The Year of Living Dangerously

I'm so sorry, my darlings, that I have been neglectful, but things have changed in Quesadelia Land (it's an actual place!), and I've had some thinking to do. Especially about this past year, ol' 2 thousand and 9. It was a weird one, no? It was...

The Year of Douchebag Famewhores (and even those who didn't mean to be famewhores but ended up being a douchebags)
- Jon Gosselin became Father of the Year, while wifey Kate took advantage of his cheatin', schemin' ways to garner pity and cash in- all to raise her huge brood, of course.
- Octomom became a household name, because she is not actually human but rather a spider who can lay hundreds of eggs at once.
- Balloon Boy sailed across the sky for a couple of nail-biting hours, at least we thought at the time. Manipulating the press and emergency services to become famous? Low. Manipulating your kids in order to manipulate the press to become famous? Pathetic.
- A couple crashed a party at the White House and became famous overnight. Congrats, annoying couple! Maybe after you pay your hefty fine (if you don't actually go to jail or something), you can earn it back by teaching classes on how to pose for pictures with Heads of State. That draping-over-the-Vice-President feat was impressive!
- Squeaky clean, super famous, super rich athlete Tiger Woods was busted for lustful excess. Are we really surprised? And do we really have sympathy for the Mrs.? I mean, it kind of sucks for her, but I'm thinking theirs was not exactly the love story of the decade. He was a rising star, and he bought her, and then he bought everything else he wanted. So now we know he's human. Let's move on.

The Year of Perplexing Celebrity Deaths
To be fair, every year we lose someone very famous, and that person is young, and we are all very sad. And interested in how/why it happened. But this year, it did feel like, for a while there, public figures were dropping like flies.
- We lost Natasha Richardson early in the year, and her death was sobering and tragic. She hit her head on a ski slope, and then she was gone. It didn't seem fair.
- Then we lost MICHAEL JACKSON, and who saw that one coming? In retrospect, yes, it was just a matter of time, but still. There was no one more famous, and there was no one with more cringe-inducing factors going into his demise.
- We lost Farrah Fawcett and Patrick Swayze to cancer.
- Now Brittany Murphy? Weird, sad, tragic.
I hope, when (if) I go to Heaven, I see all my favorite celebrities. May they be at peace.

The Year South Carolina Puts Itself on the Map
Fun Fact #1: My sister had a date with Governor Mark Sanford back when she was a debutante and he was a 20-something bachelor from a prominent family. She only remembered this fact when he made the news this year, in his very classy way. Then she thanked her lucky stars that they only had the one date, and she ended up marrying a cowboy from rural Georgia.
Fun Fact #2: That douche who heckled the President in the fall is my Dad's Congressman. I don't think he voted for him, but still.
Fun Fact #3: My Dad is always calling his Senator, Republican Lindsey Graham, an "asshole." (That's just a fun, bonus fact for S.C.)

Oh, and also, Gov. Mark Sanford refused (or tried to refuse?) the President's stimulus money to his state.
South Carolina: Proud and prouder!

The Year of Transition for Quesadelia
After more than a few uninspiring and career distracting jobs, Quesadelia is forced to succumb to her destiny and teach music. I may regret saying this, but I'm kind of glad the whole Recession thing happened. At least for me (and of course, it's all about MEEEEE), it has forced me to re-think, re-design, and start over. As a result, however, I will be stopping this blog. Oh, I'll still blog somewhere, but right now, I have to hunker down and write a bunch of articles for my teaching website, not to mention maintain the site, practice music, advertise, and start up another business or two. I have plans! And I kind of have to protect my online identity.

So, this is goodbye, at least for now. May 2010 be full of luck and blessings for you. I hope you will send me some good vibes, too. I will be in touch.

I Blame Jenny McCarthy

Have you checked out Jim Carrey's website? You should, just for the experience. I have to give the guy props for the Bosch-ian creatures and themes there - birdies with his head, weird things in the sky - and just the utter mish-mash of it all. That said, I'm not a fan of sites that automatically play music, and the links are not terribly smooth, either (how do I simply read his filmography? Oh, screw it - I'm just going to go to imdb.com). Ok, so perhaps it's a bit annoying. Oh, and if you click on Biography, you'll get a big, nasty eyeball. Unacceptable!

The Olsens are all over that

Halloween may be over, but you can still dress like a club-footed demon from Hell. That's right: these are actual "boots," designed by someone allegedly famous, and I don't think they're intended as a joke. Or maybe fashion is just a big joke anyway. Who knows? Why ask why?

Sunny Days, Sweeping the Clouds Away

Sesame Street is just about to turn 40! I'm so happy for this classic show that entertained and educated me as a little kid. Did you know that it started with an objective to reach out to preschoolers at home who weren't going to good schools, or weren't going to school at all? And that Cookie Monster used to binge eat and smoke? Ah, those nutty 60s!

Today the Street emphasizes healthy diets and exercise (especially yoga) -- even Cookie Monster watches his line and only indulges in cookies occasionally. Here's to another 40 years!

Marry A Gay Today

That's the slogan to the new movement I'm starting. It's a grass roots movement that will rise up and overturn all of these ridiculous laws that do not allow consenting adults to legally make a commitment to one another.

Banning gay marriage is a direct violation of civil rights.

(Disclaimer: I have not marched yet for gay rights, although I've talked up and down about the issue. Maybe it's time I start.)

Let's Go Visit Some Graves, Kids!

I positively love this concept: graveyard tourism!

If this isn't "me," I don't know what is. I think cemeteries are fascinating and I love to visit them. Although, I didn't always feel this way. It was living in France that helped me to "discover" cemeteries. Not only are tons of famous people buried in cemeteries throughout Paris, but they so peaceful and serene. (well, duh - of course they're peaceful; bunch of dead people there!) No, but I mean, in the middle of a dense and busy city, it's rather relaxing to sit for a spell in a Parisian cemetery. It's like a park, but with lots of personal history around you. Also, cemeteries in France are especially lovely on Nov. 1, the day after Halloween, when families lay flowers on the graves of their loved ones. Mix those flowers with the colors of the fall leaves, and it's quite a sight.

I dunno. I must be a goth at heart.

Hallelujah, I Free

I didn't tell you, officially, that I lost my job two weeks ago. Well, perhaps I didn't "lose" it; Oscar Wilde, for one, would deem such an act careless. I know where it is. It just doesn't belong to me anymore.

Over the course of my almost-two year tenure, my boss promised me a number of things. Below are some of her "promises;" can you guess which one came true? (Hint: there is only one correct answer)

1. "I will give you more hours."
2. "You will get a raise."
3. "You can telecommute occasionally."
4. "You can telecommute when I can give you more hours."
5. "You can perform in one of our shows."
6. "You will be let go on October 15th."
7. "You can stay on after October 15th, on contract."

I think you get the picture. I only agreed to work there for the experience. It was below my paygrade, but I knew I was making a career transition, and accepting the position seemed like a good idea at the time.

I will spare you the details of my employment there. It's possible, anyway, that someone connected to that place will find this blog, and then I'll be blacklisted for life. Suffice it to say that I am happy to be "out" and on my own.

Because I'm working for myself now, suckas!

Mr. P and I have opened a music studio, and it's going gang-busters. Who knew? First of all, who knew I could teach music, at all? Turns out, I'm totally in my element! I actually really love it! I mean, it's challenging. I haven't played guitar in ages, and now I'm teaching it, so I'm all - eee! Better catch up fast. And then singing: I feel very competent and knowledgeable now teaching singing, but my piano skills are el suckitude, so that makes me nervous every time. Not that I'm expected to be some great pianist as a voice teacher (I've had a number of voice teachers who weren't), but it would be nice if I could give them something to sing over.

Despite these small hesitations, I'm noticing many benefits to teaching. A.) I work for myself. B.) The money's pretty good. C.) There's a demand for it. D.) It's like "tightening my gears" as a musician. E.) My life is now consumed with music. I mean, what's not to like here? It's awesome. There is absolutely no down side.

I don't want to jinx it and start bragging or anything, but I think I can safely say that I'm off to a great start in my new career, and it's more than a welcome change after this difficult and anxiety-ridden year I have been having. It's pretty ironic that I looked for nine months for another office job, with no result, and then I open up for teaching, and in TWO WEEKS I replace my measly previous income, and it's only going up from there.

And we even have many more plans for expansion, and not just for the music studio/school! I'll tell you more about that at a later time.

Right now I have to run to my piano lesson. (That's right: the student becomes the teacher becomes the student again. Hey, I gotta keep up here!)

I Wonder if Robert Knows Chucky

Today's creepy Halloweeny link comes to you from Key West, Florida, home of Robert the Haunted Doll. If you are fan of scary, evil dolls (and frankly, who isn't?!), you will love this story.

The story in a nutshell is that Robert was made a long time ago by some (possibly mistreated and underpaid) servants for a wealthy family. The servants, who practiced voodoo, "created" the doll for the young boy of the family, using his clothes and bits of his hair. The boy loved the doll, gave him a name, and treated him like a living person.

Pretty soon, strange things began to happen. Robert would be spotted in different areas of the house, and the young boy would blame his nightmares and other odd occurrences on the doll.

This link tells the story better.

Robert still "resides" in his original home, still receives visitors, and still clutches his little pet lion. The local community believes in his... presence. He is super old now, and showing some wear and tear, but he is quite the attraction, especially around Halloween.

It's a great story, and allegedly a true one, so go ahead. Check out the link and the videos. Just be careful: Robert knows when you read about him.

I'm Not Dressing as a Republican This Year

Eight more days till Halloween! This year, not only does it fall on a Saturday, it's also day-light savings, so you're practically required to go out. Of course, I have no plans, as I am just another 30-something kidless loser who still insists on dressing up somehow and going out somewhere on her favorite holiday. Oh, well.

So, what are you going as? I have ruled out the obligatory Michael Jackson zombie and sexy Watchmen chick in favor of something lower maintenance: swine flu, perhaps. Hey, scrubs and pig ears - it's easy and topical! I know! Yes, you can steal my idea if you want.

I was just cruisin' the internets for something Halloweeny to link to, and I think I found something, at least for today. Do you know what's super creepy? Victorian post-mortem photography. (Warning: this may be more than a little disturbing if you have kids. I don't know. It's super creepy, so just keep some emotional distance, at least.) If you saw that film The Others, you might remember when they stumbled upon the "Book of the Dead," a moment I personally found to be one of the scariest parts of the film. I've never forgotten it.

So, enjoy! Coming up next: creepy dolls.

Bears that sing... and may kill you

I love opera, and I even love teddy bears. But I must admit, Singing Opera Bears creep me out just a tad.

I Lost the Linky in the Excitement. Sorry.

I was coming here to post a link to an article I read yesterday that I thought was from The Hater at The Onion's Avclub, and now I can't find it. Don't you hate that? Apparently, I have completely forgotten where I read it. Anyway, it was a hilarious recap of Oprah's recent nostalgia show extolling the the 1960's, by way of "Mad Men." She somehow works her "Favorite Things" into it, praising electric toothbrushes from the era, as well as mascara, since it was invented in the 60's, and we all seem to "take it for granted." Yeah, Classic O!

Anyway, I'm sorry I haven't blogged in ages; I've been super busy trying to set up essentially two business, while still holding on by the end of my fingernails to my current part-time job. It's called recession incentive! I'll be back shortly with updates, but things is good. Coffee this weekend? Okey doke - see you then!

Yes, I Read My Horoscope.

This was my horoscope for today:

You're like a shark in the deep waters of the working world. You are slick. You are sleek. You are good looking, but those good looks belie razor-sharp, highly effective tools for getting what you want. The little fishies had better watch out, because you are on the hunt. Go ahead and chase those fishies. But don't go tracking any new business projects down -- they'll come to you. If they don't, spend the day studying the weather conditions.

I think my horoscope is high.

My Psychic Friends, Network

An acting colleague of mine, Wendy, has developed a new series here which is a parody of the Ghost Hunting shows on cable. I have to admit, those ghost hunting shows are a guilty pleasure of mine, even though I realize they're totally hokey (or are they??).

Anyway, if you start with Episode One, you will meet the team, including Wendy, who is "the psychic;" another member who compares ghost hunting to doing drywall; and a third who claims to be an "internet certified exorcist" who "accidentally opened a wormhole to a Satanic dimension" as a child. Silly stuff. You should check it out.

From Russia, A Century Ago

This is the most amazing thing: color photos of life in Russia, 100 years ago! I know, I didn't believe it either, but it must be for real, because the Library of Congress restored the photos. You should definitely check it out.

"Clay Figures Go Home!"

Just for fun, an old MST3K short.
Gumby!

(Sometimes you can't differentiate between the actual voices and the MST3K bots.)

I am thinking of my voice teacher today. He and his wife lost their 20 year-old son in the Pan Am flight that was bombed and crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. He had been studying abroad and was returning home for the holidays. He was a student at Syracuse University and was studying music.

Today, August 20, Scotland lets the only convicted man from that bombing return home to die of cancer. Today, August 20, is also the birthday of this boy, who would have turned 41 today.

It's a gross irony. I only know about it because I looked up the information on the victim website. I haven't seen my voice teacher in two weeks, but I wonder what he is thinking today.

God bless the innocent victims and the families of victims who suffer from senseless violence and terror. I hope there is a special place in Heaven for all of them.

Updated, 8/28: I found a quote from my teacher in a newspaper about the release. He said:

"I am thinking as a decent human being. Let the man go and die in his own country -- he's dying anyhow. Keeping him in prison is not going to cure the illness that this whole thing is an example of, the killings and murders and the things that go on in mankind."

Mid-Year Crisis

I can't tell you how many times this summer I have wanted to write a self-pitying blog post. Because, actually, it's been a little tough this summer. I have been searching for a new job for what seems like ages, and after being a "finalist" for three positions, I still have turned up nothing. Money is tight and only gets tighter as each day goes by, and WAH. Poor, poor me.

Seriously, though, I think no one cares. I mean, of course, people care. They love me! I know you care! But there's only so much feeling sorry for yourself that you can do. Eventually, you just have to find a solution. The Universe is clearly trying to tell me something, so I better start listening.

I'm going to have to start teaching voice and guitar. I mean, why not? I know how to do both. I know I can teach voice, I think I may actually enjoy teaching voice, I'm just nervous about my limited piano skills. But I've been told that it's really no big deal. And guitar: I'm going to teach acoustic. Lots of people want to learn chords and stuff, right? I figure: I can see what teaching is like, and I can get paid better than my other part-time job.

So, please keep your fingers crossed for me. I think my time has finally arrived to get out there and be a real artist. Which inevitably involves teaching. And outreach performances. And the dreaded AUDITIONS. It is time!

But if a nice, comfy secretarial position presents itself in the meantime, I'm totally snagging it.

I need a new hobby like I need a hole in the head

I'm pleased to announce that I have a new obsession. No, it's not a movie star, sillies! (Though if you haven't yet seen 500 Days of Summer, do yourself a favor. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is adors!) l

I'll give you a few hints: 1. It's a sport. (That is shocking enough, for me) 2. It used to be popular, and professionally played, until it started dying out about 20+ years ago. 3. It now has a cult following. 4. It is badass.

I read an article about it a few years ago, and ever since, I keep thinking about it. I want to play. I want to suit up. I want to roll around in circles in knock people down!

Guessed yet?





Roller Freakin Derby, people! And I'm also pretty excited about this movie coming out.

I've found a league in DC, and it looks like, to join - or at least to "try out"- you just need to be 18 years old or over and have health insurance (heh). But I think I will wait till I get a better employment situation since I will need to buy all the gear and stuff.

Am I going to go through with it? I don't know. I'm kind of hoping I'll burn myself out before I even get to the rink (I'm pretty sure Mr. P is hoping that, too). Right now I'm trying to think of a good alias. I won't say my ideas yet because I don't want anyone to steal them, but I will say that it will be more creative than "Iron Maiden."

Natalie Portman as the Madonna

This is kind of fun. Two of my favorite things together: celebrities, and fine art.

Altered States

Have you ever woken from your sleep and not known exactly where you are? Like, if you've been traveling, or you're just extremely tired, and the room is very dark, and it takes you a few seconds to remember where you are, or what you were doing last night?

Two nights ago, I woke up in the middle of the night, and not only did I not know where I was, I actually didn't know who I was. No kidding! It was as if I was completely... blank. Nothing. Slate wiped clean. In only a few seconds, I remembered, but the pieces were swirling around and assembling in my imagination like a celestial puzzle. It was the most bizarre experience. I thought... I live in -- Rockville. Yeah. Wait, why do I live in Rockville?! And then, after a few seconds of this, I just went back to sleep.

Of course, I told Mr. P this story, and he got kind of scared and then sad, and he whispered, "you're not going crazy on me, are you?" But I didn't mean to scare him, nor was I worried about myself. I actually thought it was cool, like an interesting, new mental state. (Ha- now I sound crazy.) But seriously, it was so relaxing to be blank! I can see where perpetual blankness would be inconvenient, but a few seconds? I almost wish I could tap into that place again.