Hypocrites

So Miley Cyrus did a photo shoot with Annie Liebovitz. So what?

I remember in the early 1980’s when the controversial Brooke Shield’s Calvin Klein ad came out. You remember the one? I remember my mother having a complete fit–not for moral reasons–but because she felt that is was exploitive to women. Since then advertisers have pushed the envelope as far as they can and every magazine displays hundreds of photographs of scantily clad young, young, young models in sexually explicit poses to sell their clothes.

Celebrities sell themselves and obviously it pays off for them. Miley Cyrus is worth over a billion dollars. A Billion Dollars. With a B. She’s 15 and has more money than most of us could ever imagine having in a lifetime–all for singing some songs and starring in a Disney tv show. I think less than her doing a photo shoot with Annie Liebovitz–the level of wealth that she has is more of an issue. Consumers are fine with handing their money over to her for their cable subscription, concerts, cd’s, and everything Miley that you can buy including clothing, purses, backpacks, books, magazines, and bandaids. Yes, bandaids. But, God forbid she pose for some photographs with a world renowned photographer that may be a little edgy. Teeny-bop-be-bop is valued. Being paid a billion dollars for it is valued. Art is not. Hypocrites. She’s selling–the American consumer is buying but she’s being criticized for selling. All hypocrites.

With all of that said. I need to admit my own issue.

This photo does not bother me as much-

She looks like she just got out of the shower. I don’t care for the lighting but I’m not Annie Liebovitz so what the hell do I know?

THIS photo–however–bothers me-

If it had been done with a 17 year old boy–it probably wouldn’t have bothered me. A fifteen year old girl with a 17 year old boy in a seductive pose is all over billboards and buses everywhere.  Let’s face it, fifteen year old girls are sexual young women and they are used to sell products every day–no one seems to mind so much because we (we, collectively) continue to shop at the stores that advertise in this way.  The fact that this photo is being done with her FATHER is what is bothersome. It’s provocative, it’s sexually charged and it’s with her father.

Amazingly, the only controversy that I have seen is people having a fit about the first photo and not the second.

Am I the only one who finds this odd? And a bit hypocritical.

In other news, it seems that most of the teenage girls (ages 14-17) taken from that whacko fundamentalist Mormon cult in Texas–are either pregnant–or have already given birth to at least one child.

This is a problem people. Annie Liebovitz taking some pictures of 15 year old Miley Cyrus kind of pales in comparison. But let’s all throw a fit about it, shall we?

Let’s be hypocrites because obviously it is what we in America seem to do best.

Short Update:  I wanted to add to some of the commenters that I was not comparing the Brooke Shields ad to this–I was simply showing how as far as advertisers go–they’ve pushed that medium as far as possible.  This is a type of advertising–it’s advertising Miley Cyrus–and is no different than the ads we thumb through every day.

I would also like to agree that it’s infuriating that Miley and her parents are “outraged” by these photographs.  Hello?  They were there–they were posing for them–I don’t think that Annie Liebovitz doctored them in Photoshop to reveal more skin.

The hypocrisy continues.

Yes, I am THAT Butch

I split wood.

HG and I went on an impromptu camping trip to The. Most. Amazing. Campground.

Those of you who do not live in Oregon–I’m sorry about your luck because you probably can’t go. For the rest of you–I’ll tell you about the campground but you must promise not to tell anyone. Ever.

I don’t want the secret to get out.

Fishermen’s Bend.

It was fab.

Go there.

But don’t tell anyone else.

Ginger and Abby loved it. Ginger was so exhausted she could hardly move.

Abby was a bit tired too but not as much.

We had a great time testing out our new fancy, shmancy camper. It has heat and water and hot water and electricity. Fan-cy. We loved it. It’s so nice to not have to haul and heat up water to clean dishes. It was like staying in a hotel.

Only different.

Anyway. That’s where we’ve been all weekend. I’m glad the virus is gone. It’s thanks to Justin who is nice and a genius but don’t tell anyone about that either– he has a rep to protect man.

Tomorrow I am taking my friend Cory to the airport at Four Fucking in the Morning. It’s a good damn thing that I like her. Four in the Morning is not so much fun for anyone.

Here is a really bad picture of me with her baby Benicio (taken with photobooth, so the quality is not up to par. . .)

As much as I love Cory and her boys, I’m glad she’s taking both of them with her when she leaves. Boys Are Loud.

That is all peeps. Ciao.

Try Now

One of the members of my “team of experts” diligently working on fixing the virus warning on my blog has given me something to try.

I know that everyone is sick of this–but Can You See It Now???

Fancy Pants

Today I went to lunch with the governor. I wore a new outfit that I purchased in a quick 20 minute shopping spree at TJ Maxx–a store that I heart. A lot.

I looked super cute and I would show you a picture but I don’t have one.

Today at the lunch with the governor I was taking pictures for Basic Rights Oregon and no one took any pictures of me looking so fancy. Too bad because I was wearing a skirt and tights. I haven’t had myself in a pair of tights or pantyhose for as long as I can possibly remember and I don’t anticipate it happening again anytime soon. It’s been so long since I’ve worn pantyhose or tights that I forgot how–but luckily I have friends to help me out. I was advised not to wear any panties with my tights to avoid all of the unfortunate stuff that happens when one wears tights or pantyhose. Stuff that I won’t mention here because . . . boys read this site . . .

Also at the luncheon with the governor were some fancy people like Jeff Merkley, Tina Kotek, and Sam Adams. If you don’t live in the Portland metropolitan area these people mean nothing to you but to us–they are fan-cy.

LeLo was also there and she was W-A-Y fancy in her spring dress and incredibly cute non-lezzie-lezzie shoes. I wonder if any of you know how incredibly talented that LeLo is? She’s amazing. She designed all of the print material for the luncheon today and it was Beautiful. And she did it pro-bono which makes her even more amazing. So I’m happy that LeLo is my friend–she’s beautiful, talented, nice, generous and she wears the greatest shoes.

HG and I went out for sushi tonight which was nice.

And quiet.

We have had house guests for the past week. My friend Cory and her two little boys have been visiting and even though we love her and her boys–little boys are Loud. Like really Loud. And messy. Have I also mentioned that my wife is maybe just a little, teeny, tiny bit OCD? Just a tad. So sushi was good. And quiet.

Yes, I changed my blog template back to see if all of y’all who had been getting a virus message were still getting it. I have a team of experts who have researched the problem and found none–so if this doesn’t work–I don’t know what to do. Just let me know–mmkay?

Two very long days have come to an end with successful results and that’s all I’ve got for now.

But if you were at the luncheon today and happen to take a photo of me–send it will you?

Technical Difficulties

I’m experiencing Technical Difficulties.  All of a sudden I upgraded and enhanced and now things are all askew.

Today I woke up from an e-mail from LeLo stating that I was ignoring her.  I was not!!!  I called her on my way to meet my editor for the paper I write for and explained that I did NOT get her e-mails.  I figured out through our conversation that something was terribly wrong.  I had e-mailed Fleur de Lisa with no response.  It’s not like her to diss me.  Or my friend Sam who I also did not hear from over the weekend.  WTF???  Something must have had happened when I upgraded to Mac Office 2008 on Friday.

So I get to Starbucks to meet my editor at 9:30.  I waited until 10:35.  He didn’t show.  More mystery.  I sat in Starbucks sans computer and watched everyone–looking at every middle aged man who walked in the joint wondering if he was my editor–my late in arriving for coffee editor.  None of them were him and a few of them were probably wondering why I was looking at them so thoughtfully.

I realized a few things while sitting at Starbucks for an hour.

• People spend entirely too much money on coffee and coffee cakes and danish and fancy breakfast sandwiches.  Like that place makes bank.
• Mr. or Ms. Starbucks is a freaking genius.
• I think it’s amazing that Seattle is the home to both Mr. or Ms. Starbucks AND Bill Gates.  I guess all that rain is good for budding entrepreneurs.
• People who talk on their cell phones in Starbucks is one thing–people who talk on their cell phones while on Speaker Phone–is completely unacceptable.
• Waiting for someone for an hour and five minutes while drinking mass amounts of coffee makes one a little edgy.

After Starbucks I went to Trader Joe’s for pasta and wine–the two staples I always purchase there.

My pasta has gone from 69 cents a bag to 99 cents a bag.

My wine has gone up one dollar per bottle.

Milk is 3.99 a gallon.

This is George Bush’s fault and I intend on letting him know how pissed off I am.  Gas is one thing–don’t be fucking with my wine damnit.

So I get home and log on to Verizon to find my e-mail.  What do I see?  Two e-mails from LeLo, two e-mails from Fleur de Lisa, an e-mail from my friend Sam, two e-mails from Melissa Lion and an e-mail from my editor re-scheduling our coffee.

Damn technology.

And I don’t know how to fix it.  I’ve tried everything I know how to do and I’m flabbergasted to no end.

To top this all off . . .

I’m about ready to go to Kaiser to get my boob squished and I need to buy a new outfit because I’m having lunch with the governor of Oregon tomorrow.  Well, I’m going to a luncheon where he is the keynote speaker which is almost like having lunch with him, isn’t it?  And me with nothing to wear.

It’s just all too much today–but at least tonight I can have a glass of wine–inflated wine, but wine nonetheless.  And maybe tomorrow I can con someone to help me with my Entourage settings that are not working.  Anyone who is interested–I’ll be happy to serve you a glass of very expensive  milk or wine.

Any takers?

It’s possible that the world is coming to an end

Climate change is bad people.  It is bad when in April there is freezing cold temperatures and snow and hail and rain and then some sun and then more hail and a little bit of rain and it’s still freezing cold.  Like I need to wear my fancy expensive warm sweater cold all day because it’s so cold.  In April.

Also, HG and I took Melissa Lion out last night to the Lesbian Nightclub in town.  It did not snow or hail inside, but there were some scary lesbians and I had to walk Melissa to the bathroom to protect her from the scariness.  And, she sang “She Bop” for karaoke.  I have video to prove it and if she ever does anything to piss me off–I will put it on You Tube.  She will most likely do anything for me until the end of time.

Today I took my wife kicking and screaming to Nordstrom (no S. on the end) for Bra Shopping.  We stopped at Starbucks so that I could get a coffee before we began the Bra Shopping and the barista asked what we were up to today.  I replied, “Bra Shopping” to which he seemed a bit astonished.  Hey, don’t ask if you don’t want to know.

At Nordstrom the Bra Lady said I was a “very good friend” for giving HG moral support while Bra Shopping.  I smiled and said, “Yes, I am a very, very special friend.”

After Nordstrom, we went to Target for hairspray and razors and then to McMenamin’s for Beer.  This is how I get HG to do what I wish–I promise her Beer.  It works Every Single Time.  At McMenamin’s we had a heartfelt conversation about how much we mean to each other and we both got teary and then we thought of ways to blackmail Melissa Lion with the cell phone video we have of her performing “She Bop” for the lesbians.

It was a very good day.  And even though the crazy weather may be pointing to the world coming to an end–I’m okay with it.  Friends, HG, Karaoke, Bras, Starbucks, and Beer make everything–even the end of the world–tolerable.

Cheers.

Update to those who have inquired about the Virus Message that appears to a few of you on my main page.  I inquired about this with the very smart people who manage the hosting of this site.  They can’t find a problem, so I’m not really sure what the deal is.  I’m most certain that there is not a virus attached to my website and I don’t think you could even get a virus just by visiting a website but I have a Mac so I’m not sure.  I think it’s all okay though, but please continue to let me know so that I can pass on the info to the nice people at Hosting Matters.

Why is it snowing?

It is April 19th in the mild climate state of Oregon and today there was lightning, and thunder and hail and snow.

Climate change.

It’s real people.

Oral Surgery Survival

The insurance issues were worked out. I found out that the reason they were asking me for $1,400.00 up front was because the girls were not covered under the insurance information that I had. Apparently the girls (who are covered under XH’s insurance) have had new insurance since January–but I wasn’t informed of such insurance change. This creates a problem or two considering that I am the one who takes the DD’s to the doctor/dentist/orthodontist/whatever and manages these types of issues. Having current insurance information MAY be a bit important.

DD#3 was scared and I almost burst into tears when they told me that I couldn’t go with her. They took her back and started and IV and I couldn’t even be with her. When she woke up and was doing okay–they rolled her out to my car in a wheelchair looking quite drugged and out of it. As soon as the nurse left and I had her in the car, she burst into tears and sobbed. I think she was being so brave for so long and really sucked it up but when she was alone with Mommy–she lost it. I don’t blame her one bit.

I got her home and got her pain medicine, gave her a milkshake and coke and she’s doing much, much better now.

She looks, however, as though she lost a few rounds in a bar fight:

Oh, several thousand dollars and several years of extensive dental and orthodontic work will fix her right up. For now–she looks a bit like a redneck. A high-on-Tylentol 3-redneck!

Next up? My boob check. Half way through the Day from Hell.  And no Xanex.

So . . .

(Buttons on your underwear . . . )

Thank you everyone who left a comment and sent me e-mails. I have absolutely no idea why anyone would be getting a virus warning from visiting my site. I host my site on Hosting Matters and they are delightful so I will certainly be asking them why this may be–they are much, much, much smarter than I am and I’m sure they will have an answer for us all. I don’t get that warning, but I am a Mac user, so that could be why.

Today the girls were off from school and we drove to Eugene to pick up my friend Cory and her two little boys. Cory has been living in Mexico for several years and her oldest boy (who is four) speaks mostly Spanish so none of us know what the hell he is saying most of the time. The baby doesn’t speak much of anything English or Spanish–so he’s a little easier.

Tomorrow DD#3 is scheduled to have two extractions done. Today, the oral surgeon’s office called to inform me that I am expected to bring $1,400.00 to cover the procedure in addition to the $200.00 balance. Hello? WTF? First of all–I wasn’t aware that there was a balance–I have never received any kind of statement stating this. Second, $1,400.00 for the procedure tomorrow? Do they think that I have that just hanging around in my Petty Cash Jar?

I have a call in to them. Let’s just say I’m not so much on the Happy about it.

Tomorrow I also go to my doctor to have her look at the big fat lump in my boob that I’ve had forever but this month it started to get all sore and bothersome. I had it checked several years ago and the doctor said it was nothing and I’m sure it is, but it interferes with my bra and that’s just not going to work. I can’t be seen without a bra as I will scare small children and animals. In addition my doctor will be going over with me the pelvic ultrasound that I had done the other day. The one where the Ultrasound technician wouldn’t tell me anything except that I have a uterus and ovaries. That’s reassuring. HG is going to go with me because she is nice that way and because I’m such a freak that I’ve already imagined that I have uterine and ovarian tumors and the lump in my boob has turned into some horrible cancerous thing that has metastasized into my lungs and I will only have six months to live. I guess the bright spot of that is if that is the case–I won’t have to worry about that impending $1,600.00 bill from the Oral Surgeon.

After the doctor we’ll go on a date. At least that’s something to look forward to.

So.

Xanex?

I’m out of it.

Stress?

Lots.

It’s 2:15. Is that too early for cocktail hour?

I think not.

Testing, Testing, Oh God Help Me

I just updated to Wordpress 2.5 and I’m scared of all of the new things.  And something seems to be wrong with my link button.

I also changed my template.  If some of you could please do me a favor and try to leave a comment to see if it works, I’ve had trouble before.  If for some reason it doesn’t work, please let me know by e-mail (rsg at this domain name dot com.)

I can’t like change in my blog life.