Yes, I Once Was A Make-Up Artist

This new wrinkle in the Palin problem really is now in a way all about lipstick. Pig? Not Pig. Not the point. Everyone has a talent, some more talents than others, but one of mine was that I was a very good make-up artist. I even have a resume with pictures of some of my jobs. Once I put lipstick on a Rottweiler. I'm not proud of it, but the dog did have a handler who assured me it was ok and would not hurt the dog. His handler was, no doubt, much better paid than I, but I didn't work for chump change. I was seldom told exactly what my job would be prior to arriving at the photographers studio. The dog was a complete surprise to me. But like any good make-up artist I was prepared for just about anything. There was also a stylist on that job. No expense was spared for the dog. Imagine what they are doing for Palin.

I have made perfectly healthy people with nice skin look like they had all kinds of wounds and scars and acne for the before photos, and then removed their icky skin problems and made them look lovely. All in the name of advertising for a skin care company.

I have worked on some gorgeous women making them ever more gorgeous for fashion shoots, for TV commercials or catalogues. I have also put make-up on Orin Hatch and Jake Garn, notorious Utah Republicans for local TV interviews. I almost got to put make-up on Colin Powell, but he travels with his own make-up artist. Who knew? It sure shocked me. This was several years before he became a member of the Bush Cabinet, but still.

Those were the Clinton Years and they were very good for me economically speaking. I acted in movies and three TV series. I did some voice work that paid incredibly well. I modeled. And I was a make-up artist.

No one goes in front of a huge audience or in front of a TV camera (especially in a studio) without make-up. But this two week paycheck for Sarah Palin's make-up artist is purportedly bigger than McCain's economic adviser's paycheck for a comparable time span. Humm. I guess you get what you pay for. $22,000. 00 for two weeks is a hefty paycheck even for a traveling full-time make-up artist. She makes more in a month than Joe the Plumber makes in a year. And plumbers aren't cheap. I do not begrudge the make-up artist her salary, but I do think they could have found someone perfectly excellent for Sarah without quite that price-tag. Same with the wardrobe. And is the RNC paying for everything? And who finances the RNC? Is this income? Taxed income? I know it is for the make-up artist, but... I wonder how many laws are being broken in all this financing of Palin and her family? I have no doubt the make-up artist knows how much she got paid and how much she will owe in taxes. And she's skilled. There is no doubt about that. She's probably smarter than Sarah, too.

The Palin Rap

Palin Rap:

I Think I know What Randal Looks Like

Is this what Randal looks like? I'm thinking he has this thoughtful and almost brooding quality. The mustache, maybe not. But the pale skin and the dark hair and eyebrows, the soulful eyes, yes. Do you still have the sky blue tux tucked away somewhere Randal?

My Artistic Temperament According to Quizzy

I'm antisocial.

I mean, balanced, secure and something, something, and something else.

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Balanced, Secure, and Realistic.

10 Impressionist, -5 Islamic, 4 Ukiyo-e, -1 Cubist, -5 Abstract and -18 Renaissance!

Impressionism is a movement in French painting, sometimes called optical realism because of its almost scientific interest in the actual visual experience and effect of light and movement on appearance of objects. Impressionist paintings are balanced, use colored shadows, use pure color, broken brushstrokes, thick paint, and scenes from everyday life or nature.

People that like Impressionist paintings may not alway be what is deemed socially acceptable. They tend to move on their own path without always worrying that it may be offensive to others. They value friendships but because they also value honesty tend to have a few really good friends. They do not, however, like people that are rude and do not appreciate the ideas of others. They are secure enough in themselves that they can listen to the ideas of other people without it affecting their own final decisions. The world for them is not black and white but more in shades of grey and muted colors. They like things to be aestically pleasing, not stark and sharp. There are many ways to view things, and the impresssionist personality views the world from many different aspects. They enjoy life and try to keep a realistic viewpoint of things, but are not very open to new experiences. If they are content in their live they will be more than likely pleased to keep things just the way they are.

HelloQuizzy

I Heard About It On Twitter

Carl Rove was the best cast character in the new movie W. And now I'm home and cruising around the only social circle I have which is cyber. Sad isn't it. But I saw Randal, Diva, Freida, and a new guy called latimis or something like that and he mentioned this on Twitter.

Turd Blossom and The Killa From Wasilla (in a quarter million dollar wardrobe) living in this country at the same time in history is very scary if you think about it.

Home At Last

Well, I got cleaned up, put on my lipstick and mascara and went out. I wore a skirt. And here is a picture to prove the lipstick part. Why am I smiling? Well, the movie was worth seeing, the company was good, and now I'm home, the TV is on and I'm smoking my first cigarette in three and a half hours. I'm going to get back into my round-the-clock-jammies and settle in for some blog reading, some news watching, and some chain smoking.

In about an hour I'm making Chili for the first time this fall. Mmm, Chili! Tomorrow I might even work outside like a good home owner. I should be out there every day the sun shines until it's done. Taking care of an urban forest is harder than you'd think. And the utility bills need paying. The property tax bill came in the mail today. I haven't opened it yet, so that's probably while I'm smiling still.

While You're Waiting

I've been taking some photos of the yard. It is the most spectacular time of year in my little world. I really am snugged in back here. Even when the leaves fall and all the bushes are naked I will still have a wall of high- altitude Asian Bamboo along the western fence. The gates are locked and there are BEWARE OF DOG signs posted front and back. In my forest are some very tall pines, so even in the worst of winter I will have bits of green. The Halls Honeysuckle keeps some green leaves. Even the mint will winter- over bright green under a coat of snow if the temperature's not too terribly cold. But for now, it's lovely and changing day by day as the nights grow colder. Have a look.

Movie Matinee Day

Well, it's that time of the week and there's a movie I'm really looking forward to. You guessed it. W. I'm an Oliver Stone fan and I've been savoring the notion of this examination of our current President while he's still in office. Has this ever been done before? Other than Wag the Dog? Well that answers my own question doesn't it? Anyway, it's great timing to my way of thinking.

A matinee movie date requires a bit of effort on my part as I am leaving the house to be in the company of a man I really love. He is my best male friend. I have never known another man who allowed me to set the agenda for the time we spend together. The rare lunch and the frequent mid-week matinee movie. The occasional lengthy phone conversation. Perfection. Talking politics with a really smart and well informed (in the flesh) human being is such a treat. Not to cast aspersions on the flesh any of you inhabit, but it doesn't sit next to me in the empty theater for half an hour before the movie starts and talk politics. So I'll comb my hair and maybe even put on a touch of make-up. I might wear a skirt. Liberality has challenged my lazy ass into a skirt wearing phase.

When I went to the grocery store today my new fat pants were hanging on my hips like one of those low rider guys. By the time I'd shlepped my groceries to the little house they were nearly off my ass. When I got inside and happened to pass a mirror I noticed that my fly was undone. Lovely. So I do need to take stock. I'll actually give myself the once over before I head out to my matinee movie date with Nick. If I look good enough I'll treat you to a rare photo of the savage one. In the meantime there'll be some whisker plucking going on.

Poo Pie

It's lets get dirty time in the political cycle. The Republicans are calling Obama names: Socialist, Communist, Liberal... Oh the horror! I just saw a clip of a campaign stop for McCain with him saying "Obama wants to take your slice of the pie and give it to someone else". Boo! Hiss! Boo! "I want to grow the pie." Grow the Pie? You dumb old fart, you think pie grows? Ask any woman in small town America, the real America, the America of real Americans who are like you, how to grow a pie and she will bust up laughing. A pie gets made. And before a pie gets made someone has to earn the money to buy the ingredients, which probably entails a shopping trip, which requires gas for the car, assuming that the Repo-man hasn't already repo'ed it. But once all the ingredients are assembled, someone with a certain skill in pie making will have to put that pie together, bake it in an oven, using either electricity or gas to heat it. Then that pie will disappear faster than it could ever be put together. Turn your back for an instant and that pie will disappear into the mouths of all pie lovers in close proximity to that freshly baked pie. But I think that MCCain and Palin are assembling a poo pie, and it does seem to be growing. John Sydney doesn't like to lose, though he ought to be used to it by now. But since it all seems to be slipping away, he and his Killa from Wasilla are getting ready for some poo-pie flinging. Duck!!! Incoming!

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

This is another of the perfectly timed and thoughtful gifts I have received from Ghost. Always left like a lovely bouquet of wild flowers in my comments thread. I have to say I am new to my love of Amy Winehouse, but if Amy Winehouse survives, she might look and sound just like me. No, I don't have a smidgen of her talent, but I do have the same deep register and ragged quality of the vocal chords, and I love her material. I certainly worked hard at self-destruction, but against all odds, here I am an old woman. This is an old classic, but Amy Winehouse's version is the best I've ever heard. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.

Popularity

I'm probably the least popular woman in Salt Lake City. I won't go anywhere that doesn't involve foraging for food or second hand clothes. I won't go to girlfriend's houses unless they live three houses away. Even with my friend who lives three houses away, when I do follow her home it's because she wants me to read an article in the paper or see her geranium. He husband thinks I'm vulgar, and I have to agree with him, I am vulgar. So I stay home alone with my vulgar self.

But today, ten minutes after I woke up at 11:30, Melea came over for her day-off morning jolt of espresso and hot organic milk, and a bit of sugar. It is our "morning" ritual that we watch the news and drink coffee and smoke. While this was happening, another friend dropped by and she too joined the coffee drinking and smoking. This has gone on all day, and now I've missed half of the first part of Hardball.

I haven't gone anywhere in the blogs except Dcup's and even there I couldn't post a comment. Has she blocked me or something? I sent her an email telling her of this catastrophe and she emailed me back with her phone number. Another friend drops by, and now I'm not only wired on coffee, I'm stoned and low blood-sugar. I wolf down some Cheerios and call her. And now I am the friend that dropped by right in the middle of her evening with her family. I heard Cupcake's voice today. I'm completely in love with Dcup's family, especially Dcup herself. I am her much older sister. Oh how lovely it is to fantasize the family you always dreamed of.

So now that I have talked with Dcup, my day has been both productive and enjoyable. Life's good when you have friends who don't mind that you're vulgar.

A Storm is Blowing In

We're having a change of weather. The temperature is falling pretty fast. A wind will blow in and the leaves on the Green Ash will start to fall. It is the first tree in the yard to turn and turns spectacularly yellow in a couple of days. The leaves stay on the stem until a gust of wind brings them all down at once. It's breathtaking. I have just cleaned the dead leaves off the deck and out of the gazebo for guests last Sunday. I left the blower and extension chord outside and will have to tuck them away in a minute. But before the leaves are gone, here is a shot of the yellow leaves on the Green Ash against a blue sky. It's hard to get an idea of the size of this tree from this photograph, I will try to give it scale and post a series of photos of it later.

Writers United

Well you lucky creative writing bloggers, Dusty has set up a site. I have already posted two pieces I'm working on. Dusty has three or four pieces up. So let Dusty know that you are interested in posting there, and we can work together to inspire each other with our compliments and suggestions. The editorial help never hurts. And since we are in the construction phase of this project any suggestion you have to make the site work best for you should be directed to Dusty. Sadly, I have no finely honed computing skills, so I will be of no use at all. I don't even know how to post my photographs prettily, or find those snappy photographs other bloggers use with such artful ways to illustrate their posts. It's just not fair. And I think my administrator is actually working. To make a living. Christ, times are getting tough.

Now Is Not The Time For Complacency

I have talked about this great site often. It is linked at the top of my side bar and I call it the best little polling place in the world. I look at it several times a day just to keep my spirits up. Todays piece is instructive for all of us feeling good about the race for the White House so far, but Barack Obama is not feeling so complacent. Do not forget "The Bradley Effect." Yes, maybe Obama has a "big" lead in your area, but if you don't vote, imagine how many of your fellow voters are doing the same thing. No, now is not the time for complacency.

How Racism Works

I received a lovely email from a dear friend of mine who lives in New York. She sent me this piece from a friend of hers, and without anyone's permission I post it here.

How Racism Works...

What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating
class?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said 'I do'
to?
What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no
longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to
pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable
organization? What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5?
What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the
election numbers would be as close as they are?
This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes
positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities
in another when there is a color difference.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire?

With America facing historic debt, 2 wars, stumbling health care, a
weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, mortgage crises,
bank foreclosures, etc.

Educational Background--

Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in
International Relations
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States 0Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire?

(Oh, and by the way, what if Barack Obama had an unwed, pregnant
teenage daughter?)

The Great Schlep

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

Colin Powell is the only cabinet official from the disastrously bad Bush II administration who survived with his reputation (mostly) in tact. It would have helped if he had spoken out about the BS he knew was happening in BusCheney world, but as a military man, it is not likely he would have done so while still serving in his role as Secretary of State. Once out of office he has kept mum about the shit he knew. Some would call that honorable. I'm inclined to call it cowardice, but that's how I roll. Powell is the Military man's Military man. Stoic is the word that probably best describes Powell's calm, patient, silent role since he left office. But for Colin Powell to endorse Barack Obama is stunning. It has removed from my mind any lingering taint from serving in BusCheney World, and it is a big back-handed slap to the face of John McCain. And any lingering distaste I had for Powell not resigning prior to delivering his famously bullshit speech at the United Nations has almost evaporated with his endorsement of Barack Obama for President.

A New Secret Club Is Brewing Up A Blog

Well, let the writing commence! Many of us are working on fiction or something resembling fiction. I once again propose that we start a writer's group. All you need is a work in progress. I have not cleared this with Dcup, but she was the one who designed the gorgeous secret blog called "Deadly Women Write". There are still stories there in progress, but now there are other stories needing a place to be worked on where ones fellow writers can make suggestions and actually be each others copy editors. It is incredibly helpful and has inspired a collection of Judith Blue stories from moi. Anyway, if you're interested and working on a short story or novel, let me know so we can get this going. So far, I'd say this blog will include Diva Jood who it's rumored is working on a story. Dcup has a couple up her sleeve. Randal has a novel brewing. Beach has several stories, so do I, maybe Naj and NJRR. If you want to be included in this new project leave a comment.

Elitism

My Dear Liquid Illusion, Thank You

I have been given two awards by the very lovely blogger known as Liquid Illusion. One is called the UBER AMAZING BLOG!!! Woo Woo! Darling, you are too sweet. I love you, too. And the other is the I Love Your Blog award . And I really really do.

And with all gifts they must be shared to be enjoyed. So to these five bloggers I bestow these awards on you:

Dcup, the one the only woman with a tinfoil bra and a picture to prove it.
Randal, because he's so sweet and snarky. Yummm.
Beach, who has the writer's soul. I dare you to start twittering.
Diva, because she is the Diva, and I want to be her Big Chief Justice.
Florence Joe, Oh Sorry, Freida Bee, because, well, you know. If you don't you should.