Giving In To The Temptation of Mediocrity

QotD: Hair of the Dog

2008-01-27T21:50:57Z

What's your favorite hangover cure?
Submitted by Soup.

Mix and match.
I haven't had a hangover in about 5 years.

1. Taco Bell Nachos Bell Grande if it is slight. Add a mexi-melt if needed.
2. Three spoons of honey if vomiting is involved. You vegan bastards are going to have to find some other sweet thing, although Honey is the best. It really calms the pukes and well, if you do puke...puking honey is better than puking straight up bile and red wine.
3. Hydration with water and a blue sports drink.
4. Sleep.
5. Prevention

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Are You There, Mona? It's Me, God.

2008-01-26T22:30:22Z

Yeah, wasn't that clever.
The other day I posted about how when I want something, really put forth a true desire, I never get it at 100% strength and satisfaction. I might get it to a certain point, then something happens and either diminishes the satisfaction or crushes the whole thing to oblivion.

My post went on to describe some of the smaller disappointments in my life that had to do with birthday celebrations, I only mentioned the most recent 2 because, well, who wants to hear 40 or more crappy birthday stories?

I also mentioned an art group I applied to and was accepted into late last year. The whole reason for this group is the planning of an art crawl in the spring. For me this would be an event of epic proportion, as I have never been involved in much more than small gallery shows and rejections from larger juried shows. I lamented that I got 3/4ths of the way through this achievement, only to have the property owners association (they calls them STRATA COUNCILS in these parts) flatly tell me I would not be allowed to host such an event on the condo property -not in the amenity room, not in my home, not on the property.

Well, of course I was devastated. What the heck was I going to do now?

I had various reasons for joining this group.

Reason number one: I needed to get my work out there in a town full of artists, a town with a noted art school (Emily Carr), a town LOUSY with painters and the like all screaming for a chance to be seen...

Reason number two: I needed to get myself working with my community. One thing I never felt in Little Rock was that I was a part of the art community, or a part of my community in general. This would take care of 2 birds with one paint brush. Not only would I be thrust into the local art community, but by opening my space up to the local art watchers I would also be participating in a community event. An event that helps define and give character to the area that I now live in known as Kitsilano. I like it here and I want to show some pride and community enthusiasm.
In a situation like this, I would have been so pleased if the strata had come up with a solution to the "security risk" instead of using that as a reason not to welcome this community event into their/my lair. Instead of squashing it like a bug, perhaps they could have put their heads together and figured out a way to help me on those days. I was looking at this from a totally different standpoint and perhaps they did not see the opportunity this would be not only for me, a neighbour, but an opportunity to showcase our well maintained condo and show community support for the arts. This is a great neighbourhood event so if security is the fear, volunteer to keep an eye on things during the crawl. Show a little "can - do" spirit and support for a neighbour...but that might be the Southern coming out in me...

Reason number three: I need to meet people who live close to me. I have met some really neat-o people here, but they all live very far away. So far, I have made fast friends with a swell fellow, John R. Taylor...and he has made joining totally worth it.

Reason number four: I just thought it would be fun. What else do I have going on?

Well, like I said, when I got the final word from the strata, I was crushed and crying and frantic. At the last art group meeting it was obvious that sharing a space with another artist was going to be a challenge and a half. I was reduced to begging from strangers. "Please, sir, could I have a wall in your home? It doesn't have to be a large wall, a hall wall will do..."
I made the request and two super heroes came to my rescue. As if my woeful vox lament reached the ear of some patron saint in charge of artist's studio spaces, who then told someone above them to give me a 100% break for a change - I got a space! And what a space it is! Dude, it's a store front! Thank you John R. Taylor!

So, it seems that things might actually work out better for me because the strata refused involvement. Odd how that worked out. I think this might be the first time in DECADES that something positive has come out of a negative for me. May be even the first time ever.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Worst City Ever

2008-01-24T20:32:56Z

What is the worst city you've ever been to and why?
Submitted by Soup.

Tough call, that one.

El Dorado Arkansas is pretty grim.
I drove there one time with two china doll lesbians, a 6ft. 2 drag queen and her boyfriend. On the way down there we got pulled over by the cops on some back road. The drag queen was driving, luckily she was the charming type. Up until then I had never been to a drag show that was put on in a tin roof shack out in the middle of the woods before...

Philadelphia
The town just looks unkempt. When I was there garbage bags were piled a mile high on just about every street and there wasn't a garbage strike. It just looked and felt grimy. I say that but the best Halloween I ever had was spent there because of the Mutter museum and that creepy penitentiary. I saw the Liberty Bell too and that was cool. Ok, maybe Philadelphia isn't the WORST city I have been to, but maybe the least tidiest.

San Francisco
It smells funny. Like oysters and pee.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Offering Up My Best

2008-01-20T20:04:08Z

What do you think is your best physical attribute?
Submitted by Nacwolin.

My skin. Without it I would be all gross and stuff.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: A Chat With My Past

2008-01-19T22:34:16Z

Which one of your ancestors would you most like to talk to?
Submitted by Kathy.

The first one.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

I miss my youth

2008-01-18T18:30:38Z

Ok, so I wasn't that young when this photo was taken...but I was young-er.

a more youthful me

So, I get this call.
"Mona, we need you to come down and read for a movie Billy Bob Thornton is putting together. Will you do it."
"Sure. But I'm not a very good actor."

I went down to the agency and waited. When I was called in to read I was surprised to see Billy Bob himself sitting there. He smiled and welcomed me and all I could think was..."This guy looks HUGE on Evening Shade...he is sort of tiny..."

Anyway, since I am not an actor I did not have a head shot, so when he asked for one I handed him an 8x10 of this. He looked at it and laughed. I shrugged.
He said, "What is this?" then something about a "sex kitten". I explained that I wasn't an actor and that was the only black and white I had of myself. He said it was a good photo. I said I was getting drunk in New Orleans when it was taken. He laughed again.

So, I read and read badly. He was polite about it. I found out later he said to the receptionist that he liked me but there was nothing in the world he or I could do to make me look mentally challenged enough for the part.
I never said I was Leonardo DeCaprio...

I also found out later the part I read for was written with Delta Burke in mind, and it all made sense why I was called to try out. I had the black hair and white skin and big ass. Delta was committed to something else and so the part was open.

Even without me, Sling Blade turned out to be a pretty good movie. HA!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

WTF

2008-01-18T02:07:03Z

Someone care to tell me why my home page looks all stupid?

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Happy Birthday To Me

2008-01-16T22:17:20Z

How do you feel about your birthday? Do you look forward to it and remind all your friends, or do you dread it and try to keep it a secret?

As usual, QotD, you are like talking to a person who is watching reruns of Matlock with the hearing aid pointed at me turned way down. I talk about something, you talk about something totally unrelated. I change the subject, suddenly you ask a question I just answered 5 minutes ago, I point this out and you ask for a pudding cup.

...and that other time...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Stopping want

2008-01-16T02:15:18Z

I feel like I have been hit in the head with a rock today.
I am one of those people who never get a break. I get half a break or three quarters of a break, but never a full blown all the way through til the end break. My life is one big ALMOST.

Last year on my birthday all I wanted was a 24 dollar lobster dinner at the Atlantic Trap and Gill. That's all. I never request a present, the husband has to practically bother me to death about going out on my birthday because I never really want to do anything, I never ask for the moon or expect it. Last year I decided to actually WANT. I wanted a 24 dollar lobster dinner and a beer. My birthday arrives, I am excited to go to the ATG and - the price of lobster shot up and the lobster dinner was removed from the menu that day.
So, we ate some really lousy sushi instead.

This year, I decided to try one more time for that 24 dollar lobster. I had passed the place a week before and I saw the signs proclaiming they had lobster! So, I said to the husband, "Let's try this again!"
He was pleased that again I wanted to actually do something for my birthday. He even called the ATG to make sure this special would be going on for awhile and he was reassured it would. The big 4 and 5 rolls around. I get dressed up and even allow for some anticipatory excitement and sure enough we get there and are told they have no lobster, they sold out on New Year's Eve. So we ended up at the Boathouse. My lobster was cold, the butter wasn't melted and again I was treated to a huge steaming plate of disappointment. Oh, sure, I know there are people in the world with much larger problems than not getting a nice birthday dinner...but I ain't them. I'm sure they want something they aren't getting too.

Today has been a crappy day. My condo association just informed me that I would not be allowed to use the premises to show my paintings during the art crawl. The art crawl is the whole reason for becoming a part of the neighbourhood art group I had applied for and was accepted in to late last year. Now I either have to encroach on some other artist's space or not be represented. Even though they sited security reasons, I can not believe they would not see the perks of having an active painter in the complex. Opening the complex to the public for 2 days doesn't seem that big of a security risk. The only person at risk is me.
Tonight, when I ran across the street to the drug store, our back gate was wide open...what about that risk?

So, I wanted in the group and I got in...but now I have no place to show. Thanks for the three fourths of a break.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Cards & Letters

2008-01-14T20:32:41Z

What do you do with the cards and letters you receive? Do you keep them all, just keep the photos, throw them away?
Inspired by jacolily.

I keep them. I have boxes of them as far back as college. I have some cards from people I have no idea who they even are...like Jim from California...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend