Is it new, or am I just noticing the rash of powerful commentaries on the dismal state of Christianity of late? A couple of days ago it was a Presbyterian pastor who induced me to write my first fan letter to a man in his line of work (he wrote back, too, bless 'im); today, it's a meditation on Christianity from Deepak Chopra, "Who Owns Christianity?" It first appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, but you can see it on the Common Dreams website. Some excerpts:
"Did Christ teach love or is that just a liberal bias? In the current climate, it's hard to remember, but one thing is certain: Once a tight cabal of fundamentalists takes over any denomination, Christ's teachings go out the window. The reversal of Christianity from a religion of love to a religion of hate is the greatest religious tragedy of our time."
He notes that fundamentalists have corrupted Islam, Hinduism and Judaism as well, and laments that the tolerant in Christian churches have largely "stayed silent and stayed home. But that tactic failed. As healthy as it is to nourish your own devotion and faith, it's disastrous to allow extremists to take over the church, because the statehouse, the board of education, the Congress, and eventually the presidency are next."
Lastly, and I promise this is it: "American finds itself in the sad plight of being the world's most prominent secular society hijacked by sectarians."
No, I'm not writing him a letter (he makes an uncomfortable parallel between gays and sinners early in the piece), but I am glad that people with some prominence are taking on the Christians who, in a terrible misunderstanding of the Bible, are seeking to recreate the world in their own image, not God's.
Of course, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others are likely engaged in the same.
Have people always been this insane, or are we just blessed to be living in "interesting" times?
Just wondering....
Monday, July 17, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Well, it was something
I'm happy to report that my letter to the editor appeared in today's paper. I'm unhappy to report that they cut the last paragraph--apparently, it's okay for some folks to suggest that others should be denied rights, but to suggest that such folks are tyrants for wanting to deny said rights is going too darn far.
Lilly-livered lightweights!
Don't have a copy of the letter that inspired my missive around, but methinks one can easily glean the gist from my retort. I have deleted the name of the author just in case that old saw "Any publicity is good publicity" is true for bigots as well as entertainers.
The letter:
Dear Editor:
As a long-time voter who was born and raised in the U.S. and has lived here most of my life, I do have to wonder what “people” your correspondent [insert your favorite homophobe here] was referring to in his letter, “Let state’s voters decide on same-sex marriages.”
I take exception to his assumption that the “people” do not include lesbians and gays. We certainly do—and I have the passport and tax records to prove it.
“Of the people, by the people, and for the people” is fairly comprehensive, though [Mr. Homohater] apparently reads “people” as only “people like me.” That’s rather missing the point. Perhaps [Mr. Hates the Light-in-the-Loafers Set] has a different copy of these treasured documents than I, for nowhere in the Constitution or Bill of Rights do I see a footnote along the lines of, “Does not apply to gays and lesbians.”
In crafting our great nation, our founders recognized that majority rule has its limits (history is full of examples, as is today’s news). As I understand it, the judiciary plays a key part in the process of checks and balances, reining in the majority when it takes actions that are contrary to the spirit and intent of the Constitution. While he may not like their decision, the judges of the Supreme Judicial Court were doing their job—reminding people like [Mr. Blinded-By-the-Right] that people like me are citizens with rights, too.
What the paper cut:
Like many Americans, my ancestors came to this country for the promise of freedom, most particularly to be spared the tyranny of the majority religious or political system in their former homelands. They would be saddened indeed to learn that thanks to people like your correspondent, tyranny is alive and well in America, too.
Can't you just hear the "Star Spangled Banner"? Or is it, "We Are Family"?
Lilly-livered lightweights!
Don't have a copy of the letter that inspired my missive around, but methinks one can easily glean the gist from my retort. I have deleted the name of the author just in case that old saw "Any publicity is good publicity" is true for bigots as well as entertainers.
The letter:
Dear Editor:
As a long-time voter who was born and raised in the U.S. and has lived here most of my life, I do have to wonder what “people” your correspondent [insert your favorite homophobe here] was referring to in his letter, “Let state’s voters decide on same-sex marriages.”
I take exception to his assumption that the “people” do not include lesbians and gays. We certainly do—and I have the passport and tax records to prove it.
“Of the people, by the people, and for the people” is fairly comprehensive, though [Mr. Homohater] apparently reads “people” as only “people like me.” That’s rather missing the point. Perhaps [Mr. Hates the Light-in-the-Loafers Set] has a different copy of these treasured documents than I, for nowhere in the Constitution or Bill of Rights do I see a footnote along the lines of, “Does not apply to gays and lesbians.”
In crafting our great nation, our founders recognized that majority rule has its limits (history is full of examples, as is today’s news). As I understand it, the judiciary plays a key part in the process of checks and balances, reining in the majority when it takes actions that are contrary to the spirit and intent of the Constitution. While he may not like their decision, the judges of the Supreme Judicial Court were doing their job—reminding people like [Mr. Blinded-By-the-Right] that people like me are citizens with rights, too.
What the paper cut:
Like many Americans, my ancestors came to this country for the promise of freedom, most particularly to be spared the tyranny of the majority religious or political system in their former homelands. They would be saddened indeed to learn that thanks to people like your correspondent, tyranny is alive and well in America, too.
Can't you just hear the "Star Spangled Banner"? Or is it, "We Are Family"?
Friday, July 14, 2006
What a turnaround!
The end of a busy, hectic and occasionally hair-raising week is a wonderful thing. Altogether now: Ahhhhhhh!
Was called by the local paper about my letter and whether I had written it--did I detect a tone in the clerk's voice, or was that just my supported-by-years-of-experience paranoia? Dunno, but the fact that they verified the source suggests that perhaps my letter will run.
Here's hoping they don't edit the living daylights out of it. Always a possibility, don't you know.
On other fronts, I wrote my first fan letter to a man of the cloth after reading a wonderful piece on the Common Dreams website entitled, "Real Christians Don't Gay Bash," by the Rev. Jim Rigby of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. It was balm for my little lezbo soul, I must say. While I urge you to read the entire, beautiful piece, the following excerpt offers a taste of his words and wisdom:
"In the Gospel, biblical literalists and judgmental people were the negative example in many of the stories. The point of those stories was to teach us the hypocrisy of judgmental religion. When a woman was caught in adultery, the Biblical literalists lined up to protect family values. They pointed out that the Bible literally says that adulterers are to be stoned. If Jesus took the Bible seriously, they claimed, he would have to participate in the mandated biblical punishment of an adulteress.
"Instead of following scripture, Jesus tells the woman to get her life together and tells everyone else to drop their stones of judgment. The only way to take this story seriously is to conclude that real Christians don't use the Bible to condemn other people."
And listen to this:
"It violates the teaching of Christ to say that God will get angry if America does not confront homosexuality as a sin. Jesus did not mention homosexuality and it is a lie to say he did. Furthermore, Jesus said 'judge not or you will be judged.' These false prophets are saying, 'judge or you will be judged.'
"Jesus was kind and understanding, but he was not silent about those who abused the vulnerable. He called them 'wolves in sheep's clothing.' Christians must follow the example of Jesus and confront those vicious predators who use the Christian religion as a camouflage for bullying. We must be as understanding and kind as we can be, but to be tolerant of the oppression of others is not true tolerance."
Oh my goddess, can you see why I had to fire off a "Thank you" note and a half? I thanked him for the piece, and remarked that my only regret is that my mother isn't alive to read his words--she was an industrial-strength Presbyterian, and as she never quite made peace with my sexuality, I think these words, coming from a man of her favorite cloth, might have helped ease her mind some. Alas.
Last but not least, I have been invited to NYC (probably along with 1,000 other comics) to participate in the Laughing Liberally lab on--get this--Monday nights. At 9:30 p.m. Now, as the Lab was a glorified open mic last I went, I am thinking I probably won't bother. However, if showing up for the Lab is the only way to break into the heavily heterosexual male comic lineup that Laughing Liberally seems to prefer, perhaps I need to just go down there and give it all I've got.
Or should I just wait and see if the Thursday night queer show pans out?
Ah, decisions, decisions. Hey--at least I have decisions to make here, and I don't have a vast, open void of comic dead air in front of me.
Not yet, anyway.
Was called by the local paper about my letter and whether I had written it--did I detect a tone in the clerk's voice, or was that just my supported-by-years-of-experience paranoia? Dunno, but the fact that they verified the source suggests that perhaps my letter will run.
Here's hoping they don't edit the living daylights out of it. Always a possibility, don't you know.
On other fronts, I wrote my first fan letter to a man of the cloth after reading a wonderful piece on the Common Dreams website entitled, "Real Christians Don't Gay Bash," by the Rev. Jim Rigby of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. It was balm for my little lezbo soul, I must say. While I urge you to read the entire, beautiful piece, the following excerpt offers a taste of his words and wisdom:
"In the Gospel, biblical literalists and judgmental people were the negative example in many of the stories. The point of those stories was to teach us the hypocrisy of judgmental religion. When a woman was caught in adultery, the Biblical literalists lined up to protect family values. They pointed out that the Bible literally says that adulterers are to be stoned. If Jesus took the Bible seriously, they claimed, he would have to participate in the mandated biblical punishment of an adulteress.
"Instead of following scripture, Jesus tells the woman to get her life together and tells everyone else to drop their stones of judgment. The only way to take this story seriously is to conclude that real Christians don't use the Bible to condemn other people."
And listen to this:
"It violates the teaching of Christ to say that God will get angry if America does not confront homosexuality as a sin. Jesus did not mention homosexuality and it is a lie to say he did. Furthermore, Jesus said 'judge not or you will be judged.' These false prophets are saying, 'judge or you will be judged.'
"Jesus was kind and understanding, but he was not silent about those who abused the vulnerable. He called them 'wolves in sheep's clothing.' Christians must follow the example of Jesus and confront those vicious predators who use the Christian religion as a camouflage for bullying. We must be as understanding and kind as we can be, but to be tolerant of the oppression of others is not true tolerance."
Oh my goddess, can you see why I had to fire off a "Thank you" note and a half? I thanked him for the piece, and remarked that my only regret is that my mother isn't alive to read his words--she was an industrial-strength Presbyterian, and as she never quite made peace with my sexuality, I think these words, coming from a man of her favorite cloth, might have helped ease her mind some. Alas.
Last but not least, I have been invited to NYC (probably along with 1,000 other comics) to participate in the Laughing Liberally lab on--get this--Monday nights. At 9:30 p.m. Now, as the Lab was a glorified open mic last I went, I am thinking I probably won't bother. However, if showing up for the Lab is the only way to break into the heavily heterosexual male comic lineup that Laughing Liberally seems to prefer, perhaps I need to just go down there and give it all I've got.
Or should I just wait and see if the Thursday night queer show pans out?
Ah, decisions, decisions. Hey--at least I have decisions to make here, and I don't have a vast, open void of comic dead air in front of me.
Not yet, anyway.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Am soooooo glad this will soon be over
This working two jobs business, I mean. I know I will miss the money, there's no question there, but the dragging myself home from a full day of work to stare at my PC screen and try to compose some snappy bits of business on compensation plans? PULEEEEEASE.
It's been a small slice o' heck, that it has. But yes, it will sooooooon be over. Hip, Hip, Hooray!!!
On other fronts, my sister had a retirement party today in Detroit. She wanted Linda and yours truly to come, but we really couldn't swing it, having just had a vacation and all. And with my boss on vacation and my lone colleague out with bronchitis, the timing couldn't be worse.
A rather familiar scenario where my family is concerned, but that's a story for another time, perhaps.
My dear brother, who may be striving for some sort of secular sainthood, is in Detroit. He flew there to be at my sister's party, where he read something I wrote for the occasion.
Ah yes, another writing gig, right in the midst of my last second-job deadline. (Did I say something about timing earlier? Yes, this too was terrible.) As for what I wrote, I'm sorry to report that it was terrible, too. Let's just say my sister and I are not close, so I was hard-pressed to come up with the requisite heart-warming or amusing vignettes one usually trots out for such affairs.
However, the good news is that I didn't have to read my writing in person. Dear brother did it, and being a silver-tongued devil, I'm sure he did swell. Unless my sister's coworkers are a bunch of stiffs who were just there for the cake. I've seen it happen, it's not pretty.
On the "not pretty" front, there was a letter to the editor in yesterday's paper that set my mood button to FOUL first thing this morning. Took about a half hour to recover from the self-centeredness and ignorance on display in the missive. If a person had written that sort of letter about Jews or African Americans or any other minority, he would have been rightly derided as a kook and a bigot. Of course, as his topic was gays, he got a prominent place in the paper, and probably a lot of "Atta boy, Ed!" from other like-minded trolls in town. Sigh.
Some days, I wonder about my fellow man, and why oh why dear God is he sometimes such a rat bastard?
Took all day to formulate a letter that could be printed in a family paper. Will it make it? We shall see.
It's been a small slice o' heck, that it has. But yes, it will sooooooon be over. Hip, Hip, Hooray!!!
On other fronts, my sister had a retirement party today in Detroit. She wanted Linda and yours truly to come, but we really couldn't swing it, having just had a vacation and all. And with my boss on vacation and my lone colleague out with bronchitis, the timing couldn't be worse.
A rather familiar scenario where my family is concerned, but that's a story for another time, perhaps.
My dear brother, who may be striving for some sort of secular sainthood, is in Detroit. He flew there to be at my sister's party, where he read something I wrote for the occasion.
Ah yes, another writing gig, right in the midst of my last second-job deadline. (Did I say something about timing earlier? Yes, this too was terrible.) As for what I wrote, I'm sorry to report that it was terrible, too. Let's just say my sister and I are not close, so I was hard-pressed to come up with the requisite heart-warming or amusing vignettes one usually trots out for such affairs.
However, the good news is that I didn't have to read my writing in person. Dear brother did it, and being a silver-tongued devil, I'm sure he did swell. Unless my sister's coworkers are a bunch of stiffs who were just there for the cake. I've seen it happen, it's not pretty.
On the "not pretty" front, there was a letter to the editor in yesterday's paper that set my mood button to FOUL first thing this morning. Took about a half hour to recover from the self-centeredness and ignorance on display in the missive. If a person had written that sort of letter about Jews or African Americans or any other minority, he would have been rightly derided as a kook and a bigot. Of course, as his topic was gays, he got a prominent place in the paper, and probably a lot of "Atta boy, Ed!" from other like-minded trolls in town. Sigh.
Some days, I wonder about my fellow man, and why oh why dear God is he sometimes such a rat bastard?
Took all day to formulate a letter that could be printed in a family paper. Will it make it? We shall see.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
A quick change in comic fortunes
While I had plenty o' nuthin' on my comedy calendar two days ago, I now have been invited to participate in two upcoming shows, and am thrilled to pieces at the prospect.
It's too soon for details (don't want to hex them), but they'll be appearing on my website when the time is right (one show is in September, the other in October--so there's time, for heaven's sake).
Got through a rough patch at work, and I am a little ashamed to note that I was so worried about what was going to happen that I prayed about it. I know one is not supposed to pray for things, but one can pray for the ability to do better than one's worst instincts might demand.
Can't one? A gal can pray not to have a grand mal hissy, can't she?
Right or wrong, it appeared to have worked, for all of the drama I expected did not unfold. It's grand when that happens, isn't it?
On other fronts, Outlook on my PC at home is balking at the task of retrieving my e-mail. I don't have the time to spend on a "do it yourself" approach right now (my last deadline for my second job looms), so am going to just retrieve my e-mail via the Web and let the chips fall where they may.
Tired old Microsoft. Tired old software. Maybe my next computer should be a Mac?
On other fronts, I hear that the Mass. Legislature didn't get around to the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative today, and we'll have to wait to read all about the insults hurled at the likes of me and mine some other time.
Yeah, I can wait.
Want to know when these darn "homophobic" people are going to quit sponging off the queers and quit trying to get something (our tax dollars) for nothing (or very little). A bunch of freakin' freeloaders, that's what they are! I put "homophobic" in quotes, for I think this is largely a political show, brought to you by the demagogues at the RNC (Really Nasty Sonsabitches, aka the Republican Party). Nothing like a little gay-baiting to take peoples' minds off what is really going wrong....
Am also seeing parallels between my dog Linus and the homophobic population. Now don't get me wrong--Linus is a dear boy, and a marvelous beast with a beautific nature 99.5% of the time. But when the clouds start to rumble and the lightening bolts jut down from the sky, he loses his cool. He pants, he paces, he tries to paw open the door to the closet and bathroom--it's a display.
If you're in the sad situation of trying to sleep while this is going on, you can forget it. He wakes me up whenever this happens, as if to say, "What are you doing? How can you sleep at a moment like this?! We need to all get into the closet where it's safe--with the shoes!"
Linus' reaction to summer storms is very much like a homophobes reaction to gays. It far exceeds any real threat to his safety, and it causes him to do things that are out of character--not his best self, by any means.
But the parallel ends when I think of the threats Linus and the homophobes face--Linus has a much greater chance of getting hit by lightening than I ever will of ruining some straight person's marriage.
But then again, that may not really be the point.....
It's too soon for details (don't want to hex them), but they'll be appearing on my website when the time is right (one show is in September, the other in October--so there's time, for heaven's sake).
Got through a rough patch at work, and I am a little ashamed to note that I was so worried about what was going to happen that I prayed about it. I know one is not supposed to pray for things, but one can pray for the ability to do better than one's worst instincts might demand.
Can't one? A gal can pray not to have a grand mal hissy, can't she?
Right or wrong, it appeared to have worked, for all of the drama I expected did not unfold. It's grand when that happens, isn't it?
On other fronts, Outlook on my PC at home is balking at the task of retrieving my e-mail. I don't have the time to spend on a "do it yourself" approach right now (my last deadline for my second job looms), so am going to just retrieve my e-mail via the Web and let the chips fall where they may.
Tired old Microsoft. Tired old software. Maybe my next computer should be a Mac?
On other fronts, I hear that the Mass. Legislature didn't get around to the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative today, and we'll have to wait to read all about the insults hurled at the likes of me and mine some other time.
Yeah, I can wait.
Want to know when these darn "homophobic" people are going to quit sponging off the queers and quit trying to get something (our tax dollars) for nothing (or very little). A bunch of freakin' freeloaders, that's what they are! I put "homophobic" in quotes, for I think this is largely a political show, brought to you by the demagogues at the RNC (Really Nasty Sonsabitches, aka the Republican Party). Nothing like a little gay-baiting to take peoples' minds off what is really going wrong....
Am also seeing parallels between my dog Linus and the homophobic population. Now don't get me wrong--Linus is a dear boy, and a marvelous beast with a beautific nature 99.5% of the time. But when the clouds start to rumble and the lightening bolts jut down from the sky, he loses his cool. He pants, he paces, he tries to paw open the door to the closet and bathroom--it's a display.
If you're in the sad situation of trying to sleep while this is going on, you can forget it. He wakes me up whenever this happens, as if to say, "What are you doing? How can you sleep at a moment like this?! We need to all get into the closet where it's safe--with the shoes!"
Linus' reaction to summer storms is very much like a homophobes reaction to gays. It far exceeds any real threat to his safety, and it causes him to do things that are out of character--not his best self, by any means.
But the parallel ends when I think of the threats Linus and the homophobes face--Linus has a much greater chance of getting hit by lightening than I ever will of ruining some straight person's marriage.
But then again, that may not really be the point.....
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Strangeness and glory--yup, the usual....
Ah, my vacation is winding down, and I am sad to see it go even if it entailed a lot of hard work.
But we did finish the deck and it looks fabulous, if I do say so myself (the paint, she runs in my veins!).
On other fronts, had a very odd night at the PACE, in no small way due to the fact that the fabulous Ms. M was nowhere to be found. No criticism of the sub suggested--Boney (aka Kim Light, bless 'er heart) did great with what the night wrought--but be that as it may, the open mic is just not the same without Jennifer.
But the night was off in other ways as well--or maybe it was the same as it ever was, but I was given a fresh look at what The Comedy can be about in the Pioneer Valley. We had some friends from out of town along with us for the evening, and they had a unique perspective on the comedy goings-on.
Happily, I warned them that the open mic can be a very uneven affair, but I don't think that was enough of a disclaimer, looking back. It seemed that many comics pulled out their mean material for the night--and by mean, I mean sexist, homophobic, racist.....
Our friends, sophisticates from NYC both, were incredulous. Afterwards, they said to me something to the effect of, "I had no idea this is what you had to contend with to do comedy around here. We are both in awe of your nerve."
They left with a new appreciation of what it takes to do comedy away from the civilizing influence of the Big City, but I was left thinking, am I really that "nervy"?
Nah. As I think I have made plain, I am a wuss.
But what I am is a person committed to The Comedy come what may, and I am grateful that I don't let a little (or a lotta) homophobia, sexism, and the like keep me from my work/art/mania/whatever the heck it is.
Maybe all that Catholic denial is finally coming in handy!
Speaking of denial, I am soooooooo grateful that the fabulous Amelie Mauresmo won Wimbledon, even though the NBC commentators virtually ignored her throughout the match. If one were listening to them on the radio, one might be excused if they thought that Justine Henin-Hardenne was playing alone.
It was infuriating--so infuriating, Linda hit the "Mute" button about one-third of the way through the match.
But the good news is that Amelie won--and no, we won't be talking about her "nerves" ever again! WOOOOOOWEEEEEEEE!
But we did finish the deck and it looks fabulous, if I do say so myself (the paint, she runs in my veins!).
On other fronts, had a very odd night at the PACE, in no small way due to the fact that the fabulous Ms. M was nowhere to be found. No criticism of the sub suggested--Boney (aka Kim Light, bless 'er heart) did great with what the night wrought--but be that as it may, the open mic is just not the same without Jennifer.
But the night was off in other ways as well--or maybe it was the same as it ever was, but I was given a fresh look at what The Comedy can be about in the Pioneer Valley. We had some friends from out of town along with us for the evening, and they had a unique perspective on the comedy goings-on.
Happily, I warned them that the open mic can be a very uneven affair, but I don't think that was enough of a disclaimer, looking back. It seemed that many comics pulled out their mean material for the night--and by mean, I mean sexist, homophobic, racist.....
Our friends, sophisticates from NYC both, were incredulous. Afterwards, they said to me something to the effect of, "I had no idea this is what you had to contend with to do comedy around here. We are both in awe of your nerve."
They left with a new appreciation of what it takes to do comedy away from the civilizing influence of the Big City, but I was left thinking, am I really that "nervy"?
Nah. As I think I have made plain, I am a wuss.
But what I am is a person committed to The Comedy come what may, and I am grateful that I don't let a little (or a lotta) homophobia, sexism, and the like keep me from my work/art/mania/whatever the heck it is.
Maybe all that Catholic denial is finally coming in handy!
Speaking of denial, I am soooooooo grateful that the fabulous Amelie Mauresmo won Wimbledon, even though the NBC commentators virtually ignored her throughout the match. If one were listening to them on the radio, one might be excused if they thought that Justine Henin-Hardenne was playing alone.
It was infuriating--so infuriating, Linda hit the "Mute" button about one-third of the way through the match.
But the good news is that Amelie won--and no, we won't be talking about her "nerves" ever again! WOOOOOOWEEEEEEEE!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
A vacation of sorts
Yes, we took this week off, and I have been catching up on my sleep. I have, however, also been tackling a project at our cottage that has me wondering, "And for this, I'm using vacation time?"
I've been sanding the deck, which though small, threatens to take the rest of this holiday to prep. The paint--yes, the puddin'head used regular paint--on it is impossibly thick (where it hasn't peeled off, of course). The deck needs to be refinished, though, and as we are going to put it on the market soon to ease our financial load, we can't just pay someone to do it. Rather defeats the "ease our financial load" part of the program, not to mention fly in the face of family tradition (my father was a painter, his father was a painter, and so on and so forth).
Realize that this is just the sort of "holiday" I am genetically programmed to have--a working one. My mother's Calvinist, Protestant side is gratified that I am not just lolling around enjoying myself, while my father's Catholic side is gratified that I'm spending my time making something better that I will not enjoy. Doing something good and getting no benefit from it is a Catholic imperative, as I recall (if you do something good to get a benefit, it doesn't count; ditto if you do something good and tell someone about it. Don't ask).
So, toss together the Protestant work ethic and Catholic guilt, and what do you have? A vacation spent sanding the deck.
It is beautiful out here, that is true, and the weather has cooperated most of the time. Plus, when the weather wasn't cooperating, I did sneak in a side trip to a local outlet mall, and bought myself some nice shirts for work.
And I'm working on getting in a GLBT comedy show in NYC, goddess willing. We shall see what, if anything, comes of that.
But otherwise? My only show is the upcoming open mic at PACE, hosted by my comedy buddy Jennifer. And Jennifer--though I know it puts you in a bunch, I'm glad your car was declared beyond repair this week. That car was iffy on a good day in the '90s, so get out there and find yourself a car that doesn't lead your friends to cross themselves when they see you drive off to an unknown future. In sum: Let that crate be the last deathtrap you own--protect your vital carcass!
Please.
I've been sanding the deck, which though small, threatens to take the rest of this holiday to prep. The paint--yes, the puddin'head used regular paint--on it is impossibly thick (where it hasn't peeled off, of course). The deck needs to be refinished, though, and as we are going to put it on the market soon to ease our financial load, we can't just pay someone to do it. Rather defeats the "ease our financial load" part of the program, not to mention fly in the face of family tradition (my father was a painter, his father was a painter, and so on and so forth).
Realize that this is just the sort of "holiday" I am genetically programmed to have--a working one. My mother's Calvinist, Protestant side is gratified that I am not just lolling around enjoying myself, while my father's Catholic side is gratified that I'm spending my time making something better that I will not enjoy. Doing something good and getting no benefit from it is a Catholic imperative, as I recall (if you do something good to get a benefit, it doesn't count; ditto if you do something good and tell someone about it. Don't ask).
So, toss together the Protestant work ethic and Catholic guilt, and what do you have? A vacation spent sanding the deck.
It is beautiful out here, that is true, and the weather has cooperated most of the time. Plus, when the weather wasn't cooperating, I did sneak in a side trip to a local outlet mall, and bought myself some nice shirts for work.
And I'm working on getting in a GLBT comedy show in NYC, goddess willing. We shall see what, if anything, comes of that.
But otherwise? My only show is the upcoming open mic at PACE, hosted by my comedy buddy Jennifer. And Jennifer--though I know it puts you in a bunch, I'm glad your car was declared beyond repair this week. That car was iffy on a good day in the '90s, so get out there and find yourself a car that doesn't lead your friends to cross themselves when they see you drive off to an unknown future. In sum: Let that crate be the last deathtrap you own--protect your vital carcass!
Please.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
