Ugh

Lovebug season has died down and one can now go outside without being bombarded by hundreds of tiny black bugs having sex. However, as of tonight, termite season has begun. So, of course, the outside lights are off and the french doors have been closed with the curtains pulled shut. In case you don't live in a swarming termite area, termites love light and flock to it. And if the light source is in your home, they are more than happy to come on in. Nessa and Fiyero are busy right now attacking the few that alerted me to beginning of their annoying the citizens of NOLA. This will last a couple of weeks. Then, it will be hot. And also Hurricane Season. Oh! Life in the south!

Sweetie McHotstuff Baby Darlin'

I had no idea that he had done so earlier in his campaign, but Obama has apologized for calling someone "sweetie". All I can ask is ~ Are you fucking kidding me with this shit? I mean, get off it. Sweetie is by no means offensive! It's a term of endearment. Remember those? Remember when it was fine to use such terms before the world went berserk with political correctness? Argh! This kind of shit pisses me off. There's no need for it. People are smart enough to know when someone is being an asshole or not. The whole PC thing just belittles people's intelligence. I hate it!

I plan on calling at least 5 people sweetie tomorrow now.

10 O'Clock

I remember a moment when 10 o'clock was way beyond my bed time. I had no clue it even existed. Then, I learned about 10 o'clock and it seemed that no one could ever stay up that late. But as I got older it became something to strive to do. Sure I would get in trouble if I got caught, but at least I got to stay up past 10 o'clock.

After finally getting permission to stay up past 10 o'clock, that time was no longer valuable. 10 o'clock became just another hour. It eventually became a signal that the news would be on soon and that I would be bored. 10 o'clock was no longer that late or even something to get excited over.

In college, when every second counted, 10 o'clock was way too early to go to bed because there was so much homework left. 10 o'clock was also the warning that the day was almost done and that another day was coming. Time was running out. 10 o'clock became a dreaded time. It was that in between of too early and too late.

Years later, 10 o'clock became the perfect time to go out. It wasn't too early and it wasn't too late. The bars were not yet crowded and you knew the faces in the gathering crowd. You could hear the music and the conversation. 10 o'clock was the beginning of a long, fun night.

More recently, 10 o'clock became the time to get ready, to prep, for going to bed. It was the time to check over the house and make sure everything was in its rightful place, such as dishes in the dishwasher. 10 o'clock was the hour to gather whatever I needed for work the next day. It was the time for the final cigarette (I have since quit). I would wash my face and brush my teeth. By 11, I would be in bed either reading or watching TV or both. By 12 ~ 12:30, the light would go out and I would sleep.

Even more recently, 10 o'clock became a more looming warning that bed time had arrived as I was tired and looking forward to sleep. 9 o'clock was way to early. So was 10 o'clock for that matter. But I could get ready at 10 o'clock ~ that was okay. It's a respectable time to get ready for bed, but still too early to sleep. So what if I am struggling to stay awake. I'll sleep at 11. By 11, I am unconscious.

Last night, I gave in. I have come full circle. 10 o'clock is once again late. Although I got ready for bed at 10 o'clock, I did so quickly. Then, I read for only a few minutes before I was out.

I have decided that 10 o'clock is the hour of truth. It lets you know where you are, where you have been, and where you are going. 10 o'clock also reminds that everything goes in a circle ~ you end where you started.

Shedding Love

It's getting warm again in NOLA, which means time for shorts and tank tops. It also means shedding time for the pets. Fiyero isn't much of a shedder. I mean, he sheds, but it is manageable. I use a lint mitt on him, which he loves. Ya know, it's one of those things for getting lint and pet hair off of furniture. I just put on the mitt and pet Fi with it and he goes into such a loving state. Being the mitt is large, it's like a full body rub! It's perfect for him. If you have a cat and plan to get one, go to the drugstore and buy it there. They are available at pet stores for shedding, but for twice the price! Just because a picture of a cat goes on the label does not make it better.

This is my first summer with Nessa. She's a bit longer haired than Fiyero. She already sheds like a mad woman so I knew a solution would have to be found and soon. My landlords/housemates were visiting recently. Before they left, Abby and Joe got some treats for the cats ~ one being a grooming brush made for small dogs called the Kong Zoom Groom. I attempted to use the Zoom Groom on Fiyero and someone got very upset with me. He hates it. However, a certain little Miss Priss adores it.

Nessa loves her ZG. She could have me brush her for hours if I would. I get quickly grossed out though by the amount of hair that comes off of her after only 10 minutes. The lump is practically the size of a baseball. Nessa goes crazy with love with each brushing. I get head~butted constantly (a show of affection for her). The purring can be heard down the street I'm sure. She nibbles on the ZG when she can get to it. She loves it.

The two have just been groomed by their brushes/mitts. Now, I have no clue where they are. So much for getting the love in return.

Geek

Today I will be a geek and spend way too much time learning new shit on the computer.

Shakin' the Blues Away

Yes people, this was me in 1999 as Midnight Brown. I was performing for Miss Tracy Elaine and her 30th birthday.

Rebel Clarification

If you never have seen Rebel Without A Cause and plan to do so, I'm warning ya now that this Blog contains some plot spoilers.

It's been a couple of days since I first watched Rebel Without A Cause. As I stated somewhat erratically in my last blog, the film disturbed me in ways I didn't see coming. And the film has stayed with me since. After being able to think about it for a few days, I think I am more apt to clearly define why the movie disturbed me so.

You see, I really wanted to watch Rebel because it's a classic and hottie mchotts, James Dean, stars in it. The whole greaser look was an attraction to the movie as well. I honestly thought the plot involved the typical good girl falling for the typical bad boy. Then, to prove his love for good girl, bad boy gets involved in a drag race and perishes by flying off a cliff. Now that's teen angst.

It turns out Rebel is a lot more involved ~ way more involved. First off, the character of James Dean (James Stark) is a good boy that desperately tries, but can't seem to stay out of trouble. Natalie Woods plays a good girl on the surface who hangs out with the bad crowd. And then there's Sal Mineo who plays one helluva disturbed young man. All three characters are related by the relationship he or she has with their respective fathers.

The father of James wants a close relationship with his son but can't seem to allow himself to truly be there for his child. And James cannot respect his father until he (the father) will stand on his own as a man and stop the verbal abuse he receives from his wife. The character of Natalie Woods wants a close relationship with her distant and cold father and he continually hurts her emotionally with rejection. The parents of Sal Mineo's character are never seen. But we learn that his father is not around anyway. This makes the character desperate for parental guidance and love.

The film is really about these three persons. They are all the main characters. Their stories just happen to be going on at the same exact time and quickly intertwine. They form a friendship that becomes glued together when an car accident claims the life of a common acquaintance. All three characters feel misunderstood and confused. The death of a familiar increases the feelings of inadequacy. All three flee from their homes to find understanding that they can only get from each other. However, the result leads to another death, but also finally brings together James and his father.

The story alone got to me. I related so much to the character of James Dean. As a teenager and young adult I had many issues with my father. I felt the confusion and fear that Dean portrays through his character. At times I felt I had said the words James said many, many times. It was eerie. I was pulled in. Plus, to finally see what an amazing actor James Dean was, is reason enough to watch Rebel

As the story of the character of Natalie Woods and her father unfolded I became, well, really bothered. Now, I know this is a time difference type of thing, but still. You see, Natalie loved her father. I mean loved her father. Really loved her father. Well, not really (hopefully). But, that was how Ms Woods played it. Now, I'm sure that back then her behavior towards her daddy was perfectly natural. By today's standards ~ OH HELLS NO! I mean, the dialogue between the two implied way too much! I really felt the need to shower during their scene.

Now Sal Mineo was one helluva surprise. First, he was one fine actor. Pretty damn cute too. Being I wasn't expecting him to be a main character, the young man he played was kinda shocking to me. He is a greatly disturbed teen. The lack of a father is his life and the lack of an attentive mother has caused him severe mental anguish. He yearns for a family. He thinks nothing of life. When we first meet him we learn that he has killed six puppies with a gun. He barely shows any emotion to his deed. When he befriends James and Natalie, he clings to them emotionally and mentally. In his mind and in his fantasy world they become his parents. His desperation for real love and a real family becomes so great that he becomes a bomb just waiting to explode.

As the end credits rolled, I sat on my little sofa and stared at he screen. I couldn't get over what I had just seen. I thought I was spending a Saturday night watching a classic greaser film with a hot leading man. Instead, I just went through an emotional roller coaster with a few psychotics. I really felt like a drink after that one. I just wasn't prepared.

And I'm glad that I wasn't. I'm glad I didn't see it coming. It made the film even more intense and better than it could've been. It has already been added to my library and is definitely one of my favorites.