Lots of Time Spent...
So wow, the first week of class is over and gone, of course Financial Aide is killing me, I just wanna ring their necks sometimes! Other than that I have spent most of the day revamping, the kingsmen e-mail folders, labeling CD's, messing with a possible poster idea, and fucking around with my parent's computer....Nothing too special, but hey, whatever, everyone needs a day here and there....
By the way, for those of you interested, I met a Ranger last night, a sniper from the 3-75 knew my buddy Frank, small world isn't it?
About That!
So here I am two days into class and not really head over heels for any of my classes, had a "talk" with my advisor today, more like him chatting at me, and he was distraught that I had found a graduate program that I liked. He kept saying, "No Terri you should stay here and finish this degree..." Now I like him a lot, but seriously, don't give me shitty advice to make your numbers look good, do you think that I am not smart enough to figure out that your funding is directly derived from the number of students that you admit and hold in your department?....I have a degree, in Math....seriously, if I could not figure that out then maybe I should be stripped of my degree and thrown back to high school! Then he told me that maybe I should think about not registering for this religion class I am taking...You wanna know why kids get burned out? Because of advisors like this man, who push and push and push, how can a student be expected to take classes that are only going to help him or her towards their degree and not advance their being? Why can't they take one class that is a class of "interest" Anyway that is my rant for now, lots of stuff to do, may not post for another couple of days, sorry to all my daily readers...Mom!
Check out the Video!
Oh man tonight was our first rehearsal as a "new" group. Leigh our director has moved on to New York, well soon he will be. It was weird, there was a different aura in the air, I can't say if it was better or worse, but just different. We accomplished a hell of a lot of choreography. The name of our next show is, "Keep Rolling". So for all you fans out there, check it out! I must end for now, lots to do, and well I am leaving town in a few hours...so if I am off to see you then I will see you, if not, keep it straight out there ,and to all the kids starting school...I will see you there!
Here is a shout out to Gene!
So I met this guy last night, his name was Gene, he is/was an ex-boyfriend of one of my friends. We started talking, you know the usual small talk; politics, economics, the war in Iraq, and on drugs, the U.S.' foreign policy on terroistic cells held under a religious sect of one kind or another....you know just the day in day out, mundane kind of talk.
It hit me like a big rig semi named Belle, most of my friends are Republicans. It struck me as odd, because in this date and time, most want to be around those with the same thought process and views as themselves. And with the exception of my family, and a few others, that I truly consider to be my friends and not just some acquaintance, everyone I know is a Republican. Maybe it is the highly religious people that I tend to consort with (however on a side note I was in a church last night for a PFLAG presentation and I escaped without any injuries, plus the building itself was still standing. There was a small "electrical fire" which the minister thought was due to the surge of electricity from the lightening strike but we won't know until the building inspector comes to assess the damages) which come from a religious family, where their entire life it has been part of the everyday routine. Go to church three times a week, be there for youth group, be there for adult group, be there to play in the "band" be there for Sunday school, church, and the light brunch afterwards. For some reason, these type of people flock to me, maybe because (I like to think) that I break that "normal lesbian" stereotype. Which is not a bad thing, but then when conversations come to politics, as they always do, I find these things out about these people and it blows my mind.
Most of our conversations do wind up on the subject of politics, well with those that are close enough to me to have that conversation. I have noticed that when people are friends with someone from a different background, whether it be religious, sexual orientation, whatever is the difference between the two, it makes for a better forum. Before these people met me, I do not think that gay rights would have been on the top of their list, but it funny to see peoples' perception change influence how they act in the everyday world, how it affects their view, their attitude and most importantly their vote. Here is a little story for you, and then I will be on my way and you won't have to listen to the ramblings of a tired old woman!
Earlier in the year, I went to this kegger with a few friends, it was out in this field, in the middle of nowhere. One of the guys with me was just an acquaintance from work, a guy I saw maybe a few times a week, but he was cool enough. We had had a conversation about gay and lesbian couples. As any hetero man would tell you, "I understand two chicks, but two guys, I just don't get it" Well throughout the night, people became a little more loose lipped, and I spotted a hottie on the other side of the fire pit, so I strut over there, and one of her party members, gets up and says, "I cannot believe that you would say something like that!" I sit down and strike up conversation with the hottie, and she says, "that they are having an intellectual conversation and it is all good, they really aren't mad at eachother". She points out her roommate, which is the girl who was up in arms, and her brother and his roommate, who obviously were the provokers at this point.
I was curious, so I started asking what it was that had gotten her roommate all excited...gay marriage. Her little brother, who I think was a skin head (because of the tattoos, bald head, and the point of views that he held) was stating something about how Gays are disgusting and blah blah blah. Whatever, so I say, "that's funny because I was actually coming over to tell your sister that she is gorgeous, and ask if we could go grab a beer." If I ever thought I was gonna get hit, it might have been at that moment, but it wouldn't be the last time of the night that I felt that urge that I might have opened my mouth around the wrong people. Next thing I know this guy, we will call him Kyle, came over, now this guy is about 6 foot tall, about 180, pure solid ripped muscle, he is/was a kickboxing champ in Souix City.
So Kyle came over and started talking to the brother, talking about homosexuality, and asking him questions. Kyle looks at me and says, "Terri this guy says that 'homos' are fucked up in the head and that they should all be taken care of. Is that the truth? Are homos fucked up in the head" I respond with, "I am pretty sure that I have all normal function, oh yeah and I am smarter than him too." Kyle then preceded to tell the guy to shut up or that they could take care of this away from the group of people. He was protective of me, I thought that was awesome! Anyway that is a lot of schnat for you all to read, so I will end here. Just think about all of those that you call friends and how your views would affect them.
We don't have to (or should we want to) be clones when it comes to political views, if we were then life would be mundane and boring, become friends with someone of a different lifestyle, broaden your horizons. If you are homophobic, got to a PFLAG meeting, if you are intolerant of other races, surround yourself with those types of people. Most hatred comes from not understanding and fear. Do not hate me because I am gay, Jewish, Transgender, Hispanic, Muslim. More than likely you hate me because you do not know me. Take some time, learn who I am then you can hate me! Deal?
To my Whiteyville friend:
By the way I called and called and called, but huh?....No answer, shocker! Hey why don't you learn to work your phones, then when your true friends are in need, they can get a hold of you! Like yesterday, when I was in the world all alone, you think I would call some pansy like Josh to come save me? (j/k Josh I love you, you are really my favorite) No I needed the help of some strong, Jewish man! Grrrr!
Yeah so whatever happened to "treat others as you would want to be treated?"
So catch this, today I was running errands, when my car died...So there I am looking under the hood, I call "the father" and he says that it sounded like I needed a new battery. So I figured that I could ask someone to jump start me so I could get to my house, I mean it was west Omaha, most of the people are just dying to help others, then they can rub it in the faces of all their goody-two-shoes ritchie friends, "ha ha ha I got to help some poor north 'O' street rat" Blah someone kick me in the face! So I kind of stand off from this one lady, who has kids, but remember, I can understand how awkward it can be to have some stranger approach your car, so I tried to ask through the window, she was civil enough to roll done the window and explain that her radiator was leaking and that she needed to get the car home...Yeah she had a huge leak.
So there I was contemplating my next move, when two middle age ladies walk past me, "excuse me ladies, can I help me out and give me a jump?" The passenger looks to the driver and says, "I don't believe that we have any jumper cables", "oh that's okay I have a pair, I just need the jump" The driver looks to her passenger, and then looks to me, sort of in this way in which I got the distinct impression that she 'thought' she was better than me. She responds with, "Um no...." and precedes to get into her car and drive away. What a friggen bitch! Seriously, I hope that one day I get to meet her again, and I hope she has an open wound from a raccoon bite, I will then look her in the eye while I spit on her!
You know I may not look like an upstanding citizen, but all I can say is that at least I know that I am smarter than that bitch! It just torqued the hell out of me, there I was stranded, and that bitch pretty much rubbed my nose in it! Wow, she just pissed the crap out of me! As you can tell I am still bent over it!
Oh man....
I am so proud of myself, isn't it funny how people get so cocky when they do something cool? Yeah so here it is, a blast from the past, this is your DJ Jazzy T saying, keep it safe Omaha, real safe!
Dear Fort Lewis,
Wow, where to start? So much has happened in the last few weeks/months/years...MSG and Mrs. John F. Wear III will be relocating to your kind housing quarters in the next month. I was sitting here, thinking the other day about all of the times we had spent together. The Tuesday nights spent watching movies and having dinner, the nights at Chili's bitching about service and getting sloshed on Calypso Coolers, and all the empty threats made to all of those that "hate me". Not that they are empty, but rather knowing that "the man" would protect me as if I were part of the ever-growing family.
Knowing that they are moving again, boggels my mind, just to think, a little over a year ago we were packing the truck, on that cold, dreary Sunday. Our relationship has changed over the past year, we have not drifted, but rather the bonds that tie us, have become broad and strong. I hope when they arrive on your doorstep, they are made to feel at home, that your walls provide a home and place to thrive over the next few years. Keep them safe, and help to create a place that they can call home, answer all those begging questions, and tell them that I love them.
Respectfully,
Terri
Oh man! Sometimes don't you feel like just a friggen moron!
Yeah baby I am a friggen genius!
So about that....
I spent the better of two hours last night on the addition to my blog, I may have not accomplished much but I think I learned a hell of a lot!
Avenue Q-part of my birthday celebrations, and by the way if any of you want to send me to see it on Broadway...
Just to make you feel sorry....
It is my birthday, and since midnight of last night I have talked to roughly about 50% of my family, and not one of them has remembered! Only three of my friends have called to say Happy Birthday, and I am pissed, I think I might leave town for a day! Anyway just wanted to rant and make myself feel better, besides it is my birthday!
The website and this last weekend...
Well the Kingsmen website is up and running, still under construction, but our next PR poster is up, you should check it out. I unveiled a new character this last weekend, apparently he was a hit, disgusting, raw, and not worthy of praise but he was well liked. Mom and Dad came, I think they enjoyed themselves, Mom always says things like, "Terri, you have to be careful what you say, people might be offended." and I am sure after seeing this weekend's show, she was horrified by my portrayal of an innocent truck driver, named Moe...." Well this one is for you mom, maybe it will explain a little better.
This is how I see it, people are stereotyped everyday, pigeon-ed hole into how people think they act or how they should act. Whether they be of a certain race, religion, sexual orientation, culture, or even gender. Everyday, at work I hear people refuse to take "Canadian" tables, because they will not tip, so if I offer to take that table, I give them excellent service, and I still do not receive a tip for my hard work what does that mean?...It means that they have just become part of the stereotype, that they themselves are irritated of. My mom feels that I unjustly "accuse" all people of being the same. That is a stereotype, now there is a difference between a stereotype and discrimination, and discrimination would be if I refused to take that table. I may be one of the few people that do not let my stereotypes influence the way I act towards a certain culture, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientaion.
I myself have been part of that discriminated group, more than most of you will know. So when I say something, or portray a character flaw of a certain group of people it is not that I disrespect that group of people, it is the exact opposite. For example I have an avid reader of this site, whom I respect their religion, and the courage that it took to understand that background, coming from a complete opposite childhood. I can understand the faith and state of mind it took to embrace the path that has been laid out for him. And it is only in the jesting that one can truly find the foundation of one's self. If we cannot joke about our own being, how is it possible for us to understand those who more or less hate all that are not like them.
I have met many people that come from a very opposite childhood than I, and before they "knew" me, we became friends, it was then that these people really learned about "my stereotype" and it was impossible to pigeon-hole me. Because I had broken all prior experiences about that one certain type of person. So mom, I hope when you read this, it all makes sense as to why the jokes I tell, I am able to find humor in, because if we can't laugh at ourselves, our own flaws, then how do we expect others to love and accept us.
As a side note, this is for all of you out there that do not feel like a change is possible. Definition of a majority-
The greater number or part; a number more than half of the total
and the definition of a minority-
The smaller in number of two groups forming a whole
So think about this, if the majority runs the world, does it mean that over half of the total has the power? No, it means that the total whole has more popularity, example-38% of people like the color black, 12% of the people like the color red because it is part of the US flag, and 18% of people like the color white because it is part of the US flag and the remaining 32% of the people like the color blue because it is part of the US flag. Now if those people who like the colors red, white, and blue, voted strictly on a one issue (i.e. color they liked the most) ballot, they would surely lose. However, if they took the entire picture into account and said, well I love the color red, because it is part of the US flag, but without the white and blue, it would look like a spaghetti stained tablecloth, maybe I should take into account that fact, then all of a sudden the minorities have banded together to form the majority.
The minorities now have the power, so all of you that feel pigeon-ed hole, all of the different stereotypes you hear about race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural differences should be the fuel to start a revolution. The world is heading down a spiral staircase to a dark and scary dungeon. Find the similarities between you and your neighbor, do not focus on the differences, despite what you hear, things are not getting better, do you ever hear people say, it's not the good 'ole days? There is a reason why!
