Blibber Blabber

No rhyme, no reason

 

Pimpin' Again...

I hope everyone had a nice Turkey Day.  Lots to do today, and I'm off tomorrow on our vacation, but it just wouldn't do without a little last minute pimpin' for my shop.  I've created a few designs over the past couple of weeks-- check 'em out!

Eviscerated Eliza

Strange Voices

The above are available as buttons, magnets, keychains and mousepads; the below also come in mugs and bags.

Farley Chihuahua

Francois Cat

I haven't updated my art site yet but I should do it either today or right after I get back.

Have a good one everyone. :)  Think good thoughts that I have lots of fun and plenty of relaxation, too.

posted by: athenawj at 09:53 | link | comments (3) |
art , disney

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

What am I thankful for?

I'm thankful that my hair did not fall out after YD dyed it last night (it's now a coppery medium-brown color).

I'm thankful that I can still churn out a good story.

I'm thankful that my tendonitis has never gotten so bad that I can no longer draw.

...that my children are healthy, and basically happy, and even though they (as well as the rest of my loved ones) have the capacity to drive me up the wall like no other, I'm grateful for the overwhelming love and joy they've given me.

...that, even though he's from Mars and I'm from Venus (and ditto on what I said about my kids and being driven up the wall), I have a husband who is kind, and giving, and does care for me even though we're seventeen-and-a-half years into this relationship and the fires have cooled. Even though a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle, when you do have a man, it's a plus to have a truly good one.

...that I have pets that I love and love me back (don't underrate the curative powers of having a pet).

...that I have a roof over my head and a yard to enjoy and trees that provide oxygen and a place to call home.

...that Mr. Calm and I finally have the money to take a long-overdue honeymoon.

I'm thankful for my family, warts and all.  I can't imagine being alone.

Hand-held mixers.  Potatoes.  Pumpkins.  Fondant and gum paste. Music.  Movies.  Friends who will listen to me whine. Digital cameras that finally provided a gal who simply couldn't grasp the concepts of apertures and f-stops with a creative outlet.  Sunny days after a long winter.  Snowy days after a hot summer.  Disney.  Fiestaware.  Fun magnets and buttons.  Coffee mug warmers.  Affordable artwork.  Strings of red lights.  France.  West Virginia, and its inspiration.  My own imagination.

I could go on and on, but those are some of the things I am thankful for this year. I hope you find much to be thankful for, too. :)

 

posted by: athenawj at 10:21 | link | comments (2) |
thanks

I deleted yesterday's rant because I said it, I let it stew, and now I feel better.  My middle sis and I briefly discussed everything in our lives that drives us nutso, and when she visits next month, my kids are going to babysit her wee-ones, and we'll go out and get a drink and commiserate.  Ladies Bitch Night.  Fun, yah? ;)

The cats and I spent yesterday afternoon hanging lights on the box hedges, setting up the two inflatable and one plastic snowman, and strategically placing the plastic candy canes in the yard.  At one point Ollie decided to climb into one of the box hedges to help me, but found that I could manage on my own and went off to wash his butt.  They'll probably supervise me again when I head out to hang the wreaths on the trees.

As the eight-foot snowman was inflating last night, a truck slowed down on the street so the man and his child could watch.  I should have waved, but I just stared until they sped up again.  Hee, I'm full of holiday cheer!

Yesterday Salem had to go to get his worm pill.  Yeah, gross there, but he finds any available puddle and drinks from it.  We had to drop him off because the vet wasn't in yet, and we get a call an hour later.

"Now, don't get upset," the receptionist tells Mr. Calm.

"Uh, that's not really something you should say when my cat's there," Mr. Calm replies.

Turns out instructions were mixed up, and Salem was given... A BATH.

I wonder if they realize how lucky they are that this 15.4 pound black cat with large teeth and big claws does not mind getting a bath.  We've given him so many baths at home that all he does is stand there and wait it out.

I've found that the best thing to do when you're on the phone with a family member and they say something you disagree with, or bring up something in your past AGAIN that you'd rather not discuss is to remain completely silent.  Seriously.  Don't say a word.  After a little while, they start to mutter, and then they end up complimenting you when a minute earlier they were making fun of you.  It totally works, and you don't get off the phone regretting something you yourself said in response.  Sometimes passiveness is the way to go.

I found a place that sells Brancott wine (a wonderful New Zealand wine), and picked up a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon yesterday that I'm taking with us on our trip.  I also found that they sell all varieties of Lindeman's beer, which I've said before and will say again: best damn beer on the planet.  Luckily it's expensive or I'd be a drunk.  Instead of getting my usual bottle of kriek lambic, I settled for the cassis (black currants) so I can see what it tastes like.  I think I will enjoy it tonight.  It will help me suffer through the ninnies left on America's Next Top Model.

We found out that Mr. Calm's parents are indeed going back to France next summer, so YD will be going with them. She said she didn't want to go, mainly because she'll only have one year of French, but in a surprisingly firm manner, Mr. Calm told her she was going and there was no getting out of it.  Sorry kid-- we're shippin' ya off!

I'm dyeing/dying?  my hair this evening.  Probably auburn.  God help me and my tear ducts if it ends up looking purple.

And I'm up to 68,000 words on my novel.  About 120 pages.  What's most surprising is that I will end up with a normal-sized novel.  I generally tend to go on and on and on and on and on....

posted by: athenawj at 07:57 | link | comments |

I did everything I was supposed to.  I got the house cleaned and I got all the inside decorations up.  Yes, by myself. (Not the cleaning, dammit. I won't clean the whole house by myself because I'm not the only one making a mess.)

I also got a hive on my lower lip while decorating, which hurts like a bitch.  Seriously, hives on your eyelids and lips are the worst-- in addition to itching they sting and burn.  Also, I gave myself a nice blood blister on the pad of my left ring finger while trying to cut something out of a box.  The bruise popped up as fast as the time I fell on my cactus and one of the spines went right into my vein.

Um.  Sometimes I'm a little accident prone.

And I'm still thinking about that new story, still coming up with new details for it, but I started the next chapter of the book I'm already working on, and will start my daily writing as soon as I'm no longer bleary-eyed from my stone cold sleep.

The Harry Pooter trailer comes out today.  Any new Pooter news is good news.

For the second weekend, we took care of YD's best friend.  Because of her situation (which I won't get into here), for a while now I've been wanting to talk to her, her mom... tell them that if they need it, we'd be happy to take this girl in for a little while.  I do care about this kid, I worry about her, and it's not because I think her mother is a bad mom-- I just know that things can get so tough from time to time.  And for awhile it's seemed like with what's going on that she may not be able to handle it.

Mr. Calm agrees with me.  My mom thinks I shouldn't take it on.  What's holding me back is that I may offend the mother-- no matter how kind I could be, she might think I was indeed telling her that she's a bad mother.  And what then would happen?  Would YD and this girl not be able to be friends anymore?  What good would that do?

I don't know.  I realize I cannot solve the world's problems, and I haven't tried that, either.  I just have a strong feeling that we could do some good in this girl's life.  No.  That's not it.  We could just bring some stability and order to it, and God knows kids need that.

posted by: athenawj at 06:34 | link | comments (2) |

Rat Update #...3?

Well, Pogo and Kiwi are almost fully grown now.  They remain the sweetest little things on Earth, although Pogo's got a bit of an ornery streak.  Actually, I know he's just following his instincts, but I can no longer put a tea saucer of treats in their cage, because he hordes/hoardes (?) almost all of them, leaving almost nothing for his brother.

He's also a pervert.  I have to admit, I may have contributed to this, leaning over their cage with a V-neck shirt on.  I like to open the top gate and let them crawl around on top of the cage.  One day a couple of weeks ago, they were running around and I was leaning over, talking to them, when Pogo grabs ahold of my shirt and takes a peek.

"Hey, what's this?  Hmm, nice and warm... I can hide in here!" So, in he goes, and I'm stuck with a rat in my shirt.  Every single time he does it, and sometimes he turns around so his little head is poking out of my shirt.  We look like we're pretending to be a kangaroo and her joey.  I let him do this because he doesn't have any interest in you-know-what.

Kiwi, on the other hand, went in once, got badly startled and gave me a gash down the center of my chest (for those who don't know, rats don't have retractable claws), so he stays out of Momma's shirt now.

***

There is a couple in Brazil who claim that the neighborhood dog impregnated their cat, and the cat gave birth to three kittens (deceased) and three puppies.  Right now they're going through genetic testing, but the geneticist is absolutely sure that the puppies have no feline genes.  Um, yeah.  He also said that he figured the mother cat gave birth at the same time as a nearby dog, and took on the newborn puppies for whatever reason.  So many animal species will nurse and care for babies of other species.

Except for humans.  Are there even still wet nurses out there in this country?  But can you imagine the uproar and disgust if a woman decided to nurse a litter of abandoned kittens?  Puppies?  Piglets?  People are grossed out enough when guys give cats mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

I haven't had milk in fourteen years, so hey, it ain't something I'm considering.  Just something weird that crossed my mind yesterday.

posted by: athenawj at 07:09 | link | comments |
silly stuff, rats

Aimless stuff ahead.

Expanding on last night's post: I was happy to see OD so happyy about getting her license.  I'm also pleased that her test lasted fifteen minutes-- I think mine lasted all of four.  Am I excited about her driving my pimped-out car?  NO.  I gotta be honest.  I haven't even been in the car alone with her while she drives.  I'm a bit of a... panicky passenger, and I figured it wouldn't help her self-confidence any if I constantly slammed on my pretend brake and made terrified hissing noises while she practiced driving, so Mr. Calm's been her teacher.

But I don't drive a stick shift, and that's the only other kind of car we've got.  If, God forbids, the worst happens and she has a wreck, I'm stuck out here.  So... no, I don't think I'll be resting easy when she takes out my car.

I've taken three days off from writing, and desperately need to get back to it.  I took two days to think about things, and then yesterday my schedule got screwed up, so I had to forgo the morning session, and then I got involved with recoloring an old character, Farley-Chihuahua, and then the fucking worst happened.

I got a new story idea.

Actually, I got two, and I should be down on the ground kissin' it for that miracle of miracles, but the bigger story took hold of me and started throttling me.  I couldn't stop thinking about it, even when I realized that I could never in a million years write it.

Well, maybe five.  Or maybe if I hadn't been so lazy and taken more science classes in school.  Because it's a sci-fi/horror story, and not being a sci-fi reader (pretty much all I've read is the slush I got back at Apex), I have no idea how little of the sci-fi element you can get away with.

The bad part about this is that it distracts me from what I should be doing: thinking about the rest of the book I'm working on, which has such a different tone and setting.  And with our vacation coming up in one week, Thanksgiving, having to clean my house from top to bottom so my mother-in-law won't think I'm a slob (and the reality of it is, she won't, but isn't that how many of us feel anyway?  That we have to prove we're just perfect?), and getting all the Christmas decorations up because I sure as hell won't feel like it when I come home...shitshitshit.

I think today I'm going to take it easy and get my mind back on track.  I have the book planned out, but I'll concentrate on the fine details so hopefully tomorrow morning I can sit down with my coffee and Howard and start typing away like the madwoman I am.

posted by: athenawj at 06:32 | link | comments (2) |
writing, kids, real blibber blabber

Everybody watch out!!!

OD is now a licensed driver.

posted by: athenawj at 20:08 | link | comments (2) |
kids

The Friday Feast

(stolen from another blog)

Appetizer
Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?
In this galaxy, no, but it's pretty friggin' hard to believe that we're the only intelligent species anywhere.

Soup
What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did?
Wear animal skins.

Salad
Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school?
It's hard to pick.  I'd guess Mrs. York, my 10th grade English teacher.  She was the first teacher to completely encourage my budding writing career, and the first one to make me think I could have a valid go at it.  But then there was Mrs. Myers, my 12th grade English teacher.  I think I had the mindset that final year of high school to just write whatever I damn well pleased, and throw caution to the wind.  Luckily, Mrs. Myers was a teacher who appreciated and encouraged that.  She always loved my crazy vocabulary sentences, and lauded my examination of "21 Jump Street".

Main Course
If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why?
I honestly can't think of a single person I'd trade places with.  If it's just for one day, what's the point?

Dessert
What is your favorite dish to prepare?
Oh, man-- just one?  I think soups.  I love the process, the adding of ingredients, stirring, tasting, simmering, smelling... out of everything I cook I like making soups the most.  And my Chicken Tortilla and Loaded Baked Potato are my favorites.

posted by: athenawj at 08:48 | link | comments |
meme

Pimpin', Shrimpin'...

I'm giving myself the day off today for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because I felt my book was speeding toward its denouement WAY too fast.  On second read, it doesn't seem that way, so I'll spend today thinking about the next few chapters.  It's a nice break, and I deserve it!

Uh-oh, Pimping Alert! My Zazzle shop now offers buttons, magnets, keychains, mousepads and stickers!  Some of these are holiday designs, but from my original artwork I am featuring Vampire Boy, Marie Antoinette, and Dead Baby Head Ball on the products.  As a pin ho, I'm really happy that I can finally make my own designs for pins.  Go check them out!  Stick 'em in stockings!  Treat yourself!  It's all good in the name of putting money in my pocket.

 

posted by: athenawj at 08:53 | link | comments |
writing, kaleidoscope farm

Hairy Scary

Had a bit of a scare this morning; the "I'm turning right around and getting the hell out of here" scare when I saw that there was only one hairdresser in the haircutters.  But I'd dragged my ass all the way out there, so I trudged to the chair and got myself ready to explain in excruciatingly minute detail exactly what I wanted done with my hair.

Yes, I am paranoid about getting my hair cut.  It's the last thing I have left that I feel good about.  That, and my perfect nose.

Thankfully, twenty seconds later my regular haircutter comes strolling out of the back.  Delighted, I exclaim, "Um, SHE'S the one who usually cuts my hair!"  Since a regular of the other girl's just came in, she was not offended when I leapt from her chair and followed my hairdresser to her cubicle.

M. understood exactly what I wanted and worked quickly and efficiently.  Getting my hair dried was heaven-- except for an obvious one, is there any other better physical feeling than the warm tingles that run up and down your head?  When she was done, she said, "Go on with your bad self!" (yes, she actually said that), studied the top of my head for a moment, then picked up a few strands of hair.

"Look at that!"

She found my clump of silver hair.  It's a tiny thing, actually, about seven thick strands of hair that all seem to be growing from the same spot.  Not large enough to be a skunk spot, thank God.

"You're gonna have a streak!"

Um, nope. It's part of my bangs and will never get that long.

And just because I can't write anything without putting something apparently extremely boring in, here are my stats.  I haven't taken a day off yet.

Words so far: 59,922

I stopped in the middle of a sex scene.  Coitus interruptus. If they were real, my characters would SO hate me right now.

 

posted by: athenawj at 11:09 | link | comments (2) |
writing, hair

O-dee-blah-blah

I get about a dozen crap emails in my Miss Millificent box every day.  Instead of deleting them, I forward them.  It was an accident at first but now it's a habit. I wonder where they end up.

It was strange and fascinating driving past the Civil War cemetery today and seeing all the tiny thirteen-state flags and Confederate flags flying above each grave. 

My desk is littered with calcium chews, rubber ear plugs, two speakers, my hard drive, monitor and keyboard (duh), chapstick, cute little skeleton dolls, Dia de Los Muertos dioramas, ashtray, Lenore PVC figures, a cat holding a pen, a pumpkin-scented candle, Lock, Shock and Barrel in a globe, three little cacti, a coffee mug warmer and cold cup of coffee, the Haunted Mansion #2 comic, a windup shark, Borat ticket stubs, fuzzy eyeglasses case, my Lite Brite, a cookbook, two notepads, an origami crane, a retro flamingo clock, and four Halfsies.  Amazingly, I still have plenty of wiggle room, although I had to move some stuff to get that Lite Brite in there.

And... how old am I?  It sounds like a twelve-year-old's desk.  A morbid one with a caffeine and cigarette habit, but twelve nonetheless.

I had to write something sick the other day-- I mean, really sick, and every time I do that, I wonder if someone will one day read my work and think, "Man, she's a sicko."  Think that I do what my characters do.  And then I don't give a damn.

When I was fourteen, I read a John Farris book entitled "Son of the Endless Night".  And after a certain part, I thought, "Man, this John Farris guy's a sicko."

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is standing guard by the kitchen door.  Although he's right up there as one of the cutest things in the universe, I imagine he will still scare the shit out of Ollie.  I could move him, but apparently I have a mischievous streak that would like to see a cat scared of a cute stuffed animal.

Three nights ago I went around the house and hung up all the artwork I've bought over the last two months, as well as some of OD's old artwork.  My room here now looks like it barfed up artwork all over the walls.

I finally found the photographs from my youngest sister's bachelorette party.  I must have been drunker than I thought I was, because... um, no.  NOT good looking was the stripper.  I'm going to send them to her for Christmas so she can cringe and laugh her ass off.

I think it's time to make shrimp.  And my cookie pie wasn't as tasty as I'd hoped. Not MY fault.  Curse you, Baker's Chocolate!

posted by: athenawj at 17:19 | link | comments (3) |
real blibber blabber

Both can be found here.

posted by: athenawj at 16:48 | link | comments (2) |
art , photography

Novel Update, Day 25

Words for today: 3,935
Words so far: 51,648

I did it!  And although I have 30-40,000 more words to write, this is the most I've written in about two years.  It's going super-fantastically, I came up with a complete, plausible denouement yesterday, and I'm so happy with myself for being able to do this.

***

I commented yesterday that I wanted to get a Light Brite.  Yeah, I think it's the coolio thing to do now, but I saw one recently in someone's office on that loft tour we're going on, and I wanted one for my desk.

Mr. Calm took OD to the mall last night so she could pick up one of those baby penguins from "Happy Feet", and what do you think he brought home for me?

Yep.  A Light Brite.  One of the new ones.  It's on my desk now, and it reads: "ATHENA IS OUT".  Because I am.

Over and out.

posted by: athenawj at 09:25 | link | comments |
writing, toys

Top Chef recipes

I have become a total Top Chef junkie. I lovelovelove this show, and it's introducing me to a new world of food prep.  They're four episodes into the new season, and I caught all of last season in a marathon a few weeks ago.

Last week I made two of the recipes from Episode 3, and I swear: I couldn't get enough of this shrimp.  It is the friggin' best.  Now, yes, I'm allergic to shellfish, but they usually only do little numbers on my tummy (watch out when their claws come out, though!), but I went back for seconds. Mr. Calm went back for thirds.  Afterward, he told me that he'd been worried about the meal, since I've only ever boiled shrimp or bought it boxed, and he hates tomato soup, but he ended up loving it all.

When you can change someone's mind, you know you did a good job.

Try them both, but especially try the shrimp.  You won't be disappointed.

Tomato soup recipe (I should say: I used Campbell's soup instead of dealing with the carrots, tomatoes and celery, and only added the vinegar, basil, onion, cream and peppers.  Take the roasted peppers out after about ten minutes of simmering if you don't want really sweet soup.)

Chicken Fried Shrimp recipe

Enjoy!  Let me know if anyone out there tries either dish.

posted by: athenawj at 17:55 | link | comments |

Novel Update, Day 24

Words for today: 3,151
Words so far: 47,665

I have to finish Chapter Ten tomorrow. If I can figure out what else to write, I'm going to plod on to 50,000 tomorrow morning.  Won't be done with the novel, but will have hit my goal in 25 days.

Wahoo!

posted by: athenawj at 09:42 | link | comments (2) |
writing

Novel Update, Day 23

Words for today: 1,977
Words so far: 44,473

Yay!  Going terrific.  The plot took an unexpected turn, but I'm totally happy with it.  I've always found it fascinating, the way something pans out on page 143 that is hinted at on page 14;  we can also plan out down to the tiniest detail what we are going to write, yet we can't control what comes through our fingers.  Sometimes it's a pain, sometimes it works terrifically, like today.  Good on ya, fingers!

***

Mr. Calm and I waited 45 minutes in line yesterday to vote at one of the six booth set up in the small gym in the local middle school.  In all my years of voting, I have NEVER had to wait, so this was a pleasant first (yes, I say pleasant.  It's wonderful to see such turnout).  In two cases, my votes didn't count at all, and my elation at the Democrats gaining the House has somewhat soured because of that.

Bob Corker won the Senate race here-- Harold Ford, Jr., conceded at about one in the morning.  While this changes none of TN's political makeup-- we had a Republican senator and Democratic governor yesterday, and we have that today-- it's disappointing to see yet another Republican flunkie make his way to D.C.  Especially after such a trashy campaign.

Can I say though that Ford totally wiped the floor with Corker in this county, though?

The supporters of the "marriage amendment" won here, trouncing all of us who believe in equal rights, by a whopping 81%.  Unfuckingbelievable.  Mr. Calm wasn't surprised in the least, given the state that we live in.  Actually, I'd like to see it broken down by precincts.  This is a resoundingly Democratic county, with very liberal leanings (my street not counting).  But Davidson County is so obviously NOT the rest of TN.

So, hey, all you gay folks out there, don't come to TN.  Because you're not worthy and you're not equal.  So says 81% of the voters.

posted by: athenawj at 08:22 | link | comments |
writing, vote, dammit

Novel Update, Day 22

Words for today: 2,247
Words so far: 42,468

I was actually on a roll, but I have too much planned for today to sit here much longer.  I think my thoughts will be filled with my characters a lot today, though.

Also, if anyone's interested (and it'd be nice if someone was-- interest and feedback is wonderful to us lowly writers), you can read the opening excerpt of my novel here.  Although I'm not putting myself on the winner's list since I started early, I found the way the excerpt's presented, in book form, irresistible.

Please remember, it's a rough draft.  And yes, I know-- the title still sucks ass.

posted by: athenawj at 09:12 | link | comments |
writing

Uh-huh, Mr. Clinton

"Elections are about the American people coming together to make fundamental decisions about what kind of people we are, what kind of country we are going to leave our children and our grandchildren, and how we are going to relate to the rest of the world."

My children already take an interest in what's going on, and who I'm voting for and why.  We leave all sorts of legacies for our children.  I'm already sorry for the world we've created for them, but I'm glad that both of them are eager to vote when they get old enough.

Some excellent words from Keith Olbermann on the day before the election.

posted by: athenawj at 13:49 | link | comments |
vote, dammit

Novel Update, Day 21

Words for today: 2,298
Words so far: 40,194

Less than ten thousand to go!

And now for the fun stuff: today I have to mow the backyard, and pull up all my old flowers and bulbs. 

Oh, what fun.

posted by: athenawj at 09:23 | link | comments |
writing

Novel Update, Day 20

Words for today: 2,430
Words so far: 37,837

Good, steady writing today.  Things are finally picking up.  Gonna see some action! 

I'm not talking about sex, but yeah, that'll be in there, too.

***

Right after I wrote a friend about how my kids' burn holes in their pockets, I went and did the same damn thing.  I was supposed to save the money I'd earned from working for Mr. Calm for our trip (and I do still have some money left, thankfully), but I could not resist the urge to pimp out my car. 

Last night I bought The Nightmare Before Christmas floorboard mats, a Lenore seat cover for the driver's seat, a Lenore steering wheel cover, and a Jack Skellington figure that you can put on the dashboard.  He says stuff.  He's also the cousin of the Homer Simpson doll that's on Mr. Calm's dashboard. ;)

Today I'm going back for another seat cover and the backseat floor mats.  With the "Nite Mare" front license plate and Jack Skellington antenna ball I already have, my car will be ROCKIN'!  Hee.

I'll post pix once I vacuum out my car and get all the stuff in.  Fun!

By the way, YD says I'm weird.  Whassup with that?  Nothin' wrong with wanting to decorate your car!

posted by: athenawj at 09:18 | link | comments |
writing, etc

Novel Update, Day 19 & Borat

Words for today: 1,751
Words so far: 35,399

Again, skewed stats. Although the aim of NaNoWriMo is to writewritewrite and pad without editing, I just couldn't rightly do it.  Damn, I am so not used to writing this way.  Anyway, I had to go back and cut about 670 words from yesterday's session and start over.  Just NOT where I wanted to go.  Today, I am satisfied.

We went to see "Borat" last night.  It was only playing in ONE theater in the local twenty-plex!  The reviews are right: this movie is friggin' hilarious.  At one part I was laughing so hard tears were in my eyes and my stomach muscles hurt.  I have to say, I wasn't a fan of Borat's on "Da Ali G Show", because he was a little too hardcore, but with the larger parameters of a movie he really works.

Oh my, am I sure there are people out there who feel their sensibilities will be offended, and think that they know what the movie's about without even seeing it, thinking that it's racist or derogatory or too vulgar.  Let me say this. I saw a review yesterday that said this is a movie for smart people, and it definitely is.  You have to be smart, not an ignorant, rigid fool, to see this movie for what it is.  At its essence, it is about stereotypes (some of the worst kind), and how we are perceived to outsiders, but there is no social statement about how to fix these ills.  I very much doubt that any of these stereotypes would get it if there were, anyway.  It's straightforward, in-your-face and unflinching, and in its humor it works much better than many serious dramas that have attempted the same thing.  I wonder if this was Sasha Baron Cohen's goal.  If it was, kudos-- you did it.  If not, well, kudos just the same.

I have to admit, though, that there was one part that I just wasn't sure if it was supposed to be perceived as funny or not.  I will say that I was proud to be in a theater packed with people who also did not laugh-- it was pretty silent save for a few embarassed groans. At least in the theater in which I sat, we were all part of the South that, you know, a lot of outsiders think don't exist: a South with smart, unbiased people with all their teeth and no tires in their yard (okay, just me ranting now).

And with all that, let me say that there's some really silly-stupid stuff in it, too.  Fucking funny.  I'm just saying, at its core is what will also keep you talking after the movie ends.

Go see Borat.  Laugh while you're there, and think and talk about it when it's over.  It's well worth the astronomical ticket price.

(four out of four t.v.s)

***

Little shout-out of congrats to my Littlest Sis A., who managed to register to vote in time and got her voter's registration card in the mail yesterday.  Yay!  Hey, I forgot to ask her if she's voting for Ah-nuld.

 

 

posted by: athenawj at 08:10 | link | comments |
movies, writing

Novel Update, Day 18

Words for today: 1,736
Words so far: 34,316

Wow.  Only twelve more days to write 15,684 words.

I'm VERY much looking forward to our trip.  Almost no schedule, no one complaining about how much walking we're doing or what we're eating or how friggin' bored they are; Christmas decorations and cooler weather; taking pretty pictures; Mr. Calm and I on our own.

Twenty-two more days!

In other news, I thought everyone might want to see how much Ollie has changed since we got him.

posted by: athenawj at 09:11 | link | comments (4) |
writing, crazy kitties, silly stuff

Novel Update, Day 17

Words for today: 1,859
Words so far: 32,580

I got the pdf to review the final draft of my story "One in Ten Thousand", which is going to appear in Issue 0 of GUD Magazine.  Here's a link to the cover-- looks terrific!  Can't wait to get my contributor's copy. I'm sure it will totally freak YD out.

Hee.

posted by: athenawj at 08:22 | link | comments |
writing

It's a Fact

Did you know?  If you have hazel (brown/green) eyes, and you want your eyes to turn green, just rim them with kohl, then ring them with a bunch of dark grey eyeshadow.  Poof!  A most lovely shade of green.  It's a fact.

Of course, you'll look very goth, but if it's Halloween, it's okay.

***

I've learned a lesson in lying over the past day, and I suddenly have mounds of respect for publicists.  I was hired by Mr. Calm to write press releases, and... oh, goodness.  As an editor I learned first-hand how many people should keep their day jobs and their fingers away from keyboards, but I had no idea how many people out there should stay away from microphones as well.  Out of the twelve artists I wrote press releases for, I'm sorry (and I have to apologize to my ears as well) to say that only two of them were good. I'd actually buy the guy's album. The rest... one woman sounded like she had her fingers stuck up her nose while she was singing and couldn't pick the right note if it was presented to her.  Another is a lyricist... when I heard her lyrics I thought of a lobotomized seven-year-old.  One of the men sounded like the ghost of Elvis had possessed him then gone to work as a lounge lizard.

I'm sorry.  I know that was mean of me.  And I truly feel sorry for these folks, because it's not like writing, which if you have a computer and Word or a typewriter or even a pen and paper, it doesn't cost anything, especially if you email all your subs.  There's really nothing to lose but time.  But making a demo or a full-length album costs a lot, and hearing that they're way below par and probably not going to make any sales outside their friends and family is sad.

Moving onto a semi-related note, I've done three cd covers so far and will post them on my website in the next few weeks.

Am I getting paid for all this (I'm helping Mr. Calm out this week with the TEDIOUS stuff while he catches up)?  You bet your ass I am!  I refuse to be bored out of my skull for free!

posted by: athenawj at 12:19 | link | comments |
music, real blibber blabber

Novel Update, Day 16

Words for today: 1,985
Words so far: 30,719

posted by: athenawj at 08:29 | link | comments |
writing