Didn't It Rain

Periodic Rants of a Red-Haired Drama Freak.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Blogs I Love

So, I thought I'd give a shout-out to what I have bookmarked on my computer. First and foremost I love Pink is the New Blog, www.pinkisthenewblog.com. trent makes me laugh on a daily basis.
Next up, we have Overheard In New York, www.overheardinnewyork.com. I'm telling you people say some funny shit on the streets of NYC. If you don't believe me, check out this hilarious website.
For you smarties, I really like Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page. I can get lost in that website for hours, which I did yesterday and learned lots of fun facts.

For those of us with desk jobs, these blogs/websites are our lifelines. Any time the secretary butt is getting me down, good times are just a click away. Send me some of your favorites!

and the best blog ever is my honey's blog: http://birdsinthenighttime.blogspot.com!!!

Monday, November 28, 2005

I conquered three fears this year.

Hey, way to go me. This year I managed to take on three of my fears and come out swinging. First, people, need I remind you, I JUMPED OUT OF A FREAKIN' PLANE!!! Anyone that knows me knows how insane that was and how it was really the biggest struggle of my life. Perching on the edge of that open door with the wind murdering me at 9000 feet, seeing the patchwork of landscape underneath me, realizing that I was putting my life in the hands of the instructor behind me as well as in the belief that this ballooning piece of fabric would keep me from dying. Well, it was intense.

Kind of related to that, I GOT OVER my fear of flying. I had been really and truly grounded by this fear. I made Lesley drive to Arkanas because I couldn't handle flying. I had never been out of the country, and used to joke that the only way I'd get to Europe would be on a boat or if they built a really long bridge. This year with the help of my death-defying jump and a little thing called ZANEX, I conquered my fear AND got to go to Europe. So great!!

Not as impressive, but equally scary in some respects: I did karaoke for the first time ever. I have NEVER had the guts to do this even though I've been singing all my life. It was irrational to be afraid of that. Last week, I sang one of my all time favorite songs, "Superstar," by the Carpenters. Now that I've started doing karaoke, you'll never be able to shut me up.

WHAT NEW FEARS WILL I CONQUER IN 2006? I can't wait to find out!

Friday, November 25, 2005

Gay-bashed again in San Francisco

Well, it never really ends.
This morning in SF, it was raining and deserted as I walked to the train stop. I wanted to ride my newly-fixed bicycle, but no luck for me. As I approached the train stop, I saw the N Judah coming and thought my luck had changed.
Stepped inside and noticed a younger woman doing needlepoint, an odd thing to do at 9:15 on a train. I used to do that in grade school. Anyway, I turned around and waited to go through the tunnel to Cole street in Upper Haight - my stop.
With my back turned, I overheard this conversation:

Male Voice: What's that your doing?
Young Woman: Needlepoint.
MV: Ohhhh. What for?
YW: Well, all my friends are making a square and then we are going to stitch them all together?
MV: Oh, like a quilt. Like the AIDS quilt!
YW: (uncomfortably) Yeah...
MV: That's about as bad as it can get.
YW: Uh-huh.
MV: I couldn't believe it when AIDS came around, but well, that's what happens to faggots.
YW: (freaked) Yeah...

So then I turned around to look at MV. He was some curly-haird white dude with a sling on his arm. In less than a second, I hope with all my might that it was some faggot that had broken his arm. I shot him the dirtiest look I could muster, then turned back around.

Man: Well, I'm sorry but I'm not a homosexual.

I turned around again, and said "Well, you're in San Francisco, so you need to watch your mouth, asshole."

Right then the train stopped and it was time to get out. I didn't really hear his response - just a bunch of grumpy mumblings about how he'd lived here for 28 years or something.

So, yes, just in case you (or I) forgot, ignorant people still use the word faggot in casual conversations with strangers, even in the gayest city in the world. Happy Thanksgiving...
-ld

Monday, November 21, 2005

One of the most disturbing books ever...


WARNING: KIND OF A SPOILER ALERT...
I just finished Blindness by Jose Saramago, and I must say it was a very compelling read. People keep asking me if I liked it, and I guess that's a hard question to answer. I couldn't put it down. So there's that. But I also was horrified, disturbed and disgusted by the book. So there's that too.

The plot is basically that suddenly while driving, one man goes blind. This sets off a chain of events where blindness spreads like an infectious disease, leaving virtually no one unscathed. Soon, the blind people are herded into internment camps that smack disturbingly of World War II concentration camps. From that point, the book reads like a personal account of Auschwitz. As more people are brought to the camp, their little society turns into complete chaos. No one can find the bathroom anymore, so they just relieve themselves on the floor. The military stops delivering food. Ultimately, the thugs of the camp start hording what little food there is, and begin to make certain gruesome demands in exchange for a meager ration. Throughout the story, there is only one person who inexplicably escapes blindness, and we see all of the chaotic horror through her eyes.

I recommed this book if you want to read something deeply moving - a book about the tragedy of humanity, how evil sometimes really does prevail. There's a lot to be learned in terms of how society treats people that are blind. But even more than that, this book seems to be a warning. We need to remember that ultimately we are all equal and that the real meaning of being a human - instead of an animal - is that we have the capacity to empathize, love and help others. It's a harsh story and one not for the faint of heart.

Thanks, Carlos A, for chosing this for book club, and I can't wait to hear what everybody else has to say about it.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Today I want to talk about new music that's making me happy.

There's a new album by Tristeza called "A Colores." After the departure of James Lavalle, I didn't know what would happen to this band. (He went on to dedicate all of his time to the wonderful band, The Album Leaf) Well, Tristeza seems to have been reborn because this album is one of their best. If you love instrumental music like Tortoise or Don Caballero, you definitely need to check this out!

New band alert - Test Icicles. Say it out lound and you'll get it.
They are on Domino, the overseas label that brought us Clinic, Four Tet and Caribou. Test Icicles are the new Bloc Party - and by that I mean they are hot, young, skinny and sound like the Blood Brothers. Very good for dancing with a coctail and a fancy haircut.

Susumu Yokota - "Sakura"
I don't know how I missed this guy cuz he has several albums. He plays a hushed combination of IDM and instrumental indie. When there's no lyrics to mess things up, you can really get into the different layers of music. I guess this is how people feel about classical music, but I'm not really a fan. This is the new classical and I like it.

Monday, November 14, 2005

Lots of things happened this weekend. I got started on The Maids - and it's going to be really great. I also sold my little car!! I got $2000 for it and I'm very excited because I really needed the money for other things. So kudos to me!
Here's something funny i overheard yesterday on the bus:
Girl 1: Why did you let me buy 72 hangers?!
Girl 2: I didn't MAKE you - you were a sucker to that sales girl!
Girl 1: I know. I'm so bad. Hey, maybe we can sell some to our other roomate!
Girl 2: Let's just concentrate on the money she ALREADY owes us.

Ha ha! Me and Lesley were laughing. 72 hangers??!!

Anyway, last night was the first book club meeting and it was really fun. Lesley did a good job leading the discussion on Cloud Atlas. The new book was selected by Carlos and I'm looking forward to reading it! Blindness by Jose Saramago. We had some heated discussion last night and it was so cool to hear a bunch of my friends discuss literature. You know how it is - usually friends just bullshit and drink together. It was really nice to have an intellectual discussion. And hey, my friends are smart! Also, props to Andrea for the yummy sangria. Can't wait til next meeting!

Friday, November 11, 2005


COULD THIS MAN FLY?
Yesterday I was reading the Atlantic Monthly and there was an article about saints and how people get to be saints. Apparently, there was this guy named Padre Pio who was cannonized recently. It was said that he bore the stigmata and frankly I do believe that that is possible. However it also said that he supposedly could fly! WHAT????!!! No one can really fly...right? It is documented that he "swooped through the air to rescue a falling World War II pilot." If anyone finds out any info on this supposed bird-man, please send it my way.
If Padre Pio can fly, maybe there's hope for us all!

as my two months of freedom wind down after Motel Cowboy, i have some thoughts on staying busy. i have been doing theater non-stop since may 2004 when i cast The Thrilling Adventures of Elvis in Space. Since that show i have done Ghost in the Machine, No Exit, Macbeth & Motel Cowboy. five shows in one year and i was worn out. these past couple of months have been great. i've gotten to hang out with lesley a lot more, enjoy my new digs in the city and catch up on books and movies.

this sunday, i begin work on The Maids. while i'm looking forward to it, i'm also feeling a little sad about giving up my freedom. i will be working full time, rehearsing four days a week, planning our wedding and trying to get my grad school applications finished. is this too much for one person to accomplish? i hope not, cuz i have to do all of it.

so my friends, if you do not see much of me for a few months, i apologize. and i will miss you, too! :) don't cry for me, san francisco... (i love being dramatic - guess that's why i'm so into theater!)

peace out.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

People, quit trying to give my candy, I'm on a diet!

Yes, I have fallen prey to every American girl's desire - to be skinny for their wedding. And while i have somehow lost some weight already without trying, it's time to lose more. when i look at those pictures in thirty years, i want to think i looked good!

i have won many battles this week with regards to said diet.
1. I went to a bar and ordered a damn diet coke - TORTURE!
2. One of my sales reps brought a ton of cookies to the office and I ate exactly NONE! (They have been here since Tuesday, mocking me, but I will prevail)
3. I have eaten exact NO breakfast breads - I had been living on muffins, banana bread, BAGELS, etc.
4. NO half & half in that coffee - only Soy Milk. sigh...

So, if you want to send me some encouraging words, or, I don't know, maybe an apple, please do so. I need the good vibes.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

if i get picked for book club these are the books i may choose. also, these are a sample of books and writers that i've always wanted to read but haven't for some reason.

Flannery O'Connor - The Violent Bear it Away
James Joyce - Finnegan's Wake
Salman Rushdie - The Satanic Verses
Richard Wright - Native Son

And here are some of my favorites books ever:

Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
Battle Royale - Kaushun Takami
The Talented Mr. Ripley - Patricia Highsmith
Into Thin Air - John Krakauer
You Shall Know Our Velocity - David Eggars
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Weaveworld - Clive Barker
Still Life With Woodpecker - Tom Robbins
Siddhartha - Herman Hesse
Franny & Zooey - J.D. Saliger
The Witching Hour - Anne Rice

anyone else share one of my favorites? or anyone supprised by any of my choices?

Monday, November 07, 2005

so we've chosen a place to get married. special shout-outs to andrea and carlos. it's called the Log Cabin and it's in the presidio. i'm pretty sure we're going with that one. it's really pretty on the inside. picture a ballroom in twin peaks. meaning that it's pretty, vast, dark wood and a huge stone fireplace. there's also a dancefloor! anyway, we really like it and can't wait to cut a rug with all our pals!
this weekend was super productive. along with chosing a site, we managed to go grocery shopping and get in some exercise. fort funston is really f'ing pretty and kind of other-worldly. we went and peered off the edge of a cliff at the ocean, watched the birds float in the wind, and tried to find the horizon line in the foggy mist. good times on a sunday afternoon.
also, we saw shopgirl which i thought was really good. kinda fluffy at times, but that's how romantic comedies are. plus, i really think steve martin's had some work done.
i'm trying to sell my car. wish me good "carma," and if you know anyone who's interested in a cute VW Beetle, let me know. peace out.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

CALLING ALL GAY-FRIENDLIES!!!!
People, we need a place to have our wedding. Pretend it's your gay wedding and think about where you'd like to have it, and it must be indoors cuz it's going to be in March. Any and all suggestions welcome and if we pick your suggestion you don't have to buy us a present! Seriously, this is hard, y'all. Any thoughts?