CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

#SpiritDay, October 20 - Ways to be Involved

Millions of Americans wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 by teenager Brittany McMillan as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Observed annually on October 20, individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Getting involved is easy -- participants are asked to simply "go purple" on October 20 as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are.

http://www.glaad.org/spiritday

GO PURPLE ON FACEBOOK

GO PURPLE ON TWITTER

"I'd love you if you were the color of a baboon's ass." -The Jerk

When I was in a youth group in high school, we spent a little time volunteering at the motion picture home. I guess that's pretty "Hollywood" -- it's not in any city that you can volunteer at a retirment home singularly dedicated to retired and elder Hollywood types. 

I hated that place. I didn't like the gray cloud of eminent death that sort of hung over the place. And it reminded me of visiting my grandmother in her home before she passed away. But we would walk the halls and sing with them or just listen to them talk. I warmed to it. 

I don't think we did it very often but in my memory, I somehow feel like we were they a lot... Maybe that's present-day-me trying to believe that teenaged-me was a real do-gooder. 

At some point, I must have wandered off (I did this regularly) and found myself in Mabel's room. Mabel was a large, loud, loving woman who'd lost her legs to Diabetes but not her spirit. She'd gone rather unknown in her Hollywood hey-day despite having starred in several recognized titles like The Wiz, The Jerk, "What's Happening?" and "The Jeffersons." She had letters and gifts to show off from her Wiz co-star, Michael Jackson, and hilarious stories about Patrick Swayze, who was somehow a friend of hers and would visit from time to time. 

Without her legs, some of her teeth, and the use of her left arm, Mabel was still a force. I was apprehensive at first but eventually, loved to be around her. I think I had about four visits with her, each one more entertaining than the one before. She could not sing as she used to but still hummed a little for me, and she let me hold a small, fancy music box Michael Jackson had sent her at some point.

I was flipping channels tonight and The Wiz was on Ovation. You see, usually, after I've posted a blog entry, I come back to it a few hours later and look for al the typos I need to correct. It never fails - there are always a half-dozen. I type so fast and seldom bother to correct as I go or even once I publish. And tonight, as I was doing just that, reading about trying to be positive and all that, Mabel came belting out "Don't nobody bring me no bad news!" And thereafter, "Brand New Day." 

Hmmmm... I dunno. I'm not saying it was a spiritual or mystical moment. It just made me smile. And it made me think of Mabel and her interminable gusto. 

Mabel, honey, you were FIERCE!

Footloose and David Guetta are Saving my Life

I loved Footloose. I am not ashamed. 

There is some weird backlash going on wherein children of the 80s seem to think there is some disrespect in remaking this movie. I do not count myself among these people. You do not remake a moive like The Godfather or a classic Cary Grant movie like Charade (Um, did you see The Truth About Charlie with Marky Mark? Neither did I), but if you wanna update a party movie like Footloose, I'll grant you my consent. 

It's the fucking feel-good movie of the year people. This and Crazy Stupid Love rank up there for me this year (with 50/50 right up behind them, BTW). You should really go see Footloose. Unless you don't like to smile a lot and root for the good guys. Then you should go see some stinker like What's Your Number. (I'm gonna forgive Chris Evans this movie, though, because he also made Puncture, which is sensational.)

And speaking of - when did the universe decide Anna Faris was a marquee romantic comedy name? She' terrible. 

But back to Footloose... Let me know when you wanna get together and work out this line dance cause I am ALL for learning it:

0

Kenny Wormald is my new boyfriend. 

The bigger picture here is that I find myself craving positive energy tese days. Perhaps it is the total lack of it in the last year of my life that has basically made it as necessary as air to me. I feel psychologically starved for it. I'm trying so hard to feel good, it practically hurts (therefore negating my original purpose I suppose). 

I've been seeing the good in people now that previously, I must admit, went unnoticed. While I used to make loving proclomations about friends, I feel like it has new meaning to me now. A deeper sincerity. I find that if I can get myself out of bed in the morning and force myself to focus, they day will fly by quite nicely and I'm smiling through much of it. 

And on the car ride home, with the volume way up and a couple windows rolled down, I blast this song by David Guetta and Usher because it's filled with joy and it makes me giddy:

And this cover of the song is rather fabulous as well, props to SongsWithFriends.

I am waiting patiently for this new, positive force to take hold in other aspects of my life - like the one that will motivate me to do the dishes and/or vacuum. 

I feel like I am slowly coming back to life. 

Diet Booze. Please and Thanks.

It's FREEZING outside. 

Ok, ok, it's California-freezing. The New York version of me would kick the California version of me in the butt and say "grow a pair."

So I was just watching my homegirls, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and I realized I had these fun little drink samples from Xante...

Because when you watch the housewives, it's pretty easy to be driven to drink... 

Anyway, Xante, in case you are unawares, is LOW. CALORIE. LIQUOR. 

35 calories per serving, folks. 17% sugar (exceptionally low amount for a premium liquor). Hence it is my new favorite thing. "...Perfect penetration of pear, the finest French cognacs and the affection of French Limousine Oak with a touch of vanilla."

Um, sign me up. 

In the interest of full disclosure, yes - these kind people sent me samples. But no one ever asks me to say anything but the truth. That's my policy. 

You guys, this is good stuff. 

So here are some cocktail recipes should you happen to find yourself the proud owner of some Xante:

 

Xanté Cucumber Tease

1 ½ oz of Xanté

1 oz gin

¾ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice

½ oz simple syrup

Approx. 2 chunks of cucumber

Fill with ginger ale

 

Xanté Stormy Pear

1.5 oz Xanté

½ oz of freshly squeezed lime juice

Dash of simple syrup

Dash of bitters

Fill with ginger beer 

 

The Lennart

1.5 oz Xanté

1/3 freshly squeezed lime juice

Sprite/7-Up (but you can substitute diet soda to make it even lower in calories)

 

And my favorite drink these days seems to be Mojitos of all kinds and flavors so I also had to throw this up:

Xanté Mojito: 4 parts Xanté, 8-10 mint leaves, 4 lime wedges, 2 parts simple syrup, 1 tsp sugar soda. Muddle mint and lime, add Xanté and simple syrup. Shake and pour into a highball glass. Top with crushed ice and soda

I'm told Xanté is best served neat, as a shot on the rocks.  But I'm not much of a shot taker. You let me know if you try that... I'll stick to mixing. 

You can find Xante at BevMo. Or on my coffee table at present. 

P.S. (It's not such a tough life when people send you delcious things and ask you to tell people the truth about it.)

P.P.S. (Please don't send me yucky things. I will tell the truth about those, too.)