Badlands

As I am still waiting to find out about a promised new job opportunity I am going to stick with discussing movies, otherwise I think I will go mad.

Yesterday in the comments, Natasha mentioned Badlands, the 1973 Terrance Malik film loosely based on teen anti-hero/serial killer Charles Starkweather.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Starkweather

In reality the stolen car was a Packard but a much more evocative 59 Cadillac was the real star of this film. Check out the end of reel car chase between a 58 Ford police car and the rocket finned Caddy.



The Starkweather case had a huge cultural impact inspiring many movies and novels. Stephen King has used Starkweather like characters in a number of books and short stories, i.e. the novella Blockade Billy. In the Stand Randall Flagg went to school with Stalkweather.

Anyone notice that Alabama’s coat in True Romance looked a lot like mine, hmmmm no comment.

Hugs,

April

True Romance

Still nothing momentous to announce but a girl can dream.

In the meantime I wanted to share my all time favorite movie, the Tarantino penned True Romance.

The story begins in modern day Detroit (my favorite city) and winds up in Hollywood. The scenes with Gary Oldman and Dennis Hopper are worth the price of admission. If you have seen the film you know what I am talking about and if not go rent it now.

The Detroit scenes are the best I think and the fact that the protagonist drives a pinky purple 1974 Eldorado convertible (with a 73 grill by the way) just adds to the film’s coolness factor. Did I mention that our hero is also visited by the spirit of Elvis.

Violent, bloody, sexy and yes romantic. I was particularly taken by the instrumental theme used in the film.

“I had to come all the way from the highway and byways of Tallahassee, Florida to MotorCity, Detroit to find my true love. If you gave me a million years to ponder, I would never have guessed that true romance and Detroit would ever go together. And till this day, the events that followed all still seems like a distant dream. But the dream was real and was to change our lives forever. I kept asking Clarence why our world seemed to be collapsing and things seemed to be getting so shitty. And he'd say, "that's the way it goes, but don't forget, it goes the other way too." That's the way romance is... Usually, that's the way it goes, but every once in awhile, it goes the other way too.”




Anyone feel like pie,

April

Cruel Weather

Rather distracted today, my oldest child is under the weather and is camping out with me at my office today. Comfy chair and DS.

As for me, no news is good news, I am doing my best to focus on the work at hand and not let anything slip between the cracks.

I was able to get out for my customary Sunday evening coffee with girlfriend Marissa. Just jeans, top and “the jacket”. Picture shows the pink lining, “J” says this saves it from being totally slutty.

A balmy plus 2 degrees today, feels positively spring like. Wish I could go work on the Toronado and catch up on some deserved maintenance. Tonight freezing rain and a return to snow. Mother Nature is a bitch.

Here is Nick Lowe with Cruel to be Kind, watch out for Dave Edmunds and Carlene Carter in the video, yes that is Nick and Carlene getting married:

Hugs,

April

Sneetches

I have tended to pull my punches on this blog but I am not here to debate politics, religion or even what sort of car to drive, but I am sure you can guess where my sympathizes lie.

It is with great dismay that I have watched what appears to be a civil war brewing in the “trans” word. When I first made tentative steps towards coming out two years ago I found an accepting community. Today I think I would be asked to take sides or simply be told where I belong and where I must stay.

For those of you who may have missed this classic Dr. Seuss story as children here it is:



No kind of Sneetch is best on the beaches,

April

Excellent

The job situation and hence the ability to transition is looking up. A bit too early to announce anything but I am fairly positive that my master plan is coming together….excellent (say like the Simpsons Mr. Burns).

It will be a busy and a challenging year with no guarantee of success except that, which I can make happen through my own hard work.

It is hard to imagine that in less than a year I could be full time and working at home en femme in mere weeks!!!

Feel like breaking into song (like in an Elvis movie). I am trying to keep level headed as I know there is still the chance it could all go south.



The Hawk Weird-Oh model kit graphic got some attention yesterday. The Weird-Ohs were designed by graphic artist Bill Campbell, clearly influenced by Ed Roth, here is the complete history:

http://www.oldmodelkits.com/blog/plastic-model-kit-history/history-of-the-hawk-%E2%80%9Cweird-ohs%E2%80%9D-plastic-model-kits/

Hugs,

April

Hurry Up and Die

Traffic jams blocked my normal route so I detoured along Lakeshore Road. Lake Ontario displayed a million shades of grey with clouds that seemed to rise up out of the horizon, quite beautiful in winter's own terrifying way. I would have liked to have stopped and taken a photo.

But work beckons…

Story of my life, no time stop and smell the roses. We are told that we should be thankful for a job in this economy. I do not disagree but it has been almost a decade of running flat out, I have lost touch with friends, no time to visit my grandmother, no time with the children except to hector them to get homework done or get up and get ready for school.

I am so tired.

Even the cars, my Stutz project (my personal Grail) lays dormant waiting for finishing touches that may never come. The Caddy was driven only twice last year, the Imperial all but forgotten.

It seems as if the message is hurry up, hurry up and die. No I will not comply, time for a change…

I still fervently believe in the “American Dream” but transition and being honest with myself at long last has turned my priorities on their head, hopefully for the better.

Ok I am taking myself all too seriously, time for some Old Timey music:

Hot Damn, It’s the Soggy Bottom Boys…

Try not to be turned into a toad today,

April

Picture is of a Hawk Weird-Ohs model kit from the sixties, Daddy - The Way Out Suburbanite (racer; aka. "the Swingin' Suburbanite"). Personally I would rather be this one,

Needles and Pins

I did not post yesterday as I have been on pins and needles regarding a new career opportunity. I am fairly certain that things will pan out but we have yet to ink a deal due to various issues. There is a definite air of inevitability and overall today I am positive.

The on again off again talks were driving me mad, causing manic joy and depression in equal measure. Pounding away on the tread mill with the iPod super loud was all that was keeping me sane.

The reason for my hyper emotional state is that my current position precludes any thought of transition. A smooth at work transition is not guaranteed by any potential new opportunity but I will now have a fighting chance.

The ability to begin the planning process for transition is so exciting the thought that by the end of the year….sorry getting ahead of myself.

I will of course share more as soon as I find out.

Snowpocalypse this morning, lots of shoveling and very painful fingers (I had gotten frost bite in my finger tips in Sudbury years ago and they are extremely sensitive to the cold and can be quite painful).

The major highways were a parking lot and the side streets slushy and slippery. The Toronado’s fwd and weight pulled her through with poise and I was one of the few cars going the speed limit.

Of course today’s cut is Needles and Pins, I thought I would post the hit version by the Searchers, or maybe the Ramones, even Del Shannon did a cool version. I am partial to Jackie De Shannon’s:



Since I missed yesterday here is a bonus track, Jackie again with the rocker, It’s Love Baby:

Hugs,

April