talkin bout a revolution (sounds like a whisper)

ok, in a ranting mood on this beautiful friday in LA. i am sad and i am pissed and i feel so completely helpless in the face of this government non-crisis. and i say non-crisis because it seems as though nothing will change, not really. we've built the machine and made it too large, then elected selfish, selfish lawmakers who don't care about people, because there are just too many of them, so they use the machine to safeguard their own wealth. we are bigger than the machine people, but we need to get organized. i would feel better about the thought of organizing a revolution if i could manage to keep my clothes off the bedroom floor.

does it piss anyone else off that the government shutdown is really just another word for a paid vacation for most government workers? that's right, they still get paid. just not right away. i think the men and women fighting this senseless war should go on strike. if they're not getting paid for putting their lives on the line, why should they continue to do so? for their ideals? for their love of a country so totally willing to hang them out to dry? this is exactly why soldiers are chosen based on exemplary qualities like loyalty and a willingness to serve. so that when the government stops taking care of them, they'll stay and fight as they've been trained, for no reason at all. it's not fair. i know, i know, life isn't fair, but some days that's just harder to take than others.

and of course i have to just mention in passing how crazy it makes me that the republicans want to de-fund planned parenthood, the epa, and npr. perfect! let's churn out millions of ill-informed, unwanted, asthmatic children! that'll help the economy. that'll help bring us peace. did you know that government money given to planned parenthood does NOT fund abortions? no. free pap smears, breast exams, std and hiv testing, yes. how dare they? how dare they, in a time when people are often forced to choose between fuel for their car and their body, try to take away such a vital resource for national health? and when the democrats say, 'no, actually, american women need to be able to get a pap smear whether they can afford it or not' they say 'well i guess we're at an impasse, so let's go on vacation!' vegas is great this time of year.

i'm ranted out for now. i'm more of an action person than an impotent anger person anyway. i have written to my congresspeople about the planned parenthood thing, just making sure they know that it's important for me to see EVERYONE taken care of. so very few people can afford the healthcare they need. it's not their fault. it's a broken system. i think if we are truly entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, then maybe not being able to afford cancer screening shouldn't get in the way. i really want to do more. i want to rally the people, i want our voices to be heard. if you have any ideas on how to do this, i'm listening. but my socks remain on the floor.

that single step

i've been tossing the idea of starting a blog around in my head, more like a softball than a salad. because the overarching thought of a blog is a single idea, not a whole mix of baby spinach and arugula and cilantro and... wow, i could really go for a salad right now. also, blogger doesn't know that arugula is a word. get with the times blogger, it's a viable green! this is probably the best welcome you could have to my writing. it's random, it's a little catchy, it just sort of comes out. i wanted to start writing because i've always always always enjoyed it and i have a lot of opinions. i look at things from every angle and i like to share what i think. with a blog i can put it out there to the universe without having to go to all the trouble of getting a soapbox and finding a corner and looking like a crazy person. it's subtle, but i still get to rant.

so let me start by saying that if i had a mission in life, it would be to get people to give up their obsession with money and power and things and put the focus back on relationships and people and experiences. what is life but a string of experiences and people? i guess it's things too, but even really expensive things aren't great because of their price. designer jeans are worth paying for because of how great they make your ass look, not because of some status bullshit. i don't know, i guess i'm just not materialistic and i think the key to happiness is in comfortably settling into one's niche in life, whatever that may be. for me, that niche is acting.

i've lived in LA (yay! first capital letters... i don't like them much, but it looks weird to refer to los angeles as la) for 7 months now, and this city, for all it's shallow insipidity, has reawakened my hope. there is an energy in the air that comes from millions of people all chasing their dreams. it comes from the writers writing, the actors acting, the dancers dancing. the sunshine helps. the warmth helps. the ocean and the mountains help. the people help. for every douche bag there is at least one truly lovely artist. there is a live and let live quality to the air. 70 year old gay couples walk down the promenade in santa monica holding hands, mixed race couples don't invite so much as a second glance or thought, the heavily tattooed are seen as completely decent human beings. those of you who have known me for years know that this feels like home to me.

so today, i am not angry and i have nothing in particular to rant about, other than the price of gas at the pump ($4.19!!! wtf!!!) i think that's an appropriate way to kick off a blog. i am happy. i am writing new bits for my comedy, i'm at the comedy store on april 17th! i am auditioning quite a lot in the last couple weeks, i will be acting again soon! i am in love with a man who adores me, understands me, and takes care of me! i am exactly where i want to be.