A Day of Beauty!

How many men out there have wanted to get a pedicure, but have been to intimidated to try?
I too was very hesitant to get one...that is-until I had my first one.
Let me tell you-BLISS!
It dawned on me today as I was having the funk of 40,000 years sawed off my heels that everyone should experience it. Think about it-it is summer, and flip-flops have replaced any other form of footwear...all done with virtually no concern given to the idea that our feet have been locked up beneath socks and heavy boots-at least here in the Midwest. Imagine if you will sitting on the CTA Red Line, and across from you are any number of people, all with toes exposed...without a clipper in sight. Vivid image, I know, but the truth hurts.
So there I am, toes scrubbed and nails buffed, getting a manicure, when I actually look around me and notice the surroundings.
Two things jumped out at me:
First-every nail salon on Earth is EXACTLY the same...one wall divided into thirds-the top third dry wall, the middle third beveled glass that makes everything look like a fun house, and the bottom third some sort of pastel wallpaper featuring "Southwest" abstract shapes mixed with outlines of leaves.
Second-the Vietnamese language is a very interesting mixture of sounds and signals that is percussive, interesting, and totally monosyllabic. No offense meant by these statements. It brought to mind a monotone xylophone...a series of very short, very staccato sounds that convey worlds of information in the shortest possible sound. I was fascinated, and was sure the woman was discussing something mind boggling. Turns out all they were discussing was the purchase of new pedicure chairs...
This, coupled with the television over my head playing an endless loop of Spice Girls videos and "behind the scenes" clips of their lives left me feeling both overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the exact same time.
Point being-if you have not, you need to stop at the Glamour Nails near you and see what I mean!

HAIRSPRAY-The Movie...The Musical...The Movie Musical!

Hello Everyone!



Normally I don't write about movies and such, but I will make an exception for this particular situation.

As you may or may not know-Hairspray the Movie was released last weekend. It is a film adaptation of the stage musical that was adapted from a John Waters movie from 1988.

Confused? Let me see if I can sort it out

John Waters-the brilliant yet totally twisted director of such films as "Cry Baby", "Serial Mom (Now Chip, you know we don't use the brown word...)", "A Dirty Shame (Let's Go Sexin'!)", and "Pecker (Full of Grace, Full of Grace!)"...released "Hairspray" in 1988. The story revolves around Tracy Turnblad (played by Ricki Lake), an upper-lower class teen that achieves overnight stardom after auditioning for a Baltimore dance television show. The film also gets into race relations, class issues, and how body-image can make or break you. The amazing thing about the original movie is to see how Ricki Lake's hair changes-it is huge, then blond and huge, and then flat. I cannot reveal why it changes so much-you are going to have to rent it and find out. Needless to say-she is a hairhopper!

The movie itself is not good at all, but with people like Divine, Debbie Harry, Ruth Brown and Pia Zadora involved...certainly make for some memorable moments....

In the infinite wisdom of Broadway-the film was taken and adapted for the stage, with Harvey Fierstein playing the role of Tracy's mother Edna (originally played brilliantly by Divine).

The live show was a treat-fun music, great gimmicks, and a great message...but it lacked the dark humor that made the original movie such a cult classic. Then again-how can Broadway be anything but smiles!

This new adaptation, in my opinion, is great! The choreography is incredible, the musical numbers are energetic, and the performances, for the most part, are flawless.
Michelle Pfeiffer is wonderfully evil as Velma Von Tussel, the woman that runs the television station that airs the Corny Collins Show (the American Bandstand-esque show that causes the dance crazes). Velma is also the mother of Amber, the most popular girl on the show, and the assumed winner of Miss Hairspray...that is until Tracy Turnblad enters the scene.
Queen Latifa is silky smooth as Motor Mouth Mabel, the Queen of Baltimore Soul, and the mother of Seaweed, who becomes the love interest of Penny Pingleton, the best friend of Tracy.
The narrative here is convoluted, but there is a reason for that-YOU ARE MEANT TO SEE THE MOVIE! Not just the new adaptation, but make sure you view the original first...some of the references will make more sense.
Also of note are the cameos in the new film: Jerry Stiller as Mr. Pinky of Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway, Ricki Lake as a William Morris Agent, and John Waters as the flasher who lives next door-perfect casting if ever there was....

My only criticism would be John Travolta in the role of Edna Turnblad. He was cheesy, unnatural, and frankly creepy looking.

If anyone out there has seen it-share your opinion with me!

Enough Is Enough

A friend of mine sent me a great quote today:


My idea of forgiveness is letting go of resentment that does not serve your
better interest, ridding yourself of negative thoughts. All they do is make
you miserable. Believe me, you can fret and fume all you want, but whoever
it was that wronged you is not suffering from your anguish whatsoever.

I would clarify this statement to edit the portion about being wronged...there was none of that really. We both used our relationship as a weapon against the other. Look where it got us.
The most important thing to think about now is the future...I have been waiting and waiting for something that will never happen: a reaction from him. Why would I get now what I could never get when we were together?
This forum has been an amazing outlet for my feelings, but the time has come to drop the baggage...who wants to read depressing messages filled with tales of woe? NOBODY
Suffice it to say-I am better off now that I am FREE!
Yes, I used the term free...because in a very real sense I am free...as is he
Now is the time to emerge from the weight of this relationship...baggage I brought, and baggage we both acquired along the way.
I don't blame him for the things that transpired-he was doing what humans do-protecting himself
The saddest thing to me is that his biggest fear when we were together was that he felt too much, and that I required too much of an investment of raw emotion.
I can finally let go of the idea that my excess of feeling/emotion is a liability....it isn't at all
I know now that he just couldn't handle it-and I suspect he never will be able to
Good luck finding someone exactly like yourself...I fear you are going to need it
Why was I bitter about reports of what he has been doing since the split? Because I felt that there was no mourning: no respect for the death of our togetherness.
I think there was a mourning period for him-it occurred way before we separated. I see now that it was over for him far earlier than it was for me.
Bottom line-it doesn't matter anymore...I have a life to live, and I need to remember that!
So...thank you for the gift of love-for that I will be forever grateful
I will always love you!

Boyfriends Come and Go.....

How true that phrase really is!
Originally, I was convinced that it was me-I was being to difficult, too demanding, too needy in my jealousy of the casual intimacy he shared with certain of his friends-one in particular. The more I analyzed it, and talked through it with Don (my analyst), the more I see that I was not mis-interpreting the situation.
Granted, they have known each other longer than we had, and therefore had a history that I hoped to build as well.
Let me take a step back for a moment here...when we first started dating, and I met his friends, I was taken aback at how unfriendly most of them were to me. So I thought to myself "Maybe it was just the one time...don't freak out". Yet, each time I encountered them, the result was the same. When questioned about it, the only reaction I got was "Well, I don't know why they are like that"...as if to shrug and tell me that it was out of his hands.
One friend in particular...I did not like instantly, and as I got to know more-that dislike grew in intensity.
It became the battle royale-who was going to come out victorious? Me...or him
I tried to be accommodating-to engage him in conversation to see if there was something I was missing, but truth be told, there is nothing there, so it was like pulling teeth.
When the ex and I talked about it, and I expressed my difficulty in engaging in conversation, his reply to me was "Did you talk to him about things that he is interested in?"
I felt as if the wind had been knocked out of me...once again-I was facing a situation in which I needed support-and all I got was a confirmation that his loyalties were elsewhere.
I found myself at dinner parties and restaurants, and watched with initial fascination as the ex doted on him...making sure the menu selections were just right, assuring himself that the friend was faring well for the evening. I dismissed it at first, but the behavior never really changed.
I withdrew from situations where I knew the friend would be, just because I couldn't watch it any longer. I made things difficult for the ex-going just short of telling him he could not spend time with him, in the hopes that I would prevail. Now I know this never works. What it did was to force the ex into a corner. For this I can only say I am sorry. I will say that an unintended result was finally finding out where I stood in the scheme of things....
Two incidents reflect this realization:

One-I had finally decided to let go of the ill-will, and the bitterness, and concede that the ex needs friends to be a whole person-so I said to him-I give it all up. Well, the next week the ex sees the friend 3 times....and the ex sees me 1! To top it off, wee had planned a party to include an out of town guest for weeks...and the day of the event I get a phone call from the ex, telling me that he "wants to do things differently, and the friend got wind of the party, and basically what should I do?" I told him to invite the friend. I then called back about an hour later to say that I respect that the friend will be there, but I did not want to be around him, so I was withdrawing from attendance at the party. When the out of town guest arrives, he calls me and gives me grief for not attending, and wanted to know why....Talk about feeling totally sold out!
Not only did I have to remove myself from the fun, but I had to then explain what was happening and why I was not there. The ex could not have filled him in on the way home from the airport? No, he couldn't...the only comment he made about me not coming to the party was "He (meaning me) is an adult, and he can make his own decisions" I must say-when I got off the phone with our out of town guest-I sobbed

Two-Months later, the ex is out of town, and I find myself at one of the local bars. Of course-who happens to be there, but the friend. Trying to be the bigger person, I try to engage him in conversation...to no avail. I went back and forth about telling the ex I ran into him, and finally decided I would share. When I tell him-his response was "Oh yeah, the friend told me that you ran into each other" Quell surprise... At this point, I say that it was rough to get into a conversation with him. One of the things we discussed was a pending move to another city. When I asked why he was thinking of moving, his response was basically "I don't know"
I told the ex that I did not understand this-to which he swooped in and gave me 5 reasons why someone would do that...of course-defending the friend. When we came back to the idea of the conversation being rough, the ex replies "well, my friend was telling me that the entire time you were talking to him, he was thinking 'why are you talking to me, you don't like me' ". Now, I will admit that I did not come out and tell him in so many words why I was talking to him, but I figured that it would be obvious, and I told the ex as much. He bristled at this, and told me that I should have been more forthcoming about why I was talking to him, to which I countered "Did you tell him why I would be talking to him?" "Did you ask the friend if he was talking about things that I am interested in?"....NO, you didn't. Yet again, I was the one that was in error...I was the one that needed to accommodate the friend...I was the one that needed to go

While I will be able to recover from the blows we inflicted on each other, I am not sure I will ever be able to let go of the idea that he told me he loved me, and that I was always the priority, yet EVERY SINGLE TIME the friend/friends were involved, and there was a choice to be made...I was left to make the choice, and then got blamed for "his losing out...his not having what he wanted" I see now that I had to make the choice so that the ex could remain blameless in it all... "What could I do? You made the decision" "I can't tell you what to do"
Either way...you got what you wanted-you kept your friend...I just wish you had felt that passionate about keeping me

I have moved past the point of caring if anyone/everyone/he is reading this....it isn't for him, it is FOR ME!

Life Lessons

I have started talking to an analyst/therapist. Some of you may scoff at such an idea, but my thinking is that your mind is like any other muscle-it needs to be worked out in order to see things clearly, and there is nothing wrong with getting an objective ear in order to make sense of thousands of conflicting emotions.

His office is in his home, and instantly I was put at ease by him. He reminds me of a cool gay grandfather: excellent taste in decorating, soothing colors to get you to talk, and a matter of fact style that I found refreshing.

Monday was the first session, and of course that was more of a get to know you situation...here is my approach to these sessions, tell me about you and why you are here...that sort of thing.

He left me with the project of figuring out two things:

What sort of lessons can I take from this experience?

Why, in the grand scheme of my life, did he enter it?

Tough questions, yes, but I found that the more I think about them, the more clarity I am getting about myself, about the ex, and about why it didn't work in the first place.

I have tried not to be the kind of person that nobody wants to talk to because all I want to discuss is "the breakup"...so I am going to limit this and subsequent entries to the positive things that have occurred, and allow myself the time to move on.
So...what Life Lessons have I learned? That was daunting at first, but the more I thought about it, the easier it came. Some are positive, some are negative, but they are what they are. Here are a few of them:



Every relationship leaves you with good things, as well as bad thing-it is my responsibility to put them into context, and use them as learning tools


Trust is like a thin, fragile fabric...it can be torn and mended, but there is always a reminder of the rip


People need different things, and if you don't articulate them , then you have only yourself to turn to when you don't get what you want


In life, you DON'T always get what you want


Romantic love is WORK...if you don't or won't put the effort into it-it dies


People say that they want to be spontaneous, but when surprises happen, they cannot handle them

Being told "You have no sense of humor" equates to "You don't find funny the same things that I find funny"


Compromise is always a gray area, and someone always ends up with the "short end of the stick"


You can love someone with your whole heart, but not necessarily like who they are


It is easier to do what is safe, rather than what is right


Self-perception can be very misleading...you may think you are making grand shifts in emotion/behavior/attitudes, but that change is typically so minuscule as to be unnoticed


Wants/Needs are important...don't question what you are feeling with respect to this: if you want it-it is valid..."you want too much" translates into "I cannot/will not give you all of that"


Honesty is not subjective


Love cannot come with "strings"...it is never fair to exert so much pressure on your partner that they feel trapped


Never let your emotions/feelings be scaled back to accommodate the other


Every person is emotionally/spiritually evolved in vastly different ways...the trick is to see how you can use each other's strengths to build a solid foundation... if one or the other has no self-awareness, it won't work


Many people are afraid to face the demons they carry around with them, so they don't. Never allow yourself to be put in the position of having to carry around not only your "baggage" but that of your partner as well



You can love someone with all of your heart, but that does not guarantee that you will like them


For some people, their friends are everything...and no matter who you are-you can't compete with that...if you try, you will lose


People move on in different ways...and that is the way it should be-we are all different


If you find yourself in a situation where you are hoping for vast emotional changes to occur, you are setting yourself for failure


Sexual attraction is as varied as everything else in life...it is how you deal with it that either makes you stronger, or it tears you apart


Mental/Physical/Spiritual/Emotional self-awareness is critical in order to build a lasting relationship


The stronger emotional person in a relationship usually bears the brunt of the "baggage handling"


Life can't be about blame, it has to be about analyzing events, putting them into perspective, and coming to a middle ground-one that protects both parties


If you expect a certain reaction in any given situation-you are setting yourself for failure


Be clear and honest about what you want from the other person, and from the relationship


Beyond all else-have faith in each other


If you find yourself in a situation where you don't get along with your partner's circle of friends...understand that you alone are the one that is going to have to deal with it: either make it work (to quote Tim Gunn), or expect a rough road...the friend(s) are always protected first


If you lose anything in a relationship: self-esteem, sexual identity, emotional freedom...acknowledge that you had a hand in it, and figure out why


When you get to the point in your relationship where arguing and bitterness are a constant thing-then it is time to re-evaluate


Letting go of things is not NEAR as easy as it sounds



Judgments about things is human...not good/not bad, but human. Know this and find out where it comes from -that will make it so much easier to free yourself of it


You may think you keep all of your judgements/opinions to yourself., but they always manifest themselves


No matter what sorts of things you have done in your life-OWN IT!



Don't expect that because you have been free and honest with your life, that the other person is able to do the same (great quote here...I hope I have gotten it correctly "The definition of insanity is performing the same task/emotional issue in the same way every time and expecting a different result")


People can view behavior and actions with no real idea of the ramifications of their actions/behaviors


Threats in a relationship don't work, and they just create animosity and discord


Know when to say when


There is no such thing as "wanting too much"...wanting too much affection, sex, validation, romance. We are who we are, and if you need something you are not receiving, you have every right to seek it out


A statement like "You have no sense of humor" translates into "You don't have MY sense of humor"


A person can mentally/emotionally feel as if the way they are thinking/feeling/acting is growth and progress...but if there is not correlative to actions. In other words, you may think the changes going on in your head are so vastly different than what you were doing, but that does not necessarily mean that your behavior changes dramatically


To quote a Sheryl Crow...it is not having what you want-it is wanting what you have got"


Self-esteem is as fragile as trust...and can be crushed with a few well chosen words/looks


Never be afraid that what you want is an imposition of the relationship


Understand that if you are the strong one in the relationship-the burden will fall to you to confront issues...it also means that you could be in a position to "hold" your partner's mental/emotional/situational hang-ups


Never be ashamed to be honest about what you want of the relationship


If you are willing to go out on a limb emotionally (be the first to say I love you, be the one that confronts issues in the relationship), be prepared to be out there alone


Realize that what makes people unique can be the very reason that you wanted to know more in the first place


It is alright to have different interests/hobbies/taste in things...this is what makes every human being special


Repression and Compartmentalization of emotions is not healthy, but it can sometimes by the only way that people have to cope



Every person has a different sex drive, and when you subordinate that for the sake of the other, be careful that you don't lose it along the way, and remember that the partner with the lower sex drive is ALWAYS in control-contrary to what they may think


Self-preservation is not only about getting food/shelter/clothing...it is also about protecting yourself emotionally/spiritually...most decisions are made with "damage control" in mind


People sometimes are dishonest in order to protect the relationship, or they are being dishonest because of they cannot face the truth of the situation...either way-it is harmful to the foundation of a relationship

Saying "I'm sorry" does not erase the damage of dishonesty


One can say "You are my priority", but in truth the only way you can really know that is by what they DO to show you that



If you are finding yourself needing more from a partner-don't be afraid to let them know that


The term "you want too much" translate into "I can't give you that"


Be as objective as possible about your own actions/behaviors...we can become so focused on what we want from the relationship that we can alienate the one we love



WOW...pretty extensive list

I have not worked though the meanings of these phrases, but I am convinced that as I do...the bitterness and anger will subside.

Mentally exhausted, I must finish there.

I will get into more of this in a subsequent post-DH

The Vanishing Act

Hope the 4th was a good one for all!
I went through a mental tug-of-war about what I could/could not post in this blog. Can I be honest, and say exactly what I feel? How revealing should I be? Will it be perceived as hurtful?
Now I realize that it does not matter one bit...the individuals that would know who I was referring to, and the situations I may mention, are not reading this...so I will feel free to be as honest as possible.
How do I know that this is the case? The Ex made several blog friends when we were together, and consequently, I became friends with some of them as well. When I started my blog, they added me to their list of blog friends, so that others could find it. Upon review the other day-I noticed that I have been removed from all lists...thus the name of this post.
Am I surprised? Yes and no. I understand that with a break-up, there are sides to be chosen. What hurts is that some of these people I really came to value as friends. Oh well, I guess you live and learn-right?
What I really find fascinating is the ability of people to just "move on"...as if 3 years never happened.
How is that possible?
I am aware of the fact that one has to do this in order to be whole again-but what is wrong with a bit of a grief period?
The most overwhelming emotion I feel right now is anger: anger at the lost opportunities, anger at the constant struggle, anger at feeling like I lost so much, and he lost nothing, anger at having to learn how to trust again, anger at wanting to believe so fervently that things would be different, anger at trying to be spontaneous, only to be hammered into the ground for it.
I am dramatic, but the sentiment remains the same. I never thought I was a hopeless romantic, but now I see that I am. Flowers, cards, surprise candle-lit dinners...that sort of thing melts my heart, and I waited for it....but it never arrived.
In all fairness-he is a loving, caring, sweet, kind, compassionate person that will always bring a smile to my face, and will hold a special place in my heart.
I understand that I am TOO MUCH: too loud, too brash, too bold, too confrontational, too sexual, too boisterous...but at all times I was up-front and honest about it.
Can I say the same for him?
Granted, there is something to be said for restraint...but when it inhibits emotional growth, then something's gotta give...
I scaled back so that we could flourish as a couple, and now I see that I scaled back so much that I lost myself.
As Fleetwood Mac stated "Is it over now? Do you know how...to pick up the pieces and go home?"
Time for me to find out.....

A Case of You

These lines were written by Joni Mitchell, and I think they are beautiful and incredibly sad. They incapsulate my feelings right now...

Just before our love got lost
you said
I am as constant as a northern star
And I said, constant in the darkness
Wheres that at?
If you want me Ill be in the bar

On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue tv screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh Canada
And your face sketched on it twice

Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
Oh and you taste so bitter but you taste so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you
I could drink a case of you darling
And I would still be on my feet
Oh Id still be on my feet

Oh I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
Im frightened by the devil
And Im drawn to those ones that aint afraid
I remember that time that you told me, you said
Love is touching souls
Surely you touched mine
Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time

Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
And you taste so bitter but you taste so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you
I could drink a case of you darling
Still Id be on my feet
And still be on my feet

I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said
Color go to him, stay with him if you can
Oh but be prepared to bleed

Oh but you are in my blood
youre my holy wine
Oh and you taste so bitter, bitter and so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you darling
Still Id be on my feet
Id still be on my feet

The End of an Era

I am sure there are some of you that have fallen over to see that I have posted here...but things have been a bit stressed lately.
It is with great sadness that I report that I am no longer The Boyfriend...yes, it is true...I am single again.
Through no fault of either of us, we have decided to part ways. It is for the best, but that does not mean that there is not a great deal of heart break and pain involved.
Some of you may be able to relate to this: you can love somebody with your entire soul, and know that you are not good for them. You can love a person, and know that you are not what they need, and they are not what you need. There is no fault in that-it is what it is.
The worst thing any person can do is to be unhappy. Life is far too short.
So...we pick up the pieces and go on. Or try to at least.
I gave a great deal of thought to whether or not I should change the name of the blog, delete it all, and forget about it. I decided to leave it as it is, and to continue to add select messages. Why not? Writing is supposed to have a cathartic effect, so I am going to use this forum to express the inner turmoil I am experiencing. We will see what happens...
One question that I will throw out to the blog universe is this:
How do you fall in love with someone that is completely incompatible for you?
I have been wrestling with this concept for an age now...clever and mysterious are the workings of the heart I suppose.
I should warn readers that some of my subsequent posts may have harsh concepts, bitterness, and vitriol involved...
Guess that is what purging is for.
More on all of this later

Does It Really Exist?

In my reading of blogs out there, I have noticed that most tend to discuss their day, or what they are reading, or what movies they have seen. While I intend to use this forum for just such discussions as well, this post has a much different slant. Please bear with me while I lay the foundation for a philosophical question I have been wondering about.
One of my favorite movies is West Side Story, which is based on the Shakespeare tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. For those of you that aren't familiar with the story: two people of opposite ethnic/social/religious backgrounds find each other and fall in love. Knowing they can never be together within the confines of their families, they decide to run away. Fate, of course, intervenes, and the end of the story is that one or both of them ends up dead.
I know-how cheery a topic!
What compels me most about the story itself is the utter abandon the two exhibit with their feelings. They are shy and timid when they first meet, but they realize that something magical is happening between them. Once they let themselves be swept up in the emotion of it all, there is nothing that will separate them-both physically and spiritually.
As evidenced by the famous lyric-Only death will part us now.
Little did they know how true that would turn out to be...right?
Granted, there have been countless movies/books/songs written about love, but in my opinion, none capture the pure joy and passion of Romeo and Juliet/West Side Story.
Now, having been in long term relationships, I understand that life gets in the way, and passion that "burns with the fire of 1000 suns" does not last in the midst of dirty laundry, burned dinners, and recycling that needs to be dealt with, but is it really life that gets in the way?
As eluded to in the title of this post-Does the kind of love that makes Romeo and Juliet so powerful really exist?
If you think you have an answer-let me know-DH

The Podcast is LIVE!

So...last I posted-I was telling you about being a special guest on the Loopyfruit podcast. The session is now live and ready for your listening pleasure!
I thought it was incredibly fun, but I was horrified to hear my own voice. I am SUCH a FAG!
Oh well-I have embraced it about myself, but sometimes it is rattling to confront that sort of thing...catch my drift?
One observation-my boyfriend recorded his podcast, and his word of choice was FABULOUS, and when I recorded my podcast, my word of choice was AMAZING!
(Do the words I use make me sound gay?)
There is a chance that my boyfriend and I will be starting a podcast of our own, and we are pondering the name "Amazing and Fabulous: Do these GENES make me look gay?" (must credit the spelling of the word genes to my boyfriend)
Let us know what you think about that...

LoopyFruit.com Special Guest!

As you all know-my wonderful boyfriend was the special guest on a podcast recently-Loopyfruit.com. He was breathless with excitement when he recorded, and the result was classic him-very funny and charming
Well-this past Saturday, I had the honor and pleasure of recording a podcast session with them. Can I just tell you-it was AMAZING!
We laughed, we cried-we did our nails....
I will be back with more when the podcast is posted-DH

A STAR IS BORN!

For those of you who do not know...which I presume is all of you-I have decided to take voice lessons. I love to sing, and usually do it in the car-windows open, as I belt out whichever part of the score to "Sunset Boulevard" I happen to like at the moment. I could be Norma Desmond, Joe-the writer, or a clueless background singer letting us know that an apartment with no roaches would be her Hollywood dream. Makes no difference to me.
I really wanted to find out what my range is, as well as what my voice can do, so I registered at the Old Town School of Folk Music for Vocal Techniques I.
Last night was the first meeting-and I am SO VERY EXCITED about it.
There are 15 of us in the class, and we all looked at eachother tentatively as we began, but slowly we lost our nerves and just let things happen.

The instructor asked us to discuss why we were taking the class, what sorts of music we are into, and if we had any musical background. Here were my answers to these various inquiries:
WHY?-so I can learn my range and see what my voice can do
WHAT?-pretty much anything
MUSICAL BACKGROUND-none

I also informed her that the real reason for my taking lessons was to BECOME A CABARET ACT!!!!!

There was not much singing yesterday-but we did discuss breathing (diaphragmatic and intercostal breathing), how your vocal chords work, and how to create vowel sounds to strengthen the voice. She also stressed relaxation and using the body in order to create strong sound...very interesting!

I will keep you all posted on how it goes...by the way-if you have any suggestions as to what numbers should be included in my cabaret set, feel free to pass them along!-DH

FORGIVE THE DELAY!!!

Yes, I am still among the living!
I have been crazy busy with life, and finally-after some much needed prodding from some fellow bloggers, I am back to say...HEY (said with requiste hip lean and snap, of course)
There will be more later, as I wanted to discuss my upcoming birthday! Until then-later gater-DH

The Cult of Personality

Hello to all! I must say-I am overwhelmed by the reaction to my having a blog...thank you to all that have sent comments to me.
I fretted about what my next installment would entail, and I finally decided I wanted to ask a few questions, as well as give you a view into my twisted view of life.
As a preface, I must say that last night we (Michael and I) were watching the video of Anna Nicole Smith painted up to look like Pennywize the Clown, as well as photos of Britney Spears shearing her dyed locks. My first question is 2-fold:
(A) Do we really care that much that mediocre singers are walking around bald?
and-if the answer to that question is yes, then
(B) Why?
While I would love to say that I am "above all of that", and look with distain at the National Enquirer-I have to admit, I am as engaged as everyone else in the mayhem...there is something comforting in the idea that there are people in the world that are MORE UNSTABLE THAN I THINK I AM!
My personal view is that we love to see the tragi-comedy of Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears, and their ilk because we see a bit of us in it all-the desperate need to be recognized, the struggle to erase the idea that we LOVE green bean casserole with Durkee's Fried onions on top. In them we see us sitting in front of the television shoveling in generic Wheat Thins with spray cheese....desperate to find out if the latest contestant will succeed on Deal Or No Deal!
A few other questions to put out there for discussion/comment/debate would be:

Why is it that you never see Michael Jackson and LaToya Jackson in the same room?
(My opinion-they are the SAME PERSON)

Is plastic surgery worth distorting your look so much that people think you look like a skinned cat?

Does Clay Aiken REALLY need to come out? Don't we all know the answer already?

As Linda Richmond would say (with press-on nails flaired dramatically)...DISCUSS!