wordy chicks on speed

image credit... karim sadli

this one really brings a smile to my face. the vid is a cover version of an excellent 80's song by the tomtom club. chicks on speed do a great version and the vid is just as cheeky as the lyrics. i have been blogging since 2006 and have really come to a new understanding of  both the power and the elusive quality that words can hold. and it remains a source of amusement that caucasian rap can be so very distinctly separate from its counterpart of origin.

 

i was chatting with a friend this morning at st. marks and she talked about the new woody allen film that involves him travelling back in time to 20's paris. the ex-pats have always held some romantic appeal for me. fitzgerald, hemingway, stein, et al. stein had a large impact on my curiosity as a reader and wordsmith. she played with the concept of writing as a blueprint. she is, after all, the mother of the phrase a rose is a rose is a rose. and her partner alice was the producer of the pot brownie... they did have an impact.

 

tom tom club made an impact on me as well. they formed as part of an indie project from a talking heads ex-pat. genius of love was their sensational single, but i always loved the sassiness of wordy rappinghood. maybe you will too.

 

 

Wordy Rappinghood - Tom Tom Club

    What are words worth?
    What are words worth? - words

  Words in papers, words in books
  Words on TV, words for crooks
  Words of comfort, words of peace
  Words to make the fighting cease
  Words to tell you what to do
  Words are working hard for you
  Eat your words but don't go hungry
  Words have always nearly hung me

    What are words worth?
    What are words worth? - words

  Words of nuance, words of skill
  And words of romance are a thrill
  Words are stupid, words are fun
  Words can put you on the run

  Mots pressé, mots sensé,
  Mots qui disent la verité, 
  Mots maudits, mots mentis,
  Mots qui manquent le fruit d'esprit

    What are words worth?
    What are words worth? - words

  It's a rap race, with a fast pace
  Concrete words, abstract words
  Crazy words and lying words
  Hazy words and dying words
  Words of faith and tell me straight
  Rare words and swear words
  Good words and bad words

    What are words worth?
    What are words worth? - words

revived

thanks for stopping by my blog. i have been blogging about meth addiction and recovery for over 3 years and i am amazed at all the things i've learned and the contacts i have made. my life has changed drastically since i began this journey. please look through the pages and utilize the search tool.

if you are struggling with meth addiction or know someone who is, you may find some resources or ideas that can inspire you or help channel your energy. at least i would hope that can happen.

one very important message i have absorbed is that people do recover from meth addiction. people recover every day. it is not hopeless at all. it is not easy, but it is worth the work. just keep comin' back.

to my friends and online family. i have expanded my writing and blogging to beyond meth recovery. you can find me at my new adventure... revived.. http://www.rebuiltdenver.blogspot.com/

a blogger's story

i had a conversation with a colleague about the film julie and julia today and i came away from it a bit surprised. this person's contention was that they didn't care for "julie" at all. she was boring, narcissistic, and treated her husband like shit. their take was also that the only good part of the film was that of meryl streep playing julia and that segment of the film had the only lively engaging scenes. 

my experience differed immensely as i had sympathized so much with the julie character in j/j. she had been living awhile in a rather uninspired mindset and got this idea to do a blog in order to jumpstart her passion. being rather at a loss for a subject to write about, she chooses julia child and her cooking which is fodder she already has a natural interest in. she begins this new process of blogging, and researching the subject of her blog. she becomes infatuated with this woman she admires from afar, as the struggles and tenacity thatchild mastered during the finding of her  vocation could so easily be echoed in julie's own situation.

taking a cue from her self-proclaimed mentor, julie develops her own passion for what she is doing and infuses some of julia's fortitude in order to stick with her blogging project. and she get sidetracked by the distractions that can come with recognition and even fame. as she becomes engulfed in her new julia world, she has less time for the life she had up until then. her relationship with her husband starts to become unglued, probably because the boundaries had shifted without an understanding. here is where i differ most with my friend's opinion. i don't believe she treated him poorly or unfairly. she cooked for him almost every day for heaven's sake. he ate well, and she often tried to share her new love with him at every turn it seemed.

another critique i heard was that the only interesting part was the julia child section of the movie. well, this does have truth in it. julia child is an icon in the american celebrity landscape. her distinct and comical speaking technique, her recognized relationship with delicious food and the romantic french culture are tailor made for mass appeal. and i also know that my life can often become more exciting and seem engaging when i am reading a book about someone fascinating. my life changed forever as i read about the ex-pats like stein, fitzgerald, and hemingway.

but part of the appeal here is the love of julia child as seen through the eyes of a similar middle aged woman who also had love and marriage, but no personal fulfillment. and the take away from this film remains for me that there is a price for really finding your dream and following it. it is not easy to be fulfilled and it requires more than just hard work.it requires willingness. but the satisfaction of finding one's passion and working to make it part of one's life, changes drastically the landscape of what is possible.

before "julie and julia", i have found that amy adams is adorable to me. a friend remarked that she had lost him at "enchanted" but my take away was very much the opposite with that film. i found her performance in that film to be almost vaudeville-esque and quite amusing. and it had been a similar experience with the "Miss Pettigrew" film. and the (maybe) naive quality that she emits in "the wedding date" sealed the deal for me becoming a fan. "sunshine cleaners" and "doubt" have not disappointed, either.  and come to find out, she was raised in colorado, not far from the Denver area. maybe that's some of the allure.

i guess the reason i am posting this, is the fascination i have with the different takes on the same film. the same subject can so easily inspire such different responses. and maybe i'm a little sensitive about this particular film. there aren't too many that i have seen that revolve so centrally around blogging. i loves me some blogging. it has been a solid friend to me these last  3 years. i have grown, i have cried, i have hidden from life at times, and i have learned how to google myself. i have corresponded with people whom i would have never otherwise met and my world has become richer.

today's sound choice is adele with "take it all". 




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music me me

List 10 musical artists you like, in no specific order (do this before reading the questions below)

1. Bliss
2. Levi Kreis
3. Chicane
4. Idina Menzel
5. The Fray
6. Incubus
7. Kings of Leon
8. Silver Sun Pickups
9. Frances Faye
10.Dashboard Confessional

What was the first song you ever heard by 6? (Incubus) Drive

What is your favorite song of 8? (Silversun Pickups) Lazy Eye

What kind of impact has 1 left on your life? It has kind of been like tasting prickly pear cactus for the first time. I didn't even know what I was missing.

What is your favorite lyric of 5? (The Fray- How To Save A Life)

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

How many times have you seen 4 live? (Idina Menzel) (1)

What is your favorite song by 7? (Kings of Leon) Use Somebody

Is there any song by 3 that makes you sad? (Chicane) I really love their cover of Sigur Ros' Poppaholla.

What is your favorite song by 9? (Frances Faye) The first song I heard of hers was "Frances and her friends". I never saw her live, but it's her career and what she represents that means just as much to me as her stellar Vegas lounge style. She was busting gender rules long before it was commonplace.

When did you first get into 2? (Levi Kreis) It was just last year. Somehow I stumble across "Hardly a Hero" and I couldn't get enough. I listened to that song every day for quite a few months.

How did you get into 3? (Chicane) I heard them the first time about 1999. I was preparing to move to San Francisco and a friend brought a CD over to the moving sale.

What is your favorite song by 4? (Idina Menzel) solo- My Turn To Be Brave - but I think her voice adds a lot of depth to the cast recording of "Rent"

How many times have you seen 9 live? (Frances Faye) never....sadly... But "Caught in The Act" is a live recording, so that flavor is there in every listen.

What is a good memory concerning 2? (Levi Kreis) I had his video embedded on my blog and it sparked a great conversation with someone I had never met before.

Is there a song by 8 that makes you sad? (Silversun Pickups) Don't know it if it's really sad, but Future Foe Scenario has a darker quality.

What is your favorite song of 1? (Bliss) Definitely "Wish You Were Here"

How did you become a fan of 10? (Dashboard Confessional) I heard them first right around the turn of the century, but I was hooked when I heard "Vindicated" from the Spiderman2 soundtrack. The lyrics branded themselves onto my soul.

today's sound choice is the chicane cover of sigur ros' poppaholla

the simple life

in the middle of all the very different things in my day is the process of posting here. it is rarely the beginning nor is it very often the end. it usually comes somewhere in the middle of my day.

i had come to have such a pattern of posting everyday and it seems difficult to change that. a couple of years ago, my friend and i remarked that we were about the only people we knew who actually posted daily like clockwork.

this is bound to shift now. my relationship with blogging is evolving and my needs are certainly different than when i began. i have been blessed to come through some major shifts in my emotional life with the stern pounding of the keyboard each day. i have examined so many aspects of my former life and found new perspectives and uses for their existence in my memory.

i am going to let go of the need to post daily simply to post, and see if my heart will once again engage with the process or if the enjoyment factor will shift. there are so very many things i am experiencing but this is not the venue for processing those. i now need to explore what this blog has in mind. and i plan on enjoying that process.

today's sound choice is levi kreis with "hardly a hero".

united

today in recognition of bloggers unite for hunger and hope, i am posting a video posted by a tireless group of persons in recovery. the organization consists of 100
percent volunteers. they have been working to address issues among a part of the homeless population for almost a full year and have been doing some very amazing work.

i am amazed(and often quite pooped) at the sheer energy and sticktuitiveness they demonstrate each month with their outreach. always collaborating and bringing new energy into the fold, proudly and quietly i salute "surrounded by recovery"

25 random things

so this is really a facebook "crossover" tagg... have you checked your "notes" recently? the point is to write 25 random things about yourself, and tag 25 random people from your friend-list. i'm not tagging any blogs tonight - as i've already done so on fb ;0)
here goes:

1)i absolutely love chocolate
2)my nose was pierced but i stopped wearing anything there in 1989.
3)i have been doing aerobics with passion for 2 decades.
4)i was visited by ghosts in paris.
5)a hooker blew crack smoke into my face in amsterdam (i think it was a hooker)
6)i brought food to my best friend in the hospital every day for a month
7)sweetarts drive me ga-ga
8)i sang with a chorus for 4 years
9)i had a fast and furious fling with a very flirtatious bellman while checking into a hotel in fiji
10)i saw david bowie perform the lead in "elephant man"
11)i rented a room in san francisco from a delightful widow named lorraine lackey who had a toy poodle named boobalah
12)i had a poem published when i was 16
13)i have a half brother and a half sister
14)i don't ski
15)i adore st andre fromage
16)i travelled to palau and ate sashimi cut on the deck of a bareback charter
17)i followed a macrobiotic diet for a short time in the 80's
18)the stories of paul and jane bowles' lives made me swoon when i heard them- tangiers
19)stone fruits (and stone fruit season) are a part of my birthday celebration every year
20)i love "brothers and sisters"
21)i moved every year in my teens
22)been to australia 6 times
23)i have started 2 newsletters
24)i did a drag performance as marilyn monroe in 1976, and tripped and fell on my face
25)i realize there are times in my life that are impossible to recreate, and i wouldn't try even if i could. but i will remember them with joy and laughter and carry some lessons forward

under the influence

Walking on a cloud
Feeling high
It happens every time
Whenever I'm with my guy

Tripping on love
And it feels so good
I can't help myself
And I wouldn't think I could

Plus he's got that certain drive
That I'm a victim to
Love's really got a hold on me
And there's nothing that I'd rather do

i guess the post title could lead to a wrong impression. no- i have not used. nor have i "fallen in love". i am, however, under the influence of something newer in my life. there have been distinctive and noticeable changes in my reactions to life recently. i feel as if i am being graced with patience and serenity in ways that are new and could be intoxicating.

a good portion of the reasons why are due to this spiritual program i am adapting for my life. it seems to fit more comfortably with each wear. with every working of the last 3 steps, i move toward peace. and part of it may also be an overarching relief about who's in charge with the ensuing inauguration of president-elect obama. i know i feel much more secure with someone i feel trustworthy in that position. and a good portion, no doubt, is the grace i have received these last two years, from scraping out all the sediment on my insides through this blogging process.

i have managed to clear away so much wreckage and make room for life again in an exhilarating way. this is a vibrant and colorful journey. the destination is still not known to me, but the pit stops and side bars have been life altering. i definitely am under the influence. of what i am not certain, but it feels a whole lot like love as i think it is.

today's sound choice is "under the influence of love" first by love unlimited, then by the incomparable kylie minogue.

technologic

THE FIRST inkling that there was something out there, beyond my understanding, lurking in the depths of cyberspace, came early in the 21st century. An e-mail popped up on my screen from a friend in America inviting me to click on a link and visit his “blog”.... from timesonline

when i was lost in tweaker time, i became a cyber punk. i totally did my sex shopping and most of my communication via an internet connection. it was the vehicle for most of my emotional life and was the safest way for me to maneuver in the larger world without being seen or having to encounter reality.

in thinking about the process that is involved with this blogging journey i realize it has been/ remains a similar and tremendous experience. i look forward to hearing from people i have never met, or some i met only through this process, and these beings have become a very welcome part of my daily/weekly experience.

never has making friends on other continents, or in other cities been so effortless and so fast. and i must say that losing some of those folks, or being free from them, has happened so painlessly. i read on some blogs about deception, about thought provoking politics, about dogma as well as faith, and about oddities. most are fleeting, but there are instances and images that i carry still.

my own perceptions have vastly expanded and the way i operate in the physical world has been altered by these interactions and online contacts i have in this realm.

ultimately, i don't know if this is healthier or not, but it feels much better. i don't think i am deciding that here, though. i am only saluting the transition of my 3d world to that which includes halves of relationships, percentages of truth, and facets of people. i have been able to introspect, circumspect, retrospect here, all within somewhat of a vaccuum. i can tell truths about myself and live with any residual shame. virtually no one is watching my every move. (i know this may not be the case for everyone), but so it is in my world. it has been like a nutritional salve that i can apply when i'm feeling burnt or raw. for me it holds restorative powers.

i guess it still is a new drug. well, okay, maybe not so new. i mean- i've developed a whole new vernacular for this part of my life- we all have...

Buy it, use it, break it, fix it,
Trash it, change it, mail - upgrade it,
Charge it, point it, zoom it, press it,
Snap it, work it, quick - erase it,
Write it, cut it, paste it, save it,
Load it, check it, quick - rewrite it,
Plug it, play it, burn it, rip it,
Drag and drop it, zip - unzip it,
Lock it, fill it, call it, find it,
View it, code it, jam - unlock it,
Surf it, scroll it, pause it, click it,
Cross it, crack it, switch - update it,
Name it, rate it, tune it, print it,
Scan it, send it, fax - rename it,
Touch it, bring it, Pay it, watch it,
Turn it, leave it, start - format it.

today's sound choice is daft punk with "technologic"

my turn to be brave

image is avatar for sheria at an examined life

this is not an exercise in humility. unfortunately. but it is an exercise in appreciation and gratitude. i have been blogging for a couple of years now, and i realize that much of the mechanics of this are directly tied to any sanity and lightness of being i have.

the process has given me the grace to work through some very tense and tragic and tumultuous happenstances on my journey, without having the pressure of anyone's reactions. now, once in awhile, there will be comments that shake me, well even quake me, and set me on a tizzy of uncomfortability. but these are few and far between. mostly, i get to think and feel through my life's situations with a steady hand and the faith that i will be posting again the next day.

kickin tina has become my comforter. it keeps me warm when i'm cold and it covers me up when i am naked- or even feeling that way. click here for a good example

so when someone out there takes the time to recognize my efforts and gives me a nod, it's a big deal for me. it is flattering. and it feels good.

firstly, thank you sheria. sheria (an examined life) is a steadfast and insightful blogger. she shoots from the hip at times, but i can always feel her steady hand and her natural talent for making another feel good come through. she has given me an blogland award and i will acknowledge and pass along- mostly because i have deep admiration for several bloggers out there and i welcome the opportunity to pay it forward. these bloggers all give me great support. most of them share about their lives and their thoughts in ways that can not be falsified. their life situations are a good part of their inspiration and they feed me hope time and time again.

thank you to my online blogbuds... you definitely inspire me... thank you for putting yourselves out there ... and for being brave and being true.

here are the marie antoinette: a real person- a real award recipient rules:

1. Please put the logo on your blog
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award (sheria)
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

I nominate the following bloggers for this award, and encourage you to visit them.

1) richard kearns
2) willie
3) brian
4) northwest
5) bigg
6) java
7) chris

today's sound choice is a fave - idina menzel singing "brave"

time away

photocredit: ruben mendiola (mykonos)

"Art washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life." Pablo Picasso

some thoughts on time away i have come across:

subtraction

road trippin

meme oh meme oh meme

one of my blogamis has recently moved from south africa to taiwan for a while to teach english as a second language. his writings have shifted dramatically since just before his departure and it has been quite exhilarating to share the pics he posts. i especially love the shots of his class. they look just as all kids should look- playful and happy.

anyway he has nodded to me with a meme and i thought since he's so far from home, i will acknowledge and oblige. of course, he has such beautiful eyes, i probably would have just done that anyway. but, i digress.

in case you haven't stopped by his sight, he's absolute willie (ain't that a kick?) and he is charming, loves music, and has a keen eye for art and photography.

the meme is named road trippin and i am long overdue for one. so here goes....

So … you’re about to embark on a road trip to a theme party. You’re only allowed 5 CD’s, 3 essential items and are prompted to take along one outrageous/stupid item of clothing that you have to wear at the theme party to make you stand out (you must currently be in possession of this item of clothing).


Do this and then TAG 5 people:

My CD collection:

1) Feist - Reminder....priceless
2) Jamie Leidell- Multiply Addictions..........thank you Lexx
3) Nancy Lamott- Broadway Baby- .............vintage, but I love love love "Help is on the way"
4) Buddha Bar-10 years retrospective.........amazing
5) Queen Latifah-The Dana Owens album .......relaxing

Essential Items: who can name only 3?

1) cell phone
2) laptop
3) wallet
4) flashlight
5) digital camera
6) my current book- "how to be an adult in relationships"

Finally the item of clothing:

this definitely would be some baggy white gauze/y nehru collared east indian styled ensemble. easy to move, cool in crowds, and camouflages flaws, and can facilitate opaque if necessary. nearly perfect

tagg ur it!

1) northwest
2) java
3) steve
4) stephen todd- because he's getting out soon and it might be a really fun exercise for him
5) daniel

i am hoping my next roadtrip will be as fun as this musical one i took many times in the 1970's. i think you'll get my meaning. it is the trip to techno that began with these four very clever german guys with some synthesizers. another example of how travel can open a whole new world.

four minutes

is she what they mean when they say fierce?

i have been pretty diligent about posting every day. there is something that feels as if it is grounding when i continue to acheive that pattern. i struggle at times with topics, at times with pictures, and at times with music choices. but i have managed to keep it real and hopefully fresh.

it's almost midnight and i just got home. i worked today and tonight, and then tomorrow there is an 8am breakfast/meeting with the roundup before i have to drop some things off for the booth at pridefest. i then work for 3 hours and probably have to help tear down and load up to leave.

that all doesn't leave much time for blogging. it's a pisser, but it's life. so i told myself i could take four minutes to come up with an entry. perhaps not my best, but no doubt it will be my quickest ever.

p.s.- i am going to try to photograph drag queen shoes tomorrow. i'm hoping most of them have a story to tell. i'll share some of what i discover.

in the meantime, be one city really made me laugh today. shouldn't take more than a minute to visit them here..

Happy Pride

meme, myself, and i

image credit: marc olmsted

spanks to chris at texaco for paintballing me with the meme.

The Rules:

Post 5 links to 5 of your previously written posts. The posts have to relate to the 5 key words : family, friend, yourself, your love, anything you like.
Tag 5 other friends to do this meme. Try to tag at least 2 new acquaintances so that you get to know them each a little bit better.

family not intensely family focused but more than i usually like to share about them in blogville. there are references to different types of families though. i love them dearly and need them in my life.

friend(s) with six you get eggroll. (how's that for an obscure reference?)

myself pivotal post for me. i learned how to be subtle and be honest and to edge my way from the stance of victim. this was an important part of that lesson for me.

love
the sounds of silence.

dealer's choice this was my first post to be published on other sites. i am proud of it, as it represents a rite of passage of sorts. i admire susan kingston immensely and was blessed to meet her and speak with her. and the gay army photo has caused me to get thousands of hits from all over the world. they keep coming, too, btw.

so my tagging process starts. i am choosing all new acquaintances today. i hope they play.
lexx there is something about him that feels familiar somehow.
geoff i really don't know much about him at all.
babz crazy dirty bitch is all i can say.
victor definitely more than meets the eye.
captain goldstar a quiet yet staunch supporter.

you're gonna save me from myself

dirty bitch

ever been called a dirty bitch? i guess i have and now i'm supposed to wear it like prada. the sassy women at dirty bitch society have mentioned me on their blog and have thrown a title my way.

thank you very much! i'll try to me more of a bitch as the days move forward.

some days it really does pay to get outa bed.

secret santa meme

image credit: photoscout.ch

my blog bud steve tagged me at queer deviations yesterday.

i love this meme partially because i love the spirit of giving that is an integral part of this holiday season. may i just say that i wish you the best this holiday has to offer and a kindness to come into your heart. anyone should steal this meme if your heart desires. here are the rules:

1) Post a note about a blogger you would like to see something wonderful happen for. Maybe one whose posts have touched your heart in one way or another. Include details as to why you admire them and what you wish for them. Be as supporting and affirming as you can.

2) Post your favorite memory around selflessness, giving, or doing for others. Something that has actually changed you.

3) As a postscript, name one thing you will actually do for someone in your life before December 31 that is born out of joy.

4) Tag 3 other bloggers who will play the game and find the spirit. Don't forget to leave a comment on their blog so they continue to share the good feelings.

and here are my choices:

1) well i have to choose chris at last chance texaco. he is the first person who ever commented my first blog. he was then struggling with his meth addiction and was clearly looking for relief. his tenacity at finding a way to a better life has served as a complete inspiration for me. he is not perfect, but he is upfront about his mood, his state of mind, and his uncomfortability with the process of recovery. to read his blog is to witness miracles on a regular basis. sometimes his writing is gentle and focused, and other times it is frenetic and screeching in tone. it is an awe inspiring transformation to witness and it gives me hope on a regular basis. i am humbly reminded steadily that change is indeed a process and an absolutely beautiful thing to witness.

i would wish for him, some success from his obvious writing ability. if it's monetary, that's fine, but i would prefer that he gain self-confidence and self assurance that would alleviate some pain that self reflection must cause. i also would wish that he learns on a deeper level that he is truly lovable inside and out, and therefore loved as well.

2)i have been facilitating a group at a homeless drop-in center. i have been changed so much by this experience. i have learned that sometimes the biggest gift i can give someone is the act of listening and the act of being present and recognizing that other person. this is far more valuable than gift cards, or rides, or other items.

3)i will attempt to start a process which will share the joy of giving. i believe that most people really do like to give, and like to be asked for help and give help. this is due mainly to the fact that it makes us feel good when we do. i also believe that we need this feeling to be in our lives if we are to be truly happy.
i will also write my mother a letter this year for her card that really does express my gratitude that she stuck by me during the worst of my addcition, but was tough enough to say the word "no" to me and mean it. that "tough love" actually was instrumental in bringing me back to sanity.

my 3 bloggers whose work i adore and whom i wish wonderful things for are as follows:
ron hudson, krokodil, bigg

and i'm going to add one more for good measure- bearbrick love
visiting his site always makes me smile with wonder..

happy holidays..... i totally love the message in this song. and i dig the vid, too.