Song Challenge Saturday!

Week 19: A song that describes your sense of humor. 

Short and sweet...self explanatory.  

Monday Movie Challenge

Week 11 - A movie that changed your opinion about something...

This would WITHOUT a doubt be Dead Man Walking.  I used to be a staunch death penalty supporter until I watched this movie.  Well, actually it wasn't just the movie.  I was in college at the time and the movie was our film class assignment.  I critiqued it in all areas and really started to re-consider my stance on the death penalty. 

I won't go into detail but my main reasons for NOT supporting the death penalty; it is NOT a deterrent (Not even close), its not cost effective (believe it or not), NONE of us have the right to decide who lives or dies, lastly but most importantly...what if they're wrong?  You can't tell me that somewhere throughout history, an innocent person has been executed.  It almost happens quite a bit.  Of course the public doesn't hear about it that often.  A textbook example is here if you're interested in checking it out.  WEST MEMPHIS THREE INNOCENCE

Song Challenge Saturday!

Week 18: A song that reminds you of your best friend. 

This one is pretty easy.  This song not only reminds me of my bff, it reminds me of my mom...for obvious reasons.  

Monday Movie Challenge

Week 10 - Favourite classic.

There are a few that I consider my favorite.  I guess it depends on what the definition of classic is, also.  The older I get, the more that things become "classic" or "oldies."  Nice...'eh, whatever.

One is How To Marry a Millionaire with Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall.  Its a very cute movie about three female friends who move to NYC in the hopes to well, marry a millionaire.  Here's the trailer for the film in 1953...

Another one of my favorites is a movie called A Woman Under The Influence.  I only recently (in the last couple of years) even knew about the film.  It was written and produced by John Cassavetes and stars Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk.  Rowlands has always been one of my favorite actresses.  As the story goes, Cassavetes wrote the screenplay specifically for Rowlands to play.  (They are married)  She plays "Mabel" a young wife/mother with mental issues and struggles with alcoholism.  Apparently Cassavetes wanted to do a Broadway Play version of it but Gena Rowlands refused to.  She said that the constant portrayal of Mabel would drive her mad.  (I could understand that)  And who doesn't like Peter Falk?  He plays Nick Longhetti, Mabel's husband.  If you can find it, well worth watching!

Song Challenge Saturday!

Week 17: Your favorite song from a genre you don’t typically like. 

I know it is a very popular genre but I've never really been able to get into it.  Country music, that is.  There are a FEW of them that I do like.  I've always liked Wynona Judd.  I think she has a helluva voice plus I like her personality.  Sassy.  This song is one of my favs.  I think it showcases Wynona's vocal abilities.  Has almost a "bluesy" type quality about it.

"No One Else On Earth"  Wynona Judd

Monday Movie Challenge

Week 9 - A movie with the best soundtrack.

This is another easy answer for me.  Without a doubt that would be the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever!  I mean who doesn't like at least one song on that album?  

 

Happy Birthday Bestie♥

Today would have been my friend Chris' 43rd birthday.

Christine Marie Kuhn, my best friend and my daughter's name sake.  Chris was also my daughter's God-Mother.  Unfortunately my daughter never really got to know Chris.  She died in a car accident when my daughter was five-months-old.  She knows quiet a bit about Chris, though.  I made a promise to Chris' parents that I would keep Chris' spirit alive and make sure that my daughter knew about her and what a great person that she was.  Unfortunately no thanks to SOME people, I do not have any pictures of Chris anymore.  (I won't get into that.  Its a long story and it just pisses me off to no end.)  Like with so many other things, I have lost quite a bit of my past thanks to this person.  Things like that cannot be replaced.

Chris died 22 years ago in a car accident.  My sons never got to meet her.  I would say that she never got to see them but I honestly believe that she has seen them.  I think she hangs around me from time to time and can see what's going on.  I just wish I could talk to her.  Communicate.  Maybe we could-I just haven't figured it out yet.

I am sure everyone thinks his/her best-friend is/was the greatest.  Chris really was the greatest...to me anyway.  We became friends over the Summer of 1983.  Both of us were "metal-heads" and both were MASSIVE Def Leppard fanatics.  (I know, Def Leppard and the term "metal-heads" generally don't go together...at the time they did)  We weren't just fans, we were FANATICS in every sense of the word.  That is how we became fast friends.  We were the only two who could tolerate how obsessed with DL that the other was.  

We were there for each other during those rough teenage years.  Had it not been for her, I don't know where I would have ended up when my parents split up and were divorcing.  I was NOT a happy person during that time.  I had all but slid off the rails of the "Crazy Train"-Chris is pretty much the one who kept me on the tracks.  

The same could be said when I was pregnant with my daughter.  My daughter's father and I were not getting along.  Of course it was a shock when I found out that I was pregnant but after it sunk in, I was happy about it.  Actually I became quite thrilled about it.  One could almost say I was deliriously happy.  

I won't go into detail but my ex-boyfriend was not happy...at all.  In fact he proceeded to show his ass about the situation and purposely try to be the world's biggest DICKHEAD about it.  Looking back now, its a wonder I didn't miscarry from all of the stress.  Again, Chris is the one who helped keep me sane.  Chris was a no non-sense type person and it was basically "Listen, you're going to have a kid now.  Get your shit together and tell that asshole to fuck off!  You don't need him...you have your baby girl."  Now I wish I would have listened to her.  She had a 2-bedroom apartment that she had shared with a roommate.  The roomie bailed on her and she told me to move in with her and she'd help me take care of the baby.  I should have listened.  Probably would have saved me a few years of stress and heartache.  Live and learn I guess.  

My daughter's father and I ended up getting a place together, had the baby and played "house" for a couple of years until I had had enough of his BS.  We were never married...thank God!  Here's an example of how charming he is.  The night that I found out Chris had died in a car accident, he was out hanging at one of his friends' house.  That's fine.  That's not what I had the problem with.  One of the problems was that this was his normal routine if he wasn't at work.  He wouldn't come home until 3, 4, 5am or even later...if at all.  Real nice for the father of a newborn, 'eh?  

Now mind you, these are the days before cell phones.  After I found out that Chris had died, I managed to track "R" down at his friend's house.  This was around midnight-ish.  

"R"-Yeah, what did you want?

Me-Chris was in a car accident earlier today.  She's gone.  She died earlier this evening.  (crying of course)

"R"-Okay?  And?

Me-Well do you think you could come home?  I'm not exactly in the greatest shape to try taking care of our daughter.

"R"-We're not done practicing.  Plus, what the hell am I supposed to do about it?  She's dead right?  I can't do anything about it.

Me-FUCK YOU AND I HOPE YOU ROT IN HELL!

(I not only hung up the phone, I jerked it out of the wall and threw it)  

He ended up coming home within an hour but he might as well have stayed out.  As with most of the time in our relationship, he was no help to me.

Obviously I still miss Chris terribly.  I would say I wonder if we would still be friends...but then I know the answer to that...definitely yes. I wonder how things would be.  Would she have kids?  Would I have went through some of the messes that I've put myself through had she been around to stop me?  Would I be taking her out tonight for her birthday dinner?  I have no doubt that I would.  

I miss you Amazon woman...and happy birthday bestie!  See you again one day...

Song Challenge Saturday!

Week 16: A song that has a lyric, that if you were one of those people that tattooed song lyrics on themselves, you would seriously consider. 

This is definitely an easy choice for me.  Without a doubt; Stone Temple Pilots' Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart.  One of my favorite lines ever is "I am, I am I said I'm not dead and I'm not for sale."   I probably would get it tattooed somewhere...if I could afford it.  :)  

A Job? Maybe?

I have another interview tomorrow and from the way it sounds, I've all but got the job.  Its nothing spectacular but hell, its a JOB and its consistent money coming in.  I'm always wanting to run before I walk.  Need to remind myself to slow the hell down and accomplish little things first.  

What I want is a damn job that pays well enough so that I can be self-supporting and get my own place finally.  For a myriad of reasons!

So, we shall see what happens tomorrow!

Monday Movie Challenge

Week 8- Favourite Movie Quote

I have quite a few but this one is probably my favorite.  Its very motivating and inspirational...
From Rocky Balboa 2006 
(Rocky to his son)  Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!

 

Song Challenge Saturday!

Week 15: A song that makes you think about stars and the universe.

One of my favorite artists!  David Bowie's Space Oddity.

Another one of my favorites; Elton John's Rocket Man.

Chardon High School Shooting

Earlier this week (Monday) there was a high school shooting in Chardon, Ohio-which is a suburb of Cleveland.  Five students were shot and three have died.  One is still in the hospital and one has been released to home.  A 17 year-old named TJ is the alleged killer.  From what I gather he has confessed to the murders.  It would be pretty hard for him to deny it.  He stood in the school cafeteria and basically just opened fire.  They are saying that the shootings are totally random and not a situation of "bullying."  However, there have been reports that the girl that he shot was his ex-girlfriend.  (They broke up last week)  And that one of the boys shot was the girl's new boyfriend.  Who knows if there is any truth to that.  

 (The three shooting victims)

There hasn't been much information given out about this TJ kid, the alleged shooter.  It is still early in the investigation, though.  From the way it sounds, he wasn't from the most stable home-life.  Not that I'm saying its an excuse.  What he did is inexcusable.  I am from the thought where you try to figure out why he did it in the hopes of preventing it happening again in the future.  

A lot of people are saying this TJ should be tried as an adult and given the death penalty.  Quite a few of my friends and family feel this way.  I do not.  I am against the death penalty and have been for about 15 years now.  Statistics have shown that its clearly not a deterrent and that it is actually much more expensive to put a person to death than to house them in prison for the rest of their lives.  Then of course, you have the margin of error issue.  How many innocent people have been put to death.  I know of one who almost was...West Memphis Three.

I don't think the shootings in Chardon is at risk for convicting an innocent person.  Like I said, this TJ kid pretty much admitted it.  I do not think that he should "get off easy" because he is a juvenile or because his may have had a screwed up home life.  I do think that these things should be taken into consideration, though.  

The whole practice of trying a juvenile as an adult makes no sense to me.  If you are under 18 you are a juvenile, if you are 18 you are an adult.  Pretty simple.  In this country there is no consistency with that.  From about the age of 13-17 a lot of kids are charged as adults.  That to me is stupid and not justice.

What do I think should happen to this TJ?  I don't have any quick-easy answers.  And god forbid it were one of my kids that were shot; I may feel totally different about the situation.  I may very well want to kill the kid with my own bare hands.  

If nothing else, imprison this TJ for the rest of his life.  Study him, his childhood, his background, physical and mental health in the hopes of getting some answers.  Working on getting answers would be much more productive than just "fry his ass."  

In the meantime, I can only image what the survivors, staff, students and their families are going through.  I hope to never have to experience something of that magnitude. Hopefully they will all be able to get past this tragedy...but not forget.

And for the parents/family of the murdered-I can only hope that one day they find peace.