Soul Thumping

Super Bowl XLIV Chick-style

I am a chick who enjoys football.  I like watching the games; I cringe when players take a hard hit to the head; I comment on who has the best looking butt and who has the dumbest looking mouth guard, and yes, being a woman, I also judge a team on the color of their uniforms (except Detroit, it doesn't matter what color they wear, they suck, and Cleveland does take the trophy for having the ugliest uniform colors, and they suck also).

I'm not an expert on all of the statistics of teams and players and l don't want to be because, well, I have a life and other interests and I'll leave that to every man in the country who has a football blog.  Having gotten that statement out of the way, here are my thoughts about game day this year (by the way, I'm running a 5K race Sunday afternoon, before the Super Bowl, in temperatures that are going to be less than 40 degrees, so depending on if I trip and scrape most of my face off on cold pavement or a toe freezes and falls off, I may not give a shit about Super Bowl XLIV):

1.  I'm not hiding the fact that I'm pulling for Indianapolis.  Why?  No special reason.  I don't dislike the Saints.  I love the city of New Orleans and no one on the team irritates me much.  Their uniform colors are ok, but I would like to see un update to the fleur di lis.  Maybe some funky shadowing or some ivy growing around it, I don't know, something to give it some pizazz.

2.  Drew Brees needs a hairstyle.  I think he has good hair, it just doesn't do anything to flatter him so he might want to visit a new hair salon.  Just my opinion.

3.  Petyon Manning needs a hairstyle.

4.  Peyton Manning has a great butt.  He is so boy-next-door cute that I just want to pinch his cheeks (face cheeks, let's keep it clean) or give him a noogie or something.  I can't help it.  Oh, and I think he is a great player, even though there was so much chatter on the internet about him choking and failing under pressure.  Whatever.

Now, there are rumors going around about he and his wife are divorcing, and I don't know if it's true or isn't true, but if he loses on Sunday, it could be due to those personal pressures he is under, so I hope all those Monday morning quarterbacks will keep that in mind.

5.  I'm interested in seeing the commercials because they haven't been funny in at least 3 years.  Oh, oh, wait, except for the one a couple of years ago where the guy used his girlfriend's white cat to clean up pasta sauce and she walked in and thought he was stabbing her cat because he had the cat dripping with sauce in one had and big butcher knife in the other hand?  That was hilarious.  Actually, I'm curious to see if CBS runs the so-called "pro-life" ad.  All I'm going to say about that one folks is this:  let's keep politics out of football.  It's bad enough we have politics in politics.

Life will go on after Super Bowl XLIV.  I barely remember who won last year (I know, I know it was Pittsburgh), and I'll forget by next year who even played this year, that is how important the whole thing is to me in the grand scheme of things, but everyone else is making their predictions, so I'm compelled to jump on the bandwagon:

Colts - 17; Saints - 13

--Fortuitous Observer 

I Miss My "Friends"

I don't watch weekly television shows now with any regularity (I try to watch House because I wish I could be as honest as he is...ok, maybe not that honest), but I was thinking today that I really miss Friends.

Friends was my favorite show back in the day.  I felt like the characters truly were my friends and when I came home after a rough useless day from work on Thursdays, I couldn't wait to unwind with a glass of wine and hang out with Monica, Rachel, Chandler, Ross, Phoebe, and Joey.  I tuned into my Friendsand tuned out the rest of the world.  I took solace in their plights, zinger lines, and recurring neuroticism.  I liked it there, in that funky small apartment in Manhattan.  It was a little like my own tiny apartment at the time, only I was living in downtown Raleigh, not Manhattan (I know, huge difference).

I think what attracted me to this series was the fact that I didn't have many friends of my own (and I still don't), and I envied their connection and closeness, yet was overjoyed with it at the same time.  I didn't have many friends because it was always difficult for me to find and make connections with people that go beyond superficial (and I still have this issue).  Not because most people are superficial, but because Idon't know how to connect.  This time, I'm not blaming other people...yeah!!!  I'm putting the blame solely on me.  Write that down folks because my next post will be back to blaming or bitching about someone else.

The older I get ('gulp', and I am getting older), the more I realize how important these deep connections with people are, and if you have them, count yourself lucky and don't screw them up.  As for me, more years of therapy to understand why I don't want to make friends, and fortunately, cable so I can catch my Friends almost any day of the week if I want to, just in case I do feel like playing.

--Fortuitous Observer

Just What Makes That Little Squirrel...

September 1, 2009.  I have my windows open on this beautiful Carolina morning.  I'm confused, however, because it should be humid and in the upper 80's at 10am.  I'm a sun bunny, and I don't mind heat and yes, even a little humidity, but I have to admit I'm digging this morning, and so is that pesky little squirrel who keeps trying to get into my anti-squirrel bird feeder (of course I had to snap a pic).

I have to hand it to him, he is a trooper.  He doesn't give up.  I'm going to learn from him today.  I had a not so great day yesterday.  Being unemployed for 6 months can sometimes sneak up on me, even though I try to stay active and upbeat, the mean blues (or according to Holly Golightly, the mean reds) creep up on me unexpectedly from time to time.  Having suffered from chronic depression most of my life, I am still sometimes overwhelmed when it hits.  One would think by now I would be used to it, but no (though I am medicated!!!!  Yeah for meds).

Anyway, getting back to the squirrel.  He doesn't give up.  He is out there everyday, rain or shine, trying to claw his way through the metal wiring on the bird feeder.  He doesn't care that it was made specifically to keep rodents like him from stealing seed rightfully belonging to birds.  He will not hear that.  Nay, he will have those sunflowers!

Remember Laverne and Shirely?  When Shirely would be feeling down, or not wanting to go along with one of Laverne's schemes, Laverne would sing the song "High Hopes" to her, you know the one about the little ant thinking he can move a rubber tree plant?  The squirrel reminded me of that, so that will be the song stuck in my head ALL DAY LONG.  I found this version on youtube today, so everybody sing!!

--Fortuitous Observer

The Unemployed Witch

I was named after a witch.  I love watching the expression on peoples' face when I tell them that factoid about myself.  Let me explain.  My mother was addicted to the 1960s - 1970s soap opera "Dark Shadows" while pregnant with my twin sister and I.  A character on the show, who was an evil witch (literally) was named Cassandra.  My mother liked the name, and thus, I have it.

"Dark Shadows" was a soap opera centering around a character, Barnabas Collins, who just happened to be a vampire, who was imprisoned in his coffin, but set free (too long to go into...) in the 1960s and trying to not be "found out."  His nemisis from 200 years prior, Angelique, the witch who put the spell on him during the 1800's (I think this is the correct timeline, so if anyone is a die-hard fan and I'm incorrect, please don't send me hate mail and/or death threats), turning him into a vampire, came to the present (1960s) to make sure the spell/curse remained in tact.  In the present time period, she was no longer Angelique, but went by the name Cassandra.  My namesake.

I've known this story about where my name came from for a while, but I had never seen an episode of "Dark Shadows" until a few years ago when the series was released in collections on DVD.  It is now considered by most to be a cult classic, and now I know why.

I started purchasing the DVD collections of "Dark Shadows" about 4 years ago.  I believe there are 25 DVD collections (most of the collections contain 4 DVDs each) of the series in total.  I am on collection number 9, and due to my current unemployment status, I have myself become addicted to the series.  I don't want to be.  Trust me.  I want to remain active and full of energy during my "time at home."  I get up, go to my morning workout, do my job searching, run errands, etc.  That is great.  But, now I find myself, after having run my errands, plopping down on the sofa and popping in a "Dark Shadows" DVD and I'm instantly transported back in time, months before I was born.  I'm getting to know Cassandra quite well, and let me tell you, she is a witch (literally and figuratively)!  Thanks mom.

What else am I supposed to do while I'm unemployed?  I swear, I am active, and I rarely sit still (except when at my laptop job searching and blogging), but this soap opera is indeed addictive.  No wonder people are still enthralled with this campy gothic piece of pop culture 40 years later.  There are "Dark Shadow" conventions (I'm NOT making that up), merchandise, reunions, etc.  It is very cool in a weird, creepy way.  Somehow I must have been predisposed to be a "Shadows" fan in the womb.  Now, if you will excuse me, I'm off to find out if Cassandra is actually dead (because her portrait has faded), or if she is still alive and only teasing Barnabus, giving him a false sense of security.

--Fortuitous Observer

I found this link to an episode of Dark Shadows (where Barnabas first comes to town) on youtube.  This youtube link is posted by a third-party, and he has some of his own stuff at the end of the episode, I think promoting his own music!

If you want to buy your own copy, try here:

You Haven't Made it Unless You Were a Guest Star on Scooby-Doo

I've had the song "Pretty Mary Sunlight" stuck in my head for weeks now.  I only know this song from watching Scooby-Doo as a kid.  Remember the season (I think the name was changed to ("The New Scooby-Doo Movies") when the gang had famous guest stars join their capers?  Don Knotts, Sandy Duncan, Sonny and Cher, Mama Cass, Davy Jones from the Monkees, and Jerry Reed!  The Jerry Reed episode included him singing "Pretty Mary Sunlight."

I've been listening to old TV soundtracks again (The Brady Bunch, Partridge Family, etc.) to appease my inner-child, and I must have summoned this song from the deep creases of my aging gray matter.  I remember dancing around (when no one else was looking) the family room to "Pretty Mary Sunlight" whenever that particular episode aired.  It was kooky!  So, for all of you Gen Xers out there, click play and relive it with me!

You might also want to check out this blog about Saturday morning cartoons:  http://www.blogtoplist.com/entertainment/blogdetails-32665.html

--Fortuitous Observer

Please Note:  This clip comes from YouTube.com.  I am in no way claiming it as my own.

 

I was Infatuated with Johnny Quest - Yes, the Cartoon Character

Is it wrong (or disturbing) to have a crush on an animation?  Not knowing everyone's opinion on this--though I can guess--I have to take the risk and make a confession:  I was enamored with the cartoon character, Johnny Quest in the late 70s to early 80s.  It was in syndication by then of course.  The original series only ran from 64 to 65.  I watched the cartoon on Saturday mornings during my pre-teen years and I desperately wanted Johnny Q to be my boyfriend (I didn't have a real boyfriend back then).  He was cute and smart and always in and out of danger.  He was the perfect "fake" boyfriend.  The animation was actually advanced for the early 1960s, so Johnny seemed real, not like the typical cartoonish cartoon characters that Gen Xers were used to seeing.  He had real-looking hair and facial features, and the slightest hint of pre-teen muscles!

I know Johnny Quest was a cartoon, and I didn't (and hopefully still don't) have issues between reality and being "somewhere over the rainbow" but he was cooler than any boy I knew andhe had the great fortune of traveling to exotic lands (perhaps that is when my love of traveling to countries with cultures completely different from my own was first awakened) with his dad, Dr. Benton Quest, Race Bannon (spy, action hero?), and Hadji, Johnny's friend and adopted brother.  Oh, and I can't forget Bandit, the dog!

If only Johnny Quest knew I existed back then.  He was much too busy for a girlfriend, chasing down mysterious goings-on with his father and team in faraway lands.  I used to love the music in the episodes.  The pounding beats of drums made my enchantment only that much stronger, hoping against hope that Johnny would survive the mummy chase, or the cannibal-like tribe members from some undisclosed country chasing him across dark waters.  Oh Johnny, you will always be my first love...I've got to get a job soon.

Here is a link to the original opening credits of Johnny Quest (1964):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fYTA7bxqP4

--Fortuitous Observer

Life Was Simple With School House Rock on Saturday Mornings

While performing my daily on-line job searching this morning, I threw in the "School House Rock! Rocks" CD from my CD collection (that I have this in my collection shouldn't surprise anyone after my confessing to owning the "Brady Bunch Kids" CD).  The "School House Rock! Rocks" CD is a compilation of indie artists/groups covering the Saturday morning educational cartoon breaks that ran during the 70s/80s.  I remember jumping out of bed on Saturday mornings, so glad that I didn't have to go to school, and my sis and bro and I would turn on the clunky ugly console TV in the family room and watch Saturday morning cartoons, interspersed with the School House Rock bits.  You remember those (if you are of a certain age, you must), right?

Anyway, while listening to the CD and looking for a job (sigh), memories of childhood Saturday mornings came gushing back.  Remember the Sid and Marty Krofft shows:  "Land of the Lost", "H.R. Pufnstuf", "Sigmund and the Seamonsters", "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl", and "Lidsville (the one with the big magic hat)"?  I think during the 70's Sid and Marty Krofft were accused of doing pot and LSD because their shows were so bizarre!  They were awesome.

What a much simpler time then.  I didn't have to worry about mortgage payments, unemployment, health insurance, taxes, etc.  My parents took care of all that.  My job was to eat Cheerios, play outside, go to school and make sure my homework was done.  I miss the simple things in life that didn't seem so significant back then, but apparently they were because I long for them now.  Enough of a jaunt down memory lane; back to the job search.  Enjoy your day