What? You thought that I was gonna pass up U2's obvious choice for the lyrical title? I ain't that original folks ;)
I had my mac n cheese and nearly lost it on my laptop courtesy of
Matt-Man's musical releases on his label. I could have linked the post directly but currently Matt has up a pic of some seriously obscene looking pigs in a blanket and I enjoy the idea of scarring my readers. The pigs themselves are not purposefully obscene, mind you. They just look all kinds of wrong in a John Holmes way to me. But I am warped :P
So! Who all is out drinking with the multitudes tonight? Kidlet is at her dad's and I am just about to go put on a half pot of coffee in preparation for a baileys and coffee evening. There is SHIT, and I do mean SHIT, on TV tonight.
Ah perky. Floyd videos. Easily one of the scariest images ever on film is the headmaster's teeth in Another Brick In The Wall part 2. They look diseased yet horribly strong at the same time. Very Stephen King. I am trying to figure out if this is in fact the entire movie The Wall or just a video. It looks to be the actual movie. Much as I love Floyd this ain't how I am wrapping up my year. Paranoid mental breakdowns are not much fun for a reflective evening alone with Bailey's.
Plus, too, Floyd is something I have a really hard time listening too as it is soooo closely tied to an old friend. Negative outcome there as we like to say in the medical business. So yeah, it always makes me feel vaguely squirmy to listen too. Think Less Than Zero and you have the general idea. Saw that movie with him as well. That and Say Anything (ouch), When Harry Met Sally (double ouch), The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, and pretty much any John Hughes you can shake a stick at. My teens and 20somethings are all involved. Funny shit, I always think about Todd on New Years. Not sure why. Perhaps the whole death and rebirth motif of the new year holiday matches up with his flaming drug and alcohol destruction and subsequent mind re-wiring ala Randall Patrick McMurphy that is my oldest friend. Mama did make all of his nightmares come true. The bitch.
Want to hear the most amusing part of that story? He's my ex husbands cousin. My daughter? He's her cousin. Ain't life amusing like that? And if I could have any one person back from past relationships and have it be the good times guaranteed even, it would hands down be Todd.
How is that for some Auld Lang Syne? Damn you Roger Waters.
Ok moving on. Changing the channel before Sir Bob Geldof shaves off his nipples. That image added a soupcon of bizarreness to Live Aid and Live 8 for me!
Ok. Better. Little Reese Witherspoon. Much more perky. This movie would be better if they used the real version of Just Like Heaven more often. Me loves the bloated gothy goodness that is Robert Smith.
MMMMMM.....Bailey's and Coffee. Well cheapass Bailey's but still. And Lindt special dark orange chocolate. Most tasty. But in a funky bad aftertaste kind of way.
Alright I am off to find something decent on the idiot box. To all my friends and readers, have a Happy New Year and 7-up with ice and bitters soda water and lime makes a hell of a hangover cure!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
English Girls Are Pretty When They Play Guitar
Weird weather day. It is like being in the South. One minute it is sunny, the next it looks like an English moor and then we get this bizarre sideways mix of snow and hail. Snail.
We are currently snailing. I wanted to try to go for a drive but not with this crap going on. Watched Elizabethtown and now am watching Best In Show and pondering a nap. No work this weekend, I have some sort of cold. It's a weird one, nose running like a faucet and one very sore swollen gland that feels like I swallowed a tack.
Kidlet is at her dads until Tuesday when I pick her up and then I think we might see a movie. Pondering Sweeney again. It is definitely worth more than one viewing. Kidlet wants the soundtrack. We may go to Barnes and Nobles as well since she has giftcards.
And sun again.
Nap is winning out crazy dog people.
We are currently snailing. I wanted to try to go for a drive but not with this crap going on. Watched Elizabethtown and now am watching Best In Show and pondering a nap. No work this weekend, I have some sort of cold. It's a weird one, nose running like a faucet and one very sore swollen gland that feels like I swallowed a tack.
Kidlet is at her dads until Tuesday when I pick her up and then I think we might see a movie. Pondering Sweeney again. It is definitely worth more than one viewing. Kidlet wants the soundtrack. We may go to Barnes and Nobles as well since she has giftcards.
And sun again.
Nap is winning out crazy dog people.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
I've Had The Reds, The Blues, And The Pinks
Have I ever told y'all how much I loathe the forced joviality surrounding New Years? Cause oh baby, it is the holiday version of diaper rash as for me. And no, it is not cause I am an old fart, I have loathed the holiday my entire life, including my 20's so that ain't it. It's frickin amateur night and it is like the Patron Saint Holiday for desperation. "I'm Happy! Really I am! It's a new start! It's A Brand New Day!"
Ok so that last line is a herpes commercial but it fits. I don't have kidlet this year which is awesome I can just ignore the entire event and stay home. Kidlet likes banging on pots and pans at midnight. Of course that may have changed as she is officially a teen now and might have moved beyond the noise maker years.
Ok the fat kid in The Wedding Singer who dances with Julia at the Bar Mitzvah looks like a teen Ron Jeremy.
Sorry...had a moment :P
So next year when I have kidlet we are talking about getting a hotel room downtown and eating out late and ringing in the new year down town. That might not be so awful.
Still not at work, headache is better but guess what? Sore throat and a swollen gland the size of a marble. Joy!
Oh and mega bummer, Cafe Beignet is going out of business on Jan 26th. Too expensive to operate the place and the location was not the greatest. If you didn't know it was there, well you wouldn't know it was there. The owner says there is a good chance they may open up elsewhere. Otherwise it is gonna be a looooong wait til next summer. Kidlet and I had 3 Little Pigs Quiche and a double order of Beignet.
The Wedding Singer Soundtrack kicks ass. The movie does too. Sandler and Barrymore have a great natural chemistry. 50 First Dates was great too. In fact I think it might be time to watch that after The Wedding Singer.
On that note, I be outta here.
Ok so that last line is a herpes commercial but it fits. I don't have kidlet this year which is awesome I can just ignore the entire event and stay home. Kidlet likes banging on pots and pans at midnight. Of course that may have changed as she is officially a teen now and might have moved beyond the noise maker years.
Ok the fat kid in The Wedding Singer who dances with Julia at the Bar Mitzvah looks like a teen Ron Jeremy.
Sorry...had a moment :P
So next year when I have kidlet we are talking about getting a hotel room downtown and eating out late and ringing in the new year down town. That might not be so awful.
Still not at work, headache is better but guess what? Sore throat and a swollen gland the size of a marble. Joy!
Oh and mega bummer, Cafe Beignet is going out of business on Jan 26th. Too expensive to operate the place and the location was not the greatest. If you didn't know it was there, well you wouldn't know it was there. The owner says there is a good chance they may open up elsewhere. Otherwise it is gonna be a looooong wait til next summer. Kidlet and I had 3 Little Pigs Quiche and a double order of Beignet.
The Wedding Singer Soundtrack kicks ass. The movie does too. Sandler and Barrymore have a great natural chemistry. 50 First Dates was great too. In fact I think it might be time to watch that after The Wedding Singer.
On that note, I be outta here.
Friday, December 28, 2007
The Trouble With Poet Is How Do You Know It's Deceased?
Ok folks if you all have not yet made it to Sweeney...which you should as you are so missing out...allow me to wet your appetite for blood. For your pleasure here is a pretty darn good montage of A Little Priest.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Pop Goes The World
| Your New Year's Resolutions |
 1) Get a pet wallaby 2) Eat less garlic 3) Travel to Mexico 4) Study time travel 5) Get in shape with belly dancing |
Well that sounds exhausting!
| You Will Keep Your New Year's Resolution |
 You planning on making a resolution that's smart, attainable, and perfect for where your life is. |
Dammit. That just added pressure!
| You Are Blitzen |
 Always in good spirits, you're the reindeer who loves to party down with Santa. Why You're Naughty: You're always blitzed on Christmas Eve, while flying! Why You're Nice: You mix up a mean eggnog martini. |
Santa is my bitch!
| Your Love Song Is |
 Thankyou by Dido "And I want to thank you for giving me The best day of my life Oh, just to be with you is having The best day of my life." It's all good, as long as you're in love. |
Uh huh. Thank you and get out. Dating is just not my bag baby.
| You Are a Mermaid |
 You are a total daydreamer, and people tend to think you're flakier than you actually are. While your head is often in the clouds, you'll always come back to earth to help someone in need. Beyond being a caring person, you are also very intelligent and rational. You understand the connections of the universe better than almost anyone else. |
Interest...this one is fairly dead on.
| You Are Beer! |
 You don't need to get totally wasted when you hit the bars. More of a social drinker, you just like to have fun with your friends. And as long as the beer keeps flowing, you're a happy camper. But don't mix things up: "Beer Before Liquor, Never Been Sicker!" |
BEER GOOD! FIRE BAD!!
| You Are A Blueberry Martini |
 You are a eclectic drink - liking to change drinks and venues often. You are usually the first of your friends to find a cool new dive bar or cocktail. You should never: Drink mystery drinks strangers hand you. Unless you want to wind up in foreign country. Your ideal party: Is mobile, hopping from party to party. Your drinking soulmates: Those with an Orange Martini personality. Your drinking rivals: Those with a Chocolate Martini personality. |
But but....I think I might puke if I drank that! Cosmo!
| You Are Halloween |
 You are a dramatic, wild, and even weird person. The dark side of life fascinates you, and you enjoy being a little terrified. You enjoy the hidden sides of life. You are interested in what lurks deep in people's hearts. You are playful and creative. You enjoy pretending you're someone else. What makes you celebrate: Anything bizarre, unusual, or freaky. At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The entertainer. You really like to get into the mood of the holidays. On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Insist on a theme party of some sort. |
Hell yeah. Every Day Is Halloween!
| You Are a Pinky |
 You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird. A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone. You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are. You get along well with: The Ring Finger Stay away from: The Thumb |
Pull my finger! (sorry people I just HAD to. And poor kidlet is a thumb. Booya)
You Came On Your Own, That's How You'll Leave
Headache from hell today, I think it is both sinus, migraine, and muscle tension due to my shoulder being screwed up. Gonna see if Kidlet's dad will drop her off to me. Although now they are babbling about the big SNOW EVENT hitting here in about an hour or two. He can't put chains on his car and I can't drive on Midrin so just bleh. I have no time to cover today but WTF I have no time to cover next Tuesday as well. I am working this weekend but neither day is Overtime due to the time off. December is going to miss the mark as far as turnaround goes and I don't care.
Dammit! Don't you hate it when you pour a cup of coffee and then leave it in the kitchen?!! I wish I could do the nose twitch routine ala Samantha.
Who are these crazy people who go shopping after Christmas? Nuts. I loathe the mall. Crazy people on the news shows at the mall. Crazy.
Yes I am hella random today. I blame the drugs. But my head is feeling better.
So Pakistan is now about to become the biggest boil on the butt of the Middle East. And they got nukes! Yay! Bhutto was not perfect but she seemed the lesser of two evils with Musharraf. But then again, Musharraf is the lesser of two evils as opposed to a more fundamentalist anti western leader. But the Pakistani people dislike Bush (preach on) and we have given billions in "aid" to Pakistan to build up their military ostensibly to find Taliban and Al Crazy folks. That never happened. All in all, not good. Mix in Marshal Law we just saw and I am once again reminded of the old adage about choosing your enemies well.
Here is something I have figured out. For the most part there is no black or white, only grey. Certainly black and white do exist, monks in Burma at one end of the spectrum and say Hitler at the opposite end. But for the most part, it is not as easy as black or white. Hell, I can not fucking stand George Bush but his record on AIDS funding and African aid and debt relief are good and I have to give him thumbs up on that. Even The W is not black or white.
No where is that more apparent than the Middle East. There is no right answer in Pakistan there is only the roll of the dice on who we back. There is no right or wrong in Israel. I understand the moral responsibility the world felt to give the Jewish people a homeland after WWII and yet, redrawing borders and displacing any people is fundamentally unfair, in this case the Palestinian people. Grey, any way you look at is.
Iraq is another area where I do not think it is as simple as stay or go. Do I think the war was warranted? Hell no. Do I think we can in all good conscience leave Iraq in it's current state? No, I don't. I'd love the troops to come home but not in the way we left Vietnam with those folks on the roofs watching the helicopters leave them behind. We have fucked that country up and we need to make it right. Do I think the current game plan is going to make it right? Again, hell no. But I do think we have a moral obligation to the innocent civilians there to fix that shit.
W is now making a statement. "Cowardly act, murderous extremist, undermine Pakistan democracy." Unfortunately for W, Musharraf is not doing much to make Democracy something other than a catchphrase.
ooh...Mitt Romney gets grey too! He just said the Assassination shows the evil of "global radical Islamic jihad" followed immediately...immediately...by "we do not know who is responsible."
So we don't know who did it, hell Musharrah or his "former" military comrades could be behind it. But let us screech Jihad anyways. Good Going Mitt. You make as much sense as your "religion."
I gotta ask you all, who is more fucked in this upcoming election, the Republicans or the Dems? Cause to me it looks like all of us are getting a less that lovely buffet selection choice.
Still no snow. Stupid forecasters. I want that job. Fuck up continually and get paid. Hell yes. What time did I start this post...hmm.. 7:38 ...so it has been an hour. Heck yesterday I had a car covered with frozen slurpee slush at 5 am. Today, so far, rain.
Alright enough babbles from me. Off to forage for food. The headache medicine can be naaasty without it.
Dammit! Don't you hate it when you pour a cup of coffee and then leave it in the kitchen?!! I wish I could do the nose twitch routine ala Samantha.
Who are these crazy people who go shopping after Christmas? Nuts. I loathe the mall. Crazy people on the news shows at the mall. Crazy.
Yes I am hella random today. I blame the drugs. But my head is feeling better.
So Pakistan is now about to become the biggest boil on the butt of the Middle East. And they got nukes! Yay! Bhutto was not perfect but she seemed the lesser of two evils with Musharraf. But then again, Musharraf is the lesser of two evils as opposed to a more fundamentalist anti western leader. But the Pakistani people dislike Bush (preach on) and we have given billions in "aid" to Pakistan to build up their military ostensibly to find Taliban and Al Crazy folks. That never happened. All in all, not good. Mix in Marshal Law we just saw and I am once again reminded of the old adage about choosing your enemies well.
Here is something I have figured out. For the most part there is no black or white, only grey. Certainly black and white do exist, monks in Burma at one end of the spectrum and say Hitler at the opposite end. But for the most part, it is not as easy as black or white. Hell, I can not fucking stand George Bush but his record on AIDS funding and African aid and debt relief are good and I have to give him thumbs up on that. Even The W is not black or white.
No where is that more apparent than the Middle East. There is no right answer in Pakistan there is only the roll of the dice on who we back. There is no right or wrong in Israel. I understand the moral responsibility the world felt to give the Jewish people a homeland after WWII and yet, redrawing borders and displacing any people is fundamentally unfair, in this case the Palestinian people. Grey, any way you look at is.
Iraq is another area where I do not think it is as simple as stay or go. Do I think the war was warranted? Hell no. Do I think we can in all good conscience leave Iraq in it's current state? No, I don't. I'd love the troops to come home but not in the way we left Vietnam with those folks on the roofs watching the helicopters leave them behind. We have fucked that country up and we need to make it right. Do I think the current game plan is going to make it right? Again, hell no. But I do think we have a moral obligation to the innocent civilians there to fix that shit.
W is now making a statement. "Cowardly act, murderous extremist, undermine Pakistan democracy." Unfortunately for W, Musharraf is not doing much to make Democracy something other than a catchphrase.
ooh...Mitt Romney gets grey too! He just said the Assassination shows the evil of "global radical Islamic jihad" followed immediately...immediately...by "we do not know who is responsible."
So we don't know who did it, hell Musharrah or his "former" military comrades could be behind it. But let us screech Jihad anyways. Good Going Mitt. You make as much sense as your "religion."
I gotta ask you all, who is more fucked in this upcoming election, the Republicans or the Dems? Cause to me it looks like all of us are getting a less that lovely buffet selection choice.
Still no snow. Stupid forecasters. I want that job. Fuck up continually and get paid. Hell yes. What time did I start this post...hmm.. 7:38 ...so it has been an hour. Heck yesterday I had a car covered with frozen slurpee slush at 5 am. Today, so far, rain.
Alright enough babbles from me. Off to forage for food. The headache medicine can be naaasty without it.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
He Never Forgot And He Never Forgave
As you all know, Kidlet and I saw Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street on Saturday night. I have been waiting months for this movie as you all know and it was worth the wait. It was fabulous. The cinematography was awesome. Just awesome. I admit I spent the first 5 minutes mentally going, "Holy Shit! Johnny Depp can sing!" but after that I did get over it and got totally into the characters. Helena Bonham Carter was good as Mrs Lovett, she was a bit breathy ala Marilyn in her singing but it worked well as she played the character with an Ophelia-esque air of madness. Angela played it much broader and seemed more of a scheming psycho than Helena's Mrs. Lovett, who was much softer and seemed ever so much more wrapped in a cocoon of madness.
Depp was wonderful as Benjamin Barker, by turns funny and scary and ultimately terribly sad. I have read the reviews that offer up criticism of the characters of Johanna and Anthony and I do agree they seem a bit of a side note other than providing the MacGuffin for further plot development.
If you have seen the play you know the plot line. If you haven't, please know that the darkly comedic moments do not buy you a happy ending. Merely the worst pies in London. Alan Rickman is wonderful as the Evil Judge Turpin and I, unlike some reviewers, did not find him to be 1 dimensional. I found him to be a sad perverted old man who you did feel sorry for in spite of his repellent actions. The stand out moments for me was the "A Little Priest" number which was trimmed unfortunately but lovely none the less and the most perfectly Burton moment ever, By The Sea which was just an amazing techno colored Goth Seaside vacation. I LOVED it.
I will say the ending was a bit abrupt, but given the ending it really had no other way to end that would not have felt forced.
I do recommend seeing this movie in the theater as it is a visual treat and so much of the plot is the actor's expressions. I think musicals can be overpowering if you don't pay attention to the actors faces and their expressions. And Johnny Depp is a master at conveying an entire soliloquy with a look.
I give 9 out of 10 stars and a heart recommendation to see it asap.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Have A Holly Jolly!
Well today is Christmas in Stormyland. Ex Husband has small child for Christmas proper tomorrow so tonight we shall feast upon Roast Beast (prime rib) and the fixins at my mom's house. I got to work at 6 and I am taking my two breaks at 130 and my lunch at 2. Meaning I am gone at 130 ;0
No major presents this year as I have mentioned we all opted out of the big commercial stuff. I did get kidlet a whopping 24 bucks worth of used CD's (Television- Marquee Moon, Gary Glitter -Best Of, and a Shudder To Think cd I can't remember the name of) and she bought presents for three of her friends. She made stuff for my mom, and her dad and her dad's GF. Paintings and they were mighty nice. I asked my mom for hangers. Cause I need them. And socks. Cause I need em. I live a hot life, don't I?!
So it will be dine and watch movies today. I know she got Talladega Nights and a best of 2Pac cd from my mom, plus some stocking stuffers, and I have Holiday Inn and It's A Wonderful Life to watch as well. Odd combos, but highly representative of us!
We did see Sweeney Todd on Saturday and I shall write more about that tomorrow but I can tell you all it was AWESOME. Go see it now!
With that I wish my readers one and all a Merry Merry Winter Yule Holiday of Their Choice and I hope it is a fun/restful/peaceful/joyful day for one and all.
Except Dick Cheney. His can suck :P
No major presents this year as I have mentioned we all opted out of the big commercial stuff. I did get kidlet a whopping 24 bucks worth of used CD's (Television- Marquee Moon, Gary Glitter -Best Of, and a Shudder To Think cd I can't remember the name of) and she bought presents for three of her friends. She made stuff for my mom, and her dad and her dad's GF. Paintings and they were mighty nice. I asked my mom for hangers. Cause I need them. And socks. Cause I need em. I live a hot life, don't I?!
So it will be dine and watch movies today. I know she got Talladega Nights and a best of 2Pac cd from my mom, plus some stocking stuffers, and I have Holiday Inn and It's A Wonderful Life to watch as well. Odd combos, but highly representative of us!
We did see Sweeney Todd on Saturday and I shall write more about that tomorrow but I can tell you all it was AWESOME. Go see it now!
With that I wish my readers one and all a Merry Merry Winter Yule Holiday of Their Choice and I hope it is a fun/restful/peaceful/joyful day for one and all.
Except Dick Cheney. His can suck :P
Friday, December 21, 2007
"You Wanted To Get Somewhere So Badly...
You Had To Lose Yourself Along The Way"
I don't care what you all say, I love POP.
Kicks How To Dismantle An Atomic Bombs ass. Handily.
Left field I know. Sorry but I was watching The 7 Ages of Rock and Roll on VH1 Classic and feel somewhat pissy over the fact that tonight's episode on Stadium Rock gave my boys a whopping 6 minutes.
SIX FUCKING MINUTES FOR U2?!?!
Get bent, Mister BBC.
That is right people I go away and come back and all I bring you is a pissed off U2 Fan rant and one of my favorite U2 songs :P
Gone - U2
Ok...have you listened? Have you? Cause if you just pretend to, I will know and I will get pissy with you :P
Kidlets birthday was awesome. I am a convert. I used to adore Cannon Beach but Yachats was just amazing. I can not recommend the Overleaf Lodge enough. We were there following the massive storm I am sure you all heard about. If they had not had their shit together it would not have been surprising but the place was wonderful and the staff was..HELPFUL! Best customer service I have had in ages.
The top two pictures were from Saturday afternoon, when we had a perfectly clear day. The ocean is about 100 feet or so from our room. Last picture is actually of our room. Bottom floor, the sliding glass door next to the covered porch room way on the bottom left of the picture. The rocks in the top two shots would be right at the right side of the bottom one. We are talking seriously close to the ocean.
Saturday we got up and had breakfast and then we hit the spa and spent 3 hours, yes I said 3 hours, going back and forth from the soaking pool to the steam room and sauna and the hot tube. In between that we lounged in the fireside room reading magazines or on the chaise with cucumbers on our eyes. We then had massages with aromatherapy oils. It was Deeeelish.
For dinner we went to The Yachats River House, which was awesome, and had yummies. We started with the roasted garlic cloves and rogue salad. Kidlet had rare Ahi poke style and I had rack of lamb. Dessert was a flourless chocolate espresso cake for Kidlet and creme brulee for moi. Great restaurant. If anyone makes it to Oregon, it is worth the drive to the central Oregon coast. Kidlet and I could have moved in. Friday and Saturday nights were spent watching tons of movies and eating junk food and drinking tea. The room came with a coffee pot and fridge and we brought snacks. We each had a queen and they gave us each 5 (!!) down pillows. It was yum!
We had a rockin good time to quote Sailor Ripley. Kidlet and I do well on trips together. Having the same taste in music is a big help. Although I am fairly sure most 13 year olds don't veer between say, Gary Glitter and Korn. Mine does! We road trip well together.
Next summers trip is going to be shorter than I had wanted thanks in part to the lovely Norwalk virus and the fact that the budget is going to be tighter due to my overtime being cut way back. So we are not going to take the train or drive as that would wipe out a good 6 days of our time and I have skymiles for a ticket. Instead I think we are going to end up just doing New Orleans this summer and then shoot for Memphis and Savannah the following summer. I want to be able to spend a week in each of those places rather than just a day or two.
We want to do some voluntourism in NOLA as well. The Habitat Musicians Village or Brad Pitts Make It Right or clean up with the Catholic Charities. If anyone is in that area and has tips on who or what would be a good organization to connect with to help out PLEASE let me know.
You all know Katrina really got to me and Kidlet has a love affair with NOLA courtesy of Anne Rice, Poppy Brite and countless ghost stories. NOLA is Kidlet's number one most important place to visit in the US of A. Goths and Ghosts and Vampires, Oh My! We could try for more places for less time on less money or we could spend 11 nights in NOLA and go all out AND help the Katrina folks. So we went with that choice. So I am officially taking recommendations on things to do in NOLA and restaurants.
Ok people, I am off to watch White Christmas. Working tomorrow and then seeing Sweeney Todd tomorrow night at 7:50. I will review it for sure. I am SO excited to finally see it!
WOW... Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye doing the feather pseudo drag number in White Christmas while muted and listening to U2's Babyface is one very fucked up experience.
Just wow.
A few more of my favorites from U2. And yes I love Mr. The Edge doing Numb and Kidlet is crazed for Lemon. I dig Bono's Fat Black Lady Voice.
Discotheque - POP
Staring At The Sun - POP
Zooropa - Zooropa - yeah I know, not POP. Bite me :P
I don't care what you all say, I love POP.
Kicks How To Dismantle An Atomic Bombs ass. Handily.
Left field I know. Sorry but I was watching The 7 Ages of Rock and Roll on VH1 Classic and feel somewhat pissy over the fact that tonight's episode on Stadium Rock gave my boys a whopping 6 minutes.
SIX FUCKING MINUTES FOR U2?!?!
Get bent, Mister BBC.
That is right people I go away and come back and all I bring you is a pissed off U2 Fan rant and one of my favorite U2 songs :P
Gone - U2
Ok...have you listened? Have you? Cause if you just pretend to, I will know and I will get pissy with you :P
Kidlets birthday was awesome. I am a convert. I used to adore Cannon Beach but Yachats was just amazing. I can not recommend the Overleaf Lodge enough. We were there following the massive storm I am sure you all heard about. If they had not had their shit together it would not have been surprising but the place was wonderful and the staff was..HELPFUL! Best customer service I have had in ages.
The top two pictures were from Saturday afternoon, when we had a perfectly clear day. The ocean is about 100 feet or so from our room. Last picture is actually of our room. Bottom floor, the sliding glass door next to the covered porch room way on the bottom left of the picture. The rocks in the top two shots would be right at the right side of the bottom one. We are talking seriously close to the ocean.
Saturday we got up and had breakfast and then we hit the spa and spent 3 hours, yes I said 3 hours, going back and forth from the soaking pool to the steam room and sauna and the hot tube. In between that we lounged in the fireside room reading magazines or on the chaise with cucumbers on our eyes. We then had massages with aromatherapy oils. It was Deeeelish.
For dinner we went to The Yachats River House, which was awesome, and had yummies. We started with the roasted garlic cloves and rogue salad. Kidlet had rare Ahi poke style and I had rack of lamb. Dessert was a flourless chocolate espresso cake for Kidlet and creme brulee for moi. Great restaurant. If anyone makes it to Oregon, it is worth the drive to the central Oregon coast. Kidlet and I could have moved in. Friday and Saturday nights were spent watching tons of movies and eating junk food and drinking tea. The room came with a coffee pot and fridge and we brought snacks. We each had a queen and they gave us each 5 (!!) down pillows. It was yum!
We had a rockin good time to quote Sailor Ripley. Kidlet and I do well on trips together. Having the same taste in music is a big help. Although I am fairly sure most 13 year olds don't veer between say, Gary Glitter and Korn. Mine does! We road trip well together.
Next summers trip is going to be shorter than I had wanted thanks in part to the lovely Norwalk virus and the fact that the budget is going to be tighter due to my overtime being cut way back. So we are not going to take the train or drive as that would wipe out a good 6 days of our time and I have skymiles for a ticket. Instead I think we are going to end up just doing New Orleans this summer and then shoot for Memphis and Savannah the following summer. I want to be able to spend a week in each of those places rather than just a day or two.
We want to do some voluntourism in NOLA as well. The Habitat Musicians Village or Brad Pitts Make It Right or clean up with the Catholic Charities. If anyone is in that area and has tips on who or what would be a good organization to connect with to help out PLEASE let me know.
You all know Katrina really got to me and Kidlet has a love affair with NOLA courtesy of Anne Rice, Poppy Brite and countless ghost stories. NOLA is Kidlet's number one most important place to visit in the US of A. Goths and Ghosts and Vampires, Oh My! We could try for more places for less time on less money or we could spend 11 nights in NOLA and go all out AND help the Katrina folks. So we went with that choice. So I am officially taking recommendations on things to do in NOLA and restaurants.
Ok people, I am off to watch White Christmas. Working tomorrow and then seeing Sweeney Todd tomorrow night at 7:50. I will review it for sure. I am SO excited to finally see it!
WOW... Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye doing the feather pseudo drag number in White Christmas while muted and listening to U2's Babyface is one very fucked up experience.
Just wow.
A few more of my favorites from U2. And yes I love Mr. The Edge doing Numb and Kidlet is crazed for Lemon. I dig Bono's Fat Black Lady Voice.
Discotheque - POP
Staring At The Sun - POP
Zooropa - Zooropa - yeah I know, not POP. Bite me :P
HA HA HO HO HO
Yes I live, more tonight, but in the meantime this comes via Sparky Duck
| You Are a Christmas Sweater! |
 Over the top, colorful, and totally flashy. You're not afraid to be a little tacky. |
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Gimme Gimme Cha Cha Heels
Well kidlet has been ill ALL week long and we just put her on antibiotics today. But we are still going to the beach, dammit. So we are trying to prepare and I am watching Kinky Boots. I am going in for a few hours and then we are driving to the coast. Fortunately we are going waaay South so we should be free from Storm damage.
In my absence I leave you with my favorite clip from Kinky Boots. Drag Queens Rule. Then again I am just a liberal pimping another gay agenda, or so I have been told ;)
PS Hey Homophobes....not all gays wanna bang you. They are just not that into you.
In my absence I leave you with my favorite clip from Kinky Boots. Drag Queens Rule. Then again I am just a liberal pimping another gay agenda, or so I have been told ;)
PS Hey Homophobes....not all gays wanna bang you. They are just not that into you.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
World AIDS Day - And The Beat Goes On
This is my post from last year on World AIDS day with a few changes. This will be the 20th World AIDS day, come Dec 1 2007. It seems fitting to deja vu a post on AIDS as more things seem to stay the same. As long as we moralize the disease and monetize the cure and treatment, this will never end. The only thing that might save us is if people of faith start acting like their Gods, rather than playing them.
December 1st is World AIDS day. As a Gen X'er I have pretty much grown up under the specter of this disease. No free love, or swinging, or love the one your with (or whoever keys you fish out of the bowl) for my peers and myself. I remember hearing about AIDS for the first time as "GRID." Dan Rather looked somber and they had one of the medical charts that shows a heart rate. The tie in on that was always a bit hazy for me, since the end all, be all, do all result of this disease seemed to be NO heart beat. I remember the gay bashing and the bigotry that came with it. I remember the hysteria over things like drinking fountains.
I remember Ryan White, I remember Rock Hudson, I remember Bobby Campbell. I remember the sick feeling I had watching people protesting with signs saying they were "dying of red tape." I remember being very proud of the people in Act Up for the Wall Street demonstrations. I remember a rather unpleasant dinner conversation with an uncle who worked for Burroughs Welcome.
And I remember the faces of the people I took care of who were dying of AIDS.
From 1989-1991 I worked in an inner city hospital on the medical floor as a CNA. The hospital was located in a trendy area popular with Gen X'ers, artists, young families with children looking for a more urban lifestyle, and the gay and lesbian community. It also had a large housebound geriatric population and a growing homeless population. I was 20 when I started working there. You could say it had a profound affect on me.
In 17 months, I saw faces from each of these groups die of AIDS. The drag queens, the artists, the elderly, and the children were all represented. I remember the grandmother who beat cancer but died a year later at 83 from the blood transfusions she received. I remember the street people who died. At times, we didn't even know their real names. I remember the hemophiliac kids who were still fighting the disease when I left. I remember the street kids - teenagers- and their combative attitudes when given their diagnosis. It seemed impossible to them that they were 16 and would probably die before they reached legal drinking age. Can you blame them?
I remember Tony, who's family would have nothing to do with him. In their minds, AIDS was gods punishments for gays. Tony was a sweetheart. He was a stylist. His last words to me were some heartfelt advice on my hair and it's complete lack of style. Had he been able to give me the "do" he had in mind, I am sure I would have conquered the world. We were the same age. He was 22 when he died. **Update - Kidlet just found me a picture of his quilt in the Names Project online. It has been nearly 20 years since he died and not enough has changed. But the numbers keep going up, and the tears keep falling, don't they?
I remember Ollie and his love of Haagen Daz blueberry and cream swirl ice cream. I remember his love of papaya. I remember nearly falling over when he came back to visit us before his final relapse. He was back from Hawaii with papayas in hand. He was gorgeous. The last time I saw him he weighed a bit over 90 pounds while standing over 6 feet tall. I could carry him like I did my daughter. When she was two.
I remember Robert and the amazing bead work he did despite the fact that AIDS left him blind. He made the most intricate Indian moccasins. I remember walking in the AIDS walk the year he died. It was dedicated to his memory.
Most of all I remember Neal. And his cigarettes and how he nearly burned his bed down trying to smoke one. I remember the bags of Hershey's kisses he'd have his SO bring me every time I was scheduled to work. I remember his love of clear high heel pumps with the goldfish in the heels. That man could make me laugh like no one else. I miss you, Neal.
I remember the 20+ funerals I attended. I remember holding the hands of men with no families present. I remember both comforting and being comforted by life partners when death finally came. I remember the kind woman who was volunteering at the Names Project who was there with a hug and a box of tissues when I found the quilts of three of my patients and burst into tears looking at the ordinary reminders of lives that were gone and people who were no more.
I remember when the AIDS death total finally exceeded that of the Vietnam War. Over 58,000 dead from the virus. That was then.
Today, AIDS has killed over 25 million people and there are over 33 million living with it. In developing nations people are dying for lack of medicines that cost less than the average candy bar. TWIX or death?
Our politicians are only as good as we make them be. Hold them accountable. If enough people stand up and demand they do something about AIDS and all the stupid poverty related deaths that could be avoided, they will. Remind them that it's not about charity, it's about justice.
The changes we need may not happen tomorrow, or next month, or next year. But if we keep making noise, they will happen, and maybe today's kids will not have to live in a world where a child dies every three seconds from AIDS and poverty. Make noise for these people. Make noise for my kid and her friends. Make noise for your kids or the children in your family.
Please visit One.org and sign the declaration.
HIV: Key Facts and Dates
1981 First documented case of AIDS (then referred to as GRID)
1982 AIDS first used as a term and is detected on five continents
1985 Rock Hudson first public figure to be known to have died of AIDS
1986 Needle exchanges first piloted in the UK
1987 Don’t Die of Ignorance campaign
1987 Photographs of Princess Diana holding the hand of an AIDS patient broadcast around the world
1987 First form of anti-retro viral treatment available (AZT) in the US
1987 National AIDS Trust founded
1987 First successful form of HIV ‘anti-body’ tests widely available in the UK
1988 First World AIDS Day held
1989 First HIV awareness materials targeted at gay men produced by Health Education Authority
1990 Mark Fowler diagnosed HIV positive on Eastenders
1991 Half of the 500,000 people living with HIV in the West had died
1991 Freddie Mercury died
1991 Red ribbon becomes the international symbol of HIV
1991 Princess Diana becomes patron of the National AIDS Trust
1991 Number of people infected with HIV worldwide reaches 10 million
1995 The film Philadelphia screened
1995 First combination therapy treatment available in the US dramatically improving the life chances of people living with HIV
1996 UNAIDS established
1999 90% of all people living with HIV are in the developing world
2001 Pharmaceutical companies abandon court case against South Africa’s Treatment Access Campaign, allowing generic production of anti-retrovirals for the first time
2002 Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria set up to increase funding to fight the world’s biggest killer diseases. As of 2007 Only 28% of people with AIDS in developing countries are getting the medicines they need
Today 33.2 million people with AIDS worldwide. 25 million have died. There are 12 million AIDS orphans.
After 20 months, (RED) Products have funnelled over 50 million dollars into the Global Fund. Shop Smart. Shop RED Smart.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Thursday Thirteen #33 - Pablo Picasso Was Never Called An Asshole
1. Rocky Horror Picture Show
Frank: Give yourself over to absolute pleasure. Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh - erotic nightmares beyond any measure, and sensual daydreams to treasure forever. Can't you just see it? Don't dream it, be it.
10. Wild At Heart
Sailor: Did I ever tell ya that this here jacket represents a symbol of my individuality, and my belief in personal freedom?
Lula: About fifty thousand times.
11. Donnie Darko
Donnie: Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit?
Frank: Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?
12. Heathers
Veronica Sawyer: Dear Diary, my teen-angst bullshit now has a body count.
13. Nightmare Before Christmas
Jack Skellington: [singing] There's children throwing snowballs / instead of throwing heads / they're busy building toys / and absolutely no one's dead!
Frank: Give yourself over to absolute pleasure. Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh - erotic nightmares beyond any measure, and sensual daydreams to treasure forever. Can't you just see it? Don't dream it, be it.
2. Repo Man
Debbi: Duke, let's go do some crimes.
Duke: Yeah. Let's go get sushi and not pay.
3. Velvet Goldmine
Curt Wild: We set out to change the world... ended up just changing ourselves.
Arthur Stuart: What's wrong with that?
Curt Wild: Nothing, if you don't look at the world.
4. Army of Darkness
Ash: Ok you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! You see this? This... is my boomstick! The 12-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about $109.95. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That's right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. You got that?
5. Trainspotting
Tommy: Doesn't it make you proud to be Scottish?
Mark "Rent-boy" Renton: It's SHITE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low. The scum of the fucking Earth! The most wretched miserable servile pathetic trash that was ever shat on civilization. Some people hate the English. I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are colonized by wankers. Can't even find a decent culture to get colonized by. We're ruled by effete assholes. It's a shite state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and all the fresh air in the world won't make any fucking difference!
6. Night of the Living Dead
Sheriff McClelland: Well, there's no problem. If you have a gun, shoot 'em in the head. That's a sure way to kill 'em. If you don't, get yourself a club or a torch. Beat 'em or burn 'em. They go up pretty easy.
7. Big Lebowski *the ENTIRE movie is one long classic quote. Coen Bros rule.
The Dude: [repeated line by The Dude and others] That rug really tied the room together.
Walter Sobchak: I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos!
Donny: What's Shabbos?
Walter Sobchak: Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't get in a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't pick up the phone, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit [shouts]
Walter Sobchak: don't fucking roll! Shomer shabbos!
The Dude: Walter...
Walter Sobchak: Shomer fucking shabbos.
The Dude: Oh fuck it.
8. Raising Arizona
Parole Board chairman: They've got a name for people like you H.I. That name is called "recidivism."
Parole Board member: Repeat offender!
Parole Board chairman: Not a pretty name, is it H.I.?
H.I.: No, sir. That's one bonehead name, but that ain't me any more.
Parole Board chairman: You're not just telling us what we want to hear?
H.I.: No, sir, no way.
Parole Board member: 'Cause we just want to hear the truth.
H.I.: Well, then I guess I am telling you what you want to hear.
Parole Board chairman: Boy, didn't we just tell you not to do that?
H.I.: Yes, sir.
Parole Board chairman: Okay, then.
9. O Brother Where Art Thou?
Tommy Johnson: I had to be up at that there crossroads last midnight, to sell my soul to the devil. Ulysses Everett McGill: Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking. Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved. I guess I'm the only one that remains unaffiliated.
Ulysses Everett McGill: I don't want FOP Damn it, I'm a Dapper Dan Man!
10. Wild At Heart
Sailor: Did I ever tell ya that this here jacket represents a symbol of my individuality, and my belief in personal freedom?
Lula: About fifty thousand times.
11. Donnie Darko
Donnie: Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit?
Frank: Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?
12. Heathers
Veronica Sawyer: Dear Diary, my teen-angst bullshit now has a body count.
13. Nightmare Before Christmas
Jack Skellington: [singing] There's children throwing snowballs / instead of throwing heads / they're busy building toys / and absolutely no one's dead!
Wordless Wednesday 39 - How Long To Sing This Song
Wondering what this is about? Read the first comment!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Zu Zu's Petals
I just read that next Monday (Dec 3rd) on Inside the Actors Studio on Bravo the actor in question will be John Cusack. And I think I have made my Lloyd Dobler fixation clear in the past. As if that were not awesome enough, Dec 17th will have...Johnny Depp. Lord have mercy, Santa is bring the John's this year!
We saw What Would Jesus Buy? this weekend and it was awesome. Kidlet and I have decided to opt out of the commercial festivities this year. We are going to donate our present cash to Nothing But Nets. My parents are donating their present money to Smile Train the charity that funds Cleft Palate reconstruction surgeries in South America. We can buy and do buy CD's whenever we want to so why the need to spend spend spend just because the calendar says 12/25? Even if you don't buy into the whole Christianity bit, you can't deny that the message attributed to Jesus himself, that being peace, is a great one. It's not the Lord's fault his followers can be annoying ;)
So this year we are going to do a yummy dinner, enjoy the tree and the lights and watching It's A Wonderful Life and NOT have it be about what we "GOT" but more about what we have. Novel concept =)
We saw What Would Jesus Buy? this weekend and it was awesome. Kidlet and I have decided to opt out of the commercial festivities this year. We are going to donate our present cash to Nothing But Nets. My parents are donating their present money to Smile Train the charity that funds Cleft Palate reconstruction surgeries in South America. We can buy and do buy CD's whenever we want to so why the need to spend spend spend just because the calendar says 12/25? Even if you don't buy into the whole Christianity bit, you can't deny that the message attributed to Jesus himself, that being peace, is a great one. It's not the Lord's fault his followers can be annoying ;)
So this year we are going to do a yummy dinner, enjoy the tree and the lights and watching It's A Wonderful Life and NOT have it be about what we "GOT" but more about what we have. Novel concept =)
Saturday, November 24, 2007
The Mist...
...was awesome. Really truly a great old fashioned horror flick. It was a Lovecraftian/Twillight Zone meets Lord Of The Flies look at society as seen through the twisted vision of Stephen King.
AND THE ENDING! HOLY SHIT!!
Props to the director and screenwriter for re-working the ending. King loved it and I thought it took some serious cojones. Two thumbs up from Kidlet and I. Although we both may have issues sleeping tonight!
AND THE ENDING! HOLY SHIT!!
Props to the director and screenwriter for re-working the ending. King loved it and I thought it took some serious cojones. Two thumbs up from Kidlet and I. Although we both may have issues sleeping tonight!
The Church Of Groovy Feel Good
What Would Jesus Buy?
Going to see The Mist tonight and the above tomorrow. Simply can not wait for WWJB. It has been called "ferociously satirical." That my friends is what I would pick if I had my choice for my epitaph.
And how was everyones Turkey Day? I actuall DID NOT WORK the Friday after Thanksgiving which is a first in about 7 years. Kidlet's dad was running late so I ended up on the couch with kidlet watching The Craft. Also watched Ocean's 13 which was MUCH better than Ocean's 12. Brad Pitt and George Clooney have such natural chemistry. They are just fun to watch. The fact that they are both gorgeous does not hurt either :P
Oh and to anyone interested, the Joe Strummer movie is available On Demand for those who have Comcast cable. 5.99 and worth every penny. Under the IFC in theaters listing. If you like The Clash, you'll dig the movie.
Going to see The Mist tonight and the above tomorrow. Simply can not wait for WWJB. It has been called "ferociously satirical." That my friends is what I would pick if I had my choice for my epitaph.
And how was everyones Turkey Day? I actuall DID NOT WORK the Friday after Thanksgiving which is a first in about 7 years. Kidlet's dad was running late so I ended up on the couch with kidlet watching The Craft. Also watched Ocean's 13 which was MUCH better than Ocean's 12. Brad Pitt and George Clooney have such natural chemistry. They are just fun to watch. The fact that they are both gorgeous does not hurt either :P
Oh and to anyone interested, the Joe Strummer movie is available On Demand for those who have Comcast cable. 5.99 and worth every penny. Under the IFC in theaters listing. If you like The Clash, you'll dig the movie.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Got Monks?
Cause Burma doesn't. The number of monks missing after the protests is staggering. Wish you could help? You can courtesy of the following from Avaaz.org.
Boycott Chevron Gas and stop putting money into the pockets of the Burmese Junta. Click the link to be added to the email list going to the executives at Chevron/Texaco and Total Oil.
"Far from the headlines, the crisis in Burma continues--fueled, in part, by international oil corporations like Total Oil and Chevron/Texaco. These corporations don't just fund the junta; they lobby on its behalf in capital cities around the world. These are the same companies many of us fuel up with. That means our pressure as consumers has the power to force change—and it's our responsibility to act.
Will you pledge to join the global boycott of Chevron and Total? The boycott will last until the companies withdraw from Burma, or until the Burmese junta begins a genuine democratic transition and frees all political prisoners--including Aung San Suu Kyi. We'll deliver all the pledges and comments straight to the top management of Chevron and Total. You can see what brands to avoid in your country and take the pledge, at:
Boycott Chevron Gas
French oil giant Total (which also owns ELF and FINA) and U.S.-based Chevron (which also owns Texaco, Caltex an Unocal) have been operating the Yadana natural gas pipeline in southern Burma since the early '90s.The junta takes in an estimated $450 million a year from the Yadana project alone--and uses that money to maintain its brutal control, while most people in Burma live in dire poverty. To keep their profits flowing, Chevron and Total lobby hard in the U.S. and Europe against government measures to support a democratic transition in Burma.
For companies like this, it's all about the bottom line. We must show them that if they keep backing the Burmese dictatorship, they will lose their customers--by the tens of thousands, the hundreds of thousands, even by the millions.
With enough pressure in the pocket book, we could actually get these companies to switch sides--using their enormous leverage with the Burmese regime to push for the democratic reforms necessary to call off the boycott. It just requires more loss from the boycott than profit from the junta.
Could that happen? Yes--if we act together. That's why we're raising a call for an international boycott of Total and Chevron. The pledge: to refuse to buy fuel from any Total, Chevron, ELF, FINA, Texaco or Caltex station in our home countries and wherever we travel. The boycott will last until the Burmese junta begins a genuine democratic transition and frees all political prisoners--including Aung San Suu Kyi --or until these companies exit Burma completely.
To make sure our voice is heard, we'll deliver all the boycott pledges and comments straight to the senior corporate management of Chevron and Total Oil. You can add your name to the boycott pledge today, at:
Boycott Chevron Gas
We've all witnessed the rise of global corporations whose power crosses national boundaries. But today, Chevron and Total are going to witness the rise of something greater: global people power. Today, as consumers and world citizens, we stand up together to demand justice for the people of Burma – and our voices will be heard.
P.S. Chevron and Total often try to hide behind the argument that their presence benefits the Burmese population. But the call to target Chevron and Total comes directly from the people of Burma themselves:
"Total has become the main supporter of the Burmese military regime."
-- Aung San Suu Kyi
Nobel Peace Prize winner and last elected leader of Burma"
Alrighty, off my soapbox for today!
Boycott Chevron Gas and stop putting money into the pockets of the Burmese Junta. Click the link to be added to the email list going to the executives at Chevron/Texaco and Total Oil.
"Far from the headlines, the crisis in Burma continues--fueled, in part, by international oil corporations like Total Oil and Chevron/Texaco. These corporations don't just fund the junta; they lobby on its behalf in capital cities around the world. These are the same companies many of us fuel up with. That means our pressure as consumers has the power to force change—and it's our responsibility to act.
Will you pledge to join the global boycott of Chevron and Total? The boycott will last until the companies withdraw from Burma, or until the Burmese junta begins a genuine democratic transition and frees all political prisoners--including Aung San Suu Kyi. We'll deliver all the pledges and comments straight to the top management of Chevron and Total. You can see what brands to avoid in your country and take the pledge, at:
Boycott Chevron Gas
French oil giant Total (which also owns ELF and FINA) and U.S.-based Chevron (which also owns Texaco, Caltex an Unocal) have been operating the Yadana natural gas pipeline in southern Burma since the early '90s.The junta takes in an estimated $450 million a year from the Yadana project alone--and uses that money to maintain its brutal control, while most people in Burma live in dire poverty. To keep their profits flowing, Chevron and Total lobby hard in the U.S. and Europe against government measures to support a democratic transition in Burma.
For companies like this, it's all about the bottom line. We must show them that if they keep backing the Burmese dictatorship, they will lose their customers--by the tens of thousands, the hundreds of thousands, even by the millions.
With enough pressure in the pocket book, we could actually get these companies to switch sides--using their enormous leverage with the Burmese regime to push for the democratic reforms necessary to call off the boycott. It just requires more loss from the boycott than profit from the junta.
Could that happen? Yes--if we act together. That's why we're raising a call for an international boycott of Total and Chevron. The pledge: to refuse to buy fuel from any Total, Chevron, ELF, FINA, Texaco or Caltex station in our home countries and wherever we travel. The boycott will last until the Burmese junta begins a genuine democratic transition and frees all political prisoners--including Aung San Suu Kyi --or until these companies exit Burma completely.
To make sure our voice is heard, we'll deliver all the boycott pledges and comments straight to the senior corporate management of Chevron and Total Oil. You can add your name to the boycott pledge today, at:
Boycott Chevron Gas
We've all witnessed the rise of global corporations whose power crosses national boundaries. But today, Chevron and Total are going to witness the rise of something greater: global people power. Today, as consumers and world citizens, we stand up together to demand justice for the people of Burma – and our voices will be heard.
P.S. Chevron and Total often try to hide behind the argument that their presence benefits the Burmese population. But the call to target Chevron and Total comes directly from the people of Burma themselves:
"Total has become the main supporter of the Burmese military regime."
-- Aung San Suu Kyi
Nobel Peace Prize winner and last elected leader of Burma"
Alrighty, off my soapbox for today!
And I Thank You
Title today is a shout out to my mother who has wisely seen the need for pie pan LARGER than 9 inches for our Pecan Pie. We have too many people coming and I want my leftovers. Cause everyone voted for Pumpkin and Blackbottom pie except mom and I, but I just KNOW they will hog the pecan. I just feel it in my pecan lovin' bones.
I am loopy. Worked both days this weekend, and 11.5 hour days yesterday and today. And a 10 on tap for tomorrow. Turkey Day will be relaxing. Working a long one on Friday and Saturday. Sunday I am also working but only 4 hours. Trying to get November work out on time and get a jump on December so I can relax around the holidays. Plus the weekend out of town with kidlet on the 7/8.
Sunday I think kidlet and I are going to go see a movie at Cinema 21 again. That's where we saw the Strummer movie. We saw the previews for What Would Jesus Buy? and it looked frickin hysterical. It takes on one of my major pet peeves. The commercialization of Christmas and Americans worship of the almighty dollar in general. With a slight tweak of evangelicalism as well. How can that NOT appeal to me? I loathe shopping AND organized religion, so count me in. I love the fact that they use the Disney font on their site too. Quite amusing.
Not sure if any of my readers are signed up ONE.ORG members, but I got an email yesterday saying that our letter/email campaign to the International Monetary Fund asking them to keep their promise to forgive Liberia's debt worked. They even acknowledge the vast numbers of writers who put the pressure on them to keep their word. Liberia has been decimated by civil wars and the likes of Charles Taylor -with some help from that evangelical pig Pat Robertson. If you have seen Blood Diamond or Lord of War you have an idea. They finally have a chance to put their money into their people, rather than paying off the debts that ass Taylor and other petty dictators have racked up. With a large handful of European and American complicity, I might add. It's like our current "credit crisis." How could they not see this would happen? Give a 400k mortage to a McD worker with your super low cost ARM and what do you think will happen when the rates go up? Just another example of corporate greed.
Now if only the special tribunal in Sierra Leone would fry Charles and his equally repellant little son Chuckie. THAT would be something to be thankful for!
I am loopy. Worked both days this weekend, and 11.5 hour days yesterday and today. And a 10 on tap for tomorrow. Turkey Day will be relaxing. Working a long one on Friday and Saturday. Sunday I am also working but only 4 hours. Trying to get November work out on time and get a jump on December so I can relax around the holidays. Plus the weekend out of town with kidlet on the 7/8.
Sunday I think kidlet and I are going to go see a movie at Cinema 21 again. That's where we saw the Strummer movie. We saw the previews for What Would Jesus Buy? and it looked frickin hysterical. It takes on one of my major pet peeves. The commercialization of Christmas and Americans worship of the almighty dollar in general. With a slight tweak of evangelicalism as well. How can that NOT appeal to me? I loathe shopping AND organized religion, so count me in. I love the fact that they use the Disney font on their site too. Quite amusing.
Not sure if any of my readers are signed up ONE.ORG members, but I got an email yesterday saying that our letter/email campaign to the International Monetary Fund asking them to keep their promise to forgive Liberia's debt worked. They even acknowledge the vast numbers of writers who put the pressure on them to keep their word. Liberia has been decimated by civil wars and the likes of Charles Taylor -with some help from that evangelical pig Pat Robertson. If you have seen Blood Diamond or Lord of War you have an idea. They finally have a chance to put their money into their people, rather than paying off the debts that ass Taylor and other petty dictators have racked up. With a large handful of European and American complicity, I might add. It's like our current "credit crisis." How could they not see this would happen? Give a 400k mortage to a McD worker with your super low cost ARM and what do you think will happen when the rates go up? Just another example of corporate greed.
Now if only the special tribunal in Sierra Leone would fry Charles and his equally repellant little son Chuckie. THAT would be something to be thankful for!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
This Is The Day Your Life Will Surely Change
I am a slacker. I know. Sue me. I have just been so frickin busy with work and ...shock and awe....going out places! Holy shit, call the medics, Starr has been social. Well with my kidlet at least.
As I am sure you are all aware kidlet and I were champing at the bit waiting to see both Control and Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten. I know I have inflicted postage about it upon all you folks. Well last weekend, kidlet and I saw TWO movies! Seriously, I went something like 3 years without seeing more than 2 movies in a theater and this year I am rockin the multiplexes on a regular basis. See ladies, dump a guy and see more movies!
First up we saw Control on Friday the 9th after kidlet had her full physical (in which we confirmed she is indeed taller than her grandmother) and dinner out downtown. It was so very good. Sam Riley did an amazing job as Ian. I was impressed to see that the show was nearly sold out and there were, gasp, people under 30 there! Other than my rebel 12 year old of course. Very few dry eyes in the house as the credits rolled. What I liked most about it was that it gave you a 3 dimensional look at Ian outside the mythos surrounding his suicide.
Sunday we saw Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten at a little art house theater and actually sat up in the balcony, which was a first for kidlet. Again, just a great movie. If you dig The Clash, try to see this in a theater. It was a strong pro for the contention that they were indeed the only band that really mattered. Joe had a thing for bonfires at the end of his life, and Temple employed that for the interviews with people. They all sat around bonfires reminiscing about Joe. It was really great. Hard to believe he is gone.
Folks have asked for more info on the verbal assault on Mr.Principal Man. Basically, kidlets math teacher is a mess and routinely "loses" kidlets homework. Mind you, this is the child who tweaks and can't relax until her homework is done, has straight A's in every other class(including language arts and science where she has perfect scores. As in not a point missed all term) and is in the Talented and Gifted Program.
So now, her dad and I sign off on her assignments so that Teacher Twat can not say they were never done, and TT has to sign them when kidlet turns them in so she can not claim they wre not turned in. That said...the "missing" assignments that kidlet did twice and turned in back in October were not returned to her AGAIN.
At that point, I had a chat with Mr. Principal Man. Who tried to speak to me like I was his student, which in turn made me tell him to put down his whistle and clipboard and speak to me like an adult or we'd be doing this chat in the district superindents office. That shut his shortman overcompensating ass up right fast. It went downhill for him from there. I am totally unimpressed with the school district thus far. Kidlet is applying for an options school that stresses writing for next year and I so hope we make it. Lottery system though, so it is all chance.
Got Gabriel the new black kitty kat and he is so affectionate! Harley is sweet natured and loves people, but Gabe is bordering on stalker territory :P
Let's see, what else. Turkey Day is coming up, whoo hoo, with extra family which will be fun, cause I like this cousin. Kidlet's birthday is coming up and we are doing low key dinner and cake on her actual Birthday. The following weekend, the two of us are heading to the coast on Friday and staying two nights. Going to play at the beach and get massages at a day spa. That I am looking forward to!
In my recent slackerdom I was also tagged by Mo from Insides Mo's Mind for the 7 weird/random things about me. I have done the 6 and 8 things version so I am combining them and giving you all 14 things about me. If you want to play consider yourself tagged and let me know and I will link ya!
1. I have never seen The Sound of Music and I never will. I barfed a bit just typing that out.
2. I drink a lot of coffee. I mean a LOT of coffee. It is a wonder the Red Cross gets any blood out of me. I think they have to centrifuge out the espresso.
3. I have weird food rituals surrounding pancakes. I must have them after concerts and sex.
4. I read non fiction textbooks for fun. Actually I buy them not just read them.
5. I love football and action movies with much guns and violence. Jackie Chan is a bonus. They are going to take away my chick card real soon.
6. I drive to relieve stress or just for entertainment. Music loud, cold Coke, windows wide open. I love love love wind. I was a Lab in a previous life I am positive.
7. I never met my biological dad. Well at least that I can remember. Supposedly I am an interesting case study in nature vs nuture.
8. The first and last guys that I slept with were both Southern. They were also the only ones who were any good! Coincidence? Dunno!
9. I have a thing about supplying the dialogue to silent movies. Mind you it is not the ACTUAL dialogue. It is my own creation and usually wildly inappropriate (kinda like me!)
10. I can name all of the ruling Kings and Queen England from William the First (that bastard) all the way on up to QE2. I have a thing for history in general, English in particular. I buy textbooks for fun. See #4.
11. This one courtesy of my mom. I have a tendency to repeat a word over and over when I am excited or tired. It's not a stutter in that I say the entire word correctly. I just say it more than once! Of course that is a neurological thing that I can't be held responsible for as I pointed out to her. I also asked her if she poked the handicapped when she came across them :P
12. Also provided by mom, I have issues with lids and tops. Like for jars, toothpaste, etc etc. Apparently I don't like the put them on with any great consistency. Mom pondered the thought that perhaps I had a fear of enclosed spaces. It's one of those things that I am not very aware of, but looking at my desk, I see caps and lids and an open bottle of hand lotion. What can I say, Don't Fence Me In!
13. I have a thing for retaining bizarre, pointless, music trivia. Weird stuff like knowing all 4 members of Crue while never having owned a Crue album. Why do I know this?
What drives me nuts about it is that I always forget one or two minor things which I know but for some reason, refuse to retain. Here are the big two. I always forget 1 of the 5 bands that Eric Clapton has been in. Sometimes I space John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and other time I space out Blind Faith. But I ALWAYS forget one of them. Much like I ALWAYS space Vince Clarke's name when we get to talking about who left Depeche Mode and went to Yaz and the Erasure. I have actually woken up in the middle of the night and said "VINCE CLARKE" out loud after it has been driving on me.
14. This last I thought of right away while reading Tigg's. She writes that she still to this day sleeps with the covers tight around her neck to keep away zee vampires. A habit she picked up in childhood. I, on the other hand, used to wake up and be PISSED off that I was NOT made a vampire in my sleep. I blame this on reading Anne Rice at age 10. And yes, I am Gother Than Thou. (That's an in-joke for the black clothed contingent.)
As I am sure you are all aware kidlet and I were champing at the bit waiting to see both Control and Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten. I know I have inflicted postage about it upon all you folks. Well last weekend, kidlet and I saw TWO movies! Seriously, I went something like 3 years without seeing more than 2 movies in a theater and this year I am rockin the multiplexes on a regular basis. See ladies, dump a guy and see more movies!
First up we saw Control on Friday the 9th after kidlet had her full physical (in which we confirmed she is indeed taller than her grandmother) and dinner out downtown. It was so very good. Sam Riley did an amazing job as Ian. I was impressed to see that the show was nearly sold out and there were, gasp, people under 30 there! Other than my rebel 12 year old of course. Very few dry eyes in the house as the credits rolled. What I liked most about it was that it gave you a 3 dimensional look at Ian outside the mythos surrounding his suicide.
Sunday we saw Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten at a little art house theater and actually sat up in the balcony, which was a first for kidlet. Again, just a great movie. If you dig The Clash, try to see this in a theater. It was a strong pro for the contention that they were indeed the only band that really mattered. Joe had a thing for bonfires at the end of his life, and Temple employed that for the interviews with people. They all sat around bonfires reminiscing about Joe. It was really great. Hard to believe he is gone.
Folks have asked for more info on the verbal assault on Mr.Principal Man. Basically, kidlets math teacher is a mess and routinely "loses" kidlets homework. Mind you, this is the child who tweaks and can't relax until her homework is done, has straight A's in every other class(including language arts and science where she has perfect scores. As in not a point missed all term) and is in the Talented and Gifted Program.
So now, her dad and I sign off on her assignments so that Teacher Twat can not say they were never done, and TT has to sign them when kidlet turns them in so she can not claim they wre not turned in. That said...the "missing" assignments that kidlet did twice and turned in back in October were not returned to her AGAIN.
At that point, I had a chat with Mr. Principal Man. Who tried to speak to me like I was his student, which in turn made me tell him to put down his whistle and clipboard and speak to me like an adult or we'd be doing this chat in the district superindents office. That shut his shortman overcompensating ass up right fast. It went downhill for him from there. I am totally unimpressed with the school district thus far. Kidlet is applying for an options school that stresses writing for next year and I so hope we make it. Lottery system though, so it is all chance.
Got Gabriel the new black kitty kat and he is so affectionate! Harley is sweet natured and loves people, but Gabe is bordering on stalker territory :P
Let's see, what else. Turkey Day is coming up, whoo hoo, with extra family which will be fun, cause I like this cousin. Kidlet's birthday is coming up and we are doing low key dinner and cake on her actual Birthday. The following weekend, the two of us are heading to the coast on Friday and staying two nights. Going to play at the beach and get massages at a day spa. That I am looking forward to!
In my recent slackerdom I was also tagged by Mo from Insides Mo's Mind for the 7 weird/random things about me. I have done the 6 and 8 things version so I am combining them and giving you all 14 things about me. If you want to play consider yourself tagged and let me know and I will link ya!
1. I have never seen The Sound of Music and I never will. I barfed a bit just typing that out.
2. I drink a lot of coffee. I mean a LOT of coffee. It is a wonder the Red Cross gets any blood out of me. I think they have to centrifuge out the espresso.
3. I have weird food rituals surrounding pancakes. I must have them after concerts and sex.
4. I read non fiction textbooks for fun. Actually I buy them not just read them.
5. I love football and action movies with much guns and violence. Jackie Chan is a bonus. They are going to take away my chick card real soon.
6. I drive to relieve stress or just for entertainment. Music loud, cold Coke, windows wide open. I love love love wind. I was a Lab in a previous life I am positive.
7. I never met my biological dad. Well at least that I can remember. Supposedly I am an interesting case study in nature vs nuture.
8. The first and last guys that I slept with were both Southern. They were also the only ones who were any good! Coincidence? Dunno!
9. I have a thing about supplying the dialogue to silent movies. Mind you it is not the ACTUAL dialogue. It is my own creation and usually wildly inappropriate (kinda like me!)
10. I can name all of the ruling Kings and Queen England from William the First (that bastard) all the way on up to QE2. I have a thing for history in general, English in particular. I buy textbooks for fun. See #4.
11. This one courtesy of my mom. I have a tendency to repeat a word over and over when I am excited or tired. It's not a stutter in that I say the entire word correctly. I just say it more than once! Of course that is a neurological thing that I can't be held responsible for as I pointed out to her. I also asked her if she poked the handicapped when she came across them :P
12. Also provided by mom, I have issues with lids and tops. Like for jars, toothpaste, etc etc. Apparently I don't like the put them on with any great consistency. Mom pondered the thought that perhaps I had a fear of enclosed spaces. It's one of those things that I am not very aware of, but looking at my desk, I see caps and lids and an open bottle of hand lotion. What can I say, Don't Fence Me In!
13. I have a thing for retaining bizarre, pointless, music trivia. Weird stuff like knowing all 4 members of Crue while never having owned a Crue album. Why do I know this?
What drives me nuts about it is that I always forget one or two minor things which I know but for some reason, refuse to retain. Here are the big two. I always forget 1 of the 5 bands that Eric Clapton has been in. Sometimes I space John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and other time I space out Blind Faith. But I ALWAYS forget one of them. Much like I ALWAYS space Vince Clarke's name when we get to talking about who left Depeche Mode and went to Yaz and the Erasure. I have actually woken up in the middle of the night and said "VINCE CLARKE" out loud after it has been driving on me.
14. This last I thought of right away while reading Tigg's. She writes that she still to this day sleeps with the covers tight around her neck to keep away zee vampires. A habit she picked up in childhood. I, on the other hand, used to wake up and be PISSED off that I was NOT made a vampire in my sleep. I blame this on reading Anne Rice at age 10. And yes, I am Gother Than Thou. (That's an in-joke for the black clothed contingent.)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
I Do Believe In Spooks, I Do, I Do, I Do
Here's Johnny!
Or Starr. You miss me? Kidlet and I got back from our Halloween fest and had semi colds. Then I had drama with kidlets math teacher which led to having to verbally violate her principal. Which was fun. I owned his ass =)
Then work went nuts, then kidlet got a full on 2 day migraine (her first, poor kid) and we had doctors appointments. And multiple movies. Long story short...I been busy! And tired!
First up. Thornewood was FRICKIN AWESOME!
I totally recommend it if you are ever in the northwest. I worked 530-noon and then got kidlet and we headed out of town. The drive took a couple hours. When we got to Thornewood and were met at the door and and taken upstairs to The Blue Room
and told the tour would start around 7. The Blue Room has cast iron soaker tub that we fell in love with. Real people can actually stretch out in it as opposed to the modern Oompa Loompa sized tubes we have now.
I love that tub.
The website said "light refreshments" which turned out to be a three course dinner in the dining room which was just beyond gorgeous.
There were 11 of us taking the tour and we all had dinner together and got to know one another. It was very Agatha Christie. I was waiting for a body to appear in the library! After cheesecake and coffee we had the tour with Deanna the owner who shared their experiences in the house and the history.
The place really felt quite peaceful, with the exception of one room upstairs which to we felt had a heavy vibe. As for ghosts, oh that place so has them. First off, everyone who attempted to video record the grand stairway got lines running through their photos including ours. Then after midnight we recorded a huge white blur go whooshing down the stairs. Then we got video in the upstairs room I mentioned before. It shows a huge white cloud and what looks like a the shape of a man sitting in a chair and tracers running through it. Kidlet needs to upload it and I will post it. It was freaky, we were looking at the view finder and then the corner and back ...it was like seeing two different rooms. You can hear me say "What the hell?!?!"
Oh and Chester's ghost kept turning off our lights. 3 times. Al Gore approves!
All in all, it was so much fun.Oh and breakfast the next day was so tasty! If you can make it there...go!
Ok that is it for this evening, I am off to eat ice cream!
Or Starr. You miss me? Kidlet and I got back from our Halloween fest and had semi colds. Then I had drama with kidlets math teacher which led to having to verbally violate her principal. Which was fun. I owned his ass =)
Then work went nuts, then kidlet got a full on 2 day migraine (her first, poor kid) and we had doctors appointments. And multiple movies. Long story short...I been busy! And tired!
First up. Thornewood was FRICKIN AWESOME!
I totally recommend it if you are ever in the northwest. I worked 530-noon and then got kidlet and we headed out of town. The drive took a couple hours. When we got to Thornewood and were met at the door and and taken upstairs to The Blue Room
and told the tour would start around 7. The Blue Room has cast iron soaker tub that we fell in love with. Real people can actually stretch out in it as opposed to the modern Oompa Loompa sized tubes we have now.
I love that tub.
The website said "light refreshments" which turned out to be a three course dinner in the dining room which was just beyond gorgeous.
There were 11 of us taking the tour and we all had dinner together and got to know one another. It was very Agatha Christie. I was waiting for a body to appear in the library! After cheesecake and coffee we had the tour with Deanna the owner who shared their experiences in the house and the history.
The place really felt quite peaceful, with the exception of one room upstairs which to we felt had a heavy vibe. As for ghosts, oh that place so has them. First off, everyone who attempted to video record the grand stairway got lines running through their photos including ours. Then after midnight we recorded a huge white blur go whooshing down the stairs. Then we got video in the upstairs room I mentioned before. It shows a huge white cloud and what looks like a the shape of a man sitting in a chair and tracers running through it. Kidlet needs to upload it and I will post it. It was freaky, we were looking at the view finder and then the corner and back ...it was like seeing two different rooms. You can hear me say "What the hell?!?!"
Oh and Chester's ghost kept turning off our lights. 3 times. Al Gore approves!
All in all, it was so much fun.Oh and breakfast the next day was so tasty! If you can make it there...go!
Ok that is it for this evening, I am off to eat ice cream!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Halloween Hotness 4 - Vamp Lestat Anyone?
Stuart Townsend...oh so very yummy. Sparky's choice is Amy Lee of Evanescence and I give her two thumbs up. She's gorgeous! Now Click Me and go visit Sparky and see more Stuart and Amy. And be sure to check Sparky's tomorrow for the final wrap up of hotness, where in I lay waste to the theory that Goth's have no sense of humor :P
Scroll down for my Wordless Wednesday!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Halloween Hotness Pt 3 - Biff! Bam! Boom! Batman
Part 3 is up kiddies! <----click me!
Ladies, for your pleasure we have Batman himself, Christian Bale. And gentleman, you get a lovely lady named Serena Star - I approve!
In addition I posted the link for a Gothic Modeling site. Guys..Sparky approved so be sure to take a peeky. But be sure to read the info prior to viewing. So head on over to Sparky's and take a peek.
And with that I am off!
I Like Candy When It's Wrapped In A Sweater - Halloween Hotness Part 2!
Click Here to check out Part 2 of the Hotness. More Johnny and Spark's choice of the gorgeous Rose McGowan!
Click the pic of Johnny above to visit Oh Johnny, the fan site!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Cat People - Putting Out Fire With Gasoline
Now this is what I call Halloween Hotness!
That is my soon to be new Kitty Kat. A major wrong will be righted and I shall once again be the owner of a black cat. And Harley, aka Destructo, will have someone to play with. Name poll will be in the works soon for your input and help. So far Bram, Gabriel, Zillah, Dante, and Sabbath are high on the list.
And yes, a cat THAT gorgeous can only be a Kissables Persian!
That is my soon to be new Kitty Kat. A major wrong will be righted and I shall once again be the owner of a black cat. And Harley, aka Destructo, will have someone to play with. Name poll will be in the works soon for your input and help. So far Bram, Gabriel, Zillah, Dante, and Sabbath are high on the list.
And yes, a cat THAT gorgeous can only be a Kissables Persian!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Halloween Hotness Pt 1
I love me some Halloween. I also really love me some Gothy Halloween Hotness, so I was quite tickled when Sparky from Philly Transplant asked me to help out with the his 5 Days of Halloween Hotness to celebrate all that is dark and sexy about Samhain. Which ain't the Banshee, let me tell you. Sparky makes a good point, Halloween has become more of an adult holiday than ever before. And by adult I mean way too many people stuffing themselves into way to many inappropriate costumes. Makes ya wonder what Rachel Ray does for Halloween, no?
You still breathing Matt?
In light of this, don't you think it is wonderful of Sparky and I to provide you with really pretty eye candy? Part 1 is currently up on Sparky's blog. Look for Part 2 this weekend with 3-5 following Mon - Wed.
Go on...Head on over to Sparky's and I promise you we will Treat You Right. No Tricks!
You still breathing Matt?
In light of this, don't you think it is wonderful of Sparky and I to provide you with really pretty eye candy? Part 1 is currently up on Sparky's blog. Look for Part 2 this weekend with 3-5 following Mon - Wed.
Go on...Head on over to Sparky's and I promise you we will Treat You Right. No Tricks!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Thursday Thirteen #32 - We Are Spirits In The Material World
For your Halloween TT Pleasure I bring you 13 spooky places to visit. Some I have been to, some I would love to visit, and others I'd have to think long and hard about venturing in!
1. The Bell Witch Haunting - Tennessee
She was reputedly so scary even Andrew "Stonewall" Jackson retreated before spending a full night at Bell Plantation. The malicious entity that plagued a Tennessee farmhouse in 1817 ended in the only known murder by a poltergeist. The problems began when John Bell saw a strange animal in his cornfield dissolve into thin air. Soon, the family heard scratching at the doors and windows, then gnawing sounds started coming from inside the house. Within a year, the presence began speaking and threatened to kill John. The fame of the "Bell Witch" spread, and even Andrew Jackson came to dispel the spirit. Nothing worked. John Bell was beaten so mercilessly by the presence that his tongue swelled and he could barely eat. A doctor prescribed a tonic, but the witch bragged it poisoned it. "I've got him this time," it bellowed, "He’ll never get up." John went into a coma and died on December 21, 1820. Then, the witch promised to return to wreck havoc on John’s descendants, and it plagued the Bell family again in 1827, 1852, 1861, 1935, 1977, and 1988. Today, the apparition of a demon woman and eerie balls of light are seen gliding over the Bell farm, and the so-called Bell Witch Cave near the family cemetery is haunted by chains rattling and inhuman screams.
2. Eastern State Penitentiary - Opened in 1829 as part of a controversial movement to change the behavior of inmates through "confinement in solitude with labor," Eastern State Penitentiary quickly became one of the most expensive and most copied buildings in the young United States. It is estimated that more than 300 prisons worldwide are based on the Penitentiary's wagon-wheel, or "radial" floor plan.
Legislation specifying "separate or solitary confinement at labor" was passed.
Many leaders believe that crime is the result of environment, and that solitude will make the criminal regretful and penitent (hence the new word, Penitentiary). This correctional theory, as practiced in Philadelphia, will become known as the Pennsylvania System.
Plans are finalized to prohibit all contact between prisoners at Eastern State, the world's most ambitious Penitentiary, now nearly ready for its first inmates. Masks are fabricated to keep the inmates from communicating during rare trips outside their cells. Cells are equipped with feed doors and individual exercise yards to prevent contact between inmates, and minimize contact between inmates and guards.
Some of America's most notorious criminals were held in the Penitentiary's vaulted, sky-lit cells, including bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone. After 142 years of consecutive use, Eastern State Penitentiary was completely abandoned in 1971, and now stands, a lost world of crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers.
3.Waverly Hill Asylum
Waverly Hills Tuberculosis Sanatorium was built on a mountain ridge in Louisville, Kentucky in 1910 through the efforts of several prominent Louisville residents who were concerned about the spread and treatment of tuberculosis. When the hospital opened, it had 8 patients, but it soon reached its capacity of 40. At the time, Jefferson County had one of the country's highest rates of tuberculosis, a highly contagious, sometimes fatal lung disease characterized by coughing, hemorrhaging, fever and shortness of breath. The hospital offered plenty of bed rest and fresh air as well as some surgical methods of treating the disease,and was thought to be an excellent facility. In 1924, the hospital was expanded to house 400 patients.
As the number of patients and workers grew, a community developed on the hospital grounds. Most employees lived there. Some shared large homes, while doctors had private residences for their families. A dormitory-type building was constructed for nurses.
Almost all the employees' needs were met on the premises. The doctors and staff could order groceries from the hospital's storeroom and make other purchases at the gift shop. The hospital raised hogs for a while to provide meat. A bus made daily stops, and a former patient began making taxi runs there. The hospital also held Protestant and Catholic church services each week.
Many people died at the hospital, and because hospital officials were concerned that the sight of hearses would be bad for morale the bodies were sent to the bottom of the hill through a steam tunnel, also known as the body chute. There was a morgue on the first floor that was used for autopsies but the majority of the dead were processed through the body chute to the receiving morgue off the hill.
4. Pirates House - Savannah, GA
Pirate's House Tavern - 20 East Broad Street - Now a popular family restaurant, this rambling clapboard home dates back to the 1750's and was once an inn for sailors and swashbucklers. In Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, "Treasure Island," Captain Flint died here in an upstairs room, and his ghost is said to still tread its boards - a literary figure who has taken on an (after)life of his own. Employees have also reported laughter in empty rooms and poltergeist-like activity in the Herb House, one of the restaurant's dining rooms. Although this house was once the home of famous pirate Jean Laffite, it is the ghost of another notorious pirate, known as Captain Flint, who haunts the place. It is said that as he lay on his deathbed, he kept calling to his First Mate, Darby McGraw, to bring him more rum. Today, his cries are still heard by visitors to the restaurant that now occupies the house. His scar-faced phantom has also been seen roaming in the basement tunnel. The tunnel, big enough to drive a bus through, was discovered during renovations. It leads to the river and probably served as an escape route for pirates trying to make it back to the sea. Pirate's House is at the corner of East Broad and Bay Streets.
5 . The White Eagle Tavern - Portland Oregon Kidlet and I have acutally been to the White Eagle and yes it IS haunted. Both of us have had other guests, so to speak, in the bathrooms with us.
For non-believers in ghosts, strange things happen there, unexplained sounds, doors unlocking and locking, odd noises, and toilet paper flying through the air. The tavern opened in 1905 and served as both a tavern and a brothel. The upstairs, with it's thirteen rooms was the white brothel, and the basement was the location of the black and Chinese prostitutes. Being a typical whorehouse of it's time, a number of violent, premature deaths happened there.
The upstairs portion, which was closed off until recently, when it was renovated and opened for overnight stays, is reportedly haunted by at least two spirits. One is rumored to be the ghost of Rose, one of the prostitutes who was killed by a jealous lover. Her story is interesting and will be explored in a later node. The other is the ghost of Sam, who lived a solitary existence in the rooms until his death in 1955. His spirit is seen from the street below, staring out the window. Doors in the upstairs portion lock and unlock by themselves, according to the tavern's owner, and some clothes of Sam's left in the abandoned rooms move about by themselves.
The basement ghosts are unidentified, but they have manifested themselves by strange noises, unexplained voices, physical pushes and other unexplained phenomena.
Some of the oddest occurrences in the White Eagle are the toilet paper incidents. Something in the building likes to play with toilet paper. One tavern patron engaged in a playful tp tossing fight in the women's bathroom thinking her friend was in the next stall, only to find noone there. The owner says toilet paper rolls often unroll themselves into piles on the bathroom floors.
6. The Myrtles Plantation - Baton Rouge Louisiana
General Bradford (builder of The Myrtles) had a fourteen-year-old daughter, who married Judge Clarke Woodruff. During his days as master of The Myrtles, Woodruff took one of the plantation slaves named "Chloe" as a mistress. He moved her up to the house to make their arrangement more convenient, under the guise of having her care for the Woodruff children. Chloe took advantage of this situation, however. To gain power, she began to eavesdrop on the conversations of Judge Woodruff and his guests. Although he warned her against this practice many times, she was caught on one occasion when the Judge had several influential friends in the gentlemen’s parlor. He had to punish her to save face, so he had her left ear cut off, and she was banned from the main house and returned to more harsh work elsewhere on the plantation. From that point on, she wore a handkerchief wrapped around her head to hide the defect.
Chloe reportedly longed for the comfortable work caring for the kids, and soon hatched a plan to return her to the former position. Woodruff’s nine-year-old daughter was having a birthday party, and Chloe volunteered to make the cake... but she laced the cake with a potion brewed from Oleander leaves. Her plan was that when the children got sick, she would treat them with an herbal cure and appear to have miraculously cured them. She must have misjudged the dosage, though, because two of the children and Mrs. Woodruff died from eating the poisoned cake.
The Judge had been away, so he returned home to find that he was a widower. As the slaves were questioned, those who knew about Chloe’s dark plan turned on her. When Judge Woodruff learned what had happened, Chloe was hung from one of the plantation trees. When she was dead, her body was cut down, her pockets and clothes stuffed with rocks, and her body dropped into the river.
Not long after that, stories of Chloe’s presence in the house began to circulate among the staff and family. Today, the housekeepers lock the house up at night, only to return the next morning to find chairs in the parlor rearranged, and other furniture moved out of place. During tours, as ladies pass through the doorway to the gentleman’s parlor where Chloe was caught eavesdropping, an earring is sometimes snatched by an unseen hand. The staff regularly finds earrings in the oddest places, and write it off to the fact that Chloe loves earrings, but only needs to take one, since she only has one ear.
These stories and more continue to be a part of The Myrtles Plantation, a hauntingly wonderful place to visit.
7. Marie Laveau Tomb and The Cemeteries of New Orleans
A "free person of color," Marie Laveau was the illegitimate daughter of a rich Creole plantation owner, Charles Laveaux, and his mistress Marguerite (who was reportedly half black, half Indian). Marie was probably born about 1794. At the age of twenty-five she married a carpenter named Jacques Paris, also a free person of color, who soon went missing and was presumed dead. Following the custom of the time, she began calling herself the "Widow Paris." Soon, she entered a common-law marriage with one Christophe de Glapion with whom she would have fifteen children, but as late as 1850 a newspaper still referred to her as "Marie Laveaux, otherwise Widow Paris" (Tallant 1946, 67).
The Widow Paris learned her craft from a "voodoo doctor" known variously as Doctor John, John Bayou, and other appellations, and by 1830 she was one of several New Orleans voodoo queens. She soon came to dominance, taking charge of the rituals held at Congo Square and selling gris-gris throughout the social strata. Marie worked as a hairdresser, which took her into the homes of the affluent, and she reportedly developed a network of informants. According to Tallant (1946, 64), "No event in any household in New Orleans was a secret from Marie Laveau." She parlayed her knowledge into a position of considerable influence, as she told fortunes, gave advice on love, and prepared custom gris-gris for anyone needing to effect a cure, charm, or hex.
If she did not actually save anyone from a sentence of death, she allowed such stories to flourish. "The Widow Paris thrived on publicity," observes Tallant (1946, 58). "Legend after legend spread about her and she seems to have enjoyed them all."
The legend of her perpetual youth is easily explained: She had a look-alike daughter, Marie Laveau II, who followed in her footsteps. About 1875 the original Marie, bereft of her youth and memory, became confined to her home on Rue St. Ann and did not leave until claimed by death some six years later. "It was then," reports Tallant (1946, 73), "that the strangest part of the entire Laveau mystery became most noticeable. For Marie Laveau still walked the streets of New Orleans, a new Marie Laveau, who also lived in the St. Ann Street Cottage."
8. Hammond Castle
Hammond Castle is majestic Medieval-type structure built on the rocky shores of Gloucester, completed in 1929. It was the home and workplace of a wealthy, eccentric genius named John Hammond, who was one of the great inventors of our time. During his lifetime, Hammond traveled widely, outfitting his castle with incredible centuries-old furnishings and relics. Being a consummate inventor, he also integrated somewhat bizarre features into the structure, such as indoor fog and rain devices and secret passageways, not to mention a magnificent pipe organ of his own design. He called the house his "Abbey by the Sea" and often entertained many of the notables of his day there. At night, he would sit in a monk's robe reading philosophy by candlelight, behaving as if he were in a monastery. Hammond died in 1965 and is buried with his pet cat near the castle.. Unfortunately, at his behest, the entire burial area is covered with poison ivy, so "no one can bother me."
No wonder then, that this strange place has a history of odd sights, sounds, and energies. Stories of spirit entities here mainly revolve around sightings of Hammond, his wife, and his black cat, though the staff there have confided to a select few that there are more entities here than just those three, including one groundskeeper who died there tragically, and still others who are unidentifiable.
Today, Hammond Castle is a museum, and walking tours are available. The castle and grounds can be rented for special occasions, and group tours can also be arranged. If anyone has been to this remarkable place and taken any pictures, we would love to see them. Please post to the message board below if you have further information, pictures, EVP's or stories to share about this marvelous and mysterious place.
9. The Catacombs of Paris
"Far below the city streets of Paris, in the quiet, damp darkness, seven million Parisians lie motionless. Their skeletons, long since dis-interred from the churchyard graves their survivors left them in, are neatly stacked and aligned to form the walls of nearly one kilometer of walking passage." I have actually been to the Catacombs of Paris and it is one very intense place. The feeling of being in a crowd is pretty overpowering. Even when you are in a alcove completely alone.
10.The Tower of London - Another of the places I have visited. Again there is just such an intense feeling of being in a crowd. It is of course impossible to not be impacted by the history of the place especially if like me you are a fan and student of English History. Here's a sort of who's who of Tower Ghosts:
During her long and illustrious 900 years, The Tower of London has developed a reputation as being one of the most haunted places in Britain.
She has been home to beheadings, murders, torture and hangings, as well as being a prison to Nobles. Thomas A. Becket is "the first reported sighting of a ghost at the Tower of London."
During the construction on the Inner Curtain Wall, Thomas appeared apparently unhappy about the construction, and it is said he reduced the wall to rubble with a strike of his cross. Henry III’s grandfather was responsible for the death of Thomas Becket, so Henry III wasted no time building a chapel in the Tower of London, naming it for the archbishop. This must have pleased Thomas’ ghost because there were no further interruptions during the construction of the wall.
The Bloody Tower was the scene of the infamous disappearance of the two princes; Edward V (12) and Richard Duke of York (10), who are thought to have been murdered in 1483 on the probable command of the Duke of Gloucestershire, who was to be crowned Richard the III. According to one story, guards in the late 15th century, who were passing the Bloody Tower, spotted the shadows of two small figures gliding down the stairs still wearing the white night shirts they had on the night they disappeared. They stood silently, hand in hand, before fading back into the stones of the Bloody Tower.
These figures were identified as the ghosts of the two princes. In 1674 workmen found a chest that contained the skeletons of two young children, they were thought to be the remains of the princess, and were given a royal burial not long afterwards. The story of the little princes is still to this day a heartbreaking story. They are "among the most poignant ghosts" in the Tower of London.
The most persistent ghost in The Tower of London is the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn. The King, Henry VIII, after learning the baby she carried for nine months was a boy and still born, accused by her of infidelity. She was taken to TOWER GREEN and was beheaded on May 19, 1536. Queen Anne appears near the Queen’s House, close to the site where her execution was carried out. She can be seen leading a ghostly procession of Lords and Ladies down the aisle of the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula. She floats down the aisle to her final resting place. Queen Anne is buried under the Chapel’s altar. Her headless body has also been seen walking the corridors of the Tower.
Sir Walter Raleigh lived quite comfortable compared to others who were imprisoned within the walls of the Bloody Tower. His "rooms" are still furnished as they were in the 16th century, and can be seen when visiting the Tower today. He was executed by James I, and has been seen looking exactly as he does in his portrait hanging in the Bloody Tower.
The most grisly execution and thus haunting is that of the 70 year old Countess of Salisbury, the last of the Plantagenets. King Henry VIII had her executed for political reasons. The feisty Countess refused to put her head on the block like a common traitor. When her executioner came after her she ran, but was pursued by him, with his axe in hand hacking at her until he had hewn the Countess to death. Her ghost has been seen reliving this truly gruesome act. Also the shadow of a great axe has been seen falling across the scene of her murder.
At one time the Tower of London was home to the Royal Menagerie. Lions, leopards, bears, birds, monkeys and an elephant, that was a gift from the King of France, were kept on exhibit. On the stroke of midnight in January of 1815 a sentry saw a bear from this menagerie emerge from a doorway. He lunged at it with his bayonet, it passed right through the apparition. The Sentry was later found unconscious, it is said he died of fright within two months of this encounter.
Something unseen and very frightening is in the Salt Tower. This is one of the most haunted areas of the Tower of London complex. This is a very old section, dogs will not enter this ancient building, and ever since one of the Yeoman Warders was nearly throttled by a force unseen, they will not go in the area after nightfall.
In 1864, a soldier whose post was to guard the Queen’s House at the Tower of London, saw a apparition so real, that after ignoring the soldiers three challenges, he charged with all his might at the intruder with his bayonet, only to go straight through the figure. He was found unconscious at his post and was court-martialled for neglecting his duty. Luckily there were two witnesses who corroborated his story. The soldier was eventually acquitted.
Lady Jane Grey is another tragic story of a young life cut short at the Tower, due to the actions of others the most despicable of who was her own father. She was the granddaughter of Mary (Henry VIII younger sister) and Louis XII of France. The Duke of Northumberland would lose everything if Henry VIII’s son was to die and Mary, who was Catholic, would become queen. He and her father arranged her marriage to his son and persuaded her cousin Edward VI to name her his successor in case of his death instead of his two half-sisters. When Edward VI died she was crowned Queen of England, but the supporters of Mary overthrew her.
Her own father got scared and in hopes to save his own skin, left the Tower of London and went to Tower Hill to proclaim Mary I, as the Queen of England, Lady Jane never left the tower; she and her husband were immediately imprisoned and sentenced to death. Queen Mary carried out the execution of Lady Jane’s father-in-law but set both Jane and her husband free. Her father was involved in a rebellion against Mary I, Lady Jane and her husband were again placed in the tower. Lady Jane watched as her husband was taken to Tower Hill where he was beheaded. She saw his body being carried back to the chapel, after which she was taken to Tower Green where she was beheaded. She was only 17 years old.
Lady Jane Grey’s ghost was last seen by two Guardsmen on February 12, 1957, the 403rd anniversary of her execution. She was described as a "white shape forming itself on the battlements". Her husband, Guildford Dudley, has been seen in Beauchamp Tower weeping.
Catherine Howard escaped from her room in the Tower of London. "She ran down the hallway screaming for help and mercy. She was caught and returned to her room." The next day she was beheaded. Her ghost has been seen sill running down the hallway screaming for help.
Other strange sightings at the Tower of London have been "Phantom funeral carriages" and “A lovely veiled lady that, upon closer look proves to have a black void where her face should be."
11. Raynham Hall England
In 1713, Lord Townshend married Walpole's handsome sister, Dorothy. She was his second wife, and is reputed in the gossip of the time to have been previously the mistress of Lord Wharton, "whose character was so infamous, and his lady's complaisant subserviency so notorious, that no young woman could be four and twenty hours under their roof with safety to her reputation."
Lady Townshend was buried in 1726. But there is a tradition that she did not die in that year and that the funeral was a mock interment.
Instead, she is rumoured to have been locked up in the house by her husband. This is why the ghost of "Dolly" Townshend, the "little brown lady of Raynham," is said still to haunt the oak staircase of the house in the twilight. Currently, a famous ghost picture is said to be her, being known as the most famous picture of a ghost to date. (see above...CREEPTASTIC!)
12 The LaLaurie House
Delphine Macarty LaLaurie was the daughter of an aristocratic Irish officer in the French service. Delphine Lalaurie and husband Dr. Louis Lalaurie bought the house at 1140 Royal St. from Edmond Soniat du Fossat in 1832.The three story mansion was somewhat plain on the exterior but the inside was another matter. Delphine LaLaurie was the ultimate social "Creole Lady". She had wealth, social standing, and was regarded as one of the social elite of New Orleans society.
She threw lavish dinners with the most elegent suroundings and her slaves attended her guests every need. Delphine's invitations for dinner and parties soon became quite coveted. Her demeanor was that of a refined lady with inpecable manners and the social graces that only came with the finest breeding. At least that is what appearances were. Delphine's slaves however must have cringed at the attitudes of Delphines highly respected guests, For they knew a very different Delphine LaLaurie.
Rumors have it that Delphine kept her cook chained to the fireplace in the kitchen...and many of Delphines slaves dissappeared without explanation. House slaves came and went...and so did stable boys. In 1833 A neighbor wittnessed Delphine chasing a house slave girl on the upper balcony with a whip in hand. The slave girl was screaming and running from Delphine, no doubt she knew the wrath of her Madame. She jumped to her death rather than face that wrath. An investigation insued and Delphine was fined and her slaves were confiscated and sold at auction for mistreatment....but Delphine badgered one of her realitives into buying back the slaves at auction and soon they were returned to Delphine.
After the rumors of her harsh treatment of her slaves Delphines dinner and party invitations were polietly declined by many of New Orleans polite society...But the rumors would turn into pure horror on the night of April 10 1834. A fire broke out in the kitchen of LaLaurie MaMaison. Some say it was the cook herself who set the fire to avoid any more of the unbearable torture.The slaves of the house tried to extinguish the fire themselves but finally had to call the fire department. When the firemen arived and started going through the house ...what they found would horrify New Orleans to their very roots!
In the attic were slaves chained to the walls...some had been mutilated. Many were dead. Some were in cages like dogs, some had missing limbs, some had no limbs. There was a female who had her mouth sewn shut. Some had their eyes poked out...some had metal spikes through their heads There was another whose bones were broken and re-set in odd diections. The gruesome discovery was to horrible to imagine.
The gruesome tales spread quickly and a lynch mob soon gathered outside the LaLaurie House. They were demanding the hanging of Delphine and Her husband. Delphine and her husband fled in the middle of the night in their carriage and boarded a boat for unknown parts. There are many rumors that they lived in Europe and other places...I don't think that anyone knows for sure what happened to them.
The house sat empty for about 60 years...and then was re-built after the Civil War. But rumors of horrible apparations and unspeakable screams and noises haunted every owner since. It has had numerous uses and owners...but the one constant factor about the LaLaurie House is that "It is Haunted to this Day!! Just recently the new owner while remodeling discovered skeletons of humans under the floorboards in the back of the House...Could this be what happened to all Delphine's missing slaves?
13. Bonaventure Cemetery - Savannah
Bonaventure Cemetery, in Savannah, Georgia, is located on the site of a plantation originally owned by John Mullryne, whose daughter Mary married Josias Tatnall, Sr. The wife of Tatnall's son, Harriet Fenwick Tattnall, was buried on the plantation in 1802. Legend has it that when the plantation caught fire during a dinner party the owner had the dining room moved out of doors and the dinner continued while the house burnt to the ground. The plantation was converted to a cemetery in 1868, and was originally called Evergreen Cemetery; its name was changed to Bonaventure Cemetery in 1907. At night time legend has it you can hear the clink of glasses. It is also the home to The Bird Girl Statue made famous by Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil. We plan on visiting Bonaventure next summer!
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