Sunday, March 14, 2004
Best Friends Forever
Dear Hugshyhermit, Do you have a support system?
Well dear reader, so happy you asked! I do have a support system, and with all the ranting and raving and misery of the last few weeks I am more than happy to take a load off and talk about my four best friends.
In no particular order, they are:
Cincinnati C
A little over a year ago, Hushpuppy Darnitall, my bigwig BIPC friend, introduced me to his childhood friend Cincinnati C. I've mentioned her a few times; the first time when she visited me in Maine.
You can get to know her better by visiting my links to the right. She is the "another talented friend" link.
Cincy C is a graduate student in digital design, and this afternoon she was telling me the praise she was receiving for her work at school: I'm looking forward to seeing for myself at the school open-house on Tuesday. She is also a musician, and wearing that hat, she has just released a CD after a few years in the making.
It's awesome stuff, I've been listening to it on the way back and forth from work: I'd describe it as a cross between Indigo Girls and the Beatles, but I hate describing music as a take off from anyone else. Their group's name is called Two Tru.
Cincinnati C has amazing insight into life, and an outlook that seems similar to my own; talking to her is very calming. I can only hope to return the favor if she ever needed it.
Colorado C
Ordinarily if I'm chatting about my friends in a blog entry I would just say "C", but that could be confusing! So, for this one at least: "Cincy C" and "Colorado C."
And if you click on "a talented friend" link to the right, you will be introduced to Colorado C. He is the founder of the The International Experimental Film Festival. I first met C at the Lavender Film Festival in Colorado Springs four years ago. When I first met C, we went out on a date, and, well, you'd have to ask him about that. I didn't talk to C for a few months, but after his near-fatal car accident three years ago, I have talked to him almost every day since.
C and I have taken several roadtrips, the most recent one last fall, visiting Columbus, Cleveland and the beeyootiful campus of Bowling Green State University.
In the weirdness of the last few weeks, C recently reminded me of the work I've done for TIE. When TIE brought the controversial film "Subconscious Cruelty" to Denver (banned from the New York Underground Film Festival in the months after 9/11), I drafted a waiver folks had to sign to prevent potential liability. (I acknowledge this film contains graphic scenes that may be offensive to some, etc.) The Waiver created a buzz; the line was around the block to see it. The film sold out, a money-making event. (I wouldn't call it anti-American, but it IS brutally anti-religious, and during the fall of 2001, I suppose anything anti-religious was also considered anti-American. I wouldn't advise seeing Subconscious Cruelty on a full stomach! I haven't seen The Passion of Christ, but blood is also featured prominantly in SC, hoo boy.)
More recently, I helped negotiate a settlement with one of the creditors, clearing a debt TIE ran up its first year.
C is a great traveling companion, and some of our other road-trips -- not quite Cassady and Kerouac perhaps, but I'll take any loose comparison! -- have been through the Southwest. When we spoke this morning, our next "dream" roadtrip -- which may become a reality (stay tuned) -- is to meet up in Las Vegas for the opening of Madonna's American tour. (C once worked for Maverick Records, and has a tattoo of the logo on his leg. How he got that tattoo is a tale, but I'd let him tell it.)
DJ
DJ is one of my favorite former boyfriends. (*sigh* I have several favorites.) We dated for two years and broke up about four years ago. He can tell quite a tale, and always made me roll with laughter. He is also sensitive; today he cried on the phone because his aunt died; but also about a film he just saw The Shape of Things, starring Paul Rudd.
DJ was fired a couple of weeks ago from his job for a major cellular phone company, for calling a customer an idiot. (I guess they do record those calls!) But, as always, he's bounced back, and starts tomorrow as a customer service rep for another major company.
D
D answered my personals ad a little over a year ago, shortly after I moved to Cincinnati. We also hit it off immediately. I have wished that I was physically attracted to him because we get on so well; but there's like a wall there. It's a nonstop laugh riot being around him, and in the last year, we've been through a lot together. I'd say that D and I have formed an urban tribe, and he and I -- but more him -- have organized events bringing together an interesting mix of people; my friends as well as his. We go to parties, clubs, bands, restaurants, movies, the opera, you-name-it, together.
Today I drove down to meet him, his new boyfriend and some of his new boyfriend's friends for Dame Edna.
Tired (I painted until 5:30 this morning) and somewhat skeptical with forced hilarity, Dame Edna was a pleasant surprise! If you're not familiar, she's an Australian comedian, a man who has adopted Dame Edna as a campy alter ego. If like a drag show in Provincetown. I read in an interview once where the comedian (see, I don't even know his real name!) said he's not gay, it's not drag, etc. Whatever.
She had on her trademark over-the-top outfits, purple hair and rhinestone cat-glasses; but she was also spontaneously funny. You knew she thought up some new funnies during the act, because she motioned to her accompianist to write down the lines. She had done her homework, because a lot of her one-liners made reference to local places, people and events. Ho ho ho...
After that, we went back to D's house for drinks and pizza, yukking it up with the new boyfriend's friends. One of them is an attorney for a bank here in town -- as if I don't have enough networking opportunities already! (sardonic laughter.)
So you see, Possums, I'm not all doom and gloom...
Well dear reader, so happy you asked! I do have a support system, and with all the ranting and raving and misery of the last few weeks I am more than happy to take a load off and talk about my four best friends.
In no particular order, they are:
Cincinnati C
A little over a year ago, Hushpuppy Darnitall, my bigwig BIPC friend, introduced me to his childhood friend Cincinnati C. I've mentioned her a few times; the first time when she visited me in Maine.
You can get to know her better by visiting my links to the right. She is the "another talented friend" link.
Cincy C is a graduate student in digital design, and this afternoon she was telling me the praise she was receiving for her work at school: I'm looking forward to seeing for myself at the school open-house on Tuesday. She is also a musician, and wearing that hat, she has just released a CD after a few years in the making.
It's awesome stuff, I've been listening to it on the way back and forth from work: I'd describe it as a cross between Indigo Girls and the Beatles, but I hate describing music as a take off from anyone else. Their group's name is called Two Tru.
Cincinnati C has amazing insight into life, and an outlook that seems similar to my own; talking to her is very calming. I can only hope to return the favor if she ever needed it.
Colorado C
Ordinarily if I'm chatting about my friends in a blog entry I would just say "C", but that could be confusing! So, for this one at least: "Cincy C" and "Colorado C."
And if you click on "a talented friend" link to the right, you will be introduced to Colorado C. He is the founder of the The International Experimental Film Festival. I first met C at the Lavender Film Festival in Colorado Springs four years ago. When I first met C, we went out on a date, and, well, you'd have to ask him about that. I didn't talk to C for a few months, but after his near-fatal car accident three years ago, I have talked to him almost every day since.
C and I have taken several roadtrips, the most recent one last fall, visiting Columbus, Cleveland and the beeyootiful campus of Bowling Green State University.
In the weirdness of the last few weeks, C recently reminded me of the work I've done for TIE. When TIE brought the controversial film "Subconscious Cruelty" to Denver (banned from the New York Underground Film Festival in the months after 9/11), I drafted a waiver folks had to sign to prevent potential liability. (I acknowledge this film contains graphic scenes that may be offensive to some, etc.) The Waiver created a buzz; the line was around the block to see it. The film sold out, a money-making event. (I wouldn't call it anti-American, but it IS brutally anti-religious, and during the fall of 2001, I suppose anything anti-religious was also considered anti-American. I wouldn't advise seeing Subconscious Cruelty on a full stomach! I haven't seen The Passion of Christ, but blood is also featured prominantly in SC, hoo boy.)
More recently, I helped negotiate a settlement with one of the creditors, clearing a debt TIE ran up its first year.
C is a great traveling companion, and some of our other road-trips -- not quite Cassady and Kerouac perhaps, but I'll take any loose comparison! -- have been through the Southwest. When we spoke this morning, our next "dream" roadtrip -- which may become a reality (stay tuned) -- is to meet up in Las Vegas for the opening of Madonna's American tour. (C once worked for Maverick Records, and has a tattoo of the logo on his leg. How he got that tattoo is a tale, but I'd let him tell it.)
DJ
DJ is one of my favorite former boyfriends. (*sigh* I have several favorites.) We dated for two years and broke up about four years ago. He can tell quite a tale, and always made me roll with laughter. He is also sensitive; today he cried on the phone because his aunt died; but also about a film he just saw The Shape of Things, starring Paul Rudd.
DJ was fired a couple of weeks ago from his job for a major cellular phone company, for calling a customer an idiot. (I guess they do record those calls!) But, as always, he's bounced back, and starts tomorrow as a customer service rep for another major company.
D
D answered my personals ad a little over a year ago, shortly after I moved to Cincinnati. We also hit it off immediately. I have wished that I was physically attracted to him because we get on so well; but there's like a wall there. It's a nonstop laugh riot being around him, and in the last year, we've been through a lot together. I'd say that D and I have formed an urban tribe, and he and I -- but more him -- have organized events bringing together an interesting mix of people; my friends as well as his. We go to parties, clubs, bands, restaurants, movies, the opera, you-name-it, together.
Today I drove down to meet him, his new boyfriend and some of his new boyfriend's friends for Dame Edna.
Tired (I painted until 5:30 this morning) and somewhat skeptical with forced hilarity, Dame Edna was a pleasant surprise! If you're not familiar, she's an Australian comedian, a man who has adopted Dame Edna as a campy alter ego. If like a drag show in Provincetown. I read in an interview once where the comedian (see, I don't even know his real name!) said he's not gay, it's not drag, etc. Whatever.
She had on her trademark over-the-top outfits, purple hair and rhinestone cat-glasses; but she was also spontaneously funny. You knew she thought up some new funnies during the act, because she motioned to her accompianist to write down the lines. She had done her homework, because a lot of her one-liners made reference to local places, people and events. Ho ho ho...
After that, we went back to D's house for drinks and pizza, yukking it up with the new boyfriend's friends. One of them is an attorney for a bank here in town -- as if I don't have enough networking opportunities already! (sardonic laughter.)
So you see, Possums, I'm not all doom and gloom...
That's It
Warning: Rant Ahead.
Well, that was the last straw. I came back inside, and it was like something went off in my head. Like a Girl Scout from Hell, I filled buckets of ammonia and took them and the shop-vac to clean all the walls and woodwork, and the edges of the downed Dining Room Ceiling. Then I tackled the yard, cleaning out years of dead undergrowth and installing a new light. As the sun went down, I took Grace for one more walk, then with shopping list in hand, made tracks to Meijer: The home improvement department.
I am taking a break right now. The finish coat for most of the Dining Room (except for behind the piano) is drying, an off-white satin. Next, I'm going to move all the living room furniture into the dining room in preparation of painting the ceiling and walls there. The same satin for the walls, a brilliant white for the ceiling, and a brilliant white semi-gloss for the trim.
The sooner I see this city in my rearview mirror, the better. An awful job in an environment that would be too-kindly called "in transition". Most of my non-work friends live somewhere else. And if there are balanced, eligible guys in this town, then I don't know where or who they are. Without even trying, all I seem to attract are some kind of nutso. I gave it a shot, maybe it was or wasn't my best one, but who knows and I don't care: All resources will now aggressively focus on moving on.
I'm scuttling a lot of ideas I had for this place. It is a cute place. New wiring? It doesn't need it. A ceiling fan in the kitchen? Nope. Adding insulating? That can be the next owners' project. We'll keep it Wal-Mart cheap. That's what people in this town like anyway.
I usually think of myself as having a positive outlook. Sorry to appear otherwise. I've had it.
Well, that was the last straw. I came back inside, and it was like something went off in my head. Like a Girl Scout from Hell, I filled buckets of ammonia and took them and the shop-vac to clean all the walls and woodwork, and the edges of the downed Dining Room Ceiling. Then I tackled the yard, cleaning out years of dead undergrowth and installing a new light. As the sun went down, I took Grace for one more walk, then with shopping list in hand, made tracks to Meijer: The home improvement department.
I am taking a break right now. The finish coat for most of the Dining Room (except for behind the piano) is drying, an off-white satin. Next, I'm going to move all the living room furniture into the dining room in preparation of painting the ceiling and walls there. The same satin for the walls, a brilliant white for the ceiling, and a brilliant white semi-gloss for the trim.
The sooner I see this city in my rearview mirror, the better. An awful job in an environment that would be too-kindly called "in transition". Most of my non-work friends live somewhere else. And if there are balanced, eligible guys in this town, then I don't know where or who they are. Without even trying, all I seem to attract are some kind of nutso. I gave it a shot, maybe it was or wasn't my best one, but who knows and I don't care: All resources will now aggressively focus on moving on.
I'm scuttling a lot of ideas I had for this place. It is a cute place. New wiring? It doesn't need it. A ceiling fan in the kitchen? Nope. Adding insulating? That can be the next owners' project. We'll keep it Wal-Mart cheap. That's what people in this town like anyway.
I usually think of myself as having a positive outlook. Sorry to appear otherwise. I've had it.