The End

This is it. The End of "Murphy's Law" as we knew it. This blog was a great outlet for my law school life, but lots has changed about my post-law school life, and this space hasn't changed with it. I could go into great detail about the changes, or about the very good things going on in this anonymous life of mine, but it doesn't feel authentic here anymore. So I guess this is goodbye - from here anyway. I will have a new blog, but it will not be linked to this one or any of my favorites, because that is the best way for me to write what I feel honestly, which is the whole purpose of a blog (for me). I'm a little bit sad to give this one up, but it's definitely the best way for me to move on and keep writing. Maybe you will find me out there. Not sure how one says goodbye to an audience of a few friends and a few lurkers - but I think the following comes close.

I don't know the sound of my father's voice
I don't even know how he says my name
But it plays out like a song on a jukebox in a bar
In the back of my head till it's weary and mushy

And in the cotton fields out by the house where I was born
The leaves burn like effigies of my kin
The trains run like snakes through Pentecostal pine
Filled up with cotton and fine slow gin

Oh Jacksonville, how you burn in my soul
How you hold all my dreams captive
Jacksonville, how you play with my mind
Oh my heart goes back, suffocating on the pines
In Jacksonville
The End, The End, The End

All the cars are lined up on a Saturday night
With the sky full of nothing but moon
And I lose my reflection in the bottles of wine
Till the morning comes down and I ain't nothing but you

Now the diner in the morning for a plate of eggs
The waitress tries to give me change I say, "Nah, it's cool. Just keep it"
I read up my news, I start thinking about her
And I wonder if anybody here besides me has got any decent secrets

Oh Jacksonville, how you burn in my soul
How you hold all my dreams captive
Jackson-hell, how you play with my mind
Oh my heart goes back, suffocating on the pines
In Jacksonville
The End, The End, The End

The Genius and the Lisper

Turns out I do have a loyal reader or two. Who would've thought? So, a pseudo-request for my thoughts on one Mr. Ryan Adams marrying one Ms. Mandy Moore.
[Sidenote: aMOMymous left me a voicemail stating, "I heard that that singer that you like, Ryan Somethingorother, is marrying that actress, the one who always plays the Pollyanna in dumb romantic movies . . . what's her name? Anyway, just wanted to let you know." aMOMymous is awesome.]
Right, back to the task at hand. Um, I have never really been a big MM fan. She and Drew Barrymore both have speech patterns that drive me bonkers. Not quite a lisp but a mouth that curves up and makes words sound funny. Blech. Oh, I did however really enjoy MM's first song, "Candy", in high school. Any song that has a pause for a "love always, Mandy" is pure classic amazingness. And she was pretty hilarious in 'Saved'. And one of my sorority sisters forced me to watch 'A Walk to Remember' and in the first 8 minutes or so I asked, "so when does she die?" But yeah, other than that . . . not so much. But here's my bottom line. I lurve Ryan. And if he's happy, like really really happy, then I am happy. Because he's been on such an emotional rollercoaster - it ends up producing amazing music but sort of destroys his sanity (or appears to do so, who knows, maybe not). I wish him lots of happiness and music productivity. However there is one VERY BIG caveat. If they start making duets, I will NOT handle it well. Mazel tov. And don't make music together. Please.

Crazy Genius

If you were wondering what I want for my birthday (which isn't for several months) aside from a date with Ryan, a date with Sidney, and a date with Hugh Laurie (yeah, yeah), I also want a trip to an amusement park (I lurve rollercoasters) and one of these:

www.littlemoos.com/photos/index.php

I mean really. A freaking mini cow. Really. Your mascot sits in a tree all day thinking up new things to put cheese on. Really.

I'm Busy, but watch this, it made me cry.

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

AH - Movie Critic Extraordinaire

I don't see many movies. Why? Well it's a combination of things. And I suppose that that earlier statement should be amended to say "I don't see many GOOD movies" (there, happy Eddie??). I have seen movies like "13 Going on 30" about a zillion times. And "B" horror movies, oh swoon. But I don't go to the theater much and I don't EVER rent movies and I can't be bothered to watch the satellite guide to plan what I want to watch on HBO. So, I don't see many movies. But this weekend I was determined to see some Oscar nominated flicks and to relax and stay in from the cold. While I am nowhere near the movie buff that Artful is - or Eddie, he likes movies too - here are my thoughts on The Reader, Benjamin Button, and My Best Friend's Girl (hey, they can't all be good, but which one was the best?!?!?! oooooh the suspense). Oh, I will probably have some ***SPOILERS*** so if you are at all angered by them, um, read this post another time. Or never. Whichever.

The Reader -
Damn Kate Winslet. I have seen you naked a lot. Like, really a lot. And you still have a bangin' body. I am kind of jealous. Fine. Really freaking jealous. Oh, to the task at hand. Um, underage sex plus concentration camps. Interesting mix, no? No, not really. I mean yeah, the characters were compelling and well acted and Ralph Fiennes is soooooo gorgeous but the movie is pretty much a soul-suck, and not in a "wow I learned something" way but in a "everyone dies alone and sad" kind of way. And? At the big trial? (OK really big spoiler here. Don't say I didn't warn you!!!) The judge asks the woman testifying "how many people died that night?" and she says "All of them." OK . . . but YOU were there and YOU are now HERE so clearly not ALL OF THEM died! And how did you live??? Where are the follow-up questions?!?!?! Hmph. After the movie my friend told me I am never allowed to pick the movie again. Never. Deservedly so. We should have seen "the wrestler" - I mean it's Mickey Rourke Playing mickey Rourke - if nothing else that's entertainment gold.

My Best Friend's Girl -
After a delicious Italian dinner, this movie was on tap. Not my choice. Dane Cook is a moron and Kate Hudson and Jason Biggs play the same people in every movie they are ever in. So yeah, I was glad I was a half a bottle of wine in. But a friend of a friend wrote the movie, so I agreed to give it a shot. And??? Fucking hilarious. No, really. I wanted so much to not like this movie. Like, a lot. Like I wanted to not like it as much as I have seen Kate Winslet naked in movies. So, a lot. It's a goofball comedy that was marketed really poorly as a rom-com. If you need a mindless night, just rent this. I promise.

Benjamin Button -
To be fair, I was sitting next to the most annoying girl in the world at this movie. She was SO DUMB. Bawling for the final 25 minutes of the movie, she said through her tears and snot at the end "I didn't know that was Cate Blanchett!!!" She also was mildly offended when I turned to my movie-watching companion and said, "That was awful. We should have seen the Wrestler - again. Dane Cook was better than that movie." Seriously. if you are really jonesing for another "Forrest Gump" but with even WORSE Southern accents (fricking terrible), then yeah, go waste 3 hours at this. If this wins any awards it will merely serve to reaffirm my belief that people are incredibly stupid. My buddy said, "I didn't think that was an hour too long" to which I responded, "You're right, it was 3 hours too long." Ugh.

See? I'll bet you didn't think My Best Friend's Girl would be the best movie I saw all weekend. But it was. Don't say I didn't warn you. And now you know why I don't go to the movies.

#36

Today is the 36th anniversary of the decision of the now famous (infamous?) case, Roe v. Wade. For the first time in 8 years, this date carries with it the promise of a President who is committed to taking real steps toward reducing the need for abortions in this country while at the same time recognizing the importance of safe, legal abortion availability. Banning abortion, making abortion procedures more difficult to obtain, and shaming the millions of women who have abortions every year are all "solutions" that do nothing to address the root problem. My hope on this anniversary is that our new administration takes meaningful steps to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies by:
* improving access to healthcare for all women
* making birth control more affordable
* improving sex education in schools so that it covers not only abstinence, but also contraception (and so that it does not ignore the presence of students who do not fit the heteronormative standard)
* rolling back the Global Gag Rule so that women around the world get accurate information about their full range of reproductive options and can make informed decisions regarding their own health
* repealing the Hyde Amendment!
* getting rid of the ridiculous new HHS "conscience clause"
* increasing funding for programs that help young, poor women become more independent and better mothers (by accessing childcare, education, and mentors)

Take the time today to thank a reproductive healthcare provider, or volunteer your time, or make a donation to your favorite reproductive health organization (even with a pro-choice President, they still need help providing affordable healthcare!). And cross your fingers - maybe some of the above will happen TODAY!

Stolen Lines #1 . . .

"I tried to think of the right answer. Unable to think of that, I spoke anyway."

"Kryptonite?"

*heads turn*

"You think that the letter K on the periodic table stands for 'Kryptonite' Miss Hottie?"

"Erm, yes?"

"Anyone ELSE care to offer a guess?"

*other hands raise quickly*

I fucking hated middle school.