August 25, 2006

JT is back

And I love viral marketing. JT himself sent me this email asking me to post this in my blog. Can you stand it?

src="http://admin.brightcove.com/viewer/federated.swf"
bgcolor="#ffffff"
flashVars="playerId=164988887&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://services.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&playerTag=&autoplay=true&automatedPlay=&playAll=&maximized=&domain=embed&"

base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj"
width="500" height="529"
seamlesstabbing="false"
type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true"

pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash">

Okay - so maybe JT doesn't know how to code very well. He's still hot!

Posted by SparklesMpls at 08:37 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 24, 2006

Meryl Is My New Hero

Saw The Devil Wears Prada this past weekend and absolutely loved it! My favorite line from the film had to be Emily at the hospital: "You don't deserve those clothes - you eat carbs!" Definately going to have to check out the book now.

I must admit that I'm not on the up and up on Meryl Streep's previous work, but I've never seen her so sassy before and I like it!

Posted by SparklesMpls at 04:08 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

January 17, 2006

Barry Manilow is my Hero

Did anyone else catch Barry Manilow on Leno last night? He sang Unchained Melody from his new album, The Greatest Songs of the 50s. He was spectacular. He's got a new gig at the Hilton in Vegas. Next time I'm there, I'm going to be front row.

You may think I'm kidding, but I actually do like him! Seriously! Especially the dramatic hand pullbacks he does when hitting the climax.

Perhaps the best part of the show was when he walked off the stage over to be seated next to Jay. The evening's prior guests were the American Idol judges, so Barry asked them appropriately, "Did I win? Did I win?"

Posted by SparklesMpls at 08:46 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

December 15, 2005

Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward makes me cry every time I see it. Okay, so I just saw it for the second time - but this makes twice.

The concept is simple. Do something nice for three people. Eventually it'll come full circle and somebody will do something nice for you.

I won't tell you why it makes me cry, because I don't want to ruin it for you. However, the other really sad part about the movie is that it presumes, and I think correctly, that it's a foreign concept for people to do something nice for anyone. That's the sad truth. So do something nice for someone. Not because you want something in return, just make a habbit of it, and you'll see positive change in your life.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 01:01 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

November 24, 2005

Something to be thankful for

The truth finally comes out, and on Thanksgiving no less. How dramatic.

Seen first on CNN.com, the AP reports:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, who turned mid-level music careers into a Hollywood star-spangled marriage, have separated following months of persistent breakup rumors.

The couple announced their separation Wednesday.

"After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways," they said in a joint statement released by their publicists. "This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other."

Calls seeking further comment from publicists Meredith O' Sullivan and Rob Shuter were not immediately returned early Thursday.

The couple have been dogged by rumors that their marriage was in trouble -- Us Weekly reported that they split in an Oct. 17 issue -- but Simpson, 25, and Lachey, 32, brushed the speculation aside and insisted they were still together.

In the December-January issue of Teen People, which went on newsstands earlier this month, Simpson denied rumors that the marriage was kaput.

"Hopefully mine and Nick's story will continue for the rest of our lives, like what we vowed, through sickness and in health," said Simpson, who famously professed that she remained a virgin until she got married.

The couple wed in October 2002, back when they were known simply as pop singers. But Simpson hadn't achieved the multiplatinum successes of peers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, while Lachey was a member of the boy band 98 Degrees, which sold far fewer albums than such acts as 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys.

The couple's reality show, "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica," which chronicled their daily lives in a new California home, turned them into stars. The show, which ran for three seasons, made Simpson infamous for her dippy-blonde moments, including the time she confused the tuna she was eating for chicken, or when she eschewed Buffalo wings because "I don't eat buffalo."

Simpson's star status has begun to outshine Lachey's. She played Daisy Duke in this summer's hit movie "The Dukes of Hazzard," and she endorses "Dessert," a beauty line that includes flavored body creams. Lachey, whose solo album has had disappointing sales, appeared in some episodes of the sitcom "Charmed."

Besides appearing in "Newlyweds," the couple entertained U.S. troops earlier this year in the ABC special "Nick & Jessica's Tour of Duty," and last year they hosted the ABC variety special "Nick & Jessica's Family Christmas." A coffee table book, "Jessica Simpson I Do: Achieving Your Dream Wedding," also was released last year.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 03:43 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

September 17, 2005

Bobby & Whitney

I love that shows like Being Bobby Brown are on the air. It shows how ridiculous it is that society worships celbrities.

UPDATE:

I just couldn't take looking at these two anymore. My blog is setup as my browser's homepage and everytime I'd open up a new window I'd see those two dancing. If you want to see them, you still can.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 09:33 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

July 11, 2005

Movie mania weekend

Been recovering from a cold bug that's been plaguing me for a couple of weeks, so I haven't posted lately. This weekend was spent at Spyhouse, IKEA, meetings, friends' houses, and on the couch - watching movies.

I love watching a good movie, and I'm disappointed if a movie doesn't turn out well - though to be fair, sometimes I deem a movie as having not turned out well because I wasn't in the mood to watch it in the first place. Another common death-sentance is if somebody, or especially if multiple people, tell me that a film is good. When that happens I wind up hyping the movie in my head, creating these grand expectations that no movie could ever fulfill - save Steel Magnolias.

I haven't found much time to watch many movies as of late, so I crammed in five over three days this weekend.

Friday night, end of stressful week at work, looking to kick back and relax - what's better than a movie about superheros, one of which has special powers enabling him to turn into a ball of fire, which subsequently burns all of his clothes off and leaves his greek-god-like physique exposed for more than half of the movie? Chris Evans in Fantastic Four is the new cure for the modern nervous breakdown. But aside from the obvious delight of the gorgeous, aforementioned 24 year old, the film was your standard fare "comic book becomes Hollywood blockbuster" that we've seen an awful lot of lately. Now if only the rest of the producers making these films will nod their head to these guys for making the superheros both attrictive AND naked.

Saturday afternoon brought The Aviator, or Leonardo DiCaprio as he's better known, to my living room. I'd not heard that this was a great film, nor that it was a bad film, more that it was a mediocre, long film. While I think DiCaprio is a great actor, I've never thought he was the heartthrob People magazine makes him out to be. I think his portrayal of Howard Hughes was fantastic - the rawness of the mental breakdown was as real as it gets. To borrow the line all of the Titanic trailers ended with, he really shows how Hughes was the king of the world. And Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn was simply marvelous. Every time I see this woman in a film I find myself attracted to her. I can't quite put my finger on it - she's an older woman without a penis ... I can only pray my attraction doesn't reside in the physical sense. Aside from the artfulness of the film, the history lesson included was quite interesting as well - the characters seemed to me as if they were the Ratpack before the Ratpack. Interesting circles Mr. Hughes ran in - very interesting.

I wasn't expecting much from Hide and Seek with Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning. Sure, De Niro can usually be counted on for at a minimum, a good show, but Ronin and Meet the Fockers weren't exactly Oscar-worthy. Dakota Fanning has become so idolized that I view her as the female MacCauley Culkin of the new millennium. But after watching it, I was happy I had. I was held in suspense. The story was certainly believable, and the film ended with a nifty way to wrap up the story. Though I was disappointed that you were able to figure out how the story would end about 5 minutes prior to the story unfolding, they did it in a fun way that let you continue shitting your pants while you waited for the credits to roll.

Sunday afternoon I simultaneously popped in Swimming Upstream, and popped up a ... nevermind, that's too awful to share. While I won't deny that the prospect of watching hot Olympic swimmers in Speedos for two hours probably played a part in me picking this film from the shelves, I'm glad I did. Sometimes sexual attraction does result in things other than sin! I hadn't heard of the film prior to seeing in the video rental store (I know, I know - I haven't yet jumped on the Netflix bandwagon yet). It's based on the true story of an Australian Olympic swimmer and how he grew up training with his brother under the coaching of their alcoholic, volatile, and highly abusive father. The main character grows up in the shadow of his brother, who holds favorites with pops. The ending had me all choked up - I was pleasantly surprised by this previously unheard of flic.

Not since Philadelphia have I ever felt so much appreciation for what our gay forefathers had to experience in order to allow me to live my life more free of prejudice and ignorance than they were allowed. It's unimaginable to me to know what it must have been like in the 80s to have half of your friends die and watch helplessly as President Regan wouldn't even mention the word "AIDS" until 7 years into the epidemic and over 100,000 people had died of it. Society was turning it's cheek on gay men, saying that we deserved HIV. Yet Ray Cohn, arguably one of the most bigoted and powerful men of his time, died of the very thing that he spit on. Angels in America shows different facets of gay life and how AIDS affected not only those who were infected, but the people whom they loved and loved them. I can only hope that one day this story might find itself on high school syllabus sheets in rural Kansas.

In other news - I seem to have acquired a pair of coffee shop stalkers. Be warned - I'll get you two, and your little dog too!

Posted by SparklesMpls at 11:31 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

June 29, 2005

The Machinist

I just watched The Machinist. Great film. Great film. The message to me was clear - your secrets will kill you.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 01:13 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

June 23, 2005

Speeding in Paris

Ever wonder what it would be like to speed through Paris in the wee hours of the morning, just before sunrise? Neither have I, but Rendezvous, a French short film, exemplifies it. Paris landmarks whiz by as the driver weaves in and out of traffic, ignores red lights, pushes their vehicle to its performance limit threshold around the round-abouts and nearly misses other drivers and pedestrians. Not sure how they filmed it legally, but it's damn cool.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 01:05 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

June 01, 2005

Megan Mullally gets a talk show!!!

Megan Mullally just signed a deal with NBC to host her own talk show that'll begin airing Fall 2006! This is the best news in entertainment history since, um, since, well ... um, since Six Feet Under was renewed?

I wonder what they'll call it? Here are some thoughts:

• Brutually Honest with Megan Mullally
• Attitude and Sass with Megan Mullally
• Hyena Laughing at Handicapped Folks with Megan Mullally
• Pill Popping with Megan
• Booz'n it up with Megan
• How to Marry Rich with Megan
• Fag Hag Megan Mullally

She could have segments like, Feel the Love from America's Homos where people call or write in to tell her how much they idolize her. After the comments are read, or spoken, Megan can just sit back, look pretty, and say, "Now ain't that sweet. Onto our next caller for more ego-boosts."

And who will her first guest be? I'd love to see Cher or Madonna do a show. It could be a reunion for her - they've both been on Will & Grace.

I know Megan's got her own personality, and she's not "Just Karen," but a boy can dream, right?

Posted by SparklesMpls at 09:04 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

May 28, 2005

Paris in the Spring

I just love Paris in the Spring. Paris Hilton, that is. Especially when she's chomping on a HUGE unhealthy fastfood concoction that she'd never eat without an enormous binging session shortly thereafter.

Okay, so seriously, where did this chick come from? She's completely famous - and for what? All for being a party girl. That's right. Apparently all you have to do these days is be seen at all the right nightclubs on the sunset strip.

Oh yeah, and be filthy rich. And have a secretly video-taped sex session released on the internet. And have an anorexic figure. And be blonde. And fuck all the right guys.

I'm not bitter or jealous - really, I'm not. I think all of the gigs she's gotten, publicity she's reveled in, and money she's been paid just to show up at places is all great! It's funny. Anna Nicole funny.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 11:48 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

May 07, 2005

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Ok, I'm a sci-fi geek. I like Star Trek and Star Wars. Yes, I'm gay. Yes, I like these two genres more than I like Liza or Babs. No, you cannot have my gay card.

I can't wait until May 19th - the big day - the day episode III debuts in theatres. Well, actually, I can wait. In fact, I'll probably wait a week or two for the crowds to die down before I go and see it.

I don't know where I developed this interest in sci-fi, but it's always been there. I loved watching the original Star Wars movies over and over again as a child. I couldn't wait for Star Trek: The Next Generation to come up on Fox29 at 10:00pm as a teenager. Even though it was on a UHF channel and my parents didn't subscribe to cable, I watched it - static and all - religously.

And now, episode III is looming over us. The last piece to the puzzle. The storyline that'll put it all together. Over 25 years in the making and tieing together 5 other films. This is the big one.

Could they have found a hotter guy to play Anakin? This boy is pure sex. Okay, so Ian Somerhalder may be a little bit hotter than this one. But, Life as a House was wonderful. His skin is perfect. He's uneasiness when first kissing Natalie Portman onscreen, and his adolecent-like hot-headedness make him real. Others have said he's a terrible actor, citing his amateuristic line recitings, but I'm sticking with him - he's beautiful, and my future husband, so perhaps I'm biased.

The multi-charactered Scot, Ewan McGregor is real no matter who he plays. Not sure if he's top-billing in this film or not, but IMDB does list him first in the credits. This guy has definately made a name for himself. Who else goes from Trainspotting to being Obi Wan? I liked this choice of casting because I like him, but also because the original Obi Wan, Alec Guiness, is from the same island. Ewan plays the inexperienced mentor well, but I hope episode III will show us how the younger version grows to become the older, wiser teacher of earlier films.

After seeing her in Closer and Garden State a few months back, I can't help but be attracted to her. We've seen her grow up on screen. We've seen her be naive, innocent, sexual, happy, and now, fighting and in love. She does everything well. She makes this character so much like Princess Leia, it makes me wonder if all princesses are supposed to be such bruts - I'm certainly not. I am in love with Natalie Portman. I want to be Natalie Portman. Okay, not really, but she's just about as perfect as one could hope for.

What the fuck was the casting director thinking? Jimmy Smits as a Jedi? We're talking the future of the inter-galactic empire here, not the crack dealer around the corner on the streets of Manhattan. Totally. Un. Believable.

Where will you be on May 19th?

Posted by SparklesMpls at 03:35 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

May 05, 2005

Anna Nicole no more?

Does anyone know if Anna Nicole has been cancelled for good? I'm gonna miss her! I just got an email today from her fanclub - you can now get season 1 on DVD!

Posted by SparklesMpls at 10:04 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

May 01, 2005

Anna Chlumsky smiled at me

I was at Spyhouse this morning around 9:00 getting my coffee, settling in with my Sunday newspaper. There were two or three people in line for their morning energy-rush. I was across the room huddled behind the bar. It occurred to me that I'd neglected to grab a napkin on my way past the condiment station, so I got up. I heard the door slam as another patron entered. As I rounded the bar to grab my napkins, I caught a glimpse of the past walking by me.

Could it be her? No ... Sunday morning, in my neighborhood coffee shop in south Minneapolis? Not possible.

I grabbed my napkin and headed back to my nest. The girl had turned around and was heading back my way. She smiled at me. It was a genuine smile, almost flirty, but it just seemed that way because there was so much heart behind it.

I smiled back and sat down, only to watch her leave the way she came - the door slamming behind her. A few flecks of snow coming down on May Day outside.

I don't know if it was really her. I wonder who or what she was looking for that she left so quickly, acknowledging only myself in her short jaunt inside. I haven't seen her on screen for years - that smile alone could make her a star.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 10:29 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

April 23, 2005

Prank calls to Moe's Tavern

Hugh Jass
Pat Magroin
Holden Magroin
Amanda Hugginkiss
Mike Rotch
Phil McCrackin
Wayne King
Ivana Tinkle
Anita Bath
Oliver Klosoff
Bea O’Problem
Seymour Butts
I.P. Daily
Homer Sexual
Al Coholic
Jacque Strap

Posted by SparklesMpls at 12:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 22, 2005

Flaming drama queens

You know the type - flaming drama queens who love gossip and make a big deal out of the smallest little things in an effort to live in an imaginary Melrose Place.

Sorta gives the saying, "My mouth is on fire" a whole new meaning.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 11:27 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

April 11, 2005

Manic Mondays

Had a rather manic day - meaning I haven't had breakfast yet. Instead of bitching about it, I'm just going to recap some interesting things I've been exposed to today:

This little bugger is a wireless webcam. It'll stream video, snap pictures on a timer and email them to you, or just act as your regular webcam - except it's wireless so you can put the thing damned-near anywhere, within reach of an electrical outlet, anyhow. "No, I'm sorry, I don't know anything about the camera in the ceiling tiles above your shower. My Word, that's just awful - who could have done something so invasive?!" $200 retail. Read about it on Gizmodo.

Victoria Gotti is my new favorite pastime. Seriously, if you haven't seen it yet, tune into Growing Up Gotti on AETV. The rich and famous daughter of a mobster serial killer turned single-mom / gossip columnist. She's got the house on Long Island and my fantasy job. She's a total nutjob and she's fabulous - I love her.

And speaking of AETV - have you seen Dog The Bounty Hunter? It's a hillarious show about a white-trash family of convicts turning do-gooders. They've cleaned up their act and now make their livings as bounty hunters - and let me tell you, I wouldn't mind one of "The Dog's" nephew/helpers pinning me to the ground and slapp'n on the cuffs.

And this is way too cool - this guy somehow merged the real estate and rental listings from craigslist and Google Maps to make one tool that you can browse real estate and rentals from a map view - VERY FUCKING COOL. And can I just say again how much I love Google Maps? Thanks.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 10:18 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

January 13, 2005

Customizable M&Ms

Holy shit - this is the coolest thing ever! Order M&Ms in up to 5lb bags, with YOUR OWN CUSTOMIZABLE MESSAGE!

Can you imagine walking into a party and seeing a bowl of these that say, Suck me, Lick me, or Eat me?

Posted by SparklesMpls at 01:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 04, 2004

Alexander sucked

Alexander absolutely sucked. Don't even bother with a rental. The only redeeming quality of the movie was that Colin Farrell kissed a couple of guys.

AND, it's three hours. Trust me, DO NOT GO TO THIS MOVIE.

Jim and I concluded that the only reason the film was distributed was because they sunk millions into producing it and needed to try to recoup some of the cost.

I've got the flu. Yes, I went to the movies, and hopefully I gave it to the old lady who sat in the seat in front of me, that I was using as a footstool. Seriously - there were plenty of other seats in the theatre, why take the one I'm resting my feet on. Is it just because you can? I can't stand self-entitled old people. I had an old lady cut me off the other day, so I honked at her. She gave me dirtiest look, as if to say, "How dare you honk at me. I am old. That gives me the right to cut you off."

Yes, I'm discontent right now. My body aches. I've rented the latest Harry Potter flick in the hopes that it entertains me for a couple of hours so I don't have to think.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 09:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 14, 2004

The W-fucking-B

Thank Gawd for the WB for bringing us the beauty of Tom Welling (and for making him take his shirt off so often).

Posted by SparklesMpls at 03:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 09, 2004

Hold on for one more day

Good lord - I have Wilson Phillips' One More Day stuck in my head! I'm really looking forward to this weekend. ... la la la hold on for one more day!

Posted by SparklesMpls at 03:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 01, 2004

Drag Queens on Horseback?

So is anyone going to this gay rodeo? I don't actually know if there'll be any drag queens, but I've heard it's a hoot.

NSGRA website

Posted by SparklesMpls at 05:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 21, 2004

Pure camp

This weekend was fantastic! Though it was nice and sunny, it never rose much above 70, so I didn't get an opportunity to work on my tan, but I'm not going to bitch too much because the rain we've had is so dreadfully depressing - the sun is a nice change. I've watched href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339071/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9Z2lybHMgd2lsbCBiZSBnaXJsc3xodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=21;fm=1"
target=_blank>Girls Will Be Girls a few times in the last week. It's pure all-out camp. Miss CoCo Peru stars as one of three main gals. You'd recognize her from href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162710/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9dHJpY2t8aHRtbD0xfG5tPW9u;fc=1;ft=105;fm=1"
target=_blank>Trick and href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114682/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9dG8gd29uZyBmb298aHRtbD0xfG5tPW9u;fc=1;ft=21"
target=_blank>To Wong Foo. "Have you ever had cum in your eye, Gabriel? It burrrrrns!" Go rent it, or better yet, go buy it.

And, along the same lines, href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0322023/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9ZGllIG1vbW1pZSBkaWV8aHRtbD0xfG5tPW9u;fc=1;ft=21"
target=_blank>Die Mommie Die just came out on video, too! It's a real tribute to the old Betty Davis flicks, and it stars Jason Priestly post-i'm-an-idiot-car-crash-incident!

Posted by SparklesMpls at 06:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 08, 2004

Latter Days

After seeing this film:

Latter
Days

... I found myself seeing more and more Mormon boys out riding their bikes through the neighborhood. I had never noticed them before! Makes me wonder if they'd always been there, or if the Mormon church thought they'd take advantage of the free publicity ;-) Just kidding - they probably didn't appreciate the film too much.

Anyway, the point of my post - I saw the hottest two Mormon boys the other day. In fact, I don't recall ever seeing an un-hot one. Along the 'never noticed them before' lines. I find it funny that I had NO idea that coffee shops were filled with people in the program prior to treatment. I used to hang out in them just to socialize, read a book, or get a coffee. Now it's practically a staple in my life. I don't go more than 48 hours without visiting a coffee shop.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 07:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Stepford Wives

Godamn The Stepford Wives was funny! Definately a must-see. There was actually some valid stuff in the film, though, not just all comedy, camp and brainwashed housewives. There's a point where Nicole Kidman's characater, Joanna, realizes that everyone in Stepford is happy. They do their work, they smile, they're polite and they do tons of service work! Joanna decides that she's going to try
it, and for a while at least, she's happy, though she ends up with an overstock of muffins. I too sometims try to force myself to have fun. Sometimes it makes other people around me have fun, and in turn, I end up having genuine fun myself.

I'm going to be fun today!

Posted by SparklesMpls at 06:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 04, 2004

Super fantastic

Super Size Me was a super fantastic film, though I couldn't believe what happened to this guy. Go see it.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 07:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 31, 2004

The Opposite Sex: Rene's Story

I'm up late again all excited about this blogging. Sure I'd heard about blogs some time ago, but it never really interested me - why would I want to publish my thoughts for everyone to see?! First all of the technical aspects interested me - I can list my blog on other sites, provide a feed, host it on my own server, etc. Then I was at Vera's with Chris tonight telling him about it and he came up with the idea of creating a community out of it. Wowzers - that's perfect! Especially since I named it www.andiamsomebody.com...

Well, maybe I should explain the name. When I checked myself into treatment at 9:00pm on Feb 13, 2004 (the day before Valentine's day on Friday the 13th of all days!), I went to my first meeting. It was the Reflections Meeting. It's a group-run check-in meeting. There's a structure to it, some traditions like Positive Strokes and Fuzzy Wuzzy, and then you end with checking in and reciting at least three affirmations. The affirmations are repeated by the group after you state them, and then you end with, "And I am somebody," to which the group responds, "and you are somebody.

Anyhow, this was my first group meeting and it still hadn't sunk in that I was in treatment! ... and here we were saying silly things like, "and I am somebody." It stuck, and thus the site is born some three and a half months (of sobriety) later.

We'll see if the community evolves, but for now it's just me.

Back to my topic. I was up watching a Showtime original film - The Opposite of Sex. It's a documentary made about a woman who undergoes testosterone therapy and eventually surgery to become a man. The story itself was good and I'm glad I watched it. In fact, I was in treatment with a M to F transsexual and it was a good experience for me to be exposed to - I didn't realize some of the harsh realities these people have to deal with.

Rene, the subject of the film, constantly worked out - he wanted to become a male stripper when the surgery was complete. They showed his tryouts and it happened to be at Club 7969 - at (wouldn't you know) 7969 Santa Monica Blvd. It struck a chord with me because when I lived in LA a couple years back I actually helped out at that club with some friends who were throwing a weekly themed gay night. It was pretty successful and I always had fun. Being that I was 'with the DJ,' I usually got free drinks and always took full advantage of the perk.

Funny enough, I had seen the club on an episode of Anna Nicole about a year ago, too. Johnny Trendy was MCing a drag queen Anna look-alike contest at the club. Good gawd did I drink in LA. I was enamored with the clubs. It's no wonder that I never got a job the entire six months I was there. I was too busy partying. 7969 was right next to Crescent Heights, which turned into Laurel Canyon, which took me right over the hill back to my apartment. I still can't believe how crazy everyone drove through that canyon after the bars closed.

Here's a couple of photos of a little incident a friend of mine and I had with the curb on Crescent Heights:

Funny enough there were no consequences from that night - even though we couldn't get the car jacked up for about an hour and resorted to pulling out a bottle of premixed long island and proceeded to sit down on the blvd to drink it.

Snooze.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 09:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 30, 2004

How you say?

Okay, according to the bio page on IMDB.com Jake's last name is in fact pronounced like Jill, not Gill. Thank you very much.

Anyhow, I've gotton over my resentment for wasting the $8 on the film, as I've developed a much deeper appreciation for Mister Gyllenhall. He's quite the hottie - even Dustin Hoffman can't keep his hands off him!

Sweet dreams to me.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 09:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 29, 2004

The Day After Tomorrow

I went to the Minnesota Gopher State Roundup this evening - a big AA convention at the Sheritan (formerly Radisson South) at 494 and 100. It continues again tomorrow and goes through Sunday. It was okay. I got there late (phone didn't wake me from my nap) and ended up having to stand at the back of the room to listen to the speaker. She was pretty cool. 30+ years of sobriety and still cracking jokes that made me laugh. I particularly liked the one about how acrobatic and flexible she became after her escapades in an old Ford convertible. She was about 65 - 70 years old and I love dirty old women ;-) Then we went around to the various hospitality suites where I discovered they were broadcasting the speaker. Wish I would have known I could have sat down with cookies, diet coke and the company of fellow alchies while laughing - it would have made for a much better time. Walked around for a while. Saw some friends I've made from treatment and meetings. Saw several hotties - which, as it turns out, is becoming quite the added bonus to sobriety. It's not all just meetings, coffee and cigarettes - there are actually HOT men to be met! And the straight ones - they're all so sensitive and real. There's nothing sexier than a hot, sensitive, spiritual, straight man.

Went to a movie after wards with my sponsor and friend Chris. It was the WORST movie I've seen in a long time. The height of my night was really Gopher State, but notice I'm still resentful that I spent ten bucks on this piece of shit movie. It's called The Day After Tomorrow with hottie Jake Gyllenhaal. I hope for my sake that his career isn't over as he's quite the cutie and I'd like to continue seeing him on the big screen. The movie was a lot like Deep Impact from 1998 with Elijah Wood. End of the world with a love story and other sub-dramas going on. Oh, and I forgot - the producers spent all of their money on just-okay special effects and everything else in the film sucked.

Anyhow, I'm letting go and letting God. There are more important things to spend my time on than getting worked up over how terrible it was, and besides, I am somebody.

Posted by SparklesMpls at 09:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack