"How Wonderful it is to have Gaga in the World."

Sir Elton John could have easily inserted anyone's name into his famous lyric, but he chose Gaga.  Elton knows.

It hurts my heart when people assume Gaga falls into line with the scantily-clad pop divas of our time.  No one is writing Gaga's songs; in fact, she wrote songs for other scantily-clad pop divas.  She is Talent.  No one is telling Gaga what to be.   She is Vision.   

With Haitian earthquakes, economic disasters, and impending planetary doom, we could all use some sequined, shoulder-padded leotards in our lives.

She is the only one who could fill the void that Michael Jackson left in this world.  So yes, how wonderful and necessary for Gaga to be in the world.

On another note, bowling of super will occur today.  This is the one day where I intentionally watch football, if by watching football you mean dominate the nachos table and play with whomever's dog.   I'd be apt to abandon all triangular salt fixes and canines if the football players broke out into dance like the "Single Ladies" bit on Glee.  Here's hoping...

To Twitter or not to Twitter?

Hmm, I don't know how I feel about Twitter.  Sure, I tweet, and I follow.  And I've been exposed to some info, links, and articles that I wouldn't have found otherwise.  But the whole shabang seems more like a global competition to see who can be the wittiest in 140 words or less; and frankly, I'm just not up to the twask.  Also, I don't really like the whole reply system.  If I don't check Twitter for several days, I have to search through all the tweets to see if anyone @-ed at me, and it's usually a let down.  

I say all of this, but I'm still going to spend 12-15 minutes on it every week.

As far as the witty competition goes, Mindy Kaling and Michael Ian Black always make me-dare I say it?-laugh out loud.  Jimmy Fallon is an over-zealous tweeter.  I think he's calming down though. Hopefully, or I'll have to de-follow him.  Sorry Jimmy.

Some twings I've been pondering:

• Is it an unspoken rule that celebs are only allowed to follow other celebs?  How do their normal friends feel about that?
• Do celebs' follow-to-follower ratios dictate how cool and/or funny they are?  Do they worry about how following Levar Burton might make them look?  (The answer is "Awesome," by the way.) 
  
• Is everyone always thinking about one-liners to tweet just like we all judge every photo taken as a potential Facebook picture?  I think that's happening.

LitRAture

I hate it when I'm at a conference or meeting, and some guy is spouting out information about an organization or disease and says,

"If you'd like to learn more, we have LIT-RATURE up front on the table."

Pamphlets about Diabetes does not equal Literature.  I feel like that's simple math.  Diabetes pamphlets will never be leather bound books.  The end.

Language Barrier

For the past year, I've really been into Spanish books, specifically those by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Carlos Ruiz Zafon.  

I particularly love Marquez's style, but then I have to ask myself: Do I really love Marquez or am I enamored with *Greg, the translator?  I mean Marquez uses bigger words like fastidious or prodigious, and I wonder if these instances are condensed ways of saying in English what Marquez says in lots of words or vice versa.

*I'm too lazy to look up the real translator's name, but just know that he's awesome.

Impressionistically Impressed

Irving Stone's Lust for Life, a biographical novel about the life of Vincent Van Gogh, is simultaneously inspiring and gut-wrenchingly delicious.


After reading the book, I found myself in complete awe of the man. I've always admired his unique vision for everyday moments via vivid colors and undulating brush strokes. Only after learning of his tortured life full of physical hardships, criticism, and relational failures can I truly appreciate his passion, stamina, and revered gift to Art.

The man was ridiculed, harassed, rejected, physically defeated, YOU NAME IT, and he still pursued his passion.   Never ever did he hear the praise that he deserved. I can't imagine such a devoted and focused lifestyle free of frivolity and/or obligations without ever receiving any rewards for the hard work. Sometimes I can't even get through a day without a kind word or a compliment, let alone an entire life. Yet, he never compromised his dreams. How easy it becomes to fleetingly wave goodbye to ambitions and goals when criticisms harbor more and more insecurities. He is a true inspiration to me.  

I watched the movie of the same title with Kirk Douglas.  If you can get past the voice, there are moments when Kirk transcends into Vincent.  Good moments.

Also, I really want to be a dork and take a Van Gogh tour of his stay in Arles next August when we venture out to Franceland.  (Here's hoping.)