Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I knew this was coming...

The tramadol has stopped working. Doubling up worked for a while. I'm scared to triple it, because the bottle says " May cause serious breathing problems if you take more than is recommended".

If my rheumatologist puts me on something else, I hope it's not something with even worse side effects than the tramadol. Because if that's going to be the case, I think I was better off thinking my pain was all in my head. (And yeah, I really mean it.)

I thought...

I thought I would have this out of my system with a post or two, but I guess I underestimated myself. Then, that documentary aired again last night, the one that got Michael Jackson into even more trouble than he was already in. It was hard enough to watch it without cringing when he was alive, but now...

There were some things I did understand where he was coming from on...like being hit with a belt if you didn't get something right. Disciplining is one thing, but it wouldn't have killed anybody if I never learned how to skip. So what! My whole P.E. grade wasn't based on that one unit. My father saw fit to hit me with a belt, until I mastered skipping (As a kid, I was never that good at sports, I'm still not. Although, I am a fast runner. Way faster than I was in school. Funny how stuff like that works.). I think we went past my dinnertime and past my bedtime, until I got it and he was satisfied. To this day, he doesn't see anything wrong with that, because that's how his parents raised him and it was the only way he knew. In my mind though, I think there's a happy medium between letting your kids run wild and wearing their behinds out over something that isn't life or death. That's a huge reason why I don't want kids, with my temperament, I don't trust myself not to become a spanker too.

Isolation...Isolation messes with social skills something awful.

And that lady that made Michael Jackson feel ugly (or at least contributed)...I wonder how she feels...Does she think he should have had a tougher skin? Is she one of those people that forgets that celebrities are people with feelings too? Maybe she doesn't care. Maybe she feels really bad, but for me, it was definitely food for thought. That leads me to something else...

Why do fans mob certain celebrities? I call myself a fan of certain people, but I wouldn't want to hurt them by pulling on their hair. I wouldn't want to rip their clothes off or make them feel uncomfortable. I never got that.

I figure I'll be blogging about Michael Jackson off and on as new details are made public, and Ebony, Jet, and Vibe do their tribute issues. (He's been featured in Ebony and Jet forever, so I think tribute issues from them are inevitable. If Time had one, I know they will. People might as well. Depending on what I find at my dad's, I will definitely invest the money in all of the above. I spent about $20.00 at the newsstand today. I'm thinking about doing a drawing or painting, but I haven't decided yet. I wish I knew the truth about the molestation, that would settle me one way or the other.) His birthday would have been in August, so no doubt people will still be talking about him then as well.

Racialiscious, Jezebel, and Feministe all have excellent blog entries on their feelings about Michael Jackson's passing. A lot things that I struggled to put into words, they did beautifully.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Michael Jackson tribute weekend...

All weekend, Vh-1 and MTV played Michael Jackson videos. But they just kept playing the same ones over and over again, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, Bad, Who is it?, Man in the Mirror, Another Part of Me, Beat It, Billie Jean, Leave Me Alone, Scream and Thriller. Every now and again they'd show something you didn't see a whole lot, like Earth Song (I love that video. You can tell that he really meant what he was singing. It made me kind of sad, even when Michael was still alive.). There was another video that I had never seen before, that I wanted them to play again, but they never did. I don't even know the title of the song (ballad), but I can describe the video...Michael Jackson is singing and walking down the street in this black duster/ or trench coat, and at some point, it begins to rain. [8/26/2009 Found out this "Stranger in Moscow"]

I couldn't figure out if a program director was behind the same videos being shown all over again, or maybe there was some legal reason why they couldn't air more of a variety of videos. You know what would have been nice? If they had let people call in to make requests. I would have given Michael Jackson such a send off...I'd have aired some of the Jackson Five cartoons, Michael Jackson's apperance on Free to be You and Me, episodes from the Jacksons variety show, The Can You Feel It? video, Ghosts, The Wiz, Moonwalker...

TV Land even aired that TV movie, The Jacksons: An American Dream. There was a tribute to Michael at the BET awards, but I didn't see it yet.

One of the Vh-1's did a Jacksons block of videos. They showed 2300 Jackson Street. It's funny, my dad used to do this little take off, where he'd sing about his dad's house and he called it ...(Caught myself just in time, if I tell you what he called it, I'll give myself away...That wouldn't be too smart...Let's just say he plugged in his dad's address to the same tune and leave it at that.)
What's even more bizarre, is when he was stationed back in Long Beach, CA back in 1970 or 1971...I've got to check that little round plaquard my dad has...Guess who he played a game of basketball with? And never even knew it until after the fact. Michael wasn't there, but the older boys were...Jackie, Tito, Jermaine... And I'm betting even if he did know, being the type of man he is, he wouldn't have treated them any different than he did. Part of me really wishes I could have seen that...

Motown 25...My parents woke my sister and I up to see Michael Jackson, to have excited them enough to have them wake us up?...That's a force to be reckoned with...

Michael Jackson didn't even make it to his 51st birthday. The holidays are going to be extremely tough too. My heart definitely goes out to his family, especially Janet (from Good Times on, I was always a fan of hers too).


p.s. BET did their 4 hour long block of music videos on July 5th. I had never seen the video to "You Rock My World" before. I sort of wished it actually was a longer film. I also found out the name to the video, that I didn't know the name of. I tried "Ask Yahoo!", but that didn't work. Maybe I should have tried a Michael Jackson fansite and asked there, but I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be greeted with the attitude that a real fan would have known, or whether they would have been more welcoming...or maybe it depends on the website. I have some bad experiences at fan forums before, so I kind of hesitate when contemplating joining one. I enjoyed what they did with the BET Awards this year too, for short notice, that was good. You know what I wish I could do? If I had the money and the resources on August 29, I wish I could air all that stuff I mentioned above that no one showed [You Tube only gets you so far and I'm tired of waiting on the TV stations. What can I say? Patience is not one of my strong suits. ;) ].

pps. Why won't closed captioning work on BET? That's really annoying when you're trying to learn song lyrics. }:(

Friday, June 26, 2009

Michael Jackson...my thoughts, etc.

By this time, it's going to be pretty hard to blog about Michael Jackson's passing without saying
something that hasn't been said umpteen times in the past 24hrs, but I'll try.


WTF celebrity deaths are nothing new...(I think the first one I can clearly recall was Marvin Gaye's death. I remember thinking that my best friend at the time was clowning around with me, because it was April Fool's Day. I went from anger, to disbelief, to shock and finally to sadness. )


I got home yesterday around 6. I had it on channel 9. Apparently, someone must have got their information wrong, because once on TV, I heard the reporter on TV say that Michael Jackson was in a coma (at that point I think he was already gone, they just didn't know it for sure yet.). I was already on an emotional roller coaster, because of stuff going on with me, that's a little too personal to blog about. Yesterday's news did/does not help my ride any. First, I feel really bad for Michael Jackson's family (especially Janet and Katherine). Secondly, I feel bad because he passed away without finishing everything he set out to do (I'm terrified of that right now. That I'll pass away without finishing all the stuff I'm trying to do...and it goes beyond a bucket list. I'm talking about getting my financial affairs in order too. That is first and foremost in my mind.) .


Then, Michael Jackson's death was confirmed (This is the latest death in a string where I wish this was a nightmare that I could wake up from.). At first, I felt fine...Maybe, because it hadn't sunk in yet. Then, they started reminiscing, and playing his videos (different channels, but mostly Vh-1 and MTV. They're supposed to be making a whole weekend of it.).



They were showing stuff that I hadn't thought about in a long time. The long version of "Black or White" (I remember the fun they made of that on In Living Color too.).



Someone one station's news broadcast referred to Michael Jackson as a musical genius...I can't remember if he played any instruments. I'm pretty sure that Stevie Wonder was/is the one that's always referred to as a "musical genius" though. Funny how a lot of people that weren't kissing his can before are now. This is why I don't want a funeral.



I will say that Michael Jackson was multitalented (I loved that he drew those pictures on the Thriller album sleeve. That tickled me so much as a kid. I was like Wow! He draws too!). He was a performer that captured your attention and held it. He always figured out new ways to amaze (and shock?) us, whether it was in a video or on stage (I want someone to play Ghosts. My mouth still hangs open the few times I see that one. He pulled an Eddie Murphy here and did multiple roles as well. I also went to wikipedia and found out Stephen King wrote the story for it with Michael Jackson. If that's true, that's something in itself.) Michael Jackson is also responsible for me finding out who Rick Baker was (Those dudes in the movie Summer School crack me up talking about him.) Stan Winston worked on Ghosts as well.

You know what else I'd love to see? That episode of The Simpsons where Michael Jackson did the voice (or one of the voices) of that dude that was in the insane asylum with Homer.


For the most part, I loved Michael Jackson's music from about the time I was old enough to understand who he was until the end of elementary school. Off and on, he would do songs that would get my attention, like "Give in to Me". Slash aka Saul Hudson (who've I posted about in my blog before.) played on the song and was in the video as well. I loved that.

What stuff did we (my sister and I) have...We had the badges (of course). We had T-shirts. We even bought the gum (Man was it lousy!) that had the trading cards and stickers inside. We had posters ( I think the first ones we got, were the one where he was all in white, with the yellow vest and the one with the purple background where he had the brown leather jacket on and he was smiling.).
We had some books, a few Right On! poster magazines (That Michael Jackson vs. Prince thing they had going seems so silly to me now. Apples and oranges. I can appreciate both.). Oh yeah! We had the dolls too! I think we had the American Music awards version. My doll had the Thriller outfit and I can't remember what the other outfit was for my sister's doll. Or maybe I have them backward...I have no clue. We had Thriller ViewMaster discs. I remember the Jackson Five cartoon...This still just doesn't feel quite real to me.

My sister and I never got to go to a concert, because our parents couldn't afford it. If there were such a thing as time travel...I guess I'd have liked to see the Jackson 5 in their heyday. I have mixed feelings about the Victory tour. Seeing one of Michael's solo concerts...like I said, I wasn't really into him as much when I was a teenager and a younger adult, as I was when I was a kid. I figured I'd let a diehard fan have tickets, because they wanted the experience more. (I won't go to Paul McCartney's concert now for that same reason. Although I do like some of his songs.). Unless I'm a diehard fan for somebody, I don't usually move heaven and earth...Would I have felt differently, if I'd known what was coming?...Maybe, but I don't want to dwell on that. What's done is done....

Painkillers and anti-anxiety medication...I think I've talked about this combo before and how easy it is once the prescribed dose has quit working to keep taking more, despite people's warnings, concern, and advice...Michael Jackson was a human being with feelings, I think sometimes people would forget that.

There's three things about Michael Jackson, that I always thought remained constant, those great big brown eyes, his smile (I always thought he had a beautiful smile.) , and the faces he made when he was performing (I know y'all know what I'm talking about). No matter what color his skin was, what he did to his hair or the rest of his face, I'd see one or all of the three constants and go "Yup, you're still you."


I was watching the "Remember the Time" video and last night they showed...I can't remember which awards show it was. The one where he kissed Lisa Marie Presley...Michael Jackson's onscreen kisses always looked so awkward though, I can't figure out if it's because he just didn't like women or if he was just that shy about doing certain things in front of a camera (I saw some concert footage on YouTube that leads me to believe that it's more likely option 2. The video made me laugh, at least until it was over and I remembered all over again that he was gone.)

The accusations against him...doubt is an ugly thing...I want to believe he was as innocent as he seemed. I want to believe that with all my heart. I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt, because that's what I would want done for me...

Isolation and painful shyness is hard enough to deal with when you're a regular person. To have to deal with that in combination with living inside the fishbowl of celebrity, I can't imagine.


Looking at this, I'm surprised at myself, because at first I thought I wouldn't have much to say. I guess Michael Jackson made more of an impact on me than I thought. One thing's for sure, he will definitely be missed.

Fave album cover: Off the Wall (for sentimental reasons, ie. it was my first look at him "grown" and I still thought he was cute, my aunt played the album at of our family get togethers, wish I could remember which one/what we were celebrating...I know it wasn't Christmas...), Dangerous-because if you look really closely at that album artwork, there's a lot going on there, and lastly Blood on the Dance Floor-I can't really say why, just something about it...like he's going all out...

Fave collab: with Janet for "Scream"

Least fave collab: with Mick Jagger for "State of Shock"

Fave Michael Jackson song: Probably too many to list here, "Can't Help It", "Scream" (The uncensored version in particular tickles me. I didn't even know he knew that word. lol Poor baby.), "Will You Be There?", "Give In to Me", "Liberian Girl", "I Wanna Be Where You Are", ...)

Least fave Michael Jackson song: I would have to listen to every album, every song, there's so much I haven't heard...and so much I haven't heard in a long time.

Fave Michael Jackson cover: "Butterflies" (I'm correcting a previous error here, I recently found out this was not covered by Floetry, one of the women from Floetry Marsha Ambrosius wrote it. This was actually covered by Michael. I apologize for my error and my hat is definitely off to Floetry.)

Fave cover of a Michael Jackson song: Miles Davis's version of "Human Nature" (I loved that when I heard it.) I think John Mayer did an excellent job with it too.

Fave Michael Jackson videos / short films: Again, let me get back to you. "Scream", "Ghosts", "Thriller", "Who Is It?", "Remember the Time" (I just wish that kiss hadn't been so awkward. It's like he was nervous on top of having trouble holding her up.), "Give In to Me", "Stranger in Moscow", "Earth Song",...The odd ending to "Black or White"...I actually liked it, I just don't think the end of "Black or White was the place for it...I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out if I was an advisor or something like that where I would have put it...Maybe if I listen to more of Michael's music from Dangerous, it'll come to me.

Least Fave Michael Jackson video: "The way you make me feel" (I'm sorry, but I could have done without the humping the ground. I'm a fan, but I'm one of those strange creatures known as a candid fan. I try to be objective too, but it's not always easy...)...and that weird interlude in the middle of the "Smooth Criminal" (or as my father likes to call it, "the Slick Hoodlum video".) video...Maybe I'm being dense, but I can't figure out just what Michael Jackson was trying to do or say with that.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Why do people do this?

Ok, I don't know if I blogged about this before. I know I thought about it around Earth Day, but now I'm seeing this again (at the Metro station I get off at, to go to work). If anything, Global Weirding (instead of Global Warming, not my term, it's Thomas L. Friedman's. I love it.) is getting worse, so why would people continue to put trash in a trash can, when there's a recycling bin specifically for newspapers right next to it? Do old habits die that hard? Is this the picture we want to present of ourselves to people from other countries (No wonder America is seen the way it is for the most part by the rest of the world.)? That we're that stupid and lazy? I'll confess, my apartment complex does not have paper or plastic recycling. About the only recycling that I have seen, is yellow clothes donation boxes. I don't drive, so pretty much everything that I want to recycle, I have to lug to my job (which does recycle). It makes for a hellish Metro commute to be loaded down with bags though, especially when it's crowded. This being said, I do not always recycle, because it's just not practical for me. Other people are in this same boat as well, this is a problem I understand. When the recycling bins are right there though, I have a hard time getting my head around not recycling. I used to work in a recyling center back in college (They recycled pretty much everything, softer plastics, newspapers, white paper, color paper, magazines, glass...). About the only things we couldn't recycle were certain hard plastics (I'm pretty sure that's probably changed by now.). If the resources are there, why don't people do it? Is it a question of money, time, space, what? I just don't get it.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Oops!

I blogged yesterday about posting the link to this blog on my Twitter page yesterday. I got on my Twitter page yesterday and discovered that I'd already done it. (See, I told you I don't visit my Twitter page that often.) My sister was asking about Twitter yesterday, and seemed to think it was complicated. I told her it wasn't. She's actually the more technologically savvy of the two of us. My thoughts on it are this... If you can text, most likely, you'll be able to tweet. Hopefully, before the summer is over, I will get some pictures up here and at Twitter. It depends on how a lot of things go...I know I keep putting it off, and putting it off, but everytime I turn around either there's some curveball being thrown at me, or I'm feeling lousy. I'm hoping at some point to get a better handle on things, or at least not let things get to the point where they overwhelm me.

A predicament that needs solving...

I guess I shouldn't have talked him up yesterday. The older guy who keeps making a point of saying hello, found me on my commute home yesterday. It was like something out of a nightmare. I left work like usual, went into the metro station and got on the escalator. It was pretty crowded on the platform, and people were rushing around, so I ducked out of the line of people headed up the platform early. As I did, I saw that the guy, who I've been trying like mad to duck, had been right behind me. To say that didn't make me happy was an understatement. :(

So, moving fast, I tried to lose myself in the crowd. The train was so crowded, I thought there was no way, he'd find me. I wound up switching cars (as I do every weekday evening), to be closer to my transfer point. When I did, I spotted him. I was hoping that he hadn't spotted me first, but I guess my blessings(luck/however you want to refer to it) ran out. He not only spotted me, but he sought me out in order to touch me on the arm and say something that I couldn't catch. Now, this is the second time that he has gone out of his way to touch me, and I wasn't happy the first time. I don't know why this man is so dense. If someone was avoiding me, I think I'd take the hint and try to at least say some of my dignity. I'm backing away, saying and shaking my head "No.", while trying to excuse myself to people whose paths, I'm obstructing. Like I said, it was like something out of a nightmare. To make matters worse, we were getting off at the same stop. I let the gap between us get really wide, so that he'd take the hint. When I got to the platform on the upper level, I didn't see him again. I do not want this to get any worse. If I report him to someone though, I run the risk of him finding out not only my name, but where I work in the building. Once that happens, I'm afraid that he'll become even more persistent and then I'll never be able to get rid of him. I definitely am not going to let him run me away from my job, because I actually like it and for once, I'm making fairly good money.
He's already effecting how I do things, because now I have to go out of my way to change my schedule or my path, just to avoid him. I don't want to give him any more power. I'm seriously hoping he got the hint yesterday. This is turning into a bigger pain, than I ever thought it would.

What a way to begin a week...

That Red Line train crash yesterday shook me up. Very seldom do I take the Red Line in the evenings. And it's even more rare for me to be headed back into DC, let alone on a Monday evening. And then to see the footage and pictures of the scene...My prayers and thoughts go out to all the people that were in involved in it. I really feel bad for the second conductor's family. This also got me thinking about how much I don't have in order regarding my death. I have no will written up. I haven't changed my state ID to say organ donor, I get to do that sometime in August though, so that at least will get taken care of. I know I don't want a funeral. I'm also fairly sure I want to be cremated, but I can't decide what I want done with my ashes just yet.

Monday, June 22, 2009

True Blood: Keep this party going ep (contains some spoilers)

I've said it once, and I'll say it again, Jason is a mess. That dude...Luke? digging into him seems to be a total jackass. Sarah seems like she's going to be trouble too. That whole group is, but then, I remembered that from the books.

I felt sorry for Sookie last night, she had good intentions, but they just backfired so horribly...That's happened to me more than a little bit, so I could relate.

I also felt bad for Daphne and poor Terry needing a break. I'm glad Arlene persuaded him to take one.

Jessica...I wish I knew more about her family life...then I'd know whether or not I could sympathize with her. I wasn't sure whether her dad really was an abusive jerk or just overly protective. He didn't seem abusive...although not all abuse is physical...Her imitation of Bill was spot on though.

Lafayette...somehow the fact that Chow(Sp?), Pam, and Eric all fed on him at the same time, leads me to believe that his fast-talking didn't save him this time. I think that's a shame. I liked this Lafayette more than the one I saw in my head. I've got to give it up to Nelsan Ellis for his portrayal.

Ginger cracks me up too. I can't remember if she was a character in the books...If she was, she must have been in the background there too.

The saleswoman that thought Eric and Bill were an item...her reaction cracked me up. What made it even funnier to me, was that they either didn't care what she thought or didn't pick up on it.

Speaking of Eric...Loving that haircut...Oh my... Yes! I didn't picture the character from the books that way in my head, but for this actor the look flatters him much more than the one he had last season.

After finding out more about Eggs, I still don't trust him. I don't know whether it's just my personal bias or what, but I just don't. Then again, maybe I'm remembering too much of the character this actor played when he was on Desparate Housewives. His shady characters give me the heebie jeebies.

Is Maryann some type of soceress or witch? Or is it more complicated than that? I don't know where she put all that food (wish I could get away with that...I came close when I was a teenager, now I definitely can't.)...but she definitely needed fuel to put that whammy on everyone at Merlotte's last night. I want to know what that vibrating thing is all about.

I feel bad for Sam too, either he's going to have to reveal his secret to everybody (and I'll admit, the way some people feel about the vampires, I can't see that going over too well.) or he's going to have to team up with someone and find a way to thwart (now there's a word I never thought I'd use in a sentence.) Maryann.

I wish Tara's mom would buy a clue, the sad thing is that there are people like this out there.

Let's see...I don't think I'm forgetting anybody...It'll be real interesting to see what the next episode brings.

Hodge Podge # 1

Hodge Podge is the title I'm going to use for posts that are about a bunch of things, but I'm too lazy or rushed to come up with a creative title. ;D

Some girl/woman has signed up to follow me on Twitter, which for the life of me, I can't imagine why. The list of people I follow is so eclectic. And on top of that, I'm a lousy microblogger. I don't microblog about the mundane. Therefore, instead of the 65 blog entries I have here, I probably have tweeted something like 15 times at the most. Dollars to doughnuts this person will get tired of me, just like the last person that decided they wanted to "follow" me. If they're not one and the same. Maybe, I'll link that page to this page or something like that...That way if they want it, people have a choice...If not, I'm no worse off than I was before.

Had to move some more doctor's appointments around. Oh joy!

I'm gathering boxes for the move I'm contemplating. And I have finally gotten it through my thick skull that big boxes are not always the best boxes. (ie. You have to be able to lift the box after you actually pack it. I guess my reasoning at the time, was look how quickly I got so much packed away. Then, when the time came to lift the box...)

I've got a viewing or showing for an apartment (however you refer to it) on Saturday. The property I'm really looking forward to seeing I have to apply for, closer to the time I'm actually moving in. I would think that would actually lessen my chances, particularly with apartments close to the University of Maryland-College Park as new students head back to school, but that's just me.

I found out about Slash what he's doing for the mute swans in Chesapeake Bay last week. That really tickled and touched me. He signed an autograph for me a long time ago. "Happy F___in B-day!" My birthday is in the same month as Slash's. Anyway, I never forgot him for taking the time to do that for me. (I think I still have it, if it wasn't in one of those boxes that got destroyed when the roof leaked in my bedroom closet at my dad's apartment. If it's destroyed, I may have to start up some correspondence...) I just recently found out that Slash is on Twitter. I'm now "following" him (That doesn't sound right. I wish there was a less creepy way to put that.).

While we're on the subject of guitar-playing dudes, I also found out what Micki Free has been up to since leaving Shalamar(I'll say it again, Unsung is one of the best shows out there.). Not only was I surprised, but I was impressed. (Man, do I miss going to PowWows. I've also got to remember to ask my rheumatologist. If horseback riding is alright again. Sometimes, I get so rushed or distracted I forget to ask all the questions that I really need to ask my doctor. It's sad.)

I also did get clarification that I had a maternal great-grandmother or a great great grandmother who was half-Chinese (Gran Lee). And you wouldn't know it to look at me either. I think that is so wild. :D So, now I know that besides obviously being African-American, I am also part Eastern Chickahominy as well. The puzzle pieces are coming together. I love it. To have a picture of Gran Lee would be awesome. I'll have to ask about that.

Another air bed has bit the dust, so I'm off to the store this evening to replace that. (I know airbeds are not for long-term use, but until I know I'm at a place, I'm going to be staying for a while, I absolutely refuse to buy a "real" bed. Especially since I will be the one responsible for moving it. I've found one company that says they will not only move my stuff, but drive it to it's destination for me as well. [I don't/can't drive.] Most things that sound too good to be true usually are. So, I'll believe it when I see it, I guess.)

Have managed to duck/avoid the older gentleman that keeps popping up in places I frequent and making me feel uncomfortable at my job (Complementing my appearance, touching me on the arm in greeting [being touched by strangers just makes me nervous. Period.], Admitting that he watches me...). I'm trying to find a polite yet tactful way to discourage him, and so far have come up with nothing. I wish he'd get tired of me soon though, because my nerves are shredded.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Not too much going on...

I'm stumped as to what to get my father for Father's Day, ...and the clock is ticking.

I've found two really nice apartments. If my medical expenses don't continue to rise, I should be good to go.

I'm waiting on an answer from the aquatic physical therapist. I also need to buy a bathing suit for this. I wish I'd been able to see the Fibromyalgia coming, but I didn't. If I'm really careful, I think I will have enough money saved to do everything I need to do. If not, I could probably take some money from my IRA again, much as I hate to do it.

I need to find out what the price of calling this guy's moving service is going to be too. I don't even know how to calculate how many miles I need for them to drive either. [I wish I wasn't so horrible at math. It has a tendency to bite me in the ass at the damndest times. ]

I don't think I'll be putting anything in storage on this go round. I have some stuff at my dad's that definitely needs to go though. I'm procrastinating like mad on it, because it's hard to find a time when he isn't there and I can work in peace. I've just started using the Lidocaine patches I've been prescribed, but it's hard to tell if the blasted things are working. From what I've read, they're supposed to numb the area, but they're not numbing a thing. That was $40.00 I could have kept. }:(

I forgot today was Juneteenth, as well. I've been looking at the date off and on all day. Not once, did it ring a bell. I'm not even going to touch why it hasn't been made into a Federal holiday.

Monday, June 15, 2009

True Blood is back on

I caught the first new episode of True Blood last night.

I was ecstatic about Lafayette (I'm not going to give away any spoilers.). I think at some point the series definitely takes a different path then the books do.

I like that Tara is African-American in the TV series too. It adds a depth to the show that I don't think the books have too much of. I can't wait for them to introduce the werewolves. Then things will get even better (hopefully).

Anyway, back to last night. The bratty, little newbie vampire (Jessica?) is getting on my nerves.

Arlene's constantly mentioning that she broke nine out of ten nails cracked me up.

I think the scene between Sookie and Bill was a little too much. You know, the part where she says"" in this breathy voice.

Eric getting highlights in his hair...that bothered me a little bit. Aren't Norsemen/Vikings supposed to be natural blonds? I also wonder what's going on in his basement.

Sam...I feel sorry for poor Sam. I don't know why, but I don't quite trust Eggs (that's an odd name/nickname). I think Tara is making a mistake. I wonder what type of supernatural creature Maryann is going to turn out to be. This kind of reminds me of 5th season BtVS, when no one knew what Glory was for a while.

The part where Sookie was boxing up her grandmother's stuff touched me. I still haven't gone through all my mother's stuff yet. Partially, because I don't want to do it without my sister, but I think there's more to it than that. I think that if I finally get rid of, pack away or donate her things, things about her will start fading from my memory, and I don't want that.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Totally slipped my mind

I got caught in two downpours yesterday. I also found out the McDonald's closest to my job and The White House doesn't have McCafes on the menu. WTF?! I'm in the midst of looking for a physical therapist as well. I'm also contemplating moving. All day long, I was at work, kept seeing the date...Nothing registered, at least not consciously. ( I was checking the stuff in my bag for water damage. My gaze lingered on that July 2009 issue of Vanity Fair magazine. Thankfully, the rain barely touched it, so I guess in the back of my mind, I did remember that my favorite actor turned 46 yesterday.)

Monday, June 8, 2009

Unsung: Minnie Riperton

I saw Unsung last night and they featured Minnie Riperton last night. I didn't know she'd recorded before she became a solo artist. I was also surprised at what they said as far as her other songs besides Lovin' You. I know I have Donnie Simpson to thank to some degree, because he definitely played other cuts from Minnie Riperton's albums, besides Lovin' You. After he played, Baby, This Love I Have, I knew I definitely had to have it for my music collection. I had a best of collection of Minnie Riperton's, but as you know, nine times out of ten, when you have a favorite artist, almost all your faves are never on just one Best of Collection. You have to buy a whole rack of them or (Gasp!) buy an import. The only way I was able to get Adventures in Paradise was to buy the Japanese import. Minnie Riperton's story really touched me, and in a few ways it reminded me of my mom. Needless to say, by the end of the program, I was in tears. I see that some episodes of this show are available on Fancast.com. As soon as I can afford it, this is definitely an episode I would love to own.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Spiderman 4?

You would think they'd know when to quit. (I shouldn't be so pessimistic though.) Maybe this one will be better than the last one (I can hear the laughter now.). I hear the villains are Carnage and/or possibly The Lizard (I'll look around on IMDB). Based on what I saw of Spiderman 3, I won't be paying to see Spiderman 4 either. Of course, if they want to be supercute, they can jump on the vampire bandwagon and make one of the villains Morbius (The sad thing is I'm only half joking here. I actually did collect a few Morbius comics. If they cast the right actor in the part, I would watch it. However, to keep from being ticked off that I'd wasted $10.00+. I would wait until it came out on DVD and I would either rent it or wait until it came out on cable. ).

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

My grandmother (paternal) passed away

I found out that my grandmother passed away over the weekend. I did cry, but I can't say that I didn't see this coming. She had survived a stroke and broken hip, but she developed Alzheimer's (her mother had it, and I have memory problems due to Fibromyalgia already, so I'm very afraid of this. I read. I play word games, and do other types of puzzles. I'm still very apprehensive about Alzheimer's though, because I think it might be one of those things that are heriditary. I didn't expect to have rheumatoid markers either, but those eventually showed up. So, I'll admit that I'm afraid. I'm trying not to dwell on it too much, because unnecessary stress can also affect your health, but I digress...). My grandmother was living in Florida with my youngest aunt, so I didn't get to see or talk to her as much as I did when I was little/younger and she lived in D.C. I'm not sure where the funeral will be held, or whether she will be buried somewhere in Pensacola, Florida, Chester, SC, or buried beside my grandfather in D.C.



I'm also a bit unsettled about her death, because I haven't dreamt about her the way I did my grandfather (paternal) after his death. Or the way I dreamt about my mother (possibly as she was passing.). I feel bad because I feel like her death is one that I should have picked up on somehow (and didn't).



I know my (youngest) aunt must be reeling. I'm not sure about my dad...He seems ok... I made it a point to go see him over the weekend (my conscience wouldn't let me do anything else.) I'm thinking about spending Friday at my dad's but I'm going to play that by ear.