Waylon goes Ape

I have yet to post a pet entry on the blog and hesitate to do so. It lessens the blog to a mere Facebook status and I try to find something of more value to post here. That being said, Waylon had the best time with his new orangutan friend that he got yesterday. I usually pick up random stuffed animals from thrift stores that have a short afterlife before he destroys them. But this one is a huge orange ape that he loves hurling around because of its floppy limbs and long rag fur. This was a shot I caught of the two of them last night as he was winding down. Pretty cute if I do say so...

Pride and/or Prejudice

 

On Sunday I spent a gorgeous MN afternoon with an old friend Linda, and we took in the Pride Parade and Festival in the park after. We have always been represented by a rainbow and that was certainly the case if anyone surveyed the crowds. Bikes, bunnies, balloons, bizarre, bubbles, bold... It is not the stereotypes that used to be associated with the event a decade back. Huge crowds of politicians, church denominations, families of every melting pot in logo-ed tee shirts of every color.

But I was left with some sort of consternation after the event and am still trying to sort out the Celebration at large, what it really means and how it is not the same as its very humble roots. I was a bit overwhelmed by the countless mobs of organizations that were constantly demanding my signature, my support and my money. Marriage Equality, Women's Reproductive Rights, Job Discrimination, Political Wars the list goes on at length. Not to get me wrong, each of them has much value. But at what cost does our emancipation and value as a community come? And that is where I am torn. Even trying to maneuver the food lines for tickets to get a corn dog becomes a lesson in corporate event financing. Maybe in this climate and economy, it does come with a price and we used to be merely naive.

I do think it is important that we are all represented and have SO much more to us than our sexuality. But maybe I was just too overwhelmed by the demands of so many needing to be heard. I especially think that in this crowd - each group is preaching to the converted. No one there would disagree with any of the causes at bat. Is it wrong to just put away the swords for 2 days of celebration and enjoy the battles we have won at this point? It does not have to be all drag shows and beer booths. But a popsicle, a park bench and some live music used to be enough. Apparently it is not anymore. I would love other thoughts on this as I am still mulling it over in my own head.

I Want His Job

A second post for the day. I stumbled onto this over my morning cereal and thought "How fun is that?" His name is Matt Harding and somehow he found the time and resources to travel the world and engage multitudes of cultures in a common language of dance. Some is him learning their customs, and others are him teaching basic choreography to them. As you watch it, the crowds get bigger and bigger. What a fun project to undertake and someone racked up a lot of frequent flier miles.

the Glee Project

Okay, I know not everyone is as taken with Glee as I am. The storylines can waver and some of the characters are a bit broad and bigger than life. But it is a musical and on television. It is going to be normal for instruments to appear and actors breaking out into song. THAT is what a musical is...

But the Glee Project on Oxygen is its sister show; a reality program where young hopefuls "compete" for possible recurring roles as new talent on the upcoming season. This is the second season and I was hooked in last year. It is surprisingly real and not contrived. It follows the premise that Glee cheers for the underdog and everyone comes with baggage as well as talent. The crop of 14 contenders each bring something very important to the table; a trans-gender boy, a "real" girl in a wheelchair, a Muslim girl..... The current week's episode centered on the theme of Vulnerability and was one of the best hours of television I have watched in a long time. Each episode constructs a music video and the week's was REM's Everybody Hurts. It is stellar, attached as a bootleg copy on YouTube, and I am hoping will not be taken down. I am sharing it with you. Follow full episodes on Hulu for free. (edit - the YouTube video is not able to copy and paste at this time, but I will be back to attach if/ when it does)

Glee Project on Hulu

Humbled by Humanity

For some reason I have been a bit pensive and reflective lately. Likely because I have more time on my hands and am contemplating where "life" leads me next. Soul searching.

But yesterday put a few people in my path that made me ponder. A handicapped guy at Menards that was somehow managing to maneuver and shop among the aisles in a wheelchair - able to make do on his own. A poor ancient woman at a corner in Uptown that barely had poles for legs and a cane trying to make it across the lanes while the light was red. Everyone waited, even if impatiently for her to make it to the opposite curb so they could continue on their course. Today it is a perennial figure in the neighborhood - Lawn Mower Man. A retarded older man that makes the best of his days by mowing lawns for hire wearing the same baseball cap day in and out. He plods on with purpose, never faltering or adjusting, eyes down to the pavement with his trusty mower passing me by on his way to his next yard.

I stumbled onto this link yesterday via Facebook. It seemed to fit the theme. It is a photo essay of 21 small events that made a huge difference in someone else's life. Rescuing a drowning animal, responding to a child's question, or a free meal for another in need. Gentle reminders - which we all need from time to time.

21 Pictures the will restore your Faith in Humanity

Happy Summer Solstice

Yesterday was the heart and the heat of a Minnesota Summer's day. Burned off a lot of sweat working in the yard and got a bit of sting from too much sun. Lake Calhoun provided a refreshing burst of energy in the late afternoon with a splash in the water. Made some blueberry muffins by firing up the oven before it got too warm inside. Fans whirring in every room. Coconut and pineapple popsicles dripping in the heat, sharing them with Jeff & Waylon. Happy summer to all.

Who Says Musicals are Dead???

I caught a weekend matinee of Rock of Ages this last weekend. It was not the greatest but...it was fun and a kick. Tom Cruise & Catherine Zeta-Jones tore it up. But... anyone who says they don't make musicals anymore is wrong. They keep churning them out and they are all over the boards in terms of the audience they will find. I will be one of the first in line to buy tickets for them.

Les Miserables - the Movie

Sparkle - the Movie

Pitch Perfect - the Movie

And that is not counting possibilities in the wings. The Clint Eastwood/ Beyonce adaptation of A Star Is Born that may or may not ever happen. A new reboot of Annie with a score by none other than JayZ and a black orphan Annie. Frank or Francis - a musical brainchild of writer Charlie Kaufman starring Steve Carrell & Nicholas Cage that I can't even begin to fathom. How about Can A Song Save Your Life? with Adam Levine, Mark Ruffalo & Keira Knightley from the writer of Once. A bio pic of Jimi Hendrix with the outrageous Andre 2000 called All Is By My Side. Rocker musicals of American Idiot (if it ever makes casting and the transition from stage), Flawless with Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling about the independent band scene at Austin SXSW Fest, or CBGB (Country/ BlueGrass/ Blues) about a famed nightclub in NYC that played host to young stars in their bar band days. Yippee!