Let me Entertain You...

I have some thoughts about some of the young entertainers today. I'm not a shrink nor any kind of professional but, I wonder how far off I would be to an enlightened opinion?  I'm also, going to play prophet and predict their longevity in the very difficult and fickle music industry.

There are many talented young performers but, for the sake of brevity ( and the sake of  my brain) I've only picked a few that stand out to me.

First, on deck is Taylor Swift.  She is a superstar and a very talented young lady.  She is also a drama queen and somewhat inauthentic.  Perhaps she is just caught between two worlds. Taylor often presents herself as the simple, down-home gal she was born to be and yet, she flawlessly walks red carpets, performs to millions with relentless ambition, always in the spotlight with little evidence of simplicity.  Makes me wonder how contrived her image truly is.

 She seems to thrive and flourish on all the media attention allowing the entire world in on her personal issues either through song or frequent interviews.  Hardly the behaviours of a simple, cookie baking, huggy, plain kinda gal from Philadelphia.  Call me a cynic but, the simplicity seems very, very artificial.  She is definitely a diva as are all her little girl posse friends.  Her overly dramatic lifestyle is enough testimony for me.

She is young (born 1989 - was I ever that age? Hummm...) and was even younger when she hit the worldwide stage.  So, I'm impressed with how smoothly she moves between persona.  Is she a regular, folksy young lady or Ms. glamour/drama queen?  I'd guess that the homey, girl-next-door has become more and more a stretch for Taylor to remember or emulate.  Perhaps she really wants to be that kind of girl but, the fame, adoration, money, exposure to the rich and famous plus, the influence of her "handlers" as made playing simple very complicated.

The cynic in me believes there is a certain "putting on" quality about her uncomplicated side but, I do think at her core she truly is the sincere, empathetic and caring young woman she appears.

 I hope with maturity she'll focus on being truly authentic instead of feeding the media's insatiable appetite for drama.

Assuming her overly emotional and dramatic side isn't her undoing; I give Taylor 3 stars for longevity.

Lady Gaga is a bit older than some but, she is fascinating and very talented and well...weird!  I'd guess when she was young she was a geek and misfit who was bullied and treated as an outcast. I might

be wrong and she may have reveled in her differences her entire life but, the intensely passionate and protective "little monster"

dialogues she has with her fans convinces me otherwise.

Much of her message verbally and creatively is about being authentic and true to oneself and not selling out just to be accepted. It's an awesome message and Lady Gaga definately has the cornerstone on it.  She may go too far at times but, at some point In her life, I believe she got the courage to be herself.  Perhaps it coincided with realizing her vast talent and uniqueness.

In the event I am right about her past I believe her incredible extremes in dress, red carpet and stage behaviors are not only brilliant marketing strategies; I think she may have found the ultimate revenge and snub to all who mistreated and bashed her.

I give Lady Gaga 4+ stars for longevity as in Madonna, Cher and their ilk.

What can I say about Justin Beiber?  He was a cute, genuinely talented kid.  Was...  He is still a talented young man and his pre-teen fans currently can't get enough of him but, honestly if he doesn't burn out and fade away in a few more years I'll be surprised.  Not because he doesn't have the potential to last but, his self-involved, spoiled and disingenuous behavior has got to catch up to him eventually.  His little fans will grow up (unlike Justin) and realize that his smooth-talking, entitled and disrespectful attitude isn't cool.

I don't know if fame at such a vulnerable age, improper handling,
indulgent parenting or all of the above created this punk but, I sincerely hope he gets over himself as he matures.

I give Justin a 2 stars longevity only because he may yet become an adult and behave with real authenticity (as I believe he was in the beginning of his career) instead of pretending to be a wannabe tough guy and rapper.

Now here is a young man who has tremendous talent and certainly seems to be the real deal.  Justin should pay attention!  Now Weeknd is four years older so, in fairness I'll give Justin props that a miracle could happen and by 26 he may become such a nice young man.

Since I can't know a person's heart or intent, I could be wrong but, Weeknd appears to be truly authentic, respectful and well...nice. He is also, talented and becoming a worldwide sensation.

Honestly, I don't know lots about him and he is still relatively new on the scene but, if it isn't all an act and fame doesn't ruin him I'd give him 3+ stars for longevity.

So, there you go...my take on some of today's young performers.  I could be off base and you may disagree but, heh, I'm impressed that this Grandma even knows who they are!!

Until next time...Toodle loo!

Flush the Idea...

I realize this is a touchy subject and maybe some may consider me a prude or terribly out of date.  I hope I can do this without being accused of being homophobic, a gay rights hater or any such nonsense but, so be it if I am.  I do not like, approve or condone unisex or non-gender washrooms.  No siree!

The idea of getting rid of male and female washrooms in favour of unisex ones just well...creeps me out.  I do feel a sensitivity toward transgender people and I don't have many great ideas how to solve their lavatory issues.  It must be very difficult dealing with this dilemma and it's a sad state when a transgender child is bullied when they use their washroom of choice.  But honestly, do parents really think non-gender washrooms will stop the meanness? It's not like the other students don't know who is transgender and who isn't. Perhaps, a bully-free facility might be in order!

Regardless, I don't want to be forced to share a washroom with males nor do I want my young granddaughter to see teenage or grown men using what has traditionally been a private, female space in order to protect the few.  I have rights as well!

Personally, I have no issues if a young mom brings her little boy into the ladies restroom.  I'm not so prissy as to think badly of a 6 or 7 year old boy using my facility because his mom is anxious about sending him alone into a men's.  Nowadays, I understand being this cautious. A defenseless little boy would be easy prey for any pedophile. But there is a limit.

Having said that, I don't dislike the idea of unisex washrooms because I fear the deviant behavior of some pervert. I'm not worried about a transgender girl using the facility.  In fact, I highly doubt I recognize or realize the difference if a male had assumed the female gender.  These are not my reasons. I am just genuinely uncomfortable and inhibited by having a teenage boy or adult man using the same space.  I don't even care if they use an enclosed stall as I'd hope open urinals wouldn't be in evidence, although who knows??

Is it wrong for me to say there is a "yuck" factor in dropping my drawers, knowing there is a male just a few inches away?  Perhaps some folks may think I'm wrong but, I don't think I'm alone.  I don't want to be surrounded by males when I apply lipstick or fix my hair. Not because these are as personal and private has actually going pee but, I still don't want it and it would be very unsettling for me.

Right or wrong, I have rights, too.  Despite the fact I'm not a discriminated minority; I shouldn't be denied my basic rights to privacy and well-being. There has to be a more acceptable solution; perhaps separate facilities for the LGBT community?  Or is that just too prejudicial?

Quite frankly, I'm tired of being accused of narrow-mindedness because I fight for my beliefs and rights. I didn't choose to be a heterosexual female anymore than a gay person chose so, why should my rights be denied?  Why should I be the uncomfortable or embarrassed person?  Why is what I desire less valid or essential than others?  Why do I have to suffer verbal abuse because I don't want to give up my rights to cater to the few?

I'm sympathetic but, non-gender washrooms are a horrible idea and as far has I'm concerned I hope it never happens because if it does I'll have to break all the rules and simply use the family washrooms.

Or God forbid, start wearing a diaper!

Toodle-loo...

Ludicrous Lies...

Okay, I've been MIA again. It's been far too long since I've written my blog but, I DO have a few very important and life altering excuses.  Yes siree I do!

First of all, I've been absolutely and completely caught up (honestly I don't know how anyone couldn't be) in Trump's campaign trail.  This has consumed much of my free time trying to figure out how this fool ever became so successful!  I decided it isn't because he's so brilliant but, that he made a pact with the devil like Faust did so, he could be incredibly prosperous.  Also, part of the deal included being eternally damned to that bad hair!  How else could this sorry excuse for a human being be so favoured?

Aside from the Trump distraction I've been catching up on Netflix series such American Horror Story and Bates Motel.  These may seem poor excuses for not writing but, my mind was filled with questions like; how could Norma not realize what a wack-a-doodle her son Norman really is or I never realized that Jessica Lange is such a versatile and talented actress.  This sort of queries tend to keep me up at night.  Honestly!

Then there's the deep depression I underwent after "Hot in Cleveland " was cancelled and Doctor McDreamy died on "Grey's Anatomy".  This took time, as I'm sure you can understand, to process.  I'm over the shock now, thank you, but these things take much out of a person!

Most recently the failure of the Calgary Flames to do well has been a trial.  This too has cost me valuable writing time and much anguish.

There are other urgent and tragic happenings in my life similar to these but, I shan't go on and on any longer about my other First World problems; what restaurant to choose, if I should ask for a 5% raise,
should I trade in my 3 year old car, bottled water versus tap, etc., etc.  Honestly, who could possibly
find time to write a blog??

But, I'll try to rise above and do better.  I hope you all understand my problems, I know I certainly don't!

Until next time...toodle loo!

For you, Colleen..

The Garage Sale...

I haven’t written for my blog for a very long while; a year to be precise.  Yikes!  I really didn’t think it had been that long.  Talk about being M.I.A.  But I have returned and hopefully back with some regularity. 

A lot has happened during the past year which should be a helpful source of blog posts.  One of these was a job I tackled for the first time in my 59 years; organizing a garage sale.  Yes indeedy, I and my family (much to their alarm) took on this overwhelming task.  There are several things I learned though this experience but, before I tell you about them; I shall digress and tell you how it all came into existence.

Early 2015 I became consumed with an overwhelming desire to purge my entire house.  At first I felt it was just the crying need to divest myself of 28 years of accumulation and clutter but, as I tackled this task I actually, learned plenty about me.  Not the least was I just may have all the earmarks of a potential hoarder! 

I started in the basement (it isn’t finished) which had become a great, grey dumping ground and catch-all throughout the years for anything and everything that couldn’t  seem to find a home elsewhere.  Now let me be clear about what I mean...  There were belongings of my mother’s, who passed away in 2002.  Stuff of both my daughters who have left home over 15 years ago and have long ago married, had kids and created their own piles of “stuff”!  There were things I’d forgotten I had or hadn’t used in 20 years.  I t was frightening!  In fact, I didn’t even know where to start and gained a whole new empathy for those folks who hoard much worse than I.

Nevertheless, I set about tackling this job and was absolutely ruthless.  By that I mean if I hadn’t used it within the past 2 years, out it went.  It was a big job.  There was a lot of stuff.  It took me all winter but, finally I was ready for the Garage Sale!

These are the lessons I learned through my Garage Sale experience:

·        It covered 2 weekends, eating up my time and the time of my family’s.

·        It was a lot of work hauling things in and out on to the driveway each day.

·        It didn’t earn nearly enough considering the time and work invested.

·        The wise thing to do would have been to donate it all in the first place.

I realize there are folks who feel garage sales are profitable and well worth it.  I am NOT one of them.  Never again will I attempt such a folly or get my family mixed up in the same.  However, God bless them for rallying round me and my asinine idea. 

I did, however learn (as I mentioned earlier) some very insightful things about myself through this whole experience.

·        The clutter around me that was driving me loony was really guiding me to examine the mess of internal clutter I’d allowed to build up in my spirit.  More about this is another blog.

·        Despite my disability and the pain I was able to tackle this difficult task little by little if I accepted that it couldn’t be accomplished overnight and it was entirely okay if it took several months.

·        It isn’t the timeline that counts; it’s the finished outcome that matters.

·        What an AWESOME, WONDERFUL, EMPOWERING and HUMBLING feeling accomplishing this job gave me!

·        I now feel ready to tackle the rest of my home and while I clear away the years of physical clutter surrounding me, I can also, clear away any spiritual or emotional clutter within. 

So, my advice is don’t let your clutter overwhelm or own you.  Pick a spot, a room, a drawer, or whatever and get started uncluttering.   Give yourself permission to take your time but, be consistent.  Little by little, bit by bit you will see the end.  Be ruthless and don’t add anymore stuff to the pile.  Ask yourself before filing anything into a cupboard, the basement or the garage; “Do I really want or need this?  Will I use it in the next year or two?”  Be honest and you’ll be surprised what you’re willing to let go of and give away. 

Last but, not least I DO NOT recommend doing a garage sale.  It is lots of work, doesn’t earn that much profit and often involves others.  Throw out what is garbage and give the rest away.  Unless you enjoy such things or do it as a job, I believe the garage sale is a colossal waste of time.  And time is something we never can accumulate! 

Until next time...tootle-loo!