Party time! Finding Nemo, and how much I love Laura
We were invited to a Labor Day party at Chris and Lianna's, Tery's coworkers, this past weekend. I was under specific orders to come because Tabby wanted to "hang out" with me. Tabby always wants to hang out with me. Then I go and we're barely ever in the same room together. But I did anyway.
Kay was there, despite saying she wasn't coming. I hadn't forgotten my vow to tell her a thing or two about the whole Rufus Wainwright incident, but for the sake of keeping the peace I didn't say anything. But I still think she knows exactly how I feel about her because she kept a very wary distance all night, and we said nothing to each other but "Hello" and "Goodbye." Perfect.
Tabby brought her "boyfriend" Tim along, Mr. Security Installation Guy. I've decided I just don't like Tim. He's one of those people who looks deeply and unblinkingly into your eyes while he talks, as if what he's saying is intensely important. I somehow again got cornered by him and had to listen to him explain how he acts on dates.
"I don't sugar-coat things. If I feel a certain way, I'm going to come out and say it," he intoned seriously.
"Oh, I'm the same way," was all I could think of to say.
He went on as if I hadn't said anything. "And if you don't like what I have to say, that's your problem, not mine."
I just nodded in agreement.
"I don't get a lot of second dates though."
I had even less of an idea how to respond to this little diatribe. I longed for his 45-minute speech on installing security systems. Why the hell did he think I cared about his dating techniques? He also doesn't think Ellen is funny, lesbianwise or otherwise. That's it buddy. You are SO out of here.
I very gracelessly extricated myself from the conversation, no mean feat when he still sat right across the table from me, staring unblinkingly. Weirdo.
But it was all good because Becca and Laura were there. I haven't seen Laura forever. She was Sexy Alice a few Halloweens ago. Tery appeared and asked Laura if I'd seen her ferret yet. "You got a ferret?" I asked. In response she called out "Nemo!" and to my astonisment, this little blurry white cotton ball came excitedly running across the lawn, just as fast as his tiny legs would carry him:
Tery called him a ferret because he's a mini Pomeranian, and both Gideon and Xander can easily kick his little ass. Snowy white with long, soft, Jennifer Aniston hair, enormous, expressive doe eyes and charming and cuddly as a teddy bear. Nemo was quite the loverboy, and took to me like syrup on pancakes. I love animals, but I'm not generally a dog person. But how could I resist? Nemo loved sitting in my lap and French kissing me, and at one point late in the evening was so tuckered out he curled up on me, burying his widdle face in the crook of my elbow, where he slept for about a half hour. He got up when he thought there was food to be had, then literally jumped across two other people's laps to get back to me. Much later when I went to leave, he was waiting at the door to go home with me like the perfect little gentleman. But Laura said no. >: ( What does SHE know about true, trans-species love? Nothing, I tell you. But she was quite amazed at how much he loved me. She said he's generally affectionate, but not usually to that degree. What can I say? I'm catnip for the critters.
Becca and Laura and I talked, and I turned the conversation to Katrina, since the news events had been saturating my whole day. Laura is a lot like me. She's a total hippie chick liberal with a very live-and-let-live attitude. She's also an Aries like me, not afraid to speak her mind, although she's a lot sweeter about it. Like me, she also sank into a week-long depression when Bush was re-elected, and like me, wants to vomit whenever she sees him on TV. None of us could believe the tragically incompetent way the rescue operations were being handled. Audrey was there too, and I half expected her to offer me some sympathy, because it must be hard to watch those people die, my father having died and all. But she seems to have gotten over that kick. I mentioned the fact that Rush Limbaugh (and others) are actually on the record as saying anyone who "chose" to stay in New Orleans got exactly what they deserved. As happens when talking to civilized, decent people, this information was met with shock. I added that I find it impossible to believe that there isn't a single person in Rush's camp who has the balls to say, "You know what? Even if you ARE sub-human enough to think such shameful things, why don't you keep your big, stupid mouth SHUT for a change?"
Laura had an interesting theory on religion. She thinks there are two kinds of religious people: those who embrace it because it gives them comfort and peace, and those who use it to give themselves power over others. She's not religious. In fact, she hasn't even been baptized. But she refuses to believe that she's doomed to hell regardless of how well she lives her life or how much she helps others just because she doesn't go to church on Sunday. I agree with this wholeheartedly. I think as long as you are a good person and treat others with respect and kindness, it doesn't matter what you believe theologically. Because just doing those simple things seems to be a lot closer to Christ's teachings than the ideologies being spewed by some supposed Christians, Rush among them.
Laura and I were perplexed most of all as to why those who consider themselves the most Christian are also the most hateful. But that's the problem with surrounding yourself with people who think and believe the same things you do -- you never get any answers to these questions.
Becca was very keen to read my letters to the editors. Via a link found through a link of a link of a link from anne_jumps (my primary news source these days, since inexplicably both "The Daily Show" and "The Al Franken Show" are airing repeats this week), I found a site that lets you submit letters to the editors of up to 5 major newspapers. I wrote one, then realized I still had anger issues and wrote a second under Tery's name. Her's turned out much better, because she wasn't afraid to use the big "I" word. The Republicans wanted to impeach Clinton over a few blowjobs. Does Bush deserve any less for 5 years of misleading Americans and making decision after ill-advised decision that have resulted in the deaths of thousands? (between 9/11, Iraq and now Katrina) We can't lose our anger this time and we can't let him get away with this. My friend JeffDaddy in England tells me the European media are practically gleeful, convinced this has to be the last nail in the coffin of the administration. If the Dems don't stop being pussies and do something, I might become an Independent.
I'd like to get that bumper sticker, only with a revision: If you aren't outraged, disgusted and screaming for blood, you REALLY aren't paying attention.
Addendum: Oh yeah, and Tabby was too hung over, so our "hanging out" consisted of me watching her holding her head in her hands miserably. Wheeee!
Kay was there, despite saying she wasn't coming. I hadn't forgotten my vow to tell her a thing or two about the whole Rufus Wainwright incident, but for the sake of keeping the peace I didn't say anything. But I still think she knows exactly how I feel about her because she kept a very wary distance all night, and we said nothing to each other but "Hello" and "Goodbye." Perfect.
Tabby brought her "boyfriend" Tim along, Mr. Security Installation Guy. I've decided I just don't like Tim. He's one of those people who looks deeply and unblinkingly into your eyes while he talks, as if what he's saying is intensely important. I somehow again got cornered by him and had to listen to him explain how he acts on dates.
"I don't sugar-coat things. If I feel a certain way, I'm going to come out and say it," he intoned seriously.
"Oh, I'm the same way," was all I could think of to say.
He went on as if I hadn't said anything. "And if you don't like what I have to say, that's your problem, not mine."
I just nodded in agreement.
"I don't get a lot of second dates though."
I had even less of an idea how to respond to this little diatribe. I longed for his 45-minute speech on installing security systems. Why the hell did he think I cared about his dating techniques? He also doesn't think Ellen is funny, lesbianwise or otherwise. That's it buddy. You are SO out of here.
I very gracelessly extricated myself from the conversation, no mean feat when he still sat right across the table from me, staring unblinkingly. Weirdo.
But it was all good because Becca and Laura were there. I haven't seen Laura forever. She was Sexy Alice a few Halloweens ago. Tery appeared and asked Laura if I'd seen her ferret yet. "You got a ferret?" I asked. In response she called out "Nemo!" and to my astonisment, this little blurry white cotton ball came excitedly running across the lawn, just as fast as his tiny legs would carry him:
Tery called him a ferret because he's a mini Pomeranian, and both Gideon and Xander can easily kick his little ass. Snowy white with long, soft, Jennifer Aniston hair, enormous, expressive doe eyes and charming and cuddly as a teddy bear. Nemo was quite the loverboy, and took to me like syrup on pancakes. I love animals, but I'm not generally a dog person. But how could I resist? Nemo loved sitting in my lap and French kissing me, and at one point late in the evening was so tuckered out he curled up on me, burying his widdle face in the crook of my elbow, where he slept for about a half hour. He got up when he thought there was food to be had, then literally jumped across two other people's laps to get back to me. Much later when I went to leave, he was waiting at the door to go home with me like the perfect little gentleman. But Laura said no. >: ( What does SHE know about true, trans-species love? Nothing, I tell you. But she was quite amazed at how much he loved me. She said he's generally affectionate, but not usually to that degree. What can I say? I'm catnip for the critters.
Becca and Laura and I talked, and I turned the conversation to Katrina, since the news events had been saturating my whole day. Laura is a lot like me. She's a total hippie chick liberal with a very live-and-let-live attitude. She's also an Aries like me, not afraid to speak her mind, although she's a lot sweeter about it. Like me, she also sank into a week-long depression when Bush was re-elected, and like me, wants to vomit whenever she sees him on TV. None of us could believe the tragically incompetent way the rescue operations were being handled. Audrey was there too, and I half expected her to offer me some sympathy, because it must be hard to watch those people die, my father having died and all. But she seems to have gotten over that kick. I mentioned the fact that Rush Limbaugh (and others) are actually on the record as saying anyone who "chose" to stay in New Orleans got exactly what they deserved. As happens when talking to civilized, decent people, this information was met with shock. I added that I find it impossible to believe that there isn't a single person in Rush's camp who has the balls to say, "You know what? Even if you ARE sub-human enough to think such shameful things, why don't you keep your big, stupid mouth SHUT for a change?"
Laura had an interesting theory on religion. She thinks there are two kinds of religious people: those who embrace it because it gives them comfort and peace, and those who use it to give themselves power over others. She's not religious. In fact, she hasn't even been baptized. But she refuses to believe that she's doomed to hell regardless of how well she lives her life or how much she helps others just because she doesn't go to church on Sunday. I agree with this wholeheartedly. I think as long as you are a good person and treat others with respect and kindness, it doesn't matter what you believe theologically. Because just doing those simple things seems to be a lot closer to Christ's teachings than the ideologies being spewed by some supposed Christians, Rush among them.
Laura and I were perplexed most of all as to why those who consider themselves the most Christian are also the most hateful. But that's the problem with surrounding yourself with people who think and believe the same things you do -- you never get any answers to these questions.
Becca was very keen to read my letters to the editors. Via a link found through a link of a link of a link from anne_jumps (my primary news source these days, since inexplicably both "The Daily Show" and "The Al Franken Show" are airing repeats this week), I found a site that lets you submit letters to the editors of up to 5 major newspapers. I wrote one, then realized I still had anger issues and wrote a second under Tery's name. Her's turned out much better, because she wasn't afraid to use the big "I" word. The Republicans wanted to impeach Clinton over a few blowjobs. Does Bush deserve any less for 5 years of misleading Americans and making decision after ill-advised decision that have resulted in the deaths of thousands? (between 9/11, Iraq and now Katrina) We can't lose our anger this time and we can't let him get away with this. My friend JeffDaddy in England tells me the European media are practically gleeful, convinced this has to be the last nail in the coffin of the administration. If the Dems don't stop being pussies and do something, I might become an Independent.
I'd like to get that bumper sticker, only with a revision: If you aren't outraged, disgusted and screaming for blood, you REALLY aren't paying attention.
Addendum: Oh yeah, and Tabby was too hung over, so our "hanging out" consisted of me watching her holding her head in her hands miserably. Wheeee!