Caterwauling

I was just looking at my checking account and wondering how I’m even going to afford the gas to drive to Dulles for my upcoming escape, and my lucky stars must have heard me.

I got my security deposit back from the old place in the mail today. They only took out $15 — for what, I have no idea — but it was nice to have $600 to deposit for gambling expenses and stuff.

But wait, there’s more. I got another $200 for the use of one of my Flickr photos, too! I knew it was coming eventually, but I’d sort of given up hope on it.

I have one more check coming soon (I hope) from a $100 deposit I put on an apartment I didn’t take because I was smoking crack, thinking I’d move to Silver Spring. Hah. Staying in D.C. was an economical decision — sure, I am paying more in rent, but I sure as hell think the money part is worth it, to keep from having to invest the time and frustration to register my car in yet another municipality.

So, all told, my new hire started, I got nearly $800 in the mail and various other weird but wonderful moments took place. I’m ridiculously behind in my work, but fuck that — I feel like I’m on top of the world!

And don’t THINK I’m not wondering whether I should learn Blackjack or whether I can actually dump all that money in the slot machines and see if I can double it. 😉 …

Decided I really wanted to go see “Fashionistas.” It was eitherh that or “Zumanity”, and one cost $60 and the other cost $100 per ticket. You figure out which one I went for. 😉

I know “Zumanity” bills itself as the “sensual side of Cirque du Soleil,” but “Fashionistas” caught my eye because it’s sort of the poor man’s version of it. The soundtrack of “Fashionistas” includes Evanescence, Madonna, Tool, Lords of Acid, Crystal Method, and Led Zeppelin, so I’m down with that. Besides, a show that bills itself as an “erotically charged Las Vegas adult entertainment production of fetish and fantasy” is completely up my alley.

I watched the trailers before I made the purchase and, well, that sealed the deal.

In perfect timing news, my new hire starts tomorrow. I won’t be able to give her adequate training, but I’ll be available and working. It’s just nice to be able to work from anywhere instead of from the confines of an office.

It’s neat to suddenly have a life again. I’d forgotten how it feels. I basically spent the money I was planning to spend on, oh, a dining room set on a quick weekend getaway instead. And I think I made the better choice.

I’m looking SO forward to escaping. I’m also taking in a comedy show, a day at the spa because I need a facial (no, not THAT kind! Well, maybe … heh) and lots of exotic meals. Yay for life being good to me right now. I am a happy and grateful girl.

Went to see a play that a friend of mine wrote, directed and starred in. “Mill Town Girls” is currently gracing the stage of the Quotidian Theatre, and it’s a fabulous, fabulous play. And I’m not just saying that because I work with Audrey and it never hurts to be in her good graces. 😉

“Mill Town Girls” is the prequel to a play called “Fin and Euba” that’s won a bajillion awards in the local area and that is going to be turned into a screenplay. (She says they’re shooting the trailer for it Sunday — odd because the film hasn’t actually been shot and they’re doing the trailer first!)

We got to “meet” Fin and Euba in high school tonight and learn how they became who they are. The thing I love about my friend’s writing is that you can’t help but immerse yourself in the scene and characters.

I mean, the woman’s a designer for a living, and detail is her specialty. The play was set in 1986 and everything down to Fin’s bedroom set (which I HAD!) and the posters of Rick Springfield (*swoon*), Don Johnson and Prince in “Purple Rain” (another favorite from then AND now, as it worked its way very seamlessly and memorably into a recent conversation) were just awesome.

And the characters’ clothes! My god, it was like going back in time and being there with them. And because I know the theater-geek types, I find myself paying attention to lighting tricks and sound effects more than I usually do. (I do love that stuff.) Wow, the thought and the work that goes into a simple two-hour production — and for people with full-time day jobs, to boot! Amazing.

As I said, the detail is magnificent. There was one scene I am not going to quote, but I lived it, too, and yep, that’s one of those scenes that you just don’t write off the top of your head. Either she lived it or did her research well, and considering that her upbringing has inspired her plots and characters, I’ll leave it at that. Good theater is entertaining; great theater hurts sometimes, it’s that spot-on.

I don’t want to give anything away in case anyone does want to go see this. (As well you should.) But the Fin character, Veronica del Cerro, was just plain magical. She actually turned down a VERY nice paycheck to star in a Disney pilot (you read that right — a Disney pilot) so she could be part of this production. Star quality, I tell ya.

Stupdendous, stupendous evening. Why these folks are wasting their time working with the likes of the rest of us and not doing this for a living is beyond me. But then again, all of us have big dreams and capabilities inside of us that are either undiscovered or simply neglected.

I’m so happy when one of my own group achieves such a milestone, because it’s inspirational. If she could find the time to make her dreams come true, why the hell shouldn’t I?!?!

All right, just got caught up on “American Idol” from last night. Now I can blog.

Underwear change was mandatory first, however. 😉

OK, Phil and Chris need to go. They sang “Blaze of Glory” and “Wanted Dead or Alive,” respectively. And the dudes paid brilliant homage to their songs. Phil clearly knew every note by heart, and Chris faked it enough to make it.

Now, I know every word, note, breath, guitar riff and keyboard chord by heart that Bon Jovi has ever played as well, but it doesn’t mean I can carry it off. I think they were both high-grade karaoke renditions. Entertaining, absolutely, but star quality? Meh.

Blake shook things up with a beatbox version of “You Give Love a Bad Name.” I was prepared to hate it. You don’t fuck with Bon Jovi in my world. But given that they will never be able to do the original as, well, the original was done (see above), Blake didn’t even try. Which made it magical and memorable. I’m not a huge fan of his, but that he didn’t ruin the song AND that he took something I’ve heard 20 billion times and made it new again, I gotta give him his props. Dawg. Word.

The girls stole the spotlight. I disliked Jordin’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” from the first note. But I love her, period. You can forgive an off night for her because she had fun. She knew she stunk, but she was rocking out. To Bon Jovi. WITH Bon Jovi. I mean, really, how bad a night could a girl have?

Melinda did a GREAT job with “Have a Nice Day.” It’s weird, the songs of Bon Jovi’s that get overplayed, when they have an AMAZING collection going back to 1984, when my wee 10-year-old self became a drooling fangirl with the first strains of “Runaway.” In any event, Melinda seemed almost weirded out by her task of taking on “HAND” but her voice is too good to write her off on a technicality here. And it sounded DIFFERENT than the original. Which, let’s face it, when you’re an obsessed fan like me, if you can’t rock it like they did in the first place, you might as well do a 180 and run with it. It worked.

My favorite was LaKeisha, who I was sure was going to be voted off last week. She picked “This Ain’t a Love Song.” Which, OMG *swoon.* Bon Jovi’s best album, and certainly the most underrated, was “These Days.” That one was filled with heartbreaking anthems like “My Guitar Lies Bleeding in My Arms,” “It’s Hard Letting You Go” and “Something to Believe in.” And I love love LOVE “Hey God” and have quoted it in this blog quite often, as well as the title track (“Don’t you know that all my heroes died/And I guess I’d rather die than fade away.”) *sigh*. And to hear that man sing “Lie to Me,” lord. *quiver*

Oh, yeah, LaKeisha. Anyway, she was gorgeous. I loved her shirt. I found her one silver ballgown from Diana Ross night on Igigi.com, so I’ll be looking for the black-and-red shirt later. 😉 But wow, even I got chills when she did “Love Song.” And I think I was everyone’s toughest critic, so to say I loved her? Meant she was pretty fucking amazing.

Thank god I wasn’t a contestant this year — I doubt I would have been able to stop dry-humping Jon’s thighs enough to concentrate on the songs. But maybe it could have worked, as I DO have them all committed to memory.

Bon Jovi’s performing live on “Idol” tonight, which starts in 10 minutes. EEEEEEEEE!!! No shortage of masturbation material tonight, kids. None whatsoever. … ;9

I had a three-hour window in which I could potetially have slept, but I was clock-watching instead so as not to snooze straight through the alarm and blow some deadlines.

I was all hyped up from The Killers concert last night. And some of you are scratching your head, wondering how or why I would even think to go to their show when I was too cheap to spend the same amount of money on Melissa Etheridge tickets not too long ago. 🙂 Let me put it this way, the company with whom you spend these events is more important than where you actually end up. And it all resulted in a confluence of awesomeness that made for a kickass show, so it was a good decision. I might even have to download their CDs now!

But, worth the ticket price alone, was the middle act The Silver Beats. As the four of us stood around discussing last night, the best word to describe that experience was “d00d.” Seriously. I already knew I was one of the oldest people at George Mason’s Patriot Center last night, but when these adorable Japanese boys in snazzy suits started playing Beatles covers better than, well, the Beatles did, I found myself singing along oh-so-happily and wondering if half of the kids had ever heard of the Fab Four.

There was an opening act, which I see nobody has blogged about in my circle, so I’ll take a stab at it. Red Romance was what my friend dubbed a one-trick pony. They came out promising enough — I actually liked them. But then the rest of the set was sort of like an extended dance remix. Were there five songs, six or two? Couldn’t tell.

As one of the gang said, it’s like when a Web site tells you that, based on your purchase of a Killers CD, you might also like this name. What goes without saying is that you might NOT. 😉 LOL, don’t mean to be too harsh on Red Romance — I’ll probably grab a single somewhere down the road, and it won’t matter which one as it will probably reflect the sound of the whole EP!

Gawd, I’m exhausted. I don’t want to talk about how many times I zoned out, driving back to D.C. from the show. Lord, if you love me at all, even just a little bit, please make this day go well. Better yet, let it go quickly so I can make acquaintance with my bed and not be curled up in a ball under my desk with my massive shoe collection. ‘Cause, you know, ouch. 🙂

Via my beloved Pratt, Bon Jovi action figures!

They’re arriving in stores in August. And guess who will be the first in line? 😉

After a night day of binge-drinking, it’s always curious to awaken the next morning because there’s always that risk (or possibility, depending) that you’re going to roll over and see someone else there. 😉

I don’t remember much from yesterday. And that’s probably a good thing! But I’m sure I’ll be cringing at some point as the alcohol-induced amnesia starts to wear off. …

Not only have I had four photos published in D.C./Baltimore outlets, but I just got a call from a Major Local Sports Team, saying my photos will be included in a Brand-Spankin’ New Commercial. Oh, and can they pay me, too? Um, hells yeah! 😉

Otherwise known, as dinner tonight.

*hic*

Actually, it’s a bottle of Riesling, and if I am not drunk by the time I’m done with it, I’ve got a bottle of port. You know, a dessert wine for, well, dessert!

I’m so stupendously over this day, it isn’t even funny. I appreciate anyone who made me laugh — it was no small feat, and I’ll remember it … well, I’ll remember it once I hopefully sleep off the hangover I’m hoping for. …

Dude, cinnamon dulce de leche. Seriously. It tastes just like a cinnamon dolce latte (with soy milk, natch) from Starbucks. I loves me some cinnamon and caramel. :9

It’s been a day here atop Goddess’ fiefdom. I put in my termination notice at my apartment building, and they were all, “What a surprise!” Surprise? How many fucking times did I call, e-mail and visit, asking for a new, bigger unit? Seriously, people. I’m at the end of my rope, and all y’all do is keep giving me MORE rope!

Look, I know these places don’t care about us. And hell, I WANT to stay here. I LOVE it here. But when I asked for the keys to go tour the model unit so I can think this through a little better (I can still stay here — I put down a deposit on the new place but I can get it back right now), they gave me the wrong keys. Either that or told me the wrong floor/unit to go to.

I’ve never worked so damn hard in my life, to stay at this place. I tried the keys in four different doors before I gave up, threw them at the agent, and walked the hell back to my door. She gave me a halfhearted, “Stay in touch,” because there are two open units that I can consider.

The other thing that pissed me off was that they made me sign to allow them to take tours through Goddess’ territory before the lease expires. HUNH?!?! When I was taking this place, they didn’t let me see it. Why should I let someone into my shit-streaked world before I’m ready? Ponderous.

I’m so tired. I’m so afraid to collapse, because I don’t know if I will get up again. This whole moving business means losing my grandfather all over again, because it sucked and it hurts like hell and I cry every day, without fail, for him. And now, with the move becoming a reality, it’s like shit — he’s really gone. The world that was turned upside-down is now going in reverse at warp speed.

Maybe that’s why I’ve hated every apartment I’ve looked at. Holding on to the one I have and love has meant nothing has really changed. I was waiting for a feeling about where to go and what to do, and because the feeling never came, I could remain stationary. But now logic is taking over and it is telling me to just figure it out already.

Maybe magic is what you make of it. You just take it with you if it isn’t working where you are trying to use it. Good times can be had, and marvelous memories can be made, absolutely anywhere. And if there’s one thing I particularly excel at, it’s moving forward and never looking back. …