Lessons Learned From Drag Queens

Explorers have searched the world over for centuries for the elusive "fountain of youth," but to no avail.   You know what -- I think I found it.  But it's not a physical object or location.  Rather it's a state of mind. . .and it comes out when you're with good friends.

Recently, I've had the good fortune of feeling half my age . . .and I attribute it entirely to the company of dear friends.

For one marvelous week in February, I regressed to the behaviour of my younger days with six of my bestest college buddies, while soaking in the sun, sand and shots -- jello to be exact -- of Key West.  To tell you the truth, I was worried about how things would work out since I hadn't seen three of them for nearly 30 years.  Would we all still get along? Did they "mature" into adults and look down upon the fact that I hadn't (or have tried not to)?  Well, I'm glad to report that the second we all saw each other again, it was as if no time had passed and we were still the Sigma Nu A sisters of Briscoe 8A.

The last night of our vacation, we went to a drag show at Oasis on DuVal Street. (I highly recommend it.)  And as was watching those talented gentlemen in amazement, I've come to realize that the drag queens can teach us all a few good lessons.

-- Be true to yourself, life's too short be wearing the wrong clothes.

-- Appreciate the little things for they can create beauty in our lives. Who knew a woven place mat could transform you into an African princess.

-- Youth is wasted on the young . . .but it's till fun to pretend that it hasn't already passed us by.   

-- The right makeup can make us all look like a Hollywood star . . . for a night.

-- Keep a good sense of humor, and everything will be a hell of a lot easier to swallow. (That was for Inga!)

I recently listed my 10 least favorite holiday songs . . . now it's time for my all-time favorite melodies.  These are the tunes that make my Christmas year after year.  How many are on your list too?

10.  Another Old Lang Syne by Dan Fogleberg:  Who can't relate to this misty-eyed tale of bumping into a old flame on Christmas Eve? 

9.  Christmas Island by Jimmy Buffet: I find myself humming this non-traditional holiday tune from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.  And while I prefer a white Christmas, I'd love to hang out with Jimmy on Christmas Island one of these days.

8.  Chipmunk Song: All I want is a hula-hoop too, Alvin.

7.  Hardrock, Coco and Joe/Suzy Snowflake/Frosty the Snowman:  For any kid growing up in the Chicagoland area in the 19060 and 70s, you couldn't escape these black&white treasures that would air on Ray Raynor or Family Classics.  If you hear a giggle as he turns to go, it's Coco, a snowball, and Joe!  Brilliant low-tech videos!

6.  Anything by Harry Connick Jr:  His classic crooning and jazzy undertones make any holiday song swing.  I"m wamring up to Michael Buble, but still love Harry more.

5. Christmas Song by Nat King Cole:  Smooth, warm and absolutely beautiful.  Everything that the holidays represent and more.

4. Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bruce Springsteen:  OK, I admit, I'm a die-hard Bruuuuce fan and feel he can do no wrong.  But this version of this holiday classic is truly classic Bruce.  It made it cool for other rock-n-rollers to do their own holiday tunes, but no one does it better than  the Boss.

3.  It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams: Who can't sway and twirl and smile whenever this song is played. Even my sons had to dance whenever I put this song on years ago (although they would never admit that they did -- too bad I have it on video.  Ha!)  Andy does it like no other! 

2.  Anything from Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi:  This soundtrack is rich with memorable, treasured renditions of holiday classics. I still can't resist doing the Peanuts' dance during "Linus & Lucy" -- and have taught it to my daughter to keep the tradition alive.

And my FAVORITE holiday song is . . .

1. All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey:  Emily and I break out in instantaneous song and dance whenever this hits the airwaves.  It's a perfect Christmas rock ballad that will live on for a long time, thanks to it's prominence in one of my favorite holiday movies, Love Actually.

Honorable Mentions: These songs are also my favorites but just didn't make the top 10.

• White Christmas by Bing Crosby as well as the version by the Drifters
• This Christmas by Wham
• Jingle Bell Rock by Hall & Oats
• Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson
• Christmas Waltz by Frank Sinatra
• Merry Christmas Baby by the Carpenters

(Note: this is a re-post from last year's blog. . . but still worth re-reading, or doing so for the first time.)

OK, I admit it.  I'm a TOTAL Christmas geek that tunes into WLIT-FM (Chicago) on the first day they start playing Jingle Bell Rock all the way through Christmas day. . . and have done so as long as they've been broadcasting wall-to-wall holiday music.  So as a self-proclaimed expert, I feel it is my job to inform the world which holiday songs rock, and which ones should roll away to the island of Misfit Toys.  Today, is my review of the 10 WORST holiday songs on the radio.  Trust me people, avoid these at all cost!

10. Mannheim Steamroller:  What is the appeal of this techno-babble called music?  It sounds cold, harsh and boring -- everything that Christmas is not! Seriously.

9. Anything by Diana Ross:  You've got the pipes, honey, but not the sincerity.  I'm not feeling the love in any of your holiday songs, so stick to Motown, please.

8. Anything by Johnnie Mathis:  Bland, contrived and just plain bad.  Wasn't he a punchline in the 70's -- why are we still listening to him today?

7.  Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney: Sir Paul -- what the hell happened here?  Were you going through a bad patch with Linda when you composed this loser?  Considering I've been in love with you since I was 6 years old when I demanded, and got, the Beatles Colorform play kit and lunch box for Christmas, I'll let this slide.  But please, no more attempts at Christmas kitsch!

6.  Christmas Shoes by Newsong:  OK, it's a touching song, mind you.  But who the hell wants to cry every time they hear about momma looking pretty when she meets Jesus tonight? Yes, I admit that I do. It's Christmas, not Cry-fest. 

5.  I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by the Jackson Five:  OK, does anyone else think it's creepy whenever Michael says "I'm gonna tell my dad!"? Knowing what we know now, this song should seriously be taken off the air.

4. I Want To See Christmas Through Your Eyes by Gloria Estefan:  Sorry Gloria, you can surely do the conga but I just don't care to see Christmas through your or your child's eyes.

3. Any remix with a dead person: While novel, it's just wrong to have living people weasel their way onto a dead person's hit and make it into a "new" duet.  Yes, I'm talking to you Natalie Cole and Cyndi Lauper!

2. Dominick the Donkey:  Where the hell did this song come from?  I never heard it as a child and I sure as heck don't want to jiggidy-jigg (hee-haw hee-haw) as an adult. 

And the winner of the WORST holiday song ever is . . .

1) I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas:  All I want is ear plugs and a shot gun when I hear this one!  Bah humbug.

Tomorrow (or whenever I can get around to it) I'll post my top 10 FAVORITE holiday songs.  In the meantime -- do you agree or disagree with my choices?  Any more songs to add that I may have forgotten?  Chime in please.

The Politics of Dancing

Lately I've been humming The Politics of Dancing in my head. (Those of you who were around in the '80s will probably remember it. . .those who are too young to remember, look it up.  It was a moderately successful 1983 British New Wave song by Re-Flex.)  The irony of the title has struck a chord with me during this most heated of election seasons -- Dancing With The Stars!

Anyone who remotely knows me knows what my opinions are about the voting controversy surrounding this season of DWTS.  Bristol Palin has benefited from the celebrity of her mother and her rabid fans by progressing to the finals without merit.  More qualified dancers (Brandy and Rick Fox) should have been there in her place.  But instead, the attractive but vapid, Palin may walk away with the mirror ball tonight.  We'll know in a few hours.

Why do I care so much -- and why should you?  To me, this season has become a microcosm of business and politics in America. It's not what you know, it's who you know.  It's not whether you're the most qualified candidate, it's whether you have the best connections. I guess you can argue that it's always been like that and that I'm just super-sensitive to it because the candidates who have recently won many elected offices are not the ones I support. Perhaps. . . but, when you look closely at this situation, what is it teaching our children?  

Trying to make lemonade out of this lemon, I have been using this season of DWTS as a life lesson for my daughter Emily.  She's seeing first-hand that the best candidate doesn't always win.  I surely hope and pray that this is the last time she or my sons see such a blatant example of this . . . but it won't be.

So all I can do now is wait for the final tally to be tolled and see if the best dancer wins this dancing (not popularity) competition. (Go Jennifer!)  No matter what, the sun will rise again and our lives will go on.  But ABC-TV will lose credibility and a great many viewers if this doesn't happen.  Their loss -- not mine.

Decisions, decisions

This week our country got it right.  We expressed our passions, opinions and dreams for a better life via poll booths in schools, churches and homes across this wonderful country of ours.  And while we seem to be a nation divided right now, we did it in a peaceful, orderly fashion.  No one got shot, killed or even slapped.  We showed the world how it's done. . .again. Congratulations us! (Or should I have said U.S.?)

The older I get the more I cherish the privilege of voting every two years. . . something I hope I pass on to my kids. And as a liberal-leaning moderate, I found it even more important to express my opinions in the voting booth this election for fear that the country may be going in a direction that I feel is wrong.  And although only some of the candidates I voted for won, I hope and pray that ALL of the electorate remembers that they represent everyone -- not just those that voted them in office.  They represent me.  (And I am not a witch, either! Although I often play one at home.)

While I'm not a religious person, I am praying that all the election BS is over and that Congress comes together to create truly beneficial, bi-partisan legislation that is good for the economy, environment, and our moral well-being.  We need to move forward, not back; we need to make life better for us all, not just the lucky few.  We need to make the world a better place for my children and yours.  Divisiveness won't do that -- only compromise.

So, since I have this blog as my personal soapbox, I may use it in the future to express my opinions on the state of the nation and world. . .and welcome you to argue with or against me.  Why? Because we can.

Act Your "Middle" Age

What is "middle age" and how are you supposed to act when you're in it?

According to Webster's II New College Dictionary, middle age is defined as "the time in human life from about 40 to 60."  So, I guess with those given terms I qualify. . .chronologically speaking. (Just ask my Pilates teacher!)  But mentally, psychologically and emotionally I often feel no different than I did when I was 20 or 25 years old.

Case in point -- last weekend I celebrated what I affectionately call GGW3 (Girls Gone Wild 3) with two of my buddies from college. Note: It was suggested that we change it to GGN -- Girls Gone Napping -- to be more accurate, but no.  GGW is something I want to aspire to every year.  And this year we truly succeeded, relatively speaking of course.

As with all BFFS, it took less than a second to regress to the infantile behavior of our IU days.  All the old jokes were just as funny as they were back then . . .the memories just as fresh.  It's as if no time has passed and we're young and 20 all over again.  We were giggling and snorting all weekend.

We had a great time dining, shopping, drinking, bowling and even kareoke-ing.  I seriously felt 20 years younger and know that my friends did too.  It was a weekend worth savoring until February when seven of us Briscoe 8-A alum decend upon Key West to celebrate turning the "F" word..  This was a great rehearsal for the big event.  Here are the photos to prove it!

Work and famly responsibilities often take us away from these important people in our lives.  Although it was difficult to arrange for these get togethers when the kdis were younger, I'm looking at the "F" years as a time to make up for all the missed birthdays, break-ups, and bottles of wine.  And most of all -- I have no intentions of growing up.  I like behaving like a goofball every now and then!

The "Goal" Post

OK, I stuck my neck out and advertised to the (Facebook) world that I was creating this blog, so now I've gotta follow through with it.  :-)

To ensure that I don't fall back into my old habits and truly do evolve this year, I am posting the goals I will strive to reach before I hit the "F" word -- 50.

• Be a better wife/daughter/mother/sister/friend by letting go of old baggage and starting fresh (and pray that they do the same for me).
• Be less judgemental and more tolerant of others and their actions/thoughts/beliefs (even though I'm probably right anyway).
• Keep negative people with their negative vibes as far away as possible.  (Life's too short to allow yourself to get sucked into someone else's morass.)
• Find a serene place in my mind so I can escape to it when needed (and trust me, I typically need to on a daily basis).
• Keep in better contact with old friends and people who have been important throughout my life. (Key West here we come!)
• Lose some weight. (I'm old enough to know to not put down a specifics number that won't be achieved, so allow me some vagary here, please.)
• Exercise more -- and more consistently.  (Consistency is the issue for sure.  I'm talking at least 3 times a week -- every week.)
• Take at least 3 classes in something fun/new/exciting. (Raise your hand if you've neglected your own personal growth while raising your children -- or significant other!)
• Give back to the community by volunteering  to help with at least 2 new programs this year. (We can never overpay the gifts we've received by working and helping others.)
• Finally, have more fun!

OK -- so what do you think?  I'd be interested in hearing what you're personal goals are and how you plan to achieve them. Who knows - maybe we can work on them together.