Sappho Speaks: A Day Late and, Well... 2009: A Year Through My Eyes

What Would Sappho Say?

Lectori Salutem! or L.S. (Greetings to the Reader!)

So... let’s just say my ringing in of the new year was eventful and left me speechless for a bit over 24 hours – maybe I’ll tell the story some time in the near future. We’ll just have to see. For now I'll acknowledge I sometimes feel I have a sign above my head that says “Going through a sexuality crisis? Apply here!” and of course I am the last to know any of this necessary information to make sane, rational decisions. Not a great reason for missing writing yesterday, but after reading today's, you'll probably feel let down anyways!!!

I must say, I was proud of myself though. I did operate with an amazing amount of self-control considering it was New Year’s Eve, she was beautiful, and that midnight kiss lasted about 30 minutes or more and... oh yeah. I wasn't going to tell this story. Some other day. Suffice it to say, I think we might come out of this being just friends with that drunken night, sordid past that I may be the only one who remembers - better for me!!! We'll just have to see. As those of you who have been following me know, I am not looking for any kind of relationship. I am fine with friendships or strictly dating in the straight people definition of the word, ie no promises, no exclusivity, no expectations, just fun when you both have time to do something.


I just now got my career back on track and am writing several hours a day to take care of this blog, my novels, and the short stories I am working on and I feel completely fulfilled. So, I rang 2009 in with the smallest of fanfare and the excitement of the year was built month to month until a complete stranger rang it out with a wonderful memory bookend for the year and maybe a hangover for her! I had some dates in between and great times with friends. That will work for me in 2010!

Enough about that, let’s move on to a few things that really stood out in 2009 for me and perhaps you and yours. Of course, this year will always be remembered as the year when the color barrier was broken on the highest political stage and an African American was inaugurated as the of 44th president of the U. S. WOW! At the same time, a woman fully qualified for the position was shown to be put under a different kind of scrutiny than any color of a man just proving that we still have a long way to go in this equality business: for gender, race, sexual preference, marital status and so many other things that still matter that shouldn't.

I actually have an invitation to the inauguration that I am not sure how I got. I volunteered for the Obama campaign but not to such an extent that any of my fellow workers received invitations and it just arrived in the mail with no cover letter except the invitation itself. I have it framed on my wall. I think I got it from all places, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson. I had an idea that she would have plenty of allotted slots for the inauguration and not too many constituents asking for tickets. So, I wrote her a beautiful letter extolling the greatness of the 2-party democratic system and had researched her voting record to find common ground with her to show her we were not so far apart and then I asked her for an invitation, explaining that I had volunteered in elections and at voting booths since high school. She’s the only explanation that makes sense as to why I would receive one where someone would not want the credit for sending it!!!

Even though of President Obama has not exactly lived up to his hype as far as pur rights are concerned we have no alternative but to have faith that he has two more years before re-election campaigning begins and that he will make good on his promises.

2009 also brought Alan Ball’s True Blood to the masses that did not have ShowTime. On May 12, 2009, Season One was released on DVD and has sold close to 2 million copies to date and rented countless others. While True Blood, a pay television show about vampires as a race coming out of the coffins and wanting acceptance now that a synthetic blood called True Blood has been created by the Japanese so they do not have to kill humans anymore. Of course, there are your vampires that toe the line and your vampires that well... Vampire blood in this series is like ecstasy, the drug, as it is its life force, and is sold on the black market. Vampires still feed on humans as a sexual act, not to the point of any true harm and many other new and old vampire legends are utilized. This series surpasses Mr. Ball’s Six Feet Under in my opinion.

Those of you with kids from the age of 6 and up probably have some game system in your home: a PlayStation 2 or 3; a XBOX 360; a Nintendo Wii; a Nintendo DSi; or some other form of gaming equipment. Some of you women may even have a system for yourselves. I know I am very late coming to this revolution. My nephew has been playing video games since he was 3 and he turned 15 in September. There are only a few games over the years he could ever get me interested in, and in the last few years it has been the Guitar Hero and Rock Band Series.

I started out with Guitar Hero and I tried to play the guitar but he was just so much better than me (those damn kids can play these games flawlessly on every song on expert and the extended faster speed) that I gave up the instruments and just became the lead singer. I can sing (or at least hit the notes) and can compete with him and stay at least within 5 to 10% points of his score once I learned the song (I never was a head banger). So, I really got to like playing these games with my nephew and it was part of our ritual, but he started to tire of them just as The Beatles Rock Band came out!!!

Now, I LOVE THE BEATLES! I had already been wanting to get one of these gaming machines because I thought it would be fun for my friends and me to play Rock Band and hang out over some food and drink when this new game came out in September and I couldn’t stop talking about it. By the time Christmas came around, Santa was sick of hearing me talk about it and I was gifted with an XBOX 360!!!! I thought it would take me awhile to get all the equipment to play the game though. No... my brother and sister-in-law surprised me with the whole kit and Rock Band 2!!! So I just bought The Beatles Rock Band used and I am off and running. My family is taking bets as to how long it will take till I get kicked out of my apartment building. Nice, huh? ☺

Of course, the election of Annise Parker as Houston’s lesbian mayor cannot be shouted loud enough from the rooftops. Since I already dedicated an entire blog to her election, just click on Annise Parker and it will take you to the full article. Houston, you rock!!

As usual, I am a bit wordy, so my year in review is only four highlights: the election of President Obama; the election of Annise Parker as mayor of Houston, Texas; the release of The Beatles Rock Band.
and (tied) the release of True Blood, Season 1.

This is just a few of my favorite things of the year. You know me, I could fill reams of paper. I’ll stop here. Share any of your great moments on the comment section. All you have to do is be on the page for this blog according to the list on the top right.

Much Love for 2010.
The Last Year of the 1st Decade of the new Millenium


Inspired by Sappho’s Muse

MUSIC OF THE DAY
Let’s just get to it! Of course, today will be an ode to the Beatles and their resurgence into the lives of yet another generation. Since it’s the end of a year and the beginning of a new one, how about There Are Places I Remember to say goodbye and I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends to start the year off right.

There Are Places I Remember                         The Beatles
I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends    The Beatles

QUOTES OF THE DAY
An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
Bill Vaughn

New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.
James Agate