Strange Days

Yesterday was such a strange day. First, in the morning came the news of Farrah Fawcett's death. After her lengthy battle with cancer it came as no surprise but sad nonetheless. As a child I can remember staying up past my bedtime on Fridays to watch 'Charlie's Angels', and it was a game with my sisters to pretend we were the angels battling criminals. I was always the 'smart' one, Sabrina, and as my older sister became a teenager she tried to emulate Farrah's hairstyle...even though she had dark brown hair. Of course, as a child, I was totally in awe that Farrah Fawcett was married to "The Six Million Dollar Man" in real life. I really thought she had it all in the mid-1970s.

As the day progressed yesterday I was shocked to hear that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital with a cardiac arrest. I was certain that he would receive the top medical help and would recover, but I was wrong. Apparently when the paramedics arrived he had no pulse and was not breathing. Not good. Not good at all. My jaw dropped when I heard the word that he had died. Michael Jackson dead. It can't be real.

Michael Jackson is another part of my childhood. I can remember as a small child watching him with the Jackson 5 perform as guests on the "Sonny & Cher Show", and I remember his first solo single "Ben" being on the radio and loving it, only to hear my parents say it was about a rat...what? I'm still a bit confused about that one.

It was his solo album "Off the Wall" that really made an impression upon me. I was just beginning to listen to the radio intently as most pre-teens did back in the late 1970s, when music videos first came out. Michael Jackson's videos for "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and especially "Rock With You" really were my favorites. Most videos at that time showed a band playing and were boring, but Michael Jackson's videos popped. I can remember when his videos were on television I could not take my eyes off of them, and they even provoked me to dance along at home.

Then came "Thriller". While I never purchased, or received, "Off the Wall" (although I can still picture the album cover from staring at it in the newspaper advertisements all those years ago), "Thriller" was purchased. I was in highschool and I can remember being in a shopping mall and hearing the whole album being played in a department store. It was everywhere. Everyone had it. It seemed like every song became a hit and it saturated the radio. Then the videos came out.

I can remember when the "Thriller" video was released and it was major news and buzz. There was a long version of it that was like a movie short, but then most video shows would only play the short version. Squeamish as I was back then (and still am) the "Thriller" video scared me. Honestly, it really freaked me out. "Bille Jean" was not scary and I liked the beat, and so I preferred that video.

I can remember a friend loving Michael Jackson during that period -- she had his posters up in her locker and she had a crush on him. While I liked his music, I just didn't find him sexy. He had changed. He no longer looked like the Michael Jackson from "Off the Wall". He seemed more feminine and delicate.

As the 1980s progressed my taste in music changed and I started listening to 'alternative' and 'college radio' music like R.E.M. and I turned my back slightly to Michael Jackson. Although, I loved the song "Man in the Mirror" during my university days and can remember dancing to it in my dorm room and at clubs. In fact, it was that song that was in my head yesterday evening as I tuned in the the cable news channels to get the latest on his death.

It's been almost thirty years since "Off the Wall" was released. In those years Michael Jackson morphed into a strange -- almost creepy -- looking person who displayed odd behavior. What happened to him? For me, when I think of Michael Jackson, I will always picture the beautiful young black man dancing in the "Rock With You" video and pictured on the cover of "Off the Wall". That was Michael Jackson at his finest.

Missing Texas Half Price Books

Last Sunday Hubby and I checked out a local used bookstore. We both love wandering around the aisles of shelves crammed with old books looking for hidden treasures. In particular, I enjoy looking for out of print books and get a thrill when I find one. It actually makes me want to jump up and down shouting, but then I realize that it's subjective and only myself cherishes my "new" book.

While this particular local used bookstore was good, there was something missing. Maybe it was that the aisles were too narrow and made me claustrophobic, or perhaps it was a particular smell that permeated the shop -- Hubby and I decided that it was the smell of garlic due to the adjacent restaurant. What this used bookstore clearly wasn't was Half Price Books.

The Half Price Books store that we used to frequent in Texas was big, not massive, but it had wide aisles that two people could be looking on either side of the shelf with no major space issues. There was a bench by the 'latest' books and magazines racks that could help you peruse and make decisions while sitting. The sections were clearly marked and organized. I could spend a couple of hours at Half Price Books, especially considering the amount of time it took me to go through all the discount racks outside the store.

Now there is a Half Price Books location about a 15 minute drive from where we live, But it is less than half the size of the one in Texas. The first time we went there I thought "is this it?". I went to the back of the store to see if there was a section we missed but there wasn't anything else. It was a huge disappointment. Hopefully they will expand over time. Until then, we'll have to search for other used bookstores.

Why All the Palin Hatred?

Just don't understand all the hatred for Sarah Palin that still exists. Why should anyone care about her anymore since she is no longer running for VP? Let it go. David Letterman was rude, but hey, he's getting old and trying to remain relevant with all the young talk show hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien.

Still, why do people feel threatened by her? Perhaps some can't handle a woman in a position of power who still remains feminine instead of embracing the shellacked helmet hair and ill-fitting suits of other female politicians. Maybe it's her conservative views that insight others.

Regardless of her politics, when the media makes personal attacks against a female politician it sends the wrong message to young women. It may make them think that it's okay to make scathing remarks about the way a woman looks if you don't like and/or agree with them. So, instead of debating her beliefs you belittle her attire and appearance. It may make young women decide to second-guess, or even forego a career in politics.

I think there is a deeper reason for the hatred and it is a fear and loathing of women. Let's respect women in power and give them the same courtesy as their male counterparts.

Baking

I've been thinking about baking banana bread since watching this season's premiere of 'Weeds' on Showcase the other night. Just not sure if I have all the ingredients, so it may become a banana cake.

Not sure why I've got desserts on the mind, but I do. It's this damn sweet tooth I am afflicked with, and it's caused nothing but cavities and unwanted inches on my hips. At least I finally kicked the soft drink habit two years ago.

Last Friday I made butterscotch pie. Really I did. I even made the pie crust from scratch. Shocking. Unfortunately for the pie, I learned that one should make the crust hours before in order that it chills in the fridge long enough to roll out into a thin crust. The filling was divine...hmmm...it was very good. Since I didn't have a double-boiler I improvised by cooking the butterscotch cream filling in a pot place ontop of a frying pan filled with water. It was a bit messy, but it did the trick.

I had planned on making blueberry cobbler this week, but the banana bread/cake thing has taken over my thoughts, and I've got lots of bananas.

Life After People

Last month I was having diffulty falling to sleep and counting sheep just was not working. I quietly turned on the television so as to not wake up Hubby but there wasn't much on in the wee hours. All I can say is thank God for Comcast On Demand.

As I was perusing through the titles of TV shows I came across one called "Life After People" and was intrigued. What a bizarre name for a program...of course, I chose it.

Lying in bed I was riveted as the program explained what would happen to the world after people disappeared. It does not explain why the entire earth's population has vanished, but just the effects of a world devoid of humans. The computer generated special effects are amazing as it shows the deterioration of skyscrapers, bridges, and some of the world's greatest cities. As one can assume, all man-made objects require regular maintenance or else they will eventually decay and return back to the basic elements.

I have been hooked on this History channel show since discovering it that one night thanks to On Demand. The strange part is that as riveting as it may be, it actually helps me fall asleep at night. Perhaps because it worked that first evening, or maybe it's the narrator's voice, I don't know why but it works for me.