Lost Weekend

I had a bit of a lost weekend this past weekend which has overflowed into this becoming a lost week. Just a bit foggy and even a tad reckless but mostly just lost. I dunno why or perhpas better said I am not sure which one of my many neuroses is causing it. I am good overall though. I am posting this picture only because I think the guy is very handsome and it is helping me focus on coming back from the land of the lost. Enjoy.

I Need a Cat

This past winter I started getting prank phone calls. They would usually happen on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The call was always listed as unavailable and the person on the other end would just do heavy breathing. The first time it happened I was a bit puzzled? I mean a prank phone call with heavy breathing - how freaking 70's can you get. But then I kept getting them and so I made them fun. The caller would never utter a single word - only breath and so I would carry the conversations on myself (so glad I have that skill). I told the caller once that the heavy breathing was so retro I could not help but get excited over it. It was totally like being back in 7th grade! Plus I was a bit curious - why would someone prank me? It made me feel a bit special. I suppose keyword there is special.

In any case it probably happened about 5 different occasions and then stopped. Once I told the caller how much I loved the 70's and the first concert I had ever been to was the Village People and Gloria Gaynor at the Boston Garden. I said I could not decide which was more exciting - getting to see the leather daddy drive out on his bike or watching the entire floor of the Garden do the hustle - a cherished memory to this day. One time I asked if they knew of a good Chinese restaurant because I was having trouble locating one. And one time I have a very in depth conversation regarding my confusion over laundry as I just cannot figure out which detergent is the best on both stains and safe for colors.

During most of the calls the caller would eventually end up hanging up on me as I prattled on. It was a little insulting, I mean this person calls to harass me and then has the nerve to be annoyed enough with what I am saying to hang up while I am talking??? I swear American culture has absolutely no clue on what the word manners is all about.

The other morning I had to bring my sister and her family to the airport at 4am so they could catch a morning flight. Around 5:30am I get a call - I never get calls that early so I answer since I am up just checking email before work - and it is the heavy breather! I was like Oh My God how the hell have you been? It has been too long. On the second call that day I decided to put my phone sex operator skills to the test. I was doing really well too I must admit since the breathing got even heavier than normal. I even commented on what a lucky day it was for this person since this service is usually $1.98 a minute. I was just about to deliver the "money shot" and the bastard hung up on me - ugh! OK now I am mad. Who the hell are you to be so rude? The caller calls again andI promptly reprimand this person for obviously not even having the most basic concept of politeness. The caller hangs up.

I have not heard back from them but keep thinking about it. Obviously I know this person since they never utter not even one word and I have done plenty to at least elicit at minimum a general Fuck You from them, so they must know I will recognize their voice. Also this number is always listed as Unavailable which means they block it each time since if your number is private it comes up as Restricted. Lastly this person must be from the east coast as who the hell is gonna get up at 5:30am to make a prank call. On the east coast it is 8:30am - still kinda early but since it was work day it would make more sense as to why this person would be up.

I wonder if it is him, the nameless ex. I can't imagine it is. I never even considered it until this most recent incident. First off he is too lazy to go out of his way to actually put any type of effort like that forth. Second although I have always given him credit for being stuck at 19 when he said Fuck Off to his father and they have never spoken again - such a proud achievement to hold a grudge so well. I can't imagine he is actually only stuck at 12! Perhaps I did give him too much credit. One thing is his favor is that he has zero creativity so it would make sense for him to make heavy breather type calls since they are so mundane.

But all in all what this truly means is that I think I need a cat because if I talk so much that even a heavy breather hangs up on me well then I must need something else around for me to chat with. Who knows - maybe.

They're Here

Calamity Jane and her gang are here visiting me (aka my sister Dianne, brother in law Ted, and my niece Elliana). God it is like unbridled chaos - I am so not kidding. I can thoroughly relate to exactly how the little blonde girl in Poltergeist felt when she said, "They'reeee Hereeee". My sister is crazy, I am so normal by comparison - believe it or not. I always felt like oh when I get older if I need any help my sister will be there to assist me - NO! Just send me off to the glue factory as that would be a much kinder fate.

Ah deep breath, deep breath - go to your happy place - ahhhhh.

Ok let's try this again.

My sister and her family are visiting and I am so happy. I just love my niece Elliana. She is so cute and very sweet. She doesn't like kisses and although I sneak lots of them in. I also give her bunches of hugs but I am not sure she likes those too much either, nonetheless we have been having fun. We went to the beach and on a boat tour of San Diego harbor. Of course the weather is great and Elliana is excited to be so far from home, having flown on a plane, and best of all getting to visit me.

What a peach she is - too bad she travels with such baggage - lol. Oh that is so mean. I am happy to see Dianne and Ted too. So they are nuts but that is what makes them family.

I'll Walk Alone

Band singer Jo Stafford has died at her home in Los Angeles at the age of 90.

The star was a big hit with US servicemen in World War II who nicknamed her GI Jo.

Stafford died of heart failure on Wednesday, her son Tim Weston said. He added that her health had been declining since October.

The singer had 26 charted singles, nearly a dozen top 10 hits and she also won a Grammy for a comedy album she released with husband Paul Weston.

'Reluctant star'

Born in Coalinga, California, Stafford began her career as a member of the Pied Pipers.

The group backed Frank Sinatra on his early recordings with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in the late 1930s.

Speaking about Stafford, Sinatra once said: "It was a joy to sit on the bandstand and listen to her."

Despite her shyness, she had her own radio and TV series during the 40s and 50s.

Her son said she was a "reluctant star".

He added: "She loved making records and really didn't crave the attention of personal appearances."

Stafford voluntarily retired after making her last recording in 1970.

In addition to her son, Stafford is survived by a daughter, Amy Wells, and four grandchildren.

Weston died in 1996.

Wicked Summer

The 80's Summer marches forward. On 07.15.08 Margaret and I went and saw Chris Isaak. It is the 4th time I saw him and he still puts on a great show. Funny side note - the first time I saw him was at the Paradise on 07.13.89 with Kerrie (I checked my ticket stub). Memorable for many points but mostly because he came out into the audience and danced and it was so cool until he sweated on Kerrie - a bit icky.

Gotta hand it to him, he is still quite the showman all these years later and can even hit that high note in Wicked Game (although never really liked that song too much). Kinda cracked me up as the goofy couple in front of us started hugging during that song. I was like hellooo can you hear the words, it isn't really a love song just a pretty no thanks song.

Check out the mirrored suit picture - so envious am I! It reminded me when we went with Judy to see him on 08.19.05 (I checked that stub too). Someone brought their little boy to that show. He was maybe 5 or 6. They were so crafty that they made the little boy a matching mirrored suit! Oh course Chris spotted him and got him on stage. The little boy loved it. What style at such a tender young age. He will probably be on Project Runway 2025. I hope he wins!

The show was over at one of the casinos and it was outdoors. I am not sure which was better - the beautiful SoCal night or all the casino freebies. Of course we got the free buffet dinner and I contemplated the lobster but then memories of Denny's and chicken fried steak filled my head so I most definitely passed on that. They did though have these awesome little chocolate truffle balls that were quite delish.

Like a little squirrel, I went around and collected all my free casino cash and ended up turning it into real cash so of course I stopped there and put it in my pocket. Stupid me though as I waited for Margaret I stayed near the machine I was playing, it was called "Gusher" how porno. I then got to witness a blue hair come up and hit it for 40 bucks! Doesn't sound like much but it was a damn penny machine - that is 4,000 pennies for those of you bad at math. I swear Ida was swimming in the delightful thought of adding 4,000 pennies to her retirement fundand that very thought alone puffed up her bouffant hair to even more extrodinary heights.

Word to the wise:

Once done with a slot machine - much like an ex, leave never to return again!

Editors Note: Thanks for the great pics and fun night Margaret. Although dunno why you were fussing at me when I asked you to take my pic - I think it came out great :)

Not So Much

Here is Richard. I took this picture recently when we went up to LA to see Wicked. Richard is very nice and I think him so handsome. We had a terrific first date but now 4 more great dates later, it has kinda gone psssst - flat. I tried as I did like him and things started off so stellar but I dunno it was kinda like we used up all his conversation in the first 2 dates and so it was just blah after that.

Here are the 3 things he likes immesely:
First - Karoke ----- ok don't be mean he sings well
Second - Country Music ----- San Diego is after all as west as you can get in the continental US
Third - Musical Theater ----- but not going to it, only singing all the showtunes usually at Karoke

So I am happy and pleased because I put myself out there and perhaps he will become a friend but I dunno. Recently I was actually dumbfounded as I could not think of any topics to talk about - how often does that happen to me??? I was beside myself. I think he only lives in the 8 blocks of Hillcrest, the gay ghetto in San Diego, and never ventures outside of it. The world is too large to have 8 blocks be your world. Plus hell my personality alone is too large to fit in just 8 blocks. Hillcrest is fabulous - such a nice area of town and very fun but you know what I have had just as much fun at the local yokel dive bar in Escondido called Pounders. PS Pounders is a straight bar - with a name like that? Go figure.

I am not gonna say all types of nasty things because I really don't have any to say. He has a big bellow of a laugh, is kind, and I wish him well. However I will mention these two things that annoyed the piss outta me.

First he used the word "Sweetie" more frequently than a barfly uses the words, "I'll have one more." I mean what is that??? Sweetie, sweetie, sweetie -- hell if you are gonna have a catch phrase make sure it is a good one - think of Flo's "Kiss My Grits" from Mel's Dinner.

Second he burped -- frequently and loudly. Right from the first date he burped. I was in shock and a little bit of awe. The first time I was thinking, "Oh how free is he. I am so uptight with my New England upbringing BUT not these San Diegans". And then came forth another and another and I thought, "Oh I need to relax it obviously must be a medical condition like burpalitis or something or other." So anyway each time I saw him, he burped. I actually got quite used to it although did not participate myself. What I however could not get used to is that after each and every burp he would exclaim, "Sweet Baby Jesus!". What the fuck?!? I swear. So then I started looking online to see if I could draw a connection between turrets syndrome and burping, although according to the NIH there is none.

You're The One

I have always loved this song - how could you not. It is such utter pop perfection like aural ice cream topped with marshmellow. As if it is not enough pop provenance to be written by Petula Clark, just check out those blued eyed harmonies.

But then as if the song all these years has not brought enough joy - check out this video! The coordinating cardigan with a dickie look alone wants to make me wanna die but then add on the scrawny guy with the huge voice and kick ass hair - oh my. But what really blasts this into the realm of stellar is the sychronized aerobics going on all over the place. I need to go to this club.