Some questions that come to mind this morning.
Why was Hal Sparks walking thru The Alley in Chicago yesterday afternoon looking like a gay Goth freak? (He was really cute too, though a tad on the little side for me)
Why do I read the newspapers? They only seem to anger me or make me happy to see the demise of this current administration, which them makes me feel guilty because this administration is supposed to represent the American people so in essence I’m happy to see the demise of the American people? See how I can get confused and angry? I don’t know what to think anymore. Every time I see a negative article about the US on the world stage it makes me feel like it’s proving to people that the Shrub ™ is really messing things up; but then I see the neocons and those that support him spinning it to their benefit and it makes me sad.
Its times like this I’m thankful I don’t have a Television.
Television has seemed to replace every ounce of culture in this country. I’ve been sans Television for a few weeks now since I moved into my new abode (which is really quite lovely, and comfortable thank you for asking) and I don’t know how many times I’ve had to repeat the words “I don’t know, I don’t have a TV”. Not having a television has already in these three short weeks since moving into my new abode (really, you should pop in for a cocktail and check it out one of these days) excluded me from many conversations. Did you see the… “I don’t have a TV”. Oh My God! Last night on… “I don’t have a TV”. I’d really like someone to ask me what I thought about the book “Utopia” which I happen to be reading currently, or perhaps some new book that has been released that is a joy to read. (And I’m not referring to Harry Potter)
Harry Potter has been a boon to the publishing industry in a time when books were going out of style, allowing more and more children of all ages to find joy in books again. For that, I am happy. However, the marketing tie-ins and general uproar displayed by people over this book confuses me. Sure I’ve seen all the movies and yes, they are entertaining, but c’mon. If only we could have this sort of interest in events playing themselves out on the world stage.
Commercialism and Materialism. How do you know when you have too much stuff and how do you know when you’re overwhelmed by the marketing industry forcing advertisements down your throat? Where do you draw the line? I often struggle with this issue because I was raised, well, I was raised as a pig-headed, me-first, fuck-those-that-have-not American (against my parents futile attempts to teach me modesty). Since as young as I can remember, I’ve greedily drank in the message marketers have been pushing. Name brands! Luxury goods! BMW! Luis Vitton! Chanel! Hermes! (nod to Tom) The big Track Mansions in the suburbs, or since I’ve moved to Chicago, the gut-rehabbed condos popping up everywhere for $400,000.
Is it even possible to live simply in this culture and still be a part of it? Do I need to strive for the biggest, fastest automobile available and the Vintage walk-up condo full-rehab in the best neighborhood? Why can’t I buy a simple little apartment in a clean neighborhood where my shit won’t get fucked up? Why does that simple dream cost me a minimum of $300,000 these days? How the fuck am I supposed to pull this off?
That last part is a plea to anyone wealthy enough that would like to sponsor a poor, talent-limited writer.
And lastly…
The Insurance industry. Over the weekend there was a major wind storm that blew (hehehehe I said blew) thru Chicago knocking over a chain-link fence onto the hood of the (B)lanco (M)ommy (W)agon leaving me with a repair bill of $421.00. Since this is less than my deductible my agent told me to file a police report and go after the owner of the property. While I was filing the police report, the very helpful (and I’m imagining hot) man (in full police uniform) on the telephone told me that the insurance company was passing off the work onto me and that I should still make a claim to have them help find the owner of the property and to go after the owner on my behalf. I called my insurance company back and they told me (in their polite corporately trained manner) that since they would not be making a payout they would not be pursuing the matter on my behalf. So basically, since it’s not costing them anything, they don’t care.
This is now twice that I’ve needed minor, very minor payouts from my insurance company to cover something that I had insured that they told me it is not covered and there is nothing they can do about it. Well, I’ve got a call into my agent this morning. We’ll see if I’ll be staying with Allstate much longer. The police officer suggested that State Farm would be much more proactive and helpful and that Allstate sucks. Yes, he used those words exactly.
Come to think of it, there are some good things about Chicago. When people tell you what they think, they don’t hold anything back.
That, my tens of readers is what is occupying my mind this morning. Good day to you all!
