Gustav Mahler was a Tragic Hipster

This morning I was lying in bed listening to classical music streaming from the good ol US of A. I was dreamily going in and out of sleep while Debussy's "Reflections in the Water" played. I felt like a classical music nerd because I was excited that two of my favorite pieces were played in a row. (Get out! Debussy AND Vivaldi! What great luck I have!) The next piece to be played was from Lehar's "The Merry Widow". The DJ shared this little story right before he played the tune:

"One evening Gustav Mahler and his wife Alma went to see Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow and were surprisingly enthralled. They later danced to its tunes and played the waltz from memory but could not remember one particularly inspiring passage. The following day, they visited Döblinger's music shop, but found themselves unable to admit that they were interested in such a low-brow composition. So, while Mahler distracted the staff with questions about the sales of his music, Alma perused the score of The Merry Widow and memorized the forgotten sections."    

This little story struck a chord with me - no pun intended. It reminded me of so many people I have met in my life that are in one way or another "too cool for school". I guess "The Merry Widow" was Mahler's "Secret Shame". I hate the notion of secret shame - grow a pair and like what you like no matter what anybody says. I have a feeling that if Mahler was around today he would be cruising SxSW commenting on how lame all the bands were while sporting a T-shirt that says something like, "Your Blog is Fucking Boring". And I also bet if you picked up his iphone and looked at it you would find a little Bieber. Just sayin'. 

Life in the Key of Franco

Everywhere I turn people are talking about James Franco. My best gal pal here in Prague dreams about him. Bar conversations ebb and flow around his various ventures. I even found myself regaling friends at a bar with a story about him and some kittens. (To my defense: 1 hot guy + 2 sleeping kittens = swooning women.) 

I liked the guy when he was on Freaks and Geeks. I liked that show. And he was the broody hot dude who liked to play D&D when no one was looking. I'm not going to say that I related to that, but I'm not gonna say I didn't either. He was a fairly talented, reallygood-looking actor from California. Where I come from you couldn't throw a stick without hitting one of those. I never really thought much of him after Freaks and Geeks. And When Spiderman came out I thought to myself, "Wow, that's that dude who played James Dean in that miniseries. He's hot." And that was that.

Jump to 2011. The man is everywhere. He is hosting the Oscars, nominated for an Oscar, in almost every movie from 2010, going to Yale, acting on a Soap and rumored to be working towards teaching a course on himself. He was a guest on The Colbert Report last week and was rewarded with a longer segment than most guests get. Why? Because America is fascinated with James Franco.

"Does he think he's a Renaissance Man, or is modern America so intellectually bankrupt that anyone pursuing any cultural enrichment of any kind makes him seem intellectual?" - James Franco, Colbert Report

I hate to say it, but Franco is right. America is completely intellectually bankrupt. And we needed a hot actor to point this out. Point taken James Franco, point taken. Think about it - Why is this ACTOR so vehemently hated because he wants to pursue his education? Why do people talk about him like he is trying to kill someone when he says he is an artist? The man wrote a book and people call him a douche bag. Actually, I am pretty sure that I was one of those people... But I see things a little differently now.

What if you had all of the resources that James Franco has? Would you sit on your ass and count your money, or would you seize the giant opportunity that life handed you and do anything and everything in the world that you wanted? I see some celebrities out there who, for lack of a better turn of phrase - take the low road. They party. They get arrested. They spend their time "winning" and making a mockery of themselves. They use their fame as a vehical for nothing more than a way to get laid and get press. I respect James Franco for taking the bull by the balls and DOING something. 

I don't have all of the options that hot Mr. Franco does, but I don't let that stop me from pursuing new passions. Money doesn't have to be a factor in everything. I wanted to get a BA - so I put myself through College. I want to be a writer - so I write this blog and I dabble in poetry and short stories. Hell, I even have a crappy Romance novel that I have been working on for years. I took up playing the Ukulele so I could have another outlet for singing and music. The point I am making here kids is this - growth is good. New ventures are good. Change in yourself is good. I have a lot of big passions in life, but I'll be damed if that stops me from looking for more.

So, I raise my Pivo to you James Franco - for putting up a mirror to America's fat, lazy asses. Go out and find something new, and keep striving for more. We might not be as hot as The Franco, but we can be just as cool. If not cooler.

I'll bet HE can't play the ukulele...

All the Single Ladies

I am single. Unattached. Independent. I am (insert your preferred euphemism here) and pretty darn happy about it. I live alone. I come and go as I please. I answer to no one and no one answers to me. I have said this before but it bears repeating - being a single woman in Prague is no picnic. There is a lack of men for a woman such as myself who holds on to some pretty high standards. I am very picky about who I date. (Hell, I am picky about who I become friends with much less who gets to see me naked.) At any rate, I have not only gotten used to it - I like it.

This is not to say I don't like being in a relationship. That's fine too. As long as it's with the right guy at the right time and I am the right girl... ugh. Too complicated. Relationships are a pain in the ass, and unless you are ready to say, "Yeah I'm gonna love you even when you are acting like an asshole" and actually MEAN IT, then you probably shouldn't be in one.

In the world of relationships guys usually get the fuzzy end of the lollipop. They get blamed for everything. They get yelled at, manipulated, stereotyped and complained about ad nauseam. For every guy out there reading this who thinks their wife or girlfriend complains about him to her pals, you are right. Just take what you think she says and multiply it by about 200 and you'll be close. And most of it ain't nice, if it is true at all. Women are cold-hearted and mean. But why?

The fairer sex spends a lot of time and energy on men. When we (and I use the Royal WE here) are single, we talk about how much we want a guy. We talk about what he could look like, and how great he will treat us. We talk about the great sex we will have and how much we will love him. We talk about his cute butt, or the way his eyes light up when he sees us. I never hear my single friends talking about the guy they hope to find and emasculate in public whenever they get the chance. I never hear chicks sitting around talking about how they can't wait to find a guy so that they can complain about his lack of ambition or choice of shoes. Single girls romantisize men to the point that it is humorous. If the guy they were talking about did exist, he would leave after the first month when she (we) showed her true colors.

I saw a list on Cosmo.com about "How to be a Good Girlfriend" and it shed some light on why some women act like such idiots. The list included things like, "Like what he does... but not too much". What? The suggestion was if he liked football to sit and watch with him. But, when doing so not to get too excited during the game because he would find it a turn off. Women were also encouraged to leave articles of clothing at HIS place as reminders of themselves and to flirt with other men in public because men like to hunt and protect. Basically Cosmo wants you to lie about who you are as much as possible because there is no possible way a man will like you the way you are. 

So ladies, I would like to offer some suggestions of my own on how to be a good girlfriend. Of course, take it with a grain of salt as I am single, old and divorced - but still. I might have some good insight for you. Or you can just tell me to go to hell.

1. Don't listen to anything you ever read in Cosmo.
2. Don't flirt with or take drinks from other guys in front of (or behind) your man. It's not cool. 
3. Don't treat him like your slave or your puppy. He's your fella. He won't put up with it, and if he does you'll just dump him for being spineless. So don't be a jerk. Treat him like you like him.
4. Before complaining about him leaving his socks on the floor or whatever, try to think of at least one nice thing to say about him. It might stop you from sounding like a bitch. You gotta know he probably doesn't talk that way about you.
5. Don't try and change him. You KNOW you wouldn't put up with him telling you how to dress or do your hair, so give him the same courtesy. Like him for who he is, even if who he is has on goofy pants. 
6. Be nice. Not easy all the time, but it sure as hell is easier than fighting. This means don't boss him around in private or public. Don't yell for no reason. And don't lie.

And that's it. And yes, I know it goes both ways, so don't start saying I am sexist. I have been used and manipulated with the best of them. But, I just thought the men of the world could use a break and know that at least one woman out there is on their side. Most of the time. You know, as long as they are not drunk and watching football. 

Spring Cleaning

I read that the term "Spring Cleaning" came from a term that literally means "Shaking the House". I like that idea. Shake the house till the dust falls from the rafters, shake the drapes, open up those windows and cleanse your space. I have done that to the Hobbit Hole, but I think Spring invites a good opportunity to "Shake the House" personally as well. Take stock, dust off the old cranium, and a little out with the old and in with the new.

I am a good person. I am honest to a fault and I am a steadfast and loyal friend. I love fiercely and with a great amount of passion. I am able to see the big picture and I am able to listen and lend a sympathetic ear. I am independent and I don't need a boyfriend or a group of friends to cling to or tell me what to think. I have my own ideas, my own style and my own voice. I am a trusting and giving person until I am shown that it is no longer deserved. I am not quick to anger, I abhor being lied to and will not let someone get away with mistreatment of me or people I love. I am insensitive at times. I am opinionated and brash. I can dish it out as good as I can take it. I don't trust easily.

So... what stays and what goes? What parts of myself just need to be dusted off and which parts are headed for the trash?

Fear. Fear needs to be thrown out with those old Diet Coke bottles that have been building up on my kitchen counter. Fear is the mind killer. It's funny to me that I have been called "fearless" on more than one occasion, because I don't see myself that way at all. But that ends now. I will not be afraid to be awesome. I will not be afraid to speak up for myself. I will not be afraid of losing a friend. I will not be afraid of telling the truth - even when it is hard to do. I will not be afraid to perform! I will not be afraid to be beautiful.

Shake the house. Take out the trash. And for goodness sake open those windows and let the sunshine in!