Kennedy

I was born in February 1977, almost 14 years after John Kennedy was assassinated and 9 years after his brother Bobby met the same fate. I doubt my parents are even old enough to remember where they were when JFK was shot. I wonder then, why I still manage to get choked up at the old news footage of the assassinations, the funerals, and all of it. You'd think, by not having my own personal remembrances of those events, and by the shear amount of times I've seen the footage, that it wouldn't affect me. I should be desensitized to it. Besides the general tragedy of it all, it just shouldn't affect me like it does. But it does. Every time. I always get that lump in my throat and make a little squeak, trying to hold back the emotion.

I guess it must have something to do with the mystique and the legend of it all, right? For all of my life, the fascination with the Kennedy family has been there, and it's made them our Royal family, for lack of a better term. We care about them.

When we all mourned the death of JFK Jr. in 1999, I was 22. I remember it vividly. Saturday morning, sitting in the living room on NW 34th St, by myself. I cried. And of course, when you think of JFK Jr., you think of that image of a little child, saluting his father's casket as it passed, so many years ago. And that's what chokes me up, to this day. That old footage, from a time when change might have really mattered. I wonder where we'd be now, if it had all happened differently.

A few months ago, I watched a documentary on the Kennedy family, on OETA. It was so interesting. There's so much about the family that I didn't know. Before watching this 2 hour show, I knew about the tragedy and a little about the family secrets. Rosemary's story, for example, is very sad. The competition between the siblings was so intense when they were growing up. I read a while ago, that some believe Rosemary was actually a normal child, who basically just broke from the pressure of not being at the high level that her siblings were at, intellectually. The theory is that in a "regular/normal" family, she wouldn't have had any mental issues at all. It's an interesting, though disturbing, thought.

That same documentary also shed a lot of light on who JFK really was. You always think of him as The Good Guy. But he was so shrewd. Of course, in his position, he had to be. But it was shocking to hear just how cunning he was. He seemed so underhanded in a lot of ways. It was unsettling to think about. But why was it unsettling? He's long since dead and has no more influence, good or bad. However, hearing something that makes him seem so much less than perfect, is sort of like hearing that your Grandma spent a night in jail when she was 16. You have to remind yourself that she wasn't always the person you knew. And JFK definitely wasn't always the person that you hear about now. The dead are almost always saints, especially when surrounded by so much tragedy.

Now, with the death of Ted Kennedy on Wednesday, it's sort of the end of it all, isn't it? Do we care about the rest of them? Of course, we care because they are human beings, but do we still care, because they are Kennedys? I don't think so, honestly. I think it's all over. That legend is officially dead and will soon be buried.

Will it matter? Will this nation be any different now that our Royal family is gone? Time will tell.

As a side note, I also wonder how Mary Jo Kopechne's family feels today? I'm sure for them, the mystique a lot of us feel, was dead a long time ago.

Mr. Brownstone

If you had told me 20 years ago, that Slash and Steven Adler would be the two members of Guns N' Roses that would have a special spot in my heart in 2009, I would have called you a filthy liar. Adler just wasn't tough enough for my 12 year old fake bad-ass self, and Slash was just ugly. Yes, I can admit that I was that shallow in 1989. However, after my 32 year old self read Stephen Davis' Watch You Bleed, and watched a gut-wrenching season of Steven Alder on Celebrity Rehab, I think I know why you're not the filthy liar I would have accused you of being.

Steven Adler, now, is just like a sad, lonely stray dog. He was so young when it all started. If ever there was a victim of 80's metal, it's him. Young, dumb, and wanting to fit in - His body and mind have been through so much, that he seems to be the same, still to this day. The first episode of Celebrity Rehab started with him crying, high, on his couch. There was a fist-sized hole in the wall behind him, and he sobbed about wanting to talk to his friend Slash. It was such a sad scene. I hope that in a moment of sobriety, he sees it all, and it helps him. But, I doubt his mind has the capacity for that sort of clarity now. Any semblance of an adult mind is long gone. He's still a child, who just wants his friend; His friend who has long since moved on. His friend who very likely helped to make him this way. His friend who was just luckier in the long run, and could have easily ended up in the same state.

I can remember watching, gleefully, as Slash cursed and sloshed around on stage at the American Music Awards in 1990. I never liked him anyway, and he was making a fool of himself, but I thought it was great. At almost 13, it seemed so cool to me. He was making a stand against all the old fogeys (and Tipper Gore) and I loved it. In Stephen Davis' book, I got to read all the real truths, that I always knew about, but never knew the depths of. The amount of drugs and sex and harmful things these young men put themselves through is truly astounding. Somehow though, Slash seems to be the one who made it out alive. He became whatever likeness of a grown-up a rock star can become. He got his shit together, and made something of himself as a person.

Today, Slash keeps alive just a tiny bit of the feelings I had for that moment in time - My innocence to think that these guys were truly wonderful and that their existence was something great. I think a lot of us felt that Guns N' Roses might be akin to the Beatles, for our time. The Great Band that we'd all look back on with pride. I don't think we'll ever really have anything like that though, ever again. I know my generation doesn't. And, I'm pretty sure The Jonas Brothers aren't going to be remembered all that fondly in 40 years.

I was naive and so young then. Being born at the end of the generation, meant that I had no idea of the reality of what was going on. I couldn't even begin to imagine the amount of torture these people put their minds, bodies, and souls through. It honestly makes me sick to think about now. I may still get goosebumps when the opening cords of "Sweet Child o' Mine" come on the radio, but then I remember reading that Slash hated playing that part of the song. It ruins it for me a little, because it reminds me that they are real people, and not Idols. But then, I remember how it made me feel when I was young, and it just takes me back.

Sex and Candy and Blood and Soup

True Blood is getting REALLY good. I'll start by saying that this is probably the first show I've ever been loyal to, that I've stayed completely un-spoiled on. I haven't read any of the books, I haven't looked to TWoP for speculation or spoilers, and I haven't even read any of the plots of the rest of the season's episodes. I'm even trying to steer clear of the TWoP forums for a few days after each episode, so that my own thoughts don't get muddled by other people's ideas, before I can get them all in order. So, these thoughts on the subject are spoiler-free and haven't been tampered with by others.

Right now, we're up to Season 2, Episode 7 (Release Me). So, if you're not up to date and don't want to be spoiled on anything, stop reading now.


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I'm sick of Maryann. I hope this story has a damn good ending, because if it doesn't just surprise the shit out of me, I'm going to be VERY disappointed that we had to waste so much time on it. We've known for 2 or 3 episodes now, that Maryann was the creature that attacked Sookie at the start of the season. Was this past episode's opening supposed to be a big surprise? I'm also sick of Eggs, but I'm worried about Karl. Where was he this episode? And why do I care?

Anyway, I am glad that Tara finally seems to be starting to wake the hell up about all the weirdness going on in Bon Temps. Her conversation with Arlene about how Arlene has possibly date-raped Terry, was some funny business (never thought I'd be saying possible-date-rape = LMAO). However, now I'm even more worried about Terry than I am about Karl. I hope he hasn't gotten into any trouble stemming from the orgy-arm-breaking of Andy. And by the way, POOR Andy. I know he's just the town drunk at this point, but he's finally right about something for once. And now that the PIIIIIIGGGGGGG is gone, he won't have any evidence to prove himself right. I hope that Sam speaks up for him soon.

Speaking of Sam, I'm glad we finally got to see him shift into something other than the Collie. Don't get me wrong, the dog is fabulous and adorable, but that owl shift was pretty neat. I can't figure out where this will go with him. Of course I hope he is around for further seasons, but I can't see how this will be a good ending for him. Can Maryann even be destroyed, or will she seek him out forever? And, the fact that Daphne basically said that even if Sam sacrifices himself, Maryann will still keep Bon Temps as her own personal project, doesn't bode well for the town. I know they'll wrap the Maryann story up sometime soon, but I can't even imagine how it will be done.

Moving on to Lorena and Bill... they are an interesting couple. I know few others agree with me on that , but I find their relationship fascinating. I'm glad that it seems Lorena might be around for a while. I want to hear more about their first 70-ish years together. I also REALLY want to see Sookie's reaction to Lorena. However, I am terrified to see Lorena's reaction to Jessica. There's no way Lorena will be happy to have that particular competition. Kudos to Bill for not bringing Jessica up to her yet.

Speaking of Jessica, I LOVE Jessica. She's my favorite character of the whole series. I would watch a cheesy sitcom of her and Hoyt all Dick Van Dyke-style. Seriously. It would be precious. Oh, Hoyt! But, you know the pessimist in me thinks things will likely end badly for poor virgin Hoyt. Either Lorena will not approve and will dispose of him herself, or Jessica will get going and not be able to stop before she drains him. I truly hope they can live happy ever after, but I know they won't.

All of my other favorites were kind of boring this episode. Not much happened with Eric. And by the way, I didn't like Eric at all last season, but as soon as he said, "Do I have blood in my hair?" I was smitten. Lafayette still isn't back either. He was playing the role of Lafayette, but that wasn't the real deal. He's a broken bitch and I'm ready to have him back. I don't think we'll ever truly get him back though, and that makes me so sad.

I am glad to see that the stuff with Jason is finally getting less dull... just as it's coming to an end. I don't think Sarah shot him with a real gun. I think it looked like one of those paintball guns that Jason and creepy-rev were using a few episodes back. Either that, or Jason was dreaming. I don't know, but I'm anxious to find out. The rest of the Fellowship of the Sun stuff is going to get crazy, I'm sure. I can't figure out how Bill or Eric or whoever will save Sookie. But, I kinda hope it's Jason that does instead. I have a feeling he'll be locked up down there with her soon. Also, poor Hugo... he's never going to get turned now.

So, to sum things up, I think that was possibly the best last 10 seconds of an episode of anything ever on TV (the last 10 seconds of The Sopranos finale being the worst!)

I am pretty sure that Godric just Glamoured me.

Thirty Mile Zone

So, Keith has been going in to work really early in the mornings, this Summer. That means that I have to find something to watch on early-morning TV. Thankfully, Cheaters comes on at 5am and then TMZ at 5:30am. I've never watched TMZ before, but I find it oddly entertaining that early in the day. Of course, by the afternoon, I'm sickened with myself for having enjoyed it so much.

It's a strange show, and I really sort of can't stand that Harvey guy. He just seems like such a know-it-all. But he also really seems like a HUGE geek, so who knows... he might be kinda fun to know in real life. I sort of doubt it though. I do wish they had some little bios or something (on the show... I'm not going to search this shit down online) on the people who are featured. I don't mean the celebrities that the paparazzi follow around; I mean the people who intro the little pap bits on the show. By the way, how do I get a job at TMZ? I want to know, because I want to work there and stalk that pretty blonde boy. He seems dumb, and he also seems to hate fat chicks, but man... he sure is pretty.

Ok, moving on... here's a list of things that TMZ thinks are important:

#1: K-Fed's fat now. Who cares? TMZ does. So does Yahoo!, actually. Apparently it's big news. No pun intended. The headline on Yahoo! was actually, "Kevin Federline's weight gain shocks fans!" Really? Why? Also, Fans?

#2: Michael Jackson is dead and his doctor is the one who killed him. I will give it to TMZ that they were the first ones to officially report him as being dead. I just think it's kind of sad that THAT is something to be proud of in this day and age. At this point, I could care less. The media and the Jackson family are why this is still news. I have a feeling that the majority of the rest of the population wishes it would just go away. I feel sorry for his kids, but I feel sorry for all the kids in the world who lost their fathers today. I'm sure it sucks beyond belief, but maybe something good will come out of it. Maybe they will have some semblance of a regular life now.

#3: American Idol's "Glitter Girl" was killed in a hit and run. It's pretty awful that this poor girl's 2 "famous" moments came because she was possibly drunk. I do feel for her mother, but I mostly just feel bad that this is big news.

#4: Jon and Kate + 8... enough said. I do find it pretty funny that Harvey rolls his eyes every time something about them comes up, yet they are featured in every single episode of the show.

To wrap this up, I might bitch and moan about how awful this celebrity crap is, but I eat it up just like the rest of the world does. Now I'll just sit patiently and wait for that Octomom show to start.

P.S. I forgot to shout-out my THANKS to TMZ for getting that damn "put sunglasses on your dog's butt; it'll make people say wut" song stuck in my head for the past 5 days. Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it. Ugh.