Another voice silenced.

           Last Friday morning, I got on Facebook and saw a friend’s post that Warrant lead singer, Jani Lane, had been found dead in a hotel room in California.  He was 47.  This made me incredibly sad.  I thought of his daughter and wondered how she was dealing with this news.  When I was in middle school, Warrant was one of my top five bands.  I always thought he had a good voice, melodic but still rock.
            That got me thinking about something Lady Gaga (of all people) said after Amy Winehouse’s death.  She said that the public should be more kind to our pop stars.  Hmm.  I’m not really sure I agree with that.  Yes, tabloids and such do tend to go too far with their telescopic lenses and stalking-like behavior.  On the other hand, what about the handlers of our celebrities?  Do they go far enough in trying to keep them safe?  Is there someone to tell them no?  I think about Elvis, Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, and now Jani Lane (in addition to the other 27 year old club of Jimi, Janis, Jim, Kurt, and now Amy Winehouse) and wonder how many of them would still be here (barring natural life spans…) if someone had said no to them.  If their doctor(s) had done a simple blood test/toxicology report before prescribing a new prescription.  Granted, I’d imagine some form of consent would have to be involved, but still, something should be done to ensure that a new prescription would not interact with one already prescribed.  A prescription registry could be the answer, but let’s face it, these are celebrities, not just regular people.  They have the ability and the money to get what they want and the livelihood of the people around them depends on that continued celebrity.  If that is saying yes instead of no, when no is the appropriate answer, they are likely to still say yes.  And we know where yes ends up in so many cases…one more voice is silenced, one more talent is wasted, and another kid is fatherless.  It seems so senseless.

            This is obviously not a full argument, because it’s leaving out the whole argument of how addiction is a neurological disorder, instead of a moral one or lack of will power.  Addiction affects the neurological pleasure processes, making your brain basically sabotage your fight for sobriety.  That’s an argument for every addict, not just celebrities.  Celebrities who are addicts have a double edged sword of availability and the enabling by people around them, on top of those neurological saboteurs.  In the end, no matter the argument, it doesn’t bring any of them back.  There is no more music, no more movies, and no way to bring comfort to those who loved them.

Blessed be that this week is almost over.

Between migraines, a complete screw up with my financial aid (now fixed), a new lawn care service, and doggy shots, it's been a long week.  I'm so glad it's Friday tomorrow!

No deep thoughts for the day.  I spent too long giggling at Looney Tunes tonight to be anything but tiredly goofy.  Jocie told me I sounded like the witch from the Hanzel and Gretel cartoon.  "Hanzel?"  Well, that and being slightly annoyed at the host of Legend Quest.  Dude never actually finds anything and has done 2 episodes that I've seen on the legend of King Arthur and quoted different myths that fit what he was talking about.  One of which I had never heard and I went through a fairly prolonged King Arthur phase.  I think he is enchanted with the sound of his own accented voice, instead of the actual thing he's looking for.  I need his job.  I know tons of stuff about crap not many other people give a crap about and just need a tv crew and a travel budget.  Oh yeah!  I'd rock at that job!

Blathering now.  I believe it's time to retire.  Bed sounds good!

Transitions

As some of you may know, I am currently enrolled part-time in college, working through some general studies classes.  I have a basic plan for the future.  I will continue for the next three years, working for an associate’s degree, specifically for a transfer degree.  I then plan to move, possibly to Portland, Oregon (shh, Janelle), and finish my degree there.  This timeline coincides with the graduation from high school of my one and only loin fruit, Miss Saucy Jocie.  She plans on attending pastry school, likely in Portland as well.

What is your major, Michelle?  Good question!  I keep telling myself that I will figure that out eventually.  I have general ideas, which will only get me so far.  Dream job: full-time writer.  Oh yes.  By that, I mean able to support myself completely through my writing.  It wouldn’t have to be on a Stephen King kind of level (oh, who am I kidding?  That would totally rock!), but fiscally profitable.  However, I am logical enough to realize the chances of this are slim.  That won’t stop me from trying, but a plan in place while the trying happens is very necessary.

That is where the confusion sets in.  An English major seems like a dream degree, possibly with a minor in Psychology.  That sounds like fun!  (Yeah, nerd, you’re not even kidding.)  However, I do not want to have that degree and still have to ask what side they’d like with that steak, nor continue working forever as an administrative/legal assistant.  As much as I appreciate being employed, it is not my dream job, nor is there any place for me to advance without leaving my current office, which is not exactly desirable at this time.  Also, I’m in that place in my education and work experience that I have enough to go to another office, but not enough to break into another field.  It’s not exactly desirable to start all over at the bottom.

Perhaps it’s the uncertainty, or very basicness of the plan that has me feeling so discombobulated.  The sheer length of time it will take for me to complete my goals make it hard to keep my patience.  It has never been one of my better virtues.  A possible trip in the future to Portland would likely help…or any friends who live in the general vicinity (or have lived) can feel free to contribute to living in the area!  Kary, if you read this, we need to pick a weekend or something!

Until then, small goals.  School starts in less than a month (happy and sad at that!) and I’m going to have small daily writing goals, just to sharpen my skills.  You know, pen being mightier and all that.  It will have to be enough.  For now.

Starting something new

Just starting a blog.  This will be a place to post some writing that it is my goal to write.  This is the short post letting folks know I'm starting it.  More to come.