American = shit) about since it is on prime time, it needs to be family-oriented. Take some responsibility and tell your child to go to FUCKING bed. It is AMAZING how puritanical we are nowadays. We think of ourselves as so progressive and forward-thinking when we still have our heads stuck in the sands of antiquity. Not even the Puritans were this repressed despite the mistaken belief of that culture. Those people drank, partied and had sex ALL the time. We are so oppressed in this country. Freedom is a joke.

Spineless people piss me off moreso now than ever. Especially when they are adults and/or my elders. Grow a backbone, paint over the yellow and learn to be honest with people. It enrages me when people just cannot fess up and admit things in an effort to play it safe. This is what fosters distrust and why, once agin, we have so many problems in this country. Come on now, we have more hate groups now than we ever did. Sure...we are all so open and honest with each other.

If I keep going this will never end and I need to calm down...part 2 forthcoming.

Stark Realities

I decided to brave going outside and down the street to Publix and was greeted by a flooded parking lot, trees that had thrown up everywhere (phrase courtesy of the Elf) and my car buried in branches. Took the long way out and saw TONS of branches down. No power lines down. People driving around. And then I got to Publix and I was reminded of being back home during the invasion.

The grocery store was hot from no A/C. No baked goods AT ALL. Several shelves emptied of inventory. Refrigerated goods flying off the shelf due to no refrigeration. And all of a sudden I remember the first and only trip we took to the Safeway down the street from our house back home during the invasion. I can remember a hoard of people surrounding the entrance trying to get food and my mother trying to vie for some. I remember seeing one of the guidance counselors from the school and the abject fear in her face as people were pushing and screaming for even a basic loaf of bread. I can still feel the heat and smell the bodies crammed together and the food wafting from the doors. And then I snapped back to reality and thought about what it must be like for people in the middle east now during the war and how this all must pale in comparison to what they must be going through. I only tasted a fraction of it back home, having left before it got REALLY bad. We take for granted so many things here, even when there is a disaster, but honestly, it fares much worse for people overseas. Anyway....

Well Then...

That was an interesting little sputtering storm. We have had thunderstorms with more impact and pomp than Frances. What a dump...

VMAs, Or Vomiting My Ass Off

Why is EVERYONE TORE THE FUCK UP at the VMAs???? EVERYONE looks like craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!!!

And the performances are god awful. Oh my god. It is just too painful.

You HAVE to Be Kidding Me Right?

Ok, this is how busy I have been with school....there is another hurricane coming???? Found this out last night from Tony and watching Bay News 9 right now where good ol' Jeb is holding a conference and yucking it up. Gee guys, way to make it a serious situation. Laurie, batten down those hatches and prep the Madden.

Tongue is healing.....thank god.

I LOVE my UT students....again....they have totally charmed me and impressed me. Maybe it's because they are all out of town. Just proves that Northern students....much better prepared and likeable.

Had My Favoriet Year auditions last night. My song was intresting because the accompaniment went haywire as I expected it to, but I just kept counting and went with it. It was fun, mostly because I just didn't care. I went into it knowing I wasn't going to get a part cause of my schedule so there was no pressure at all.

Republicans are stoopid

And I have a day off....WOOO!!!

One More Disgusting Item

If bodily injury grosses you out, do not read this....

I was eating dinner last night and SOMEHOW my tongue got in the way and I bit it....HARD....and I just figured it is like everytime you bite your tongue. But it felt weirder. So I check it out in the bathroom. Yeah...I practically pierced my tongue with my teeth. There was a gash I could open and close, but no blood coming out. I had visions of infection and tongue amputations running through my head and having to speak like Nell for the rest of my life. It was not pleasant. I think it has closed up today, but it hurts like hell and I am speaking like Forrest Gump. Good times folks.

Anyone up for a Barb-B this weekend?

Why RNC Speakers Suck

I am mortified by some of the platforms and speech anchors being taken at the RNC and every time I listen to the news or turn on the TV I am disgusted by everything Republican.

First of all, for Bush to use 9-11 as some of kind of spring board for his campaign is completely undignified and pathetic. To use that event as an excuse to be re-elected when it is completely obvious how pointless his Irag war is sad, sad, sad. This is our Vietnam. A war fought for pointless reasons masquerading as threats. There was no reason for that and there is no reason for this. The fact that he has no concrete base to stand on aside from pulling at the emotional strings of US citizens is just another reason to vote for Kerry. Aside from all the obvious things.

Giulliani who LIVES in and REPRESENTS NY, a highly democratic state, has the nerve to stand up there and side with Republicans. Not only that, but he has some brass balls to criticize the theatre community (making a derisive comment about 42nd Street). Despite all his noble actions during 9-11, the man has shown himself to be a spineless scum right now. Sooooo not a fan of him.

Shwarzenegger, and I am sure I spelled it wrong, needs to check himself. To try and convince foreigners that Republicans and republicanism works for them and will help them succeed in this country is ODD. Republicans are so completely everything that is foreign in this country, wishing to ethnically cleanse the melting pot (or rather, tossed salad). He made it in this country because he was a movie star....it had NOTHING to do with Republicans. Foreigners are scrutinized and under daily attack from policies and sanctions that are created and supported by Republicans. They don't give two shits about the "foreign presence" in their country. Come on now, they are trying to eradicate indigenous presences in other countries in favor of their own.

This is ricockulous.