Plastic Box

And so the lion falls in love with the lamb

It was a dark and gloomy Forks-like day, so what better to do than go see the film adaptation of the first book in the Twilight series. Yes yes, you all know about my obsession with these books (the audio versions, mind you, because I do think that was the best way to experience them).

I have to say that visually and from a musical standpoint, the film was an absolute feast. The acting, however...was a bit high school stage play. Also, in one scene you can see the puff of a fog machine (used to create a lighting effect...a smidge unsuccessfully), and then the last bit in the gazebo there is an error regarding how many people are dancing near Bella and Edward.

But hey, I didn't read the books due to the quality of the writing, and I didn't go see the movie to be stunned by the production value. It's a good frikkin story and I loves me some vampires. And now I have to get the soundtrack.

Ahhh the end to a long holiday weekend. I know I should have gotten in touch with many of you more than I actually did, but it was nice to sort of "hole up" for a few days. Back to work tomorrow and then off to LA on the 11th!

Probably not going to post for a few days

 

Gone for a bit but not too long. Just need to sort things out in a way that I haven't committed to doing until now. Accepting all good ju-ju and e-hugs, so don't be stingy.

Diary of a mad white woman

Monday, 6:23pm ET...start running SleepyTime bath; leave panties on kitchen counter and retrieve in towel so as not to appear indecent to only neighbors

6:28...pour first glass of Pinot Grigio and hook up iPod next to tub

7:00...exit bath, after listening to so much Sim Redmond Band that I am now more likely to cuddle with an ex-lover than to do anything productive.

7:25...log on to work computer and begin nightly ritual of sorting and assigning, after seeking out pajamas that need to be washed anyway because self-tanning lotion will ruin them.

7:35-8:15...SameTime with co-editor and check Facebook; assign work to India editor (tabular process)

8:15-9:00...Rock out as lead singer of The Carl (Rock Band 2 for PlayStation), getting nearly perfect scores on 'The Middle,' 'Brass in Pocket,' and 'Under the Bridge.'  Damn I love to sing.

9:04...Back to work computer to bang things out until eyes will not stay open.

Also, let's congratulate TypePad on its fifth anniversary. I've been with them almost since their inception so I feel obligated to give a shout out. You and me, TypePad, we been through some shiz-nit in five years...

And to all a good night

Twenty-five days until I leave bitter cold Cleveland for sunny Los Angeles. Ahhh... 

It's been a handful of years, but I'm finally going out West with dad again to attend the most sacred of Christmas traditions... the Hustler holiday party. G-strings will be hung by the mantle with care in hopes that Mary XXXmas soon will be there.

Brings a tear to the eye and gives "ho ho ho" a totally different meaning, doesn't it? But I can't wait! I'm cramming an awful lot of merriment into this trip, with visits to a favorite coworker and long-lost author friends in addition to attending Ernst & Young's LA office Christmas party (since they cancelled ours here in Cleveland).

Three and a half days of Getting Away From It All. It's my Christmas present to myself this year. Oh yeah, and this dress for the party. Is it "LA" enough? Pardon the bathroom background and the lack of hair and makeup...I was just so excited to get it home and try it on again. It's a Michael Kors jacquard bubble dress. Eeee!

Bubble junkie

I think I'm a little addicted....to baths.

Ever since my birthday present of a professional housecleaning, I've taken a bath in my shiny scrubbed tub as often as I can. Most of you know how obsessive I am about cleaning, but these ladies did things to this tub (and the rest of the house, for that matter) that make it impossible to resist climbing in and dissolving into the bubbles.

I always fill it too hot, so after 10 minutes of reading my slightly warped copy of The DaVinci Code, I am a lovely shade of fuschia and just a slight bit delirious. Sometimes I put on an iPod mix and have a glass of wine while I'm in there, indulging for just a few moments until I inevitably have to get back to work.

These baths, lately, have been my peaceful place. Tiny warm room, no computer...it's hard to get out sometimes and go back into the cold big world, shivering and still in a fog. But I'm thankful for the time I get to hide out in there. Very thankful indeed.

Reason #4,983 why I love Post Secret Sundays

Hellooooo Cleveland!!

Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a big Rock Band 2 welcome to our next group to take the stage!

Tearin' up the drums is fierce rock legend...Leonard Manson! See that crazed look in his eye? You better watch it or you'll find yourself on the business end of one of those drumsticks.

On guitar and vocals, diva extraordinaire...Julia Sugarbaker! She may use all of her band money to buy clothes and tattoos, but nobody can touch her version of "Eye of the Tiger."

Delta Burke provides stellar backup vocals and gets the crowd on their feet, whether you have two or four!

Put it all together, add some little colored bars scrolling across the screen, and you have rock sensation.... THE CARL! On tour now, so get your tickets before all dates are sold out!

Damn.

One of the few issues I've been watching since last night.

 

Here's hoping it sways the other way but it likely won't. Actually, I vote for not calling it "marriage" anymore for several reasons, not least among them that

(1) It brings the bible right into a civil contract. Separation of church and state, anyone? Marriage is just as much about joint ownership of goods and property as it is about emotional involvement.

(2) I think the heteros have done a pretty good job of mutilating what the bible says about marriage already anyway.

Let's just call it something totally new and let anyone who wants to, take a stab at making it work. Who knows, we might all learn something. I'm all for individuals who enter into marriage loving the lord and making spirituality a part of that union. But why does everyone who wants to legally commit to someone have to follow this religious edict?

Is this me being a libertarian again? Hmmm...

Conflict...resolution?

I've taken the glassbooth.org quiz four times, and each time I am within one percentage point of being entirely split for this presidential election. This sentence alone has angered so many people I know, and I do understand exactly where they are coming from. For the past two presidential elections I have passionately voted for someone (note the personal pronoun, we'll come back to this later) in whom I truly believed, both as a man and a leader. My heart was in it and I cared. And cried. And cared some more.

We all know how those two turned out... and as much as I don't want to feel embittered, it has had an effect on how I approach this election. For the first time I want to vote based on the platform, not the man. For the first time I don't want to give my heart and hopes to either one of them, because ultimately, it is not this one man who decides my fate or the fate of this country. We'll all get on, time will pass, things will change. For the first time I want to step back and ask myself "What are, REALISTICALLY, the things that the new president could impact and move in one direction or another?"

Do I agree with McCain's political views on sex education and health care taxes, or his personal views about abortion? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Do I agree with Obama's income tax and global trade policies, or his personal views on equal health care? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

There are things I am for and against for each of these candidates, which sounds obvious and common, but in my short tenure as a presidential election voter, it has never been this way for me. So I understand why some of my friends and family are shocked, appalled, curious, and resentful at the fact that I am not "obviously" for Obama.

I do not believe that everyone deserves equal everything (health care, education, housing, opportunity), and I also do not believe that abstinence-only education has EVER WORKED. I guess I'm looking for a hybrid of these two very different men....very different and yet I somehow found a bridge between them, standing at 49%/51%.

So I am not going to tell anyone who I end up voting for tomorrow. I just don't care enough about this election to allow it to affect even a single one of my relationships. Vote how and for whom you feel is the right way to go.

And also, today, I'd like to share with you my favorite secret from this week's PostSecret batch. This site makes you laugh, makes you cry, and makes you often say "what the f---?!":