raindrops on roses

So... I have started and abandoned exactly 84 posts. And, you know, a lot has gone down since my last post. Val was here the weekend before last and that was amazing.

By that Sunday I was a bell jar, and that sort of bled into Monday, which bled into a rough 24 hour stretch that tested me in a number of ways. But, seeing as how I rarely blog about dramatic shit (to protect the innocent/in favor of not bumming everyone out/etc.), I am going to blog about something that has absolutely nothing to do with unhappiness.




Here are a few of my favorite things right now...

Bravo's TOP CHEF (Chicago)



I la-la-love this show for so many reasons. First of all, I love making food. I don't flex my cooking muscles as often as I should, really. I did last night though, ps. I made tortellini in a roasted garlic parmesan tomato sauce topped with fresh grated parmesan and then made my signature dish: bruchetta.

Anyway, I love this show. For anyone who doesn't know, the show is like Project Runway in the kitchen. They have 15 or so contestants and give them crazy challenges, but they all involve food. Last week the chefs had to cater to a zoo benefit dinner, designing their menu around the diets of some of the animals.

I mean, that's some crazy shit. I love watching them flip out in the kitchen, fighting over burners and sabotaging each other with missing ingredients and misinformation. Somehow, they all manage to put together a plate of food that I have never, ever seen before, but would totally eat (except the meat).

It drives Rori crazy when I watch it, but I swear it's good. Oh, and there's a lesbo couple on the show too. One of them has a faux hawk, the other wears big dangly turqouise earrings, AND there's a dude on the show with a faux hawk too. I'm rethinking my hairstyle.




Also, if you click on the link to the dude with the faux hawk, you'll see him wearing pink crocks. Why are people still wearing those? And if you want to know how to style a faux hawk, look no further.

Enchanted



Oh. My. God. Have you seen this movie yet? I wish I would've seen it in theatres, but it was still awesome watching it at home.

This movie has most everything I love in a movie: singing, dancing, animation transported into reality, Manhattan, precocious little girls, a naive leading lady, talking animals and a BA wicked witch. OMG, and the ginormous dance number in central park seriously made my heart smile:



I know that might sound really queer, but I swear it's cute AND funny and not annoying at all. I've been humming one of the songs for a week now and Rori nearly kicks me when I launch into "I've been dreaming of a true love's kiss..."

this video i found on youtube

I typed my name in the search field and this was one of the things that popped up. Apparently, there is some other Elida out there charming the pants off of somebody, so much so, that they were inspired to make a youtube video about her.



I have decided to be a big giant creep ass and make one as an ode to my bestie, JP. As soon as it is completed, I will have it up here.

the band




The ladies and I made things official in January. I remember the exact date. It was January 12th. I remember the exact date because I used a bit of forethought. It was the first night we played together as a group. Afterwards, we got shitty drunk. Chelsea passed out on the couch in Jessy's old room and I set up the air mattress for Noel in the music room/living room.

I have a pretty good memory, but never would've remembered the date so I saved the following text message so that I wouldn't have to rely on my blurry hung over memory. I received this the following morning from Chelsea:

"Wake up. My head hurts." -Chelsea

I got up and it wasn't long before I laughed my ass off as I cleaned the sauce off of the wall from when Chelsea chucked part of a French bread pizza at me the night before. She was really hung over that morning of the aforementioned text. We all felt like shit, as we poured ourselves glasses of more alcohol that morning. I mean, we just had to. There was some Arbor Mist in the fridge and it sounded delicious and also got rid of our headaches.

My point is, that we've started this band and we're making music and hopefully playing shows soon. And I'm sure that everyone's sick of me saying it in passing constantly, but it's true: playing with them is what makes me the happiest right now.

So, you know. There's that. Check out Chelsea's myspace page for the tracks she’s already recorded. It'll give you an idea of where we heading. Just try to imagine the songs with drums, bass (eventually) and me dancing around playing guitar like a crazy person especially when we do Scars. PS, Scars is my fav.

We'll have a myspace page ready as soon as we lay down the new versions of everything we've worked on collectively thus far. Stay tuned.

the girls next door




I think I've mentioned that show before and I did because I love it so much. I have no idea why I love that show so much, but I do. Kelly came over the other night and we watched a few episodes and laughed our asses off. Everything is funnier when Kelly's around, but I promise, the show is funny.

I used to hate Kendra because she is so effing stupid and her laugh makes me wanna put in ear plugs. Hugh Hefner is just gross. When I watch the show, I try not to think about him having sex with any of them, because it makes me cringe. I mean, he's old and has loose skin and old balls, and gross.

But it's funny. Very funny.

This Girl Called Automatic Win

I la-la-love reading Riese's blog and watching the VLOGs and her recaps of the L word are better than the show, which to her, I guess, is not saying a whole lot. But really, truly, she is amazing. If you're not reading her stuff yet, I find that peculiar since I have a habit of mentioning her constantly.

Rori gets pissed because I ignore her when Riese has a new post. You know, there are a great many compromises to be made in any relationship, reading Riese's blog is just not something I'm willing to negotiate.

Check her out. You won't be sorry.

And lastly...

I was browsing for photos to put up of the ladies and I practicing when I stumbled upon the following photograph that me all sorts of happy. I literally LOLed:

"I want to be very clear about the Immaculate Conception."

Before I get to the rest of this post (that I wrote yesterday, ps) I wanna talk about how amazing my night was. Last night was fantastic. Rori and I went to Affirmations w/my dad. They had their first play, it included five monologues and a one act play by Christopher Durang. By. The. Way. I love Christopher Durang. I've loved his plays since high school, when I fell into theatre almost by accident. His dark, absurdist humor cracks my shit up. Love, Love, Love (Love, Love) Christopher Durang.

One of the monologues they did was from my favorite play by him called "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You". Although, that wasn't my favorite part of the show. I was so completely floored by the performance given by one of my very dear friends, the ever fabulous Chuck Simon. He donned a vintage 50's house wife Easter sunday pink frilly dress number AND heels to deliver a monologue from "Baby With The Bathwater":

Helen and John are very unprepared for parenthood. They can’t seem to name the baby. John thinks it’s a boy, but Helen says the doctors said they could decide later. When the baby cries, they can’t quite decide what to do. To their rescue comes Nanny – who enters their apartment as if by magic, and is full of abrupt shifts of mood, first cooing at the baby soothingly, then screaming at it. In subsequent scenes, John and Nanny have an affair, Helen takes baby and leaves, only to come back a moment later rain-soaked and unhappy. (“Well if it isn’t Nora five minutes after the end of A Doll’s House,” says Nanny.) At some point they finally name the baby Daisy, and as a toddler, Daisy has a penchant for running in front of buses; or for lying, depressed, in piles of laundry. We hear an alarming essay Daisy has written in school, and the principal, the terrifying Miss Willoughby, is oblivious to the essay’s cry for help, and instead gleefully awards it an A for style. Finally, we meet Daisy – dressed as a girl, but otherwise a polite, confused young man.

Chuck delivered a monologue as Daisy in that amazing dress. He was flawless and fabulous. It was so effing hysterical. I loved every second of it. After the show we went to Soho for drinks.

I am so pumped to start volunteering at Affirmations. I mean, seriously, guys. I hadn't been in the center yet until last night when my dad gave me a tour. It's so fantastic; I want to be attached to that program in any way possible. It's a safe, beautiful place where LGBT youth can go to hang out with other kids just like them. The walls are lined with rotating works of art by local artists and they have groups tailor made for a wide range of LGBT issues. I'm so proud to have that in the Metro area.

It's really beautiful. If you haven't checked it out yet, swing by and check it out. It's right in downtown Ferndale. I plan on getting involved ASAP. I spoke to the director of the show last night and she said that they'd like to do another show closer to the summer and I was like, "Holla! Sign me up!"

So, yeah. Really, really, really super excited about that.

ps, when I went looking for specific quotes from "Baby With The Bathwater" I came upon this. There are no words.

The rest of this entry was written yesterday, but is still completely relevant:

The interweb and I have finally rekindled our love affair and I am nearly beside myself with joy! What does this mean for you? I will be able to pack these posts with more fun stuff again. Like this article I found on Riese's blog. It's a fictional account of Heath Ledger's days written in the first person. It's good.

Tina Fey was in Parade this past weekend and it made me even more excited to see Baby Mama.


I love the part at the end of the trailer. The first time I watched it, I think I might've rewatched that sink part maybe five times. Awesome. I love Amy Poehler. The pair also did this really funny skit called "Sexy Tennis" during the writer's strike.

They're effing awesome. If I ever met them in real life, I would probs pass out or talk too much or freeze up like an idiot or something. I mean, I know they're normal people, but c'mon. They're so talented and hot at the same time that it's just ridiculous.

Anyway, I love Tina Fey. And Amy Poehler.

Remember how I blogged about how much I hate Facebook a while back? Yeah, well, I hate them even more now because until just now I had over 100 requests sent to me. They included but were not limited to:

Good karma
Karma
Scrabulous
Detroit tigers fans
Imperial galaxy
Knighthood
Fight club
Which 1950’s pinup are you?
Spice Girls
Genius
Dr. Phil’s Test
Your Birthday
Who is your one true love?
Which Super Smash Bros. Character are you?
What type of girl are you? (the gay kind, ps)
What’s your bedroom grade?
Are you good in bed?
What’s your biggest turn-on?
What is your kama sutra position?
Grammar test
The breakfast club quiz
Perfect match
Hug request
What does your birth date mean?
What’s your best quality?
What’s your musical instrument?
What is your dance style?
How evil are you?
What is your secret sexual fantasy?
Which ‘the hills’ character on you? (WTF is ‘the hills’)
What is your sex color?
What would you look like anime?
What color are you?
Are you a loser?
What kind of bride would you be?
PlaneCrazy
Oregon Trail (5 more of those fuckers!!)
What is your sex song?
What type of heart do you have?
You are sooo good looking
Nerd fight
Meet new people
Wedding calculator
What Disney song describes your life right now?
What flower are you?
What kind of smile do you have?
What is your secret sexual orientation? (um, I live with my gf. hello?)
What type of eyes do you have?
Characterize
What’s your rose color?
Dodgeball
How fat are you?
How stupid are you?
Blackjack
How sexy are you?

PS: all of the one's bolded were sent from the same person. Brandon Grantz. He caught wind of how much the applications are ruining my life and has made a hobby out of bombarding me with them almost daily. Damn! Here's a picture of Brandon. Dead.




Relax. it's from the movie we shot together that no one will ever see because it's been so long now, that if I show it to anyone they might turn to stone. Seriously.

Oh my god, seriously, today is the nicest day ever! It is so freaking pretty outside. As I am writing this draft I am seated facing a wall inside of, what basically amounts to a bunker.

See, i just got myself this new job. It's temporary but they're paying me a butt ton of money to do all of this IT grunt work stuff. Also, I am getting paid right this very moment to type this sentence. I didn't even interview for the job. I had a connection who called me a week ago and said, "here. this job is yours if you want it." By the next day I was hired w/out ever filling out an application, drug test, background check, nothing. Talk about trust. I feel like it's the 50's and they are simply trusting that I'm not a piece of shit or a psycopath based solely on the fact that I used to babysit for one of their newest employees. See? It's totally like the 50's, only better because no one cares that I'm gay; they just care that I do my job. How great is that?

I am having the best week ever. Well, sort of. Basically, yes. It started out really shitty. Rori left for ASBD and I was all sorts of sad. Some might say that I had a lot of feelings. Because I did, you know. But today it's all over and I'm happy to have her back. The bunnies might have died had she not returned, and then she would have been all kind of upset and she'd probs break up with me and move out because I killed the damn rabbits.

So, this job is awesome. The people are normal, even though one of them looks exactly like the creep ass from Red Dragon played by Ralph Fiennes.

Real quick! Speaking of creep ass: I have not seen JP in what feels like a lifetime but actually amounts to a few weeks. But still, it's getting ridiculous, kind of like the cold that's ruining my life right now.

But I'm happy! Things are going well! The weather is pretty so I am jaded in the best way! PS: I love JP.




Here was my first day:

Monday 9am

I arrived at 9am, even though I was aiming for 8:45 (ps, Ann Arbor is ridiculous pps, I still love it). I tried to go in the wrong door, found the right door, went through a maze of hallways and then up an elevator. It was basically like when Will Smith goes for the little test in Men In Black, except w/out aliens. But still, it was pretty much the same thing because I am working with a guy who looks like this:




He's nice though. I sent my mom and step-dad a text message:

ME: So I am riding in a car right now to a site w/a guy who looks like the creeper from Red Dragon "Come ride with me. For my pleasure."
HER: LMAO! Well, it's daytime and not rainging. You should be ok.
MY STEP-DAD: "Manny is a fool!"

Have you seen Red Dragon? It's really good.

Also. Have you heard who the latest inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is? Madonna. And who presented her with her little plaque or statue or what have you? Justin Timberlake. If you're anything like me, you thought, "wtf? Madonna? Rock?"

I mean, I love Madonna, but she is not rock & roll. She's the dance queen/gay icon/diva extraordinaire. But she is not The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. I mean, I guess her spirit is rock and roll. She's a rebel, she rolled around in a wedding dress on MTV once upon a time and into our lives and made that Sex book and makes the best dance songs ever. When Madonna comes on in the club, everyone loses their shit. The shirts come off the boys, we all squeal and dance like our lives are on the line. Because she's Madonna. She's amazing. But, she is NOT rock.

But, you know, good for her. Whatevs. It's Madonna.


SO...my new obsession is with a certain TV show that I never, ever, under any circumstances thought I would like: The Girls Next Door. I still don't get it but I effing love that show. Rori has the first two seasons on DVD and I have watched every single episode at least once and some of them I have viewed again with commentary.

I don't know. It's really funny. But I can't figure out why I watch it so much. Playboy's not my thing, I'm not usually that into blonde's and I usually only watch The First 48 on A & E....not anymore.

i dreamt of a fever, one that cure me of this cold winter set heart

"Can we listen to some music?" Rori asked me as we were getting ready on sunday afternoon. I walked over to the computer.

"Not Britney Spears," she added.

Dammit.

I may or may not be listening to her new CD a lot. And say what you will about her (I think she needs professional help, i feel sad a little bit/a lot when I think about how sick she really is--in the head and whatnot), but that new CD of hers in fantastic. I love it, start to finish.

And I've got to tell you, I was surprised as hell that I like it so much. I've never liked any of her other CD's all the way through before.



So, Heath Ledger died last week. I mean, WTF? Who saw that one coming? Not me. I'm not gonna say a lot about it cause I feel like everyone and their mother has addressed the topic since the news first broke less than an hour after it happened. I know because I've read all of it.

But you know, it just really, really sucks. Very sad.

The silver lining is that he was able to complete this before his untimely passing:



I am wicked excited to see what will be his last completed performance.





So, I haven't written in at least a week and it is by no means attributed to inactivity, except sort of. Basically.

They have this show on A & E called "Intervention". I love this show. And I loved it a whole lot more before I sort of had one of my own. Apparently I have a bit of a problem with being reckless, drinking/partying too much, I'm not on quite the right track with school and a bevy of other things. The only thing I've been really good about lately, is keeping it in my pants, proverbially speaking of course. But I've failed at just about everything else.

So, I'm going through a lot of changes right now, feeling very foggy, restless, sleepless, that sort of thing. It'll pass for sure. And it's all entirely my fault, so don't think I'm seeking out any sort of compassion or pity. I'm just trying to explain my absence and explain any changes you might notice taking place.

I guess it's time to grow up a bit. Not too much, but a healthy amount is in order I think. There will be a little less of this:




And a lot more of this:




You really should check out the show Intervention. It's awesome. My favorite one was this girl who had this addiction to speedballing. She was in really deep and her dad kept fueling. AND she had an eating disorder just like her mother who was convinced that she did not have an eating disorder, even though she totally did.

It was a really good episode. That show really shakes you up, gives you a reality check. And there's an extra special kind of reality check when you are the subject of one. Thank god it wasn't on TV. That would've sucked balls. For real.

Here's another kind of Intervention. Arcade Fire, to be specific:



Now that I've gotten all of that other obligatory exposition out of the way I would like to move on to bigger and better/happier things.

1. There is a band. Will post pics/updates later. But beautiful music is being made and might find its way to your ears sometime in the near future.

2. This weather is ridiculous.




We've gotten a really decent amount of snow this winter, and not counting today, we've had pretty steady temps. I kind of feel like a meteorologist right now. But srsly, we all like our winters to be like this:



And they end up being a little more like this:



I have lived in Michigan my whole life (sad but true) and I feel like half of the population still has no idea what they're doing behind the wheel of a vehicle. I mean, essentially, a car is a killing machine. You sort of barrel on down the road going pretty effing fast (if you're anything like me), and really, you could kill yourself and/or someone else if something unexpected like a torrential downpour or something.

I feel like people panic, especially with heavy rain or any amount of snow. They slam on the brakes like morons and cause accidents, spilled beverages, further panic and a deeper seeded hatred of driving under these conditions.

One morning before I braved the treachery that was my drive to work, I paid a bum $5 to shovel me out of my spot. My car was blocked in by a shit ton of snow. There were at least 4 feet of snow completely encasing my vehicle. I walked out there with my hot chocolate and grilled cheese (breakfast of champions, ps) in hand and my jaw dropped. I was all, "what the hell? how the fuck am i gonna get out of there."

Lo and behold, this bum comes jogging up from further down the street wearing a smorgishbord of clothes (members only jacket, knit (?) vest, hoodie, snow pants (?), jeans, sweatpants, sneakers, a knit cap and mismatched gloves). He looked like he just walked off stage as a member of the chorus from RENT. "Christmas bells are ring-ing, Christmas bells are ring-ing. how time flies."

Anyway, he shoveled me out and offered to brush my car off for an extra dollar even though I was halfway done already.

I still got to work late, but it was all good.

3. The L Word is trucking along and rocking my world. And I think I can really relate to Bette right now. Not me right now, but me a while ago. No time specification necessary. Suffice as to say, I get her. Also, she is smoking hot. You know who else is? Helena? Where is she? Probs with Papi.

4. I lost heat in my apt. the weekend before last and wanted to kill father time and mother earth and whoever thought it would be a great idea to still heat things with a boiler. Damn it was cold in my apt. Not quite as cold as it was when the heat went out last winter and Eric and I thought that maybe it was a sign of the apocalypse or something. We sat huddled around our space heaters and watched the time drag on.

This time wasn't so bad. Still really fucking cold, but it only lasted a couple of days and I am pleased to report that my apt. is back to sweltering heat. Chelsea has described it as "hot as balls" on countless occasions and I'd have to agree.

But you know, I don't mind the heat. First of all, I am half Mexican and so I think probs my genetics dictate me requiring copious amounts of heat and also, it is really fucking cold outside. I'd rather be really hot than freezing my ass off. And I think most people would agree. Maybe even Chelsea.

5. My iPod died.



I don't know why I put this in with other stuff that is supposed to be not shitty. But whatevs. My iPod broke and I am devastated. I stared at it forever and felt like I might cry, but I didn't.

Life post iPod is very different from life pre-iPod. And I swear to you I was so grateful during the iPod years (circa 2003-2008). They were great years. I had a couple iPods and loved them unconditionally and in their own special ways. My newest one died of what I believe to be anything other than natural causes, unless you count carelessness as "natural".

My phone must've cracked the screen on accident when it was hanging out in my pocket waiting to rock my world. Now the screen looks like it's fading away from a terminal illness. Poor Oscar. Such a wonderful little iPod. Was totally my favorite thing I owned.

It's weird that I'm speaking in the past tense as if I buried the damn thing in the alley. But the truth is, I'm still carrying it around in my bag like it might come back top life when I least expect it, by way of an iPod fairy or the miracle of prayer or a shooting star. Something, dammit. Something.

These are difficult times, the days we are living in. First the war, the economy, and now this. I am simply beside myself.

I've resorted to carrying around a discman. Until this very moment, I cannot recall the last time I even thought about a "discman", let alone wrote about it. I carry around a case full of CDS i feel like I can't live without right now. It contains the following:

Radiohead
As Tall As Lions
AC/DC
Led Zeppelin
Fiona Apple
The Shins
The Marie Antoinette soundtrack
Colplay
Fall Out Boy
Kelly Clarkson
a few assorted mixes
Lovedrug
Motion City Soundtrack
Elliott Smith

and a couple others I can't remember right now, but seemed really important this morning when I put them in my bag. And you can say what you will about my musical selection. I will defend them all until the death. So whatevs. I forgot about Britney Spears! I totally have her new CD in there too. I've been listening to that a lot. I think I mentioned that before.

6. Most everything else is the same. I don't wanna jinx anything, but you know, things are ok. I think I've finally figured out how the whole relationship thing, or at least, I think I've figured out how to make it work for me personally. Things are good.

My heart and my head are in a good place.