Saturday, November 15, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
11-4-2008
Today is perhaps the biggest day of the year for the US with the voting and subsequent election of the next American President. After almost twoyears of really smart banter and analysis, bad campaigning and nasty attacks, all that matters now is what the people want. The already seminal date of November 4th is finally here & while it is obvious that either Barack Obama or John McCain will be our Big Man in Charge, there are other very important issues on the table that haven't been so black and white (no pun intended).
When deciding on Prop 8, the decision that will decide if gay couples will gain the right to marry in California, I personally looked at the choices as 2 possibilities: discrimination or the natural freedoms allowed to usunder the Constitution written by our forefathers. True- no where in there will you ever find a single world about "let gays marry", but in not-so-fine-print we have the catchy line that all are created equal and have the right to the pursuit of happiness. Black, white, asian, male,female, young, old you name it, its your right. So, keeping with that pattern, why would it be any different for people who also happen to be gay?Yes- exactly that; people who just happen to be gay. They are truly no different from the rest of us people who just happen to be straight; we all work, love, break laws, drive cars, eat at McDonalds. All the same. Yet now,because of what they do behind closed doors, they are literally being persecuted and segregated and not being allowed these fundamental rights.Are we proud to be in a country where the rules work for some but not all?Where we were once segregated by races and now by sexual preference? A lot of people think the worst part of Prop 8 is that our children will learn about gay marriage in school. While I do believe that this, and many other subjects, should remain untaught until the appropriate age (sexual education, violent wars, experimental science and genetics), what is wrong if, maturity willing, they learn about gay marriage and rights? It hasn't been too long since I was in school and having them learn about gay marriage is the least of your concerns. Children are constantly seeing our so-called "traditional" idea of marriage deteriorating: celebrities marrying for the fun of it, divorce up 50% & Vegas quickie marriages under the influence. For a time a "traditional" marriage didn't include different races, stepparents or stepchildren .Yet we try to stop any type of display of love, battling to be united forever. Teaching about gay rights and the progress we have made in our country's history wont suddenly turn our children gay, just like teaching about slavery or the Japanese internment camps of California will suddenly turn them into other races. What it will do, however is teach them that we, a country grown from freedom and perseverance, will always continue to correct ourselves and do what is right for our people. We did it with the Civil War, with Civil Rights and now with Prop 8.
Prop 4 has also caused some ruckus with its intent on allowing female minors to seek pre-natal health, and/or an abortion if wanted, without the consent of their parents. I see this proposition like a lot of people: I have never been in a situation where I haven't been able to go to my mother,or respected adult, for help, guidance or advice. Nothing that I would haveto experience completely by myself that would undoubtedly change the course of my life. And most certainly not while still having to go to school, and keep up my grades, and have friends, and do chores and all the normal things young teenagers do. Then again a lot of people have had to do this. You hear all the time of young girls hiding their unintended pregnancy for months, failing school in the meantime, because they are so afraid of what their parents will do. If they will accept them, still love them, or shun them away to fend on their own. It's the stories in the news that we hearabout a baby in the dumpster, or found crying on the verge of death in an alley, left abandoned. While I don't see any excuse for leaving life to die,especially under such carelessness, I do believe that perhaps if these young women had choices that they could have made better ones. Never underestimate a person with choices, for they might surprise you when they make the right one. I would think most people come from the type of family that I am from, however, so many girls don't and need to have society look after them when their own families wont. Prop 4 will simply allow young women who have found themselves unexpectantly pregnant to seek health care from clincs,healthcare providers, or even their own physician without the consent of their parents. They will have the guidance of healthcare professionals who will provide the services that is best for the woman without judgment or criticism. See, theres nothing wrong with that.
When deciding on Prop 8, the decision that will decide if gay couples will gain the right to marry in California, I personally looked at the choices as 2 possibilities: discrimination or the natural freedoms allowed to usunder the Constitution written by our forefathers. True- no where in there will you ever find a single world about "let gays marry", but in not-so-fine-print we have the catchy line that all are created equal and have the right to the pursuit of happiness. Black, white, asian, male,female, young, old you name it, its your right. So, keeping with that pattern, why would it be any different for people who also happen to be gay?Yes- exactly that; people who just happen to be gay. They are truly no different from the rest of us people who just happen to be straight; we all work, love, break laws, drive cars, eat at McDonalds. All the same. Yet now,because of what they do behind closed doors, they are literally being persecuted and segregated and not being allowed these fundamental rights.Are we proud to be in a country where the rules work for some but not all?Where we were once segregated by races and now by sexual preference? A lot of people think the worst part of Prop 8 is that our children will learn about gay marriage in school. While I do believe that this, and many other subjects, should remain untaught until the appropriate age (sexual education, violent wars, experimental science and genetics), what is wrong if, maturity willing, they learn about gay marriage and rights? It hasn't been too long since I was in school and having them learn about gay marriage is the least of your concerns. Children are constantly seeing our so-called "traditional" idea of marriage deteriorating: celebrities marrying for the fun of it, divorce up 50% & Vegas quickie marriages under the influence. For a time a "traditional" marriage didn't include different races, stepparents or stepchildren .Yet we try to stop any type of display of love, battling to be united forever. Teaching about gay rights and the progress we have made in our country's history wont suddenly turn our children gay, just like teaching about slavery or the Japanese internment camps of California will suddenly turn them into other races. What it will do, however is teach them that we, a country grown from freedom and perseverance, will always continue to correct ourselves and do what is right for our people. We did it with the Civil War, with Civil Rights and now with Prop 8.
Prop 4 has also caused some ruckus with its intent on allowing female minors to seek pre-natal health, and/or an abortion if wanted, without the consent of their parents. I see this proposition like a lot of people: I have never been in a situation where I haven't been able to go to my mother,or respected adult, for help, guidance or advice. Nothing that I would haveto experience completely by myself that would undoubtedly change the course of my life. And most certainly not while still having to go to school, and keep up my grades, and have friends, and do chores and all the normal things young teenagers do. Then again a lot of people have had to do this. You hear all the time of young girls hiding their unintended pregnancy for months, failing school in the meantime, because they are so afraid of what their parents will do. If they will accept them, still love them, or shun them away to fend on their own. It's the stories in the news that we hearabout a baby in the dumpster, or found crying on the verge of death in an alley, left abandoned. While I don't see any excuse for leaving life to die,especially under such carelessness, I do believe that perhaps if these young women had choices that they could have made better ones. Never underestimate a person with choices, for they might surprise you when they make the right one. I would think most people come from the type of family that I am from, however, so many girls don't and need to have society look after them when their own families wont. Prop 4 will simply allow young women who have found themselves unexpectantly pregnant to seek health care from clincs,healthcare providers, or even their own physician without the consent of their parents. They will have the guidance of healthcare professionals who will provide the services that is best for the woman without judgment or criticism. See, theres nothing wrong with that.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Debi Joes & Foot Juice
I'm really upset. Actually, to be honest, I have calmed down since I was first involved in the situation however remembering all that happened conjours up some grrr-type feelings. I figured warning others of the possibility that they could put themselves in the same situation would be doing myself and others justice. Here it goes:
A week or so ago I decided to treak myself and my naturally fabulous hands & feet ( thanks mom) to a refreshing mani pedi. They werent looking like their usually fantastic selves and so needed so major TLC. Thus the nail shop visit. I typically go to the nail shop when I get my eyebrows and 'debi joe' done (I'll let you wonder what that is) and that day was no exception. So on my way out of the Indian threading place, I went directly next door to nail shop. Looking back, I should have seen the warning signs of an impending annoyance coming my way, but the bliss i was still in from the afore mentioned luxury was clouding my already prescription-based vision. I missed all the signs. I step in and casually let one of the hasty manicurist know that I would like a spa mani pedi (spa meaning that I would like the hi-tech massage chairs; a standard nowadays). She nods, and continues to go about scrubbing someones heels that appear to be in the same condition as my own. Trust me, I can just in time before it got bad. Alot of foreign chatter starts to commence for several minutes with half the nail shop speaking in some Asian dialect, which none of its patrons, including myself, understand at all. I go to pick out a nail color; my slight obsession with dark reds continues, and so I dont spend more than a minute picking out something very similar to what is already chipping on my digits. Sad, but Im a bit predictable. Anyways, I sit and without being let aware of my waiting status, continue to sit for over 10 minutes, just waiting for someone to tell me whats going on. Im not an impatient person, but I do think it would be nice to be let in on how long I should anticipate waiting. To me, not that much to ask for. To me. Still the foreign talk continues. Finally, almost 20 minutes after arriving I am sat in a spa chair with the blue-mint water beckoning my toesies already running. Ugh - way too cold. I turn to tell the lady and ask for hot water to balance out the frost; shes gone. I actually dont even see her at all. Vanished. Grr. So, with everyone else very busy, I sit with a cold half foot on the foot rest waiting (again) for someone to service me. About 5 minutes later, a lady realizes the water in the spa foot tub is about to overflow and comes over to turn it off and stares at me like "Why arent your feet in the water?". And with the universal language all women speak fluently with our body language and attitude, I stare right back like "Duh - the water is cold". Grr.
Fast forward to the simultaneous mani pedi work: When you get a mani pedi in the spa chair, you are being cheated. Point blank conned out of the full experience because they attempt to 'save you time' by doing both at the same time. HELLO - if i was looking to be rushed i would not have come to get my nails done. So exactly this happened with me: Both hands and feet were being done at the same time, one more half-ass than the other, but equal in annoying the crap out of me. On my feet the lady was barely scrubbing, barely clipping and not at all paying attention. On my hands she wasent even looking at my nails as she filed away, to my dismay, making my nails shorter than desired. Grrr. I call to both their attention that I am feeling very rushed and might as well be halfway out the door at the ridiculous speed they are working at. They simply nod. And the unknown dialect picks up big time. They are talking across the room, to each other, to other women working - its like a hen house. Naturally, I am very curious as to what they are talking about and can only assume that my recent plea for a 'spa' experience has sparked the freeway of conversation. My feet are given a quick once over of the usually 5+ minute massage, and my hands are tugged and dropped as they are simply lubricated with some cheap lotion - she doesnt even take the time to rub it in. I can actually see lotion just sitting on my arm. After trying very unsuccessfully to convince me to get a 'flower' design on my toes (aka an extra $5-10 charge on an iffy red dot with a rhinestone), she gives me a scowl as I insist on 2 clear coats of the shiny top coat. It prevents chipping; why wouldnt I want 2 instead of the measly 1? I ask the same of the hand lady as she is finishing up. So I am sitting there, freshly painted and desperately trying to enjoy the end of my quickie, when my feet are propped on this ledge. Why, when I am trying to dry, is my lower body being moved? ?I look down and the feet lady has come back with a gray dingy towel to clean the foot basin, which only involved running hot water and wiping it down with this awful towel. No cleaners. No products or fungus killing solutions - just the almighty power of plain 'ole OC tap water. I cringed so hard i felt myself actually grinding my teeth; my feet were just in that tub and if thats how she cleaned, I had just shared my foot juice with any and every woman that has gotten their toes done in that chair. I felt like my feet went through a one night stand and were now feeling the dirty guilty after thoughts. With a smile on her face, a totally separate third-person gave me my ticket for what I owed: $35, without tip (HA). I dug into my wallet, reached 2 $20's, got my change and fled that nail shop as if i had just seen a robbery and the gun man was letting everyone free. I didnt look back until I was already in my car.
The moral of the story: thanks mom for my naturally fabulous hands because they will NOT be seeing a nail shop this side of OC for...uh...ever!
A week or so ago I decided to treak myself and my naturally fabulous hands & feet ( thanks mom) to a refreshing mani pedi. They werent looking like their usually fantastic selves and so needed so major TLC. Thus the nail shop visit. I typically go to the nail shop when I get my eyebrows and 'debi joe' done (I'll let you wonder what that is) and that day was no exception. So on my way out of the Indian threading place, I went directly next door to nail shop. Looking back, I should have seen the warning signs of an impending annoyance coming my way, but the bliss i was still in from the afore mentioned luxury was clouding my already prescription-based vision. I missed all the signs. I step in and casually let one of the hasty manicurist know that I would like a spa mani pedi (spa meaning that I would like the hi-tech massage chairs; a standard nowadays). She nods, and continues to go about scrubbing someones heels that appear to be in the same condition as my own. Trust me, I can just in time before it got bad. Alot of foreign chatter starts to commence for several minutes with half the nail shop speaking in some Asian dialect, which none of its patrons, including myself, understand at all. I go to pick out a nail color; my slight obsession with dark reds continues, and so I dont spend more than a minute picking out something very similar to what is already chipping on my digits. Sad, but Im a bit predictable. Anyways, I sit and without being let aware of my waiting status, continue to sit for over 10 minutes, just waiting for someone to tell me whats going on. Im not an impatient person, but I do think it would be nice to be let in on how long I should anticipate waiting. To me, not that much to ask for. To me. Still the foreign talk continues. Finally, almost 20 minutes after arriving I am sat in a spa chair with the blue-mint water beckoning my toesies already running. Ugh - way too cold. I turn to tell the lady and ask for hot water to balance out the frost; shes gone. I actually dont even see her at all. Vanished. Grr. So, with everyone else very busy, I sit with a cold half foot on the foot rest waiting (again) for someone to service me. About 5 minutes later, a lady realizes the water in the spa foot tub is about to overflow and comes over to turn it off and stares at me like "Why arent your feet in the water?". And with the universal language all women speak fluently with our body language and attitude, I stare right back like "Duh - the water is cold". Grr.
Fast forward to the simultaneous mani pedi work: When you get a mani pedi in the spa chair, you are being cheated. Point blank conned out of the full experience because they attempt to 'save you time' by doing both at the same time. HELLO - if i was looking to be rushed i would not have come to get my nails done. So exactly this happened with me: Both hands and feet were being done at the same time, one more half-ass than the other, but equal in annoying the crap out of me. On my feet the lady was barely scrubbing, barely clipping and not at all paying attention. On my hands she wasent even looking at my nails as she filed away, to my dismay, making my nails shorter than desired. Grrr. I call to both their attention that I am feeling very rushed and might as well be halfway out the door at the ridiculous speed they are working at. They simply nod. And the unknown dialect picks up big time. They are talking across the room, to each other, to other women working - its like a hen house. Naturally, I am very curious as to what they are talking about and can only assume that my recent plea for a 'spa' experience has sparked the freeway of conversation. My feet are given a quick once over of the usually 5+ minute massage, and my hands are tugged and dropped as they are simply lubricated with some cheap lotion - she doesnt even take the time to rub it in. I can actually see lotion just sitting on my arm. After trying very unsuccessfully to convince me to get a 'flower' design on my toes (aka an extra $5-10 charge on an iffy red dot with a rhinestone), she gives me a scowl as I insist on 2 clear coats of the shiny top coat. It prevents chipping; why wouldnt I want 2 instead of the measly 1? I ask the same of the hand lady as she is finishing up. So I am sitting there, freshly painted and desperately trying to enjoy the end of my quickie, when my feet are propped on this ledge. Why, when I am trying to dry, is my lower body being moved? ?I look down and the feet lady has come back with a gray dingy towel to clean the foot basin, which only involved running hot water and wiping it down with this awful towel. No cleaners. No products or fungus killing solutions - just the almighty power of plain 'ole OC tap water. I cringed so hard i felt myself actually grinding my teeth; my feet were just in that tub and if thats how she cleaned, I had just shared my foot juice with any and every woman that has gotten their toes done in that chair. I felt like my feet went through a one night stand and were now feeling the dirty guilty after thoughts. With a smile on her face, a totally separate third-person gave me my ticket for what I owed: $35, without tip (HA). I dug into my wallet, reached 2 $20's, got my change and fled that nail shop as if i had just seen a robbery and the gun man was letting everyone free. I didnt look back until I was already in my car.
The moral of the story: thanks mom for my naturally fabulous hands because they will NOT be seeing a nail shop this side of OC for...uh...ever!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
You've Got Mail...Forreal
New day. New news.
Personally I think this idea is genius in the way it allows people with the fear of embarrassment and guilt to still do the right thing and inform their partners of their sexual health; especially if there is a problem. I'll be honest: If I had to confront someone and tell them "Hey, so this crazy thing happened...and well, I think I have syphilis, so you should get checked out", I would be beyond mortified. Still, Im the last person to want to be ignorant about my sexual health and could never put someone else's life in my hands. Ever. Thats just not fair. But not everyone is always careful and responsible with all the wonderful assortment of protection we have available to us - men and women alike - so this website allows people to try to alert the booty calls and retify the already awkward situation. You can even email them at 2am, if that tends to be your normal 'operation' hours. If you really think about it, the best part of people informing people is that it may help avoid one of those nasty STD's getting to you. In fact, an email may save your life. Hmm...never thought of it like that huh?? The always applicable golden rule in life is "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and to put that in 2008 terms for those of us who spend so much time texting we dont really know wtf unto actually means: "we need 2 tlk. I thnk sumthin mayb up N u nd to kno". Yes....much better.
...in case you need it... www.inspot.com
Thursday, October 16, 2008
What are the odds?
The news has been really amazing lately! No - strike that - UNBELIEVABLE is a much better word. I'm not talking about the election (p.s vote Nov 4th) or the weather or even the out of control fires in Southern Cali. Nope, there's even more in the world to be shocked at.
A few days ago, I read on CNN.com that there was a 105 year old women in England. No shes not dead. Shes quite healthy and vibrant actually. WoW, you say! Hold that thought: did I mention shes 105 and a virgin? An unpopped cherry, an unscrewed cork, a 'cat' that hasn't been scratched if you get my heavy drift. She actually credits her remarkable age and vitality to her celibacy saying she 'just never had time to deal with a relationship'. What were you doing, curing cancer? She said that around the age of 12 she decided she was NOT going to get married and back in her day (many many many days ago) women didn't have sex without being married. Thank gosh were over that inconvenience. So since then she has been keeping busy with the usual things people do when they are avoiding sex like the black plague (which she also was around for):
- Serving in the Egyptian Army during WWII
- Working as a secretary
- Working as a housekeeper
- Denying rumors your a homosexual and that's why your not married {before it was 'allowed' by Prop 8 (so far)}
- Mowing your lawn until the age of 90 ( nah not that lawn, shes a virgin remember!)
All curiosity aside, I do wonder how she went so long without even a hint of the male wonderment. Did she not get lonely? Sad? Horny? Maybe she just never needed a little handy work around the house...
To fast forward, to something a little more, 2008-like: A 22-year old woman and her (now o-shit o-shit o-shit) 28-year old fiance just had beautiful, healthy identical triplets. Oh how wonderful, you say. Hold that thought: She has consistently been on Birth Control, the Pill, and was actually using it at the time of conception. The medical miracle of a woman getting pregnant while on the Pill is an astounding 1 to 2%, giving a small error margin for various 'Pill' variables; that's 2 out of every 100 women. However, the odds of having identical triplets...priceless. 200 million to 1 to be exact. Those are Michael Phelps swimmers her fiance had going there. I think something that remarkable has to be fate. An interesting way to carry it through, but fate nonetheless. Couples often try and try and try and cant make it happen, and here comes triplets for a couple that was actually trying to responsibly prevent it. Ironic. That's how life works. Still, every happiness to them.
Maybe the virgin can babysit...we know shes not getting any
Monday, October 13, 2008
Big Apple anyone?
The idea of New York living has been crossing my mind now for several weeks. And while I have officially decided to 'do the damn thing' and relocate there next year, i do (occasionally) wonder what I will be leaving behind. Maybe who I'll be leaving behind?? I've made my life here, a home grown Cali girl, fresh from the land. LA and OC have always been my haven and I feel incredibly comfortable. Safe. Secure. Even with my family across the country...this is home. But I have this irking feeling that there is something there in New York for me...waiting and longing for me to come. Between the lights of Manhattan and the streets of Brooklyn, I can see myself there: writing, living, discovering 'me' where I never thought I could. Where I've never actually been. Where my home has never been. Ever. But where I strangely feel I belong. Its weird, even strange, to have SUCH a feeling to want to be somewhere that you actually plan to move there. You see, Ive already mentally changed my address: changing my car lease, speaking to my college professors to take the right classes and transfer them to the East coast, and looking for preferred areas to live. So with ALL this in mind, you would wonder why this small doubt I have, this minute hesitation of the smallest proportions would be bothering me?And I cant quite place it...but i think the one from my past is tugging at my heart...still...and it hurts.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
A little about me
I want to be famous. I want to make more money; I want to eat whatever I want, when i want it ( damn it!)
I want a house in the South of France...and never have enough time to go there because Im too busy with my penthouse in NY...which i only use when im not partying and crashing at my condo in LA
I want several dogs; a few rat ones and most definitly the big, over protecting ones. Variety is the spice of life. I want tons of clothes...but nothing outrageous or too expensive. nah- just a million pairs of jeans and sexy t-shirts that make me look like I only took 10 mins to get ready ( HA). i want messy-crazy-sexy bed hair everyday!
I want gorgeous skin I never have to do anything to...i want to only carry lip gloss. Fuck a wallet or Id or car keys...wait- I need a car. Ok- jus two keys. 1 for the car,1 for my houses. I want to pay for things in hugs and 'I owe you's. I want my friends to be happy and secure for as long as they are willing to be happy and secure. I want more smiles from the world.
I want to not worry about clocking in on time or taking exactly an hour for lunch. I want to not worry or weigh which is more important, gas or lunch?? I want to call whoever and whenever from whereever and think 'fuck the minutes and hell yea im roaming,t-mobile'. I want to go to the ATM machine and keep pressing zeros........
I want to travel to Dubai and Tonga and Morraco and South Africa and Germany and see all of majestic Russia and drink their vodka and come home still drunk from the whole experiance. I want to take my mom. I want to have a reason to own clocks with different time zones. I DONT WANT AN ALARM.
I want to cure cancer and hunger and AIDS and breast cancer and all the illnesses inbetween...I want to make people happy, even if it means me coming second. I want my sisters to never be heartbroken, and even though its bound to happen, I want to be the person they come talking to. I want to meet Oprah; especially during her Christimas episodes ;-). I want to speak another language.
I want to write books. I want to write screenplays. I'll write brochures as long as I get to put thoughts to words, words to fluition. I want to write like Maya Angelou and Shel Silverstein and Langston Hughes, and in 50 years, have someone say they want to write like me.
I want a house in the South of France...and never have enough time to go there because Im too busy with my penthouse in NY...which i only use when im not partying and crashing at my condo in LA
I want several dogs; a few rat ones and most definitly the big, over protecting ones. Variety is the spice of life. I want tons of clothes...but nothing outrageous or too expensive. nah- just a million pairs of jeans and sexy t-shirts that make me look like I only took 10 mins to get ready ( HA). i want messy-crazy-sexy bed hair everyday!
I want gorgeous skin I never have to do anything to...i want to only carry lip gloss. Fuck a wallet or Id or car keys...wait- I need a car. Ok- jus two keys. 1 for the car,1 for my houses. I want to pay for things in hugs and 'I owe you's. I want my friends to be happy and secure for as long as they are willing to be happy and secure. I want more smiles from the world.
I want to not worry about clocking in on time or taking exactly an hour for lunch. I want to not worry or weigh which is more important, gas or lunch?? I want to call whoever and whenever from whereever and think 'fuck the minutes and hell yea im roaming,t-mobile'. I want to go to the ATM machine and keep pressing zeros........
I want to travel to Dubai and Tonga and Morraco and South Africa and Germany and see all of majestic Russia and drink their vodka and come home still drunk from the whole experiance. I want to take my mom. I want to have a reason to own clocks with different time zones. I DONT WANT AN ALARM.
I want to cure cancer and hunger and AIDS and breast cancer and all the illnesses inbetween...I want to make people happy, even if it means me coming second. I want my sisters to never be heartbroken, and even though its bound to happen, I want to be the person they come talking to. I want to meet Oprah; especially during her Christimas episodes ;-). I want to speak another language.
I want to write books. I want to write screenplays. I'll write brochures as long as I get to put thoughts to words, words to fluition. I want to write like Maya Angelou and Shel Silverstein and Langston Hughes, and in 50 years, have someone say they want to write like me.
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