Thursday, June 19, 2008

Ho hummage.

I don't have much to say tonight (I'm kind of grumpy) but this clock still has to tick 8 minutes of my life away before I can wash out this itchy dye. I'm a bit afraid to see the end product... I have a sneaking suspicion that my head is going to be a flaming mass of pink appropriate only in Japanese anime. But we'll see.
Days later: the hair turned out a crazy shade of comic book red. Am I keeping it? Hells, yeah. It is, to quote one of the many people in the world I'm sick to death of, time for a change.
I really need to do something with my time... I've been getting soooo terribly twitchy lately. I *thankfully* have an unholy trinity of busy weekends ahead of me, but that's only a tiny bandaid on the gaping abdominal fleshwound that is my present existence. And my present existence is rather disappointing to me... My ambitions for life changed as I grew older and my perspective changed. When I was a child, I dreamed that I would meet the man of my dreams on either my 16th birthday or my 18th (cause that's how Disney taught me to dream. Raise your hand if you DON'T want me to go into that again. I had to stop typing because my hands were waving wildly of their own volition and I couldn't type... must be a sign. Moving on...) and get married and raise babies and not like that's a bad thing, mind you... the world must be peopled.
However, that was not my Route 66, and now the looming conflict is... I'm t-minus 5 days from my late twenties and I have not much to show for it. A 8-5 job answering phones... bizarrely colored X-Men hair... raging commitmentphobia... severe mistrust of everyone around me but a few of those genetically linked to me and one or two close friends... a sickening feeling of impending doom... some curious mental powers passed on through the women of my family... a capacity for observation that misses little but is rather unwelcome to most people I know... strong morals I was raised with and the lingering stain of JudeoChristian purple KoolAid on my teeth but an ever stronger desire to launch myself into the careless, hedonistic, thoroughly enjoyable party that branches off the straight and narrow into Woman of 2008land... itchy feet and a wandering soul... a feeling that I should be doing something somewhere but with no helpful roadsigns... an insatiable craving for nummy snacks and hard liquor... loneliness so ingrained and corporeal you could cut it with a knife and not even biopsy a fraction of it... a long string of unsuccessful eating disorders... schemes I won't allow myself to carry through for fear of failure... a craving for success but little to no ambition... depression as a full time vocation since the 4th grade... a shiny new car but nowhere in particular to drive it to... a creeping suspicion that I'm starting not to care about anyone or anything (because it's better to have stayed aloof and not lost than to love and be hurt again)... a personality that changes with every person I meet... limitless potential, bottled like warm champagne at a party where no one remembered to bring a corkscrew...
If there's anything missing from my life, it's dreams. Careers... travels... homes... loves... friends... I gave up on anticipation a long time ago. I'm kind of a pessimist; I prefer to anticipate disappointment. That way, if something goes wrong, I'm already mentally prepared, and if something goes well, I'm pleasantly surprised. I anticipate failure and then resent that it follows me wherever I go.
But where's the solution? I can't seem to settle on a future. I won't turn to optimism. I won't look forward to an unforseeable future. And I'm always too tired to really think about it.
This is angsty and depressing (but then again, so am I! Charming. Hee.) I'm going to go watch Scrubs and hope the Ambition Fairy visits me tonight and leaves me something under my pillow.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Grimm Goodbye

I have made a resolution on this day.

I'm not a big fan of children, in general... It's cool if they're someone else's, and I can play with them a bit and then get them all sugared up before giving them back to their longsuffering, vaguely twitchy Mommies and Daddies. I'm fine with that. Apart from that, though, I'm simply not the maternal type(unless you consider Shaken Baby Syndrome a positive step towards Happy Families.)

That having been said, I recognize that someday in my future, I might choose (or be forced) to unleash a genetic copy of myself into the world. A girl, of course. Because boys are smelly. And they make me awkward. And one should never have to be awkward with one's own progeny.

And it occurred to me that it would be prohibitively intimidating to be answerable for the development of a whole new person in such a disorienting, frenetic, violent world (triple word score for that sentence.) Not only do parents face the obvious crises looming over every child (violence, sex, substance abuse), but also the less visible forms of mental/emotional/spiritual angst such as depression, peer pressure, and the (wait, wait... let me climb up onto my soapbox. Ooof... okay. I'm up.) unbalance caused by the manipulation of modern media/entertainment.

No, really. Look how much kids these days are affected by what they see on tv! Their lives are saturated with Paris Hilton and Hannah Montana and Solja Boy. Not that these are bad things (necessarily. Well...), but they affect the way children think and develop and interact with others.

THAT having been said, I'll get on with my original point (if I can remember that far back), which is: as crucial as outside influences are to the development of the mind of a child, I hereby resolve that should I ever have a girl child, fairy tales shall be barred from my domicile henceforth.

I grew up in a great age of Disney musicals... The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin... come on. Those movies were and are to this day great works of art (to me). And I lived through a great age of cartoon female empowerment; Belle was a not only gorgeous and smart, but a ballbuster and a hero in her own right. Mulan dressed as a boy to fight a war and save her father's life. Jasmine, too independent for a privileged, useless life behind castle walls with a privileged, useless royal husband, snuck out and dressed as an urchin to pursue a freer life (and interesting point about Jasmine: she was a royal who married a commoner, unlike most Disney princesses. She had nothing to gain in the relationship but a life companion. I think that says a lot for her). I would never say that newer Disney musicals haven't fought the good fight for girl pride and empowerment (the traditional, sleep-'til-your-prince-saves-you-and-kisses-you-awake Disney musicals notwithstanding). Never.

However, for all their girlpower and role-modelage, I think that fairy tale adaptations give a subtler message, and one I heard with my whole heart at an early age.

Love. What little girl didn't swoon when the prince kisses his true love? What little imagination didn't picture herself in a flowing white gown, waltzing around the ballroom? What little heart didn't beat for the day it's true love would ride up and carry it off to a happily ever after? Mine did. I dreamed of a dark headed prince in shining armour, and I practiced being carried off into the sunset (True story. On a rocking chair. I never told anyone that. I'm making you my Secret-Keeper.) And not that a girl shouldn't dream, but... I think that through the medium of Disney cartoons, I was ruined for the ordinary. I was made to be discontented with anything less than a prince. I was shown that a simple girl like me could accomplish daring feats and save the day, and then ride off in the arms of her rich, titled, handsome beloved.

It seems like any life would be blase after a prototype like that. But I beg to disagree... I ask for so much less than the fairy tale life, and crave something so much better: just something to call my own.

I spent so many years in romantic anticipation. Why did I not see that my time would be better spent proactively making my own life spectacular, rather than waiting for it to be validated by the presence of the princely stereotype? Why did I look forward to a happy ending and not an eventful story? I've lately begun to mourn the wasted years I spent in Disney ingenue naivete. And I'm ready- oh, so ready- to set that aside.

No single girl of a certain age is likely to be fortunate enough to NOT be told, "Someday your prince will come." I have been, many times. And people are well-meaning, so I try not to be annoyed. But I ask you this: what if he doesn't? Does that ruin the ending? Does that lessen the triumph of the lessons learned and the life full of victories and defeats and attempts? No, I think it's a distraction, and one I prefer to live without.

I attended a tiny religious school. One of the things that frustrated me the most while I was there was twofold: A. That many girls at school were DESPERATE to land a husband and start nesting and B. That as much as I scorned their impatience, I would not have minded the same thing happenening to me. Thank God it didn't.... And I don't mean to scoff at the people who did choose to make that decision so early. If that's your choice, so be it; I just think that a permanent romantic relationship is not something that should be forced or rushed into or really even "pursued", as it were. Fairy tales (as told by Disney) make love and romance out to be the destination at the end of the journey, or the prize at the end of the race. I have to disagree... to me, it's only one plot arc in the scope of the whole story.

One of our generations's zeitgeists (and the one that I appreciate the most, I think) is that it's not only possible, but rather encouraged for young men and women to run amok and accomplish things and have a life and enjoy themselves before "settling down". Marriage is now being preempted by other things. I would have resented that on behalf of marriage, once upon a time, but now I can't support the concept more. Is it better to enter into an early commitment and give up on your own limitless promise for a life of pursuing other people's limitless promise? Or is it better to live your own life for yourself before devoting it to others? And the answer is relative to everyone.

I am sick to death of living in anticipation. I am so exhausted from the disappointment of a life spent in wishing for something better and living for a future than may not exist for me. I am discontented with the promise of a sugar-coated happily ever after. I am bored by Prince Charming in all his irritating perfection.

Ahhh, Prince Charming. Let's talk about him. Sure, he's pretty and brave and good with a sword; chances are he usually has something romantic to say and is more than happy to warble sweet nothings in your ear in his clear midrange tenor voice. Isn't it fabulous how he dashes around the country on his steed, rescuing people and slaying evildoers and accomplishing noble... stuff? So... the older I get, the dippier Prince Charming seems to me. Maybe I value 5 o'clock shadow rumpled hair and that scene in Pride and Prejudice where Mr. Darcy climbs out of the lake in the wet shirt oh my GOD just give me a second.
Whew. Anyway. Maybe it's that I value the ordinariness of the Everyman. Maybe it's that other people's imperfections help me accept my own. Maybe it's that I prefer comfort and laughter and familiarity to an Ideal. Either way, give me a scruffy, awkward, beer-drinking, football-watching, jeans-wearing, imperfect boy over a Charming anyday. Bub-bye, Charming. It was real, and it was fun, and it was real fun, but I could never commit to anyone prettier than myself. Peace out.

If I ever had a girl, I would want her to grow up infused with the scope of what she could accomplish, not mooning over who she may someday marry. I would want her to envision where she'll go to college and how she'll change the world, not what she'll wear to her wedding. I would want her to be strong and brave and not ever once wait to be rescued. I would encourage her to look for what gives her happiness rather than what fills an ideal.
So, I have to accept that this whole diatribe didn't ever go where I wanted it to go and was mostly a single, childless girl discoursing on issues she's almost entirely seperate from and rhapsodizing about how sensible and free-spirited her non-existent girlchild will be. But I feel really strongly about this. There's nothing cuter than a little girl twirling around in a princess dress. But, there's nothing sadder than a older girl trolling for an unrealistic man of her dreams. I'm not talking about lowering standards... I'm more encouraging women to let fantasy compromise with reality and to not to judge men off of what they see on tv.
Whatever. I have to get back to work.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Funk: 7, Elizabeth: 0

The thing is... as anyone who has ever even met me could tell you, I'm not a big fan of organized religion. At all. So, I realized that my penultimate chance to prevail against the perceived evils of organized religion and wield a mighty sword of entirely relative truth would be to... organize my own religion.


And voila! Here we are. Lizlam. We are few but proud, and wicked hot. We believe in loving all people but never quite calling them in the morning... We thrive in performing arts settings and wherever pancakes are served. Our people are served by a hardworking Executive committee consisting of me, the Prophet, and my hard-working, industrious, jolly as hell Executive Vice Prophet in Charge of a Riotous Good Time To Be Had By All. We are an iron fist in a velvet glove and we fight for our (and YOUR) right to par-TAY.


And, like any true religion, we have enemies. And, like any true religion, we take those enemies down, whether in a swift public act of destruction or sneaky coup in the quiet hours of the dawn, while everyone is still passed out from being so totally wasted at the riotous Lizlam celebration the night before. Lizlam faces enemies far more devious and malevolent than ever before, so I have compiled a rudimentary list of our top ten public enemies. Please be on the lookout for these offenders; the well-being and non-bad-moodiness of Lizlamites everywhere are dependent on your cooperation in this matter.


Before we get started, we are so proud to inform our Faithful that the Executive Vice Prophet has graciously agreed to take over management of the Big Apple Branch of Lizlam. Skyler, miss you terribly and good luck bringing the light of the Goddess to the most heathen city of New York. And bring some heathen back to us at Christmas, please.

So, here follow the Top Ten Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad and Generally Craptastic Enemies of Lizlam:

10. Mornings: In a perfect (that is to say, Lizlam infused) world, the daily party kicks off at aboot noonish. Where does that leave mornings? Being slept through and ignored, where they belong. Mornings, I renounce you in the name of the Prophet and her non-morning-person Executive Prophet (and: hee. If you ever have the privilege of road-tripping with the EVP, whatEVER you do, don't leap onto the pullout couch on which she is sleeping and sing loud, freeverse songs in her ear. Just... take my advice.) Any time before noon: make yourself scarce.

9. Celebrities and their CelebuSpawn: Cause, really? We pay attention why? The only thing more horrifying than an egomaniacal, arguably talented and filthy rich stick insect to whom we pay good money to speak someone else's words into a camera is the very real danger that that same evil being will probably create a merged genetic copy of itself and another breathtakingly shallow, hard-partying, no education-having Hollywood hellbeast and unleash it's celebuspawn on a country that embraces and covets the wasteful, hedonistic stick insect lifestyle. So, let's lay waste to the rich and the useless and then sell all their crap and use the profits to Lidice the shite out of the entire Hollywoodland universe. Stat!

8. Living Single: The state of singlehood, not the '90's sitcom. We all have to do it, and it sucks. I really have no way to elucidate here. If you're single, you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you're not, you're probably...
7.... the Smug Married: Oh yes, THAT married person who asks you loudly, "Are you seeing anyone?" or "Why haven't YOU gotten married yet?" or "Let me tell you all about how f-ing happy I am with my [significant other]!" or "I'm so glad [significant othe] and I had children before we got too old! Speaking of not getting any younger..." or "I can't understand why no one wants to date you! Why, if I were twenty years younger..."


6. Subcutaneous fat and the people who have none: You know who you are. If I have to hear one more size six girl boohoohooing over something making her look fat or mourning the fact that she can't have another cookie because it'll go to her hips (read: it'll make her HAVE hips) or watch one more teenage boy polishing off three pizzas as I pick miserably at a pile of lettuce with no dressing, I SWEAR I'm going to eat until I've gained 95,000 pounds and then singlehandedly (or doublechinnedly, as the case may be) seek out each whiny skinny bitch and SIT on them and CRUSH them and teach them to fear MY fat more than their own. And even Chuck Norris will tremble. Except he's not skinny... so no worries there. Can you imagine the epic battle between my Fat Wobble of Doom and his Roundhouse Kick for the skinnyfolk's SOULS?

Time to move on. But just imagine...

And the top 5:



5. Reality TV: Reality shows have slipped a roofie into television's drink, dragged its intert form into an alley, gang raped it and left it for dead and really? It's time to pay for your crimes. The Bachelor, Survivor, AMERICAN IDOL (yours will be the most painful and prolonged of demises, I can promise you that), Pants Off Dance Off, the Surreal Life... your time has come. The Tribe has spoken. America has voted and you substandard voyeur fodder porn star vehicle wretched excuses for the sheltering of the lowest forms of humanity shall disappear in fire and blood and anguish! Except for anything on the Food Network. Bobby Flay much?




4. Jay's exboyfriend Greg: I don't have a recent snapshot... so this old one will have to do. Just look for the EVIL and the cold, dead eyes. Someday, I'm going to ninja to his house in the dead of night, ring his doorbell and, when he answers, punch him in the balls. And as he doubles over in pain, whispering, "WHY?" I'm going to point my finger in his face and say "You KNOW why." It's gonna happen. Be ready.




3. Hickory, NC: You can check out any time you want, but you can never leave... Hickory is the ideal location to settle and roost and raise a family. But, to the single, non-drunk-faced young person of today, it's a sucking, bleak, depressing, boring, evilly sentient black hole of despair. We all have plans to leave. But few of us ever make it. Most are stuck forever, wandering in a Silent Hill-like Mayberry, praying for deliverance. Deliverance. What a perfect word. In SO many ways.


Paddle faster, I hear banjos. Someone get us out of here!



2. Paula Deen: Can you really look at this woman and not get chills down your spine from the evil? No one who cooks with that much butter or speaks with such an ungodly rural twang should be permitted to walk the earth among us decent, hard-working Lizlamites. Paula Deen, I hope the devil enjoys fried chicken and milkshakes made with heavy whipping cream!







1. The Uterus:
It's spongy, it's theoretically fertile and it's a royal pain in the pelvis. Unless you're planning on dropping a litter any time soon (which is not really smiled upon in Lizlam), the uterus is not only worthless, but painful and cranky making. Best to have it out if possible. Uterus, the tribe has spoken. Pack up your one-three weeks a month of pain, anguish and GET OUT! And don't come back!