Letting it expire September 29, 2008

It’s been so long since I’ve written on this blog. A lot of things have happened lately that have caused the breakdown in blog-writing. Funerals and weddings are crazy times, and neither one very condusive for the energy required to sit down and write about what I’m feeling. Both left me emotionally and physically drained, and even now I’m still finding it’s hard sometimes to fully recover.

Being that I am now newly-married and starting a new chapter in my life, I think it’s only fitting that I start a new blog. I will be sitting down and giving some thought as to what this new blog should be named, and then I will post the link to the new one on here for anyone who might be interested. I’ll try to be a bit more frequent on the other one, but as always, I cannot promise anything.

Cheney’s glasses April 11, 2008

Okay, so I’m the first to admit I’m not Dick Cheney’s biggest fan. However, the latest “controversy” going around the web is a load of crap. First, who actually studies reflections in glasses? I understand he’s a public figure, but geez. The fact that this was headline news is ridiculous!

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, please take a look at this picture: http://www.whitehouse.gov/vicepresident/photoessays/outdoors/06.html. It is Cheney on a recent fishing trip, and he’s looking very happy. However, there is controversy about the image in his glasses (if you click on the picture, it will zoom in). Many people are convinced that this is a naked person in a tree.

Okay, I know he’s not exactly the most “politically correct” politician. I mean, let’s not forget the quail hunting trip. But seriously.. a naked person in a tree? Mmhmm.. it looks a heck of a lot like his HAND holding a FISHING ROD to me. I could maybe see where everyone is saying, “I see butt cheeks!” But in the end, no. It’s knuckles. Sorry to disappoint everyone looking for a crazy scandal. An old man with too much money went fishing, with the only naked ones present being the fish.

The Dog and I April 5, 2008

I’ve lost over two pounds in the last week, a feat for me that is somewhat impressive overall. I’m a little scared it’s nothing but water weight, but hey. A pound is a pound and I’m sure not going to complain about it.

I’ve been trying to exercise more too–okay, so Nintendo Wii Sports isn’t exactly high-intensity, but it’s me moving and not sitting my butt on the couch! Besides, anyone who has tried doing baseball on there understands that you can get your arms a decent little workout after 15 or 20 minutes of that. Either that or I’m so weak that it feels like it.. not sure which. Either way though, I’m being modest. I’ve actually been more proactive about taking the dog out on regular walks, and this morning I even got up and rollerbladed for 20 minutes. Unfortunately, my rollerblades are insanely old and about a half-size too small, which for a normal person wouldn’t be a huge issue. But for a person with a permanently slightly swollen left calf due to a little horseback riding incident nine years ago, a half-size too small pair of rollerblades is like trying to squeeze into those jeans you wore in high school while convincing yourself that they still look just as good now as they did then (and for all you skinny bitches, hush! I don’t want to hear it!). In other words: On a good day I can manage to do it, but it’s not exactly comfortable. After those 20 minutes were up, I was in complete agony. Thank you, Barney the horse, for giving me a lifetime of pain and irritations.

Speaking of the bum leg, yesterday I had to sit in the doctor’s office for about an hour, and then the hospital for another two to get the leg looked and and x-rays taken. I will admit, despite how much this utterly sucked, I’m really looking forward to going back to the doctor on Monday to see the x-rays. I haven’t seen what my bone looks like in years, so this should be fun! Or at least, it will be fun until they tell me that in order to live a semi-normal life, they’re going to need to rebreak my leg and set it properly. Cringe.

Bored yet of my medical crap? Thought so. Blackie and I are by ourselves this weekend because Jake went to a fishing tournament with his best friend. It’s been really, really boring around here. However, the dog and I have been passing the time by doing fun things like watching chick flicks that Jake would never watch, instead possibly preferring to cut out his own eyes (but personally, I thought Enchanted was cute!). I might not be giving him enough credit though–to my absolute delight, he actually enjoys some good chick flicks. Not all, but some. And I can’t ask for more than that!

Aside from the chick flicks, Blackie and I are just relaxing and not doing a whole lot. We’ll be going on a walk later, and tomorrow he starts class. That’s right, my dog is going to school! He’s going to learn how to become a Canine Good Citizen and a Therapy Dog. I’m very excited about that. I think he’ll do great.

Anyway, let’s hope the boys come home from the fishing tournament victorious. It’d be a wonderful thing to be able to book our honeymoon and pay for it in cash.

Trying to find some peace December 4, 2007

You know, every year I look forward to the holidays. There’s something about this time of year that feels magical to me: eating tons of fabulous food and not feeling at all guilty about it, shopping for the perfect presents, having an excuse to get gaudy with little colored lights, and celebrating traditions with family and friends. I’ve always been a fan of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it seems this year it’s been tough getting it kicked off properly.

 Even though I know I need to be thankful for my blessings, I have to admit I feel a little bit cheated. This is my first holiday season with Jake, and considering his record of crappy Christmases, I’m trying to give him the best he’s ever had. I think I’m doing okay so far because I can tell how happy he is. I’m so happy with him as well, and when we’re together it’s an amazing feeling. Unfortunately there are so many other things that are making this difficult.

 The day before Thanksgiving a man named Ray died of a brain aneurysm while on the road between LA and Vegas. I neve knew him personally–he worked at the radio station, and moved to LA very shortly before I went to work at the station. Nevertheless, I had spoken to him on the phone once briefly, and he was more or less a legend up there. He was 49.

The day after Thanksgiving was another blow. Martha, a woman who had been coming up to The Jack and Ron Show for years, finally lost her fight with cancer. She’s battled acute leukemia for two years, and I know the end was rough. She too was 49-years-old, and left behind a husband and son. I went to the funeral, which was devastating. Martha was an incredible person who undoubtedly left a huge mark on humanity. She will be missed, and the saying “Only the good die young” was created just for her I think.

A day or so after that, the brother of a woman who does some screening coverage for myself and the other movie whores was shot to death. Based on the way the situation played out, there’s little doubt that this was not a random crime. My heart and prayers go out to Rocky and her family because I cannot imagine to lose someone so close and in such an awful way.

 That leads us up to today. I’m in Arizona visiting my grandparents (the explanation of this whole mess will follow), and Michelle called me on their home phone. This raises some alarms as she would only call me here if something of huge importance (or a massive problem) happened. Of course, some of it was work-related, but the other part of it was that Mark, a man I had worked with at the radio station, put a gun to his head this morning. I was stunned to say the least, and this has really bothered me quite a bit. While I never considered Mark to be the nicest man on the planet by any stretch of the imagination, I did have a good working relationship with him, which is more than a lot of people could say. I treated him with kindness, and even though it took a while, he eventually returned the favor with me. I appreciated that, and in many ways I’d like to think that he did too. To hear that he had chosen to die rather than suffer through a Monday morning was shocking, and I wish there could have been a way to prevent this.  It saddens me so much to know that a life was wasted today.

While these deaths are troubling, the other problem with the holidays this year is that cancer has taken a lot of joy from my family. My Boppa is still battling, and I admire him deeply for managing to stay strong through this ordeal he’s been put through. However, it breaks my heart at the same time. He’s always been such a strong person in my life (both mentally and physically), and to see him struggling to even stand up, let alone walk, is one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced. I know the rest of the family feels the same way. It’s amazing the things I’ve always taken for granted, such as my grandpa being able to walk into a room. We went to a restaurant today, and one year ago I wouldn’t have thought anything of walking through the door with my grandparents. Today, I was wishing we had that simple thing back–not because I mind helping (I love helping), but because if we were able to waltz in there, then I would know that my Boppa wasn’t in the pain he’s in now.

I guess I should probably wrap this up. I needed to get some of that off my chest. It’s funny how things in the present make you remember small, once insignificant things in the past. I remember the last time I saw Martha. I ran into her by the milk in the back of Wal-Mart. It had been lovely to see her, and I’ll cherish that three minutes of my life that happened probably a year ago. The last time I saw Mark was just a few weeks ago outside the radio station. We didn’t say much aside from the usual pleasantries, but I remember him smiling. Even if it was just out of politeness, that’s something I’ll remember too.

 My apologies if I’m all over the place with this blog–I just needed to get this off my chest. Despite this all, I’m still going to work hard to give Jake the best Christmas he’s had. It’s the first of many, and I can’t wait to see where it all leads.

The plight of the cupcake September 26, 2007

This past Sunday in the New York Times, writer Sarah Kershaw wrote an article about the great cupcake debate. You’re welcome to read the article here, or I can sumarize it for you below, and follow up with my opinion on this matter.

 Basically, the United States is at war. We’re at war with cupcakes, along with the high calories, high sugar and fat contents, and low nutritional values they bring to the table. Remember in elementary school your mom baked cupcakes for you to take to school to share with your classmates on your birthday? Those days are quickly becoming a relic of the 1980s and 1990s because parents have a pressing concern (as they well should!) with childhood obesity.  PTAs are quickly jumping on the bandwagon of forbidding entry of cupcakes (along with other sweets) into their schools.

But before you break out the veggie tray in the classroom, there are some people who oppose this terrorism of the cupcake. What are a few empty calories if you get to enjoy this delectable treat that brings a note of happiness with each bite, along with fond memories of baking with mom? And then comes the biggest argument: It’s just a cupcake. Big deal.

 Do I feel that childhood obesity is (literally and figuratively) a growing problem? Absolutely. But in this instance, I’m going to have to side with the cupcakes. First off, what mother wants to make enough cupcakes that each student in her child’s classroom gets two or more sweets? I mean, really, the Mom, Version U.B.C. (Ultimate Betty Crocker) is disappearing faster than cookies at a fat camp. Americans are becoming increasingly lazy. And I really can’t imagine that one silly little piece of cake with a dollop of frosting is going to make or break a child’s fight against the fat.

 However, it’s when that kid gets home and absolutely gorges on ice cream and chicken nuggets that the whole obesity thing comes into play. Parents who are complaining that cupcakes in the classroom makes your kids fat: stop buying frozen pizza rolls for dinner and actually try cooking for once! You’d be amazed what a little elbow grease and a stove and/or oven can do. And stop buying your kids every damn video game that comes out, and instead teach them the beauty in low-tech games such as Kick the Can, Hide and Go Seek, Duck Duck Goose, Tag, Kickball, or any other mainly-outside game that involves them actually moving extremities other than their thumbs and forefingers on a video game controller. Teach your kids how to ride a bike (helmets, please!), take them to the park for some good old-fashioned monkey bar swinging, or teach them how to throw and catch a baseball. Oh, and on that bike comment I just made? Powerwheels don’t count. If the kid ain’t Flinstoning it, it ain’t real exercise.

 So before all you Yuppies of America launch this attack on the good old American tradition known as the cupcake, take a good hard look at your life. I don’t want to hear you bitching and blaming someone else for making your kid obese.

 GO CUPCAKES!!!!!

 (oh, and an afterthought that is both completely related and simultaneously not at all related.. don’t make cupcakes using ice cream cones. As good an idea it sounded, and as good as it tasted fresh out of the oven, the mushy, moist goodness of the cake made mushy, moist cake cones within a matter of hours. This just did not appeal to me.)

My Week In A Nutshell September 7, 2007

Need-to-know information:
I work as a film promoter. This means I set advance screenings of movies, send out free movie passes, get ads put in newspapers, on TV, on radio, etc. to give away passes to these screenings. I also send out passes to local businesses. I have the world’s coolest and bestest supervisor, and a great co-worker as well who can get the job done well.

Now.. my lovely, wonderful week. Thanks, work.

1. Monday: (evening) Forget to plug in cell phone.
2. Tuesday: (morning) Realize the cell phone mistake. Shrug it off.
3. Tuesday: (late afternoon) Call theatre about screening tonight. Stoner kid says the movie is there and being set up.
4. Tuesday: (leaving work) Cell phone dies. Take it home, plug it in.
5. Tuesday: (evening) Phone, unbeknownst to Katie, decides not to ring. Too tired from low battery all day.
6. Tuesday: (evening) Same time, people frantically trying to call. Theatre does NOT have movie. Kid lied.
7. Tuesday: (evening) Phone finally rings. Katie freaks.
8. Tuesday: (evening) Situation finally taken care of after an hour and a half on the phone with various people.
9. Wednesday: (morning) Mentally exhausted, can hardly get out of bed.
10. Wednesday: (afternoon) Clients keep hounding.. can’t get away! Aaaaahh!
11. Thursday: (morning) Co-worker has to go to press screening. His car won’t start.
12. Thursday: (morning) Supervisor jumps co-worker’s car. He leaves.
13. Thursday: (late morning) Dial into co-worker’s conference call. Half hour later, finally hang up because it never happened!
14. Thursday: (afternoon) Co-worker’s second conference call missed because he’s still at screening. Katie’s at lunch. Oops.
15. Thursday: (afternoon) Take my own conference call.. 20 minutes late because of technical difficulties.
16. Thursday: (afternoon) Co-worker calls. “Can you come pick me up at the mall? I’m stuck.” Leave to get co-worker.
17. Thursday: (afternoon) On the way back to office, get flipped off by some little kid in the back of a schoolbus.
18. Thursday: (afternoon) Something else catastrophic involving a lot of work in a couple weeks. Uh oh!
19. Thursday: (early evening) Drive co-worker back to mall. Go into Sears, help him buy ratchet set.
20. Thursday: (early evening) Help co-worker change a car battery. Takes over an hour.
>>non work related: burn chicken, almost set home on fire. Definitely smoke boyfriend out of home for 20 minutes. Oops.<<
21. Friday: (morning) I don’t want to go into it.
22. Friday: (morning) Still can’t find people to help out with promotional stunt on Saturday. Rawr.
23. Friday: (afternoon) Realize an ad with incorrect information ran. Everyone hears about it! EVERYONE!
24. Friday: (afternoon) Open box, finding World’s Worst Promo Item Ever. Seriously, who wants a car air freshener that smells like dirty jock strap?
25. Friday: (evening) Leaves the office, knowing that work will be invading Friday evening and Saturday morning. Ugh.

A few other mishaps fell into there somewhere, but man. What a stinking week.

A special thanks to you.. September 7, 2007

To everyone who has read the first two entries of this blog (mainly the second): Thank you! I am so grateful to know there are people like you all (or y’all as we say in these here parts) who care so deeply about my family and what Boppa has been going through. From talking to other members of the family and hearing from them, I know that it is the prayers and encouragement that keep us all afloat. We couldn’t do it without you! I feel so blessed to know that there are people out there who care about what others have to go through, and I thank God that He has given our family friends such as yourselves.

So here’s to you!

The tale of Gingerfeathers September 4, 2007

Hi friends, and welcome to my humble first attempt at an official (i.e. non-Livejournal or MySpace) blog. I’d like to first extend a hearty “thank you” to Ron, who was instrumental in helping me figure this out, and ultimately, making it work out. Ron, you’re the best, and I owe you one.

 As the first post, I thought I would delve a little bit into the history of the name “Gingerfeathers,” since I’m sure a lot of people see the name and go, “What the [insert expletive of choice] is that name?” In fact, it’s a name I’ve used for various log-ins online, but there’s a little bit more to it than that. Obviously.. right?

So here’s the deal. A whopping estimated 95% or more of you have not seen or heard of the movie Top Hat, made in 1935 and starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Aha.. Ginger! There’s the first half of this not-so-tantalizing mystery. For those who know me or have read up on various (MySpace, Facebook) websites, I love the Fred and Ginger movies. While most people in our society cannot stomach the thought of black and white film, let alone black and white musicals made in the 1930s (hush your gag reflex.. I hear it!), I adore them. At least these ones. There’s something so wonderful about a simple plot that would make any filmmaker in today’s world laugh out loud at the thought of putting such absurdities on film. And who can not appreciate the dancing? It’s simply phenomenal. Gene Kelly was correct in his quote: “If Fred Astaire is the Cary Grant of Dance, I’m the Marlon Brando.” Okay, so Fred Astaire wasn’t quite the hottie Mr. Kelly was, but his tap shoes made up for any lack of sex appeal he might have had. On film, you can believe that a gorgeous, young Ginger Rogers could fall in love with a skinny, balding, nerdy old crooner when he serenades her with “The Way You Look Tonight.” I love it, and I cannot get enough of the delight I feel when watching these films.

However, it’s time to meander back to the story. There’s a popular myth about a particular scene in Top Hat when Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are dancing while Fred sings, “Cheek to Cheek.” When Fred’s song is over, the two break into an absolutely gorgeous dance as the orchestra plays on grandly. Out of all the movies I have ever seen, I do believe that this particular scene is one of the most beautiful moments in cinematic history. It’s truly a spectacle, and despite being in black and white, there’s still something so vivid and breathtaking about it. The simplicity, along with the very lengthy shots (commonplace in Fred and Ginger movies to showcase the dancing–fewer shots means, “Holy crap.. they just did that whole thing from start to finish flawlessly? Dang!”) just add to the effect. But one of the best parts of this scene is Ginger’s dress: It’s made with what looks to be about 50 pounds of ostrich feathers (aha, see? Feathers!), and its movements (along with its sheer volume) practically make it a third partner in this dance. Anyway, supposedly there had been some discussions before the shooting of this scene as to whether or not Ginger should wear the dress. The boys (namely Fred and the director, Mark Sandrich) felt the dress would be too big and wouldn’t work well on camera, and the girls (mainly Ginger and her mother) thought it’d be great. Ultimately, girls won (yay!), and the dress was worn. Things went along great until this big dance sequence. The first spin happened, and next thing you know feathers are flying everywhere. In his autobiography, Fred Astaire later commented that it looked as though a chicken had been attacked by a coyote. Was it really that bad? I’m not sure (in Ginger’s autobiography, she claims it was not the huge debacle it was made out to be in cinema lore). Nevertheless, the dress stopped shedding just enough so that the scene could be filmed (and if you look closely, you can still see some stray feathers flying off and floating around on the floor), and it was amazing. After this incident, Fred gave Ginger a little gold feather charm and the nickname “Feathers.”

And there is the bland, probably boring, story of Gingerfeathers. It’s my little homage to a moment in the golden era of Hollywood that makes me smile. I only wish I had been there to see the real thing–I’m sure it was a good time!

 With that, here are a few photos so you might have at least some clue as to what I’m talking about.

 

 Until next time, enjoy.