So How Was Your Fist Day of 2012?

True to my word ( a promise made five minutes to midnight) I endeavored to rest, relax, and reflect today. For this new year eased in with little fanfare my day was spent lounging watch my DVR and feasting upon a medley of steamed clams & mussels. A bit lazy, but not a bad day.....

Tomorrow I have off, like many other folk, so I hope to get motivated with cleaning and the like. Resolutions? I don't I made any except to be good to myself and my spirit. I don't need to make grandiose plans that only will be abandoned in A few days. I'm terrible at keeping resolutions. How did this tradition start anyway, eh?

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WCP: Flying The Friendly Skies

Part One to The West Perspective Series:

Papa Red Bear’s gotta laugh at himself with this one! Sure do. LOL. Up until recently a few years ago, yours truly hadn’t foot on an airplane prior to 9/11/11. I never enjoyed flying and avoided it at all cost. Call me crazy, but I think it’s a control thang. Between getting caught up in the aerodynamics of what’s really holding that vessel aloft, incessant ear popping, uncomfortable seats, and obnoxious flight attendants, it was just too much.

Pilots are another entity all together. Please, let that person not be drunk, too tired, or just plain in a pissy mood, so s/he gets me safely to my destination. I rest my faith in your (hopefully!) capable hands. Combine all these factors and you have a passenger that sits quietly in his seat before and during flight. I only get up when time to disembark. Yeah, I know, “¡Vaya con Dios!” Still…

Anyhoo, since my first sojourn a few years ago, I’ve become a pro at traveling now. I have my crazy rituals, but I get by. Would you believe each flight I do my best to spot the Air Marshall? There’s comfort. Once I think I’ve ascertained the official, I ease back in my seat and enjoy the ride.

I’ll be the first person to admit I perpetually run on CP time. Again, laughing at myself, when I fly I tend to step out this tardiness and be as prompt as possible. Rest is almost out of the question. This last trip I was up until three hours before I had to get up to get ready to go to the airport. I don’t know anyone who’s fond of security at airports, but I want the experience over ASAP. When they first started doing the full body screening at my local airport, I said screw it. If I can go faster to the get to my boarding gate, y’all can have as much free peeps as needed. Just get me to the gate on time!

The last few times I flew to Cali, like Ms. Badu, I’ve chosen a window. Seeing the plane take off, watching the clouds around actually brings out the lil kid in me and I’ve learned to relax much more. Take off still grips by the short hair, by it's all good. That sudden lift off the ground makes me giddy and still nervous, but I’m cool with it now. I'm learning to live with the exhilaration or it all.

By far, United Airlines is my favorite carrier. I’ve gotten a tad spoiled because I think I addicted to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue while hearing the in the event of emergency instructions. However this last time I flew Continental which was a better experience! The seats were wider. I had more leg room. And I’ll be damned, I event enjoy the in-flight movie (they showed the Lincoln Lawyer starring Matthew McConaughey. Not bad).

I have to admit each time I fly into Los Angeles, I get a bit mystified. Seeing the sprawling expanse is still strange. I mean, yeah, we got big cities on the East Coast, but generally everything just looks like an urban jungle to me. La La Land seems surreal. Again, the impressionable child in me, still gets awestruck.

My boy Jay was waiting for me when I got to LAX this trip. After getting my eat-on, my only agenda was to get to the beach, which we did. We ended up in Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. Cool, though I still hadn't been to Long Beach and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I got there eventually, just not the day I landed.

After that we caught up with brother-in-blogging, Wonder Man, and hung out a bit. Some how every time I meet up with Wonder Man I always ended up on Rodeo Drive! LOL. Maybe it's that Louis Vuitton influence that he's a compelling spell over me. But Rodeo was a trip 'n a half. I longer feel like a tourist when I can laugh at other folks posin' and primpin' in front of the high-end shops.

Later, we left that scene to party at a BBQ at another friend’s house. That was some interesting shizz there and is worthy of it's own post.

Definitely a great start to a wonderful vacay….

In Joy and Hope,
-Ian

Clot In The Plot

So how did you feel about last night's ep of True Blood? Don't be shy, be honest. Please tell me I'm not the only Negro out there who walked away irritated? Maybe I'm just in a mood lately, but last night the show just worked my damn nerves! Just wasn't feelin' it.


Lord, where to start?

• Lafayette and Jesus. OK these two lately, IMHO, have become really boring. I could watch reruns of Will & Grace and feel more sexual chemistry than I have from Laff and Jeez. I'm sooooooo not believing their relationship this season, AT ALL!!!! Um, have a sex scene or two or three or four or more! Everyone else in Bon Temps makes time for sex dammit. OK? Real gay couples at least touch in a damn while, but never seems to happen in Bon Temps Louisiana. Aw, hell no it don't!
• Jesus' Grandfather. Why the implication his grandfather knocked up some seemingly underage woman? Really???
• I see Tara's on the verge of returning to the whiny, sniveling, "I-can't-handle-life" character again. Oh DEAR JESUS (and not Lafayette's man neither)!!!! OK Tara. Bitch, you a Black woman living in the South. Louisiana. Um, I have it on good authority Southern women are strong and resilient. Shut the fuck up with your complaining, go back to New Orleans and be happy with the life you made with your woman. [Highlight: I am glad you came over to our team this season!]
• Arlene Bellefleur's "You people" comment. I know the shit was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but it wasn't funny! I thought Lettie Mae Thorton-Daniels was about to whup her ass.
• Now, speaking of Lettie Mae. I was glad to see you back shug, but seriously? Did you and your new husband, Rev. Daniels, really need to coon it up as bad as you did? That whole scene was just mess.
• The Black Vampire Sheriff. Rounding out my diatribe I was happy to see that HANDSOME brutha who was one of King Bill's sheriffs, but then horribly disappointed when True Blood practically castrated the character. None only did he get debased in front of his peers for his lack of knowledge of vampires being Priests in the Middle Ages but Good King Bill grabs him by the throat, like he was his " whippin' boy." Seriously not cute!!! Why did the black vampire have to look like the idiot and be the example? Whyyyyyyy? I know Bill is the Vampire King, but he didn't get physical with any of the other white and Latino vamps in the room, nor we're any of them portrayed "uneducated" or "naive." This undertone hit hardest with me and if you weren't careful, I'm sure folks missed it. Maybe not. I haven't seen any of my fellow blogger's reactions to last night yet.....
  

So there you have it. I was none too happy with TB in the least. It was tired. The annoying stereotypes and bullshit put in a funk with my crew of Vamps, Wolves and Shifters...My least favorite episode thus far. Of course, I'll keep watching though.

On a side note, I will confess I did enjoy seeing Eric Northman shirtless here and there. Didn't realize how hot he was until this season!

And....What?!?!

Been a few thoughts ratting around in the grey matter that I haven't commented upon. Here's a rewind of some moments catching my attention this past week.

RuPaul's Drag Race Season Three Finale: First off, congrats to Raja...don't want it to seem like I'm sore loser cause I was a supporter of Team Alexis and Team Manila. That said, why the FRAK did I waste my time this season???? I knew from the FIRST episode Raja was probably going to win! Even though she worked my nerves at times, I grew to love Manila. By the Final three, I knew poor Alexis would be first to go, so I threw hope behind Manila. Alas...

The Weather/Tornadoes: OK? What in Samhain is going on? I'm not one to hit the panic button, but the last few weeks of Tornado activity has been just down right scary. Tornadoes hitting St. Louis' Airport, Tornadoes flattening entire towns in Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia... What the Hell?!?! Even PA wanted to horn in on the horrible weather. Two confirmed twisted rolled through my area on Thursday. Trees were down, flooding galore from the torrential rain, the Susquehanna way past looking menacing....Ugh! Getting to work, which normally is a 20 minute commute, took over an hour. Suffice to say our area wasn't as bad as the South, my point is why is Mother Nature tearing like a woman scorned? She's pissed!

Obama and his birth certificate: You know? Really? Why was this necessary? Honestly, Trump and the rest of the Birthers needed to go over this issue long ago. How commendable that on 44's part to put up with it this long. Mind you, I was one of those who really felt our president showing his birth certificate was so unnecessary. Officials and Reps from Hawaii time and time again gave the proof required to show his birth as US citizen. Yet, Trump and cronies just weren't satisfied. Lord! Donald just go get a haircut and leave us alone already!!! Why hasn't anyone mentioned HIPPA in all this? But I guess the highest citizen in the land isn't entitled to privacy. In any case, 44 showed 'em the long form.

The Royal Wedding: Is it done yet? I know I was one of the ones way back when to watch Charles and Diana, but I have no, none what-so-ever, interest in William and Kate. That's saying something cause usually anything British, and I'm so there. Dunno. Maybe cause Wills and Harry did a flip flop in the cuteness factor? Harry has gotten more over the years....Yeah he looked good standing next to his brother in West Minster. OK, I peeked at the highlights! I didn't watch it Friday morning though.

Superman's Citizenship: Are people really reacting over a comic book character renouncing U.S. citizenship? Really? C'mon people, it's a work of fiction! Get with the program. Let's worry about the frakkin' economy instead a make believe character written for children.

Doctor Who Series 6: After seeing part two of the season opener, I'm completely disillusioned with Who. What complete garbage! Both episodes seemed rushed and loosely tied. I do realize the point to Who has never to wrap things up in a tidy package, but these episode had too many plot whole. And can anyone explain the Silence to me? Um, the Doctor's been visiting Earth for hundreds of years and this is his first encounter? Oh yeah, you forget them when they're outta sight. I get it, outta sight, outta mind. Uh no...

This was perhaps one of the worst Doctor Who episodes to date. I don't know if I was more frustrated with BBC America's commercial interruptions or trying to understand a hastily written story. I've been watching the show since the 70s. I've long said the problem with the new incarnation of Who is it needs to go back to its root. Go back the Tom Baker era telling of story arc. Any one Remember the Invasion of Time? Now that was a story arc for the ages.... Ugh! Moffett, please turn this show around. It needs H-E-L-P. If need be, bring back some the older characters, while keeping the zest and underlying promise. Matt Smith are times shows incredible spark.

Despite my critiques, I'm still intrigued by the Doctor and River's relationship. The show is giving us the truth piece meal, but I think I've worked through the red herrings and alleged theorist on who exact River is. I might be important to not the child from the Season opener. Who was she? Why did Amy react they ways she did in child's room at the Ophanage? What was the real reason Amy told the Doctor she was pregnant and not Rory? Might point out the plot gap...HOW THE HELL DID SHE DISCOVER SHE WAS PREGNANT???

Skipping my rant, I do have speculations who the child trapped in the Apollo 11 suit was. Deconstruct the episode, piece all you know so far about River, and it all makes sense. Had to go back and re-watch River's introduction to the Doctor while he was in his David Tenant incarnation.... Oh I won't spoil it, but I would be très surprised if my theory was wrong...

Momentary Update

Things have been pretty busy lately and I'm just catching a minute to post. Whew! I'm excited for all good changes going on lately. Things are taking a positive turn and I'm amazed at how quickly. I supposed its true that with the right attitude you CAN accomplish anything. Onward, forward with the momentum.

So last weekend I met up with a friend in Philly who gave some focus to sharpen insight on my strategy even further. Since that convo, I've been using his advice to my advantage with some instance results. I like this feelin'. My side job is starting to fall into place with the training, even the main job is calming down and becoming tolerable... THANK YOU JESUS!!! Now if I can bottle this for a few weeks until I can keep this without external coaching, I'll be aiiight....

That's all for now.

Ah Mariah....

I must admit I'm thoroughly loving this season of RuPaul's Drag Race. And I thought the contestants from last season had drama...Hmph. Some quick thoughts.

I'm truly appreciative Ru brought halfway decent big "girls," this season, although Mimi Imfurst was a mess beyond belief. I cringed every time she spoke. Just wrong.

The Pitt Crew boys need to be featured more! Both are sexy as shit.

I hate, loathe, detest, can't STAND Raja...yet her shit is on point. She works my fucking nerves though. Speaking of working my nerves, Delta...ugh! Next. My favorite and hopeful to be in the top three is Shangela, although based on the Untucked footage shown from last night, maybe she's not quite there? Dunno, but all I know she's my fave next to Alexis Mateo, Stacy, and alas....poor Mariah so got sent home last night.

Ru has picked some good guest judges this season, my faves so far have been LaToya, Vanessa, and Amber Rose. But as much as Santino can be a pain, please keep him on the panel each week. I really ain't feelin' Billy what's-his-name.

We'll see how the remaining episodes go, but I pretty expect its a given Raja will also make it to the top. Unlike Raven from last year (who I adore!) I'm not rooting for the "outspoken" bitch this season.

I've been gone, but not forgotten...

It's been a minute since I've been on the blog...and I have plenty to say. Of course I'm gonna be cheeky and hold off for a bit. My heart hasn't been in to blogging these last few months: too much reality going on. Now I see some of my fellows have been up to wonderful things. Will need to give a few praises for them when I return.