Misfit or Popular Kid?

Have you ever been popular? Did you run with the popular kids in high school or in college? I hung out with the misfits in high school only to find myself as a popular lesbian in college.

My experience as a misfit taught me to live my life on my own terms. So that when I came out as gay I was emotionally prepared to be my own person. And to hell with everyone else and their petty small-mindedness anyway.

So that's how it went with me. When I came of age at 22 and as a popular lesbian, my devil-may-care attitude made me a little dangerous (and a little desirable too.) But mostly, being a popular and out lesbian meant I didn't have a lot of competition. It wasn't like lesbians were rushing sororities in those days. We only had gay and lesbian groups and newspapers. And I was the editor of one of those newspapers. My position gave me some visibility and a vehicle for my thoughts.

Those years of popularity made an impression on my young psyche. I "believed" myself likable, desireable and intelligent. I had no idea how vain I was. I just thought I was confident. Actually, it was like I went through an "ego-building boot camp" that would help me endure the hostilities that I would encounter outside the UCLA campus and the world beyond.

But the one thing I still have from those popular days is a personal sense of specialness. Everyone should be popular for a while just to feel that special. And if we're lucky that special feeling lasts a lifetime.

While We Wait

I'm losing track of which day it is. It happens in retirement or so I've heard from the old timers. I'm not worried about losing track too badly because I have Kathleen who is working Monday through Friday every week. Kinda keeps me on track, if you know what I mean. Any way this is coming off as very spacey which is not my intention. Just my unfortunate effect.

Winter...I never get over it or in any way master the season. The climate brings me to my knees and the psychology of living with people who are confined for months would inspire me to art if I wasn't so depressed and just downright emotionally cold. But that's the climate here in the Mid-Atlantic. It's given to extremes. No wonder the local people are stoic and act like soldiers.

I've never been a soldier. On my mother's side of our family, my grandfather died in WWII and has been the last in a long line of soldiers dating back from the American Revolution. So I guess I've got soldiering in my genes but not in my heart.

So when Spring arrives I write and when the light is good, I paint abstract art. I hope to express myself well, humourously, and to a few of your likings.

But in the meanwhile I wait for March. March is the beginning of my new creative year. And It can't get here soon enough!!!

Weather in Paradise

These cold temps just freak me out. I was born and raised in Southern California where it very rarely dipped below freezing temps (and when they did we all worried about the fruit and vegetable crops---would they survive?) Here it is skating around feeling like 0 degrees this morning. Damn cold where you get frostbite if you're exposed for a spell. But everyone says it is "Just Cold!!!" and it is the only topic of the news for today and tomorrow.

Okay, so I'll bundle up and go out when I must but it is so uncomfortable. I guess I'm just a "weather wimp." because I remember what the weather was like in paradise.

It was 82 degrees in LA yesterday.

Passing on the Role of Cinderella

Yup, Obama is going to be sworn in Monday January 21th. But geez that election was waaay too close for my comfort zone. But now the partying begins. We got invites to 3 Balls and 1 Gala which sounds wonderful. But I'm afraid we are going to have to pass on all of them.

These Balls are major fund-raising events. Basically, you spend a small fortune to go to their party. It's a huge social networking opportunity if you're into politics or life in DC, Virginia or Maryland. Since we don't get out much and mostly interface with the world through our laptops and credit cards, I'm thinking that we can pass on the opportunity for facetime with the DC social elite.

Quite frankly the Women's Ball in 97' that Kathleen and I attended was somewhat disappointing. President Clinton didn't show up. And while we looked fabulous in white tuxedos, other people just dressed up a little or just more of the DC drab attire. We left the event unimpressed and bored. So we're not eager to repeat the experience.

If only we were Cinderella and this was all a fairy tale...

Happy New Year to Everyone

So it's New Year's Eve and you're wondering what to do. Well, while you're waiting for some inspiration watch these fireworks with some champagne or apple cider:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkAwq2_9Ndg

And Happy New Year's dear readers. Because life is really wonderful. Indeed!

With laughter,
Diane

Shall I Go to the Inaugural Balls?

In Washington DC we have a political and social tradition of the Inaugural Balls that celebrate the Inauguration of the President. I've been to one in '97 for Bill Clinton. Ironically, it was the Women's Ball. Kathleen and I rented white tuxedos and looked fabulous. It was nicely done. I just wish we had known more people...

Well, some time has passed and in the past few days I've gotten two invites to Inaugural Balls. One was delivered like a phone robo call from my Governor. I would have preferred a printed invite with a gold embossed envelop that also requested my rsvp but now we live in the 21st century when we're saving trees (and dollars too!) So the Governor invited me and a guest to Maryland's Ball. Finally I was asked to join Democrat politics.

And then much to my surprise, I got an email inviting me to the Artist's Ball which will be benefiting Artomatic, an arts organization in the DC Metro area. Now you all know me pretty well...which one do you think I'd like to go to? Damn shooting!!! I want to go to the Artist's Ball. It won't be stuffy but rather a little funky. And I bet you dollars to donuts the music will be better. And really, I want to have some fun with my politics, don't you?

So now, I've got to convince Kathleen to go...negotiations have begun...

A Little Gift for You

Dear Readers:

Since Solstice is upon us. I wanted to share two videos with you. One is about the relationship between a street musician and his cat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC2uyMEC_Xw

And the other is a worldwide dance for joy:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwe-pA6TaZk?rel=0

Happy Holidays!!!

Diane

Can't Take LA Out of the Girl

So where are you from? I mean like where did you grow up and go to school? I grew up in LA and went to school there too. Not until I left LA at the tender age of 25 did I realize how much of a LA person I was. Somehow bumping into different people that you will love, go to school with or just work besides makes one reflect about your values, perspective and overall worldview.

Growing up I thought everyone looked like they do in the movies and on TV. Boy have I been awakened. And then I realized that all the beautiful people work and live in LA. The hopefuls as well as the discovered are all photogenic. It becomes the norm. But anyway I digress...

Everywhere in LA there's a stage. Go out in public and you're an actor and on stage whether it be at the grocery store, the bank or at the red carpet of the Oscars. Everywhere is a stage because everyone wants to be seen.

Well, it isn't like that in the rest of the country. If the world is a stage, in many cases the theatre is dark. And people wear uniforms (even self-designed uniforms like LL Bean which I did for over a decade---I didn't want to think about my clothes too much in those days.)

I realized at 14 that clothes are nothing more than costumes to enhance the roles we play in life. This realization dawned on me when I was at Paramount Studios in the costume warehouse. I got a tour of the studio and I walked through the warehouse of clothes from period pieces to modern attire. It was an overwhelming sight. I've never looked at clothes the same way since.

So now I'm changing my image (again) and my wardrobe too. I don't know if Kathleen and I will be the new lesbian 50+ fashion plates. But we're having fun again with clothes. Who knows...if we're not run out of the community, we might put a new spin on lesbian fashion!

12.12.12

Today is significant, I guess. But really only if we make it so. Will I remember it? Only if I think the calendar runs my life. Sure I pay attention to the dates. Especially if I'm expecting a check or have a bill to pay. But does a date have cosmic significance? Well, I doubt it!

Our birthdays and the day we die are the really important ones for our loved ones and maybe if we're famous the world at large. But really, all the other important dates are just the drama markers of our lives. To be less dramatic the sun rises, the sun sets and maybe if we don't have too much light pollution and cloudy weather we see the moon, the stars and even the planets with our naked eye.

The Julian calendar and the Mayan calendar are an expression of a particular culture. Sure they mark time. But I like my own markers of time because my life and those that I love aren't only defined by this culture.

I don't play the numbers when it comes to life. I learned that life plays by itself. And that I play with it.

So make every day significant!

The Scarf I Finally Got

Guess what? While getting our nails done today, a man with a suitcase of scarves came into the nail salon. He did this show n' tell number about his scarves that he was selling. It was definitely weird but engaging. Who knows??? He may be carrying (pun intended) the latest fashions. And I admired his guts to just carry a huge suitcase around and do this door-to-door salesman thing.

So I bought one---red polka dots against ivory. I haven't done polka dots since I was a child in the 60's. Something my grandmother would have worn when she was in her fifties. Everything comes back. Sure it's a little different but it really does come back. Haven't you noticed?

I really had to work for that coat scarf. But it was fun too. It's good to get back into the flow of things again.

And boy do I get a lot of story out of a $10 scarf!!!.