louise on the left (coast)

While stuck in bed earlier this month recovering from the flu, my husband surprised me by coming in and handing me a copy of The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. "This is a perfect time to read this" he said. Now, don't ask me why anyone would hand someone they love a story about the end of the world. Especially someone coughing up a lung from H1N1, but, what can I say? That's just one of the bizarre little quirks which passes for true love around here. Quite reluctantly I began reading this, quite sure that given the bleak nature of the story combined with our entire family getting Swine Flu, was simply going to ensure this book ended up in the literary graveyard that is my side of my bed until a sunnier day. However, much to my surprise, I immediately fell under the spell of The Road. It was quite simply, impossible to put down, whether or not I was feverish and coughing. My husband knows me so well. So, now that I'm almost done with the novel, I find I'm p

Naturally, last night at Thanksgiving dinner I stated that I was grateful for my all family, both near and far. But, later I qualified that toast, to be that I was thankful for the internet, for not only making the distance between loved ones smaller, but also for allowing me to add new friends and "family" to my life, those who I'd have never known were it not for the internet super freeway. So, thank you to family, friends, turkey, pie and the internet super highway! I will upload photos of our post Thanksgiving family trip to Disneyland, too.

Vintage Lady Gaga. I am grateful for people with talent! The only thing annoying about this clip are the show hosts...

This weekend I kissed my husband and kids goodbye to go on a long awaited date with the one and only Prince Gomolvilas (of the always fabulous blog, Bamboo Nation ) for a one-of-a-kind bus tour: " Out And About Tours ," a unique trek through Los Angeles’ LGBT history, all viewed from the upper tier of a double- decker bus. How cool is that? *Note: To read more about our date, be sure to read about it on The Bilerico Report, here . The tour was everything it promised to be plus an ice cold drink and a bag of chips! This first ever GLBT history tour of Los Angeles is a non-stop giddy whirlwind of laughs, jeers and cheers all spirited along by an attractive team of actors and tour guides who brought to life the many tales and facts woven together by the talented creator of the tour, founder Jim Anzide . The trip was a whirlwind flight through the City of Angels, a journey that happened to be chock full of laughs, and stories that will stay with me fore

Yes, this weekend I kissed my husband and kids goodbye to go on a long awaited date with the one and only, fabulous Prince Gomolvilas on a one of a kind bus tour from Out & About Tours. It was a unique tour of Los Angeles’ LGBT history from the upper tier of a double-decker bus. Cruising East down Santa Monica Boulevard you are introduced to Barney’s Beanery (where my husband and I had our first date, unfortunately. I guess there was some pretty ugly ju-ju there.) where there used to hang a sign that said “Fagots- Stay Out.” This outed them as not only small and hateful, but also grammatically challenged. Later as we approached a certain corner in Hollywood, Prince and I were elected to act out a scene based on when Eddie Murphy infamously picked up his late-night transsexual companion Atisone Seuli. I'll let you ponder who played who in the scene but I will say, it was an Oscar worthy moment, to say the least. As it turns out, Out & About Tours is the first and only g

Yesterday, right before drifting off the sleep came a report on CNN .... Paula Dean was hit in the face with a ham. -- I sat up in bed. -- Did I really hear that right? Is this a David Letterman sketch? Didn't I hear this sort-of thing before? Yes, apparently she was handing out free hams and someone decided to throw one back to her. Oops! But, why did this still sound so familiar to me? Ah, yes...Then I remembered when Kathy Griffin, of My Life on the D-List, when she also whipped Paula in the face with "a switch." No, really. In the face. She did that. I'm not kidding. Y'all just have to stop hitting Paula in the face all the time.

What?!   OMG!  How did I not know my favorite female comic was coming to town?  I have got to get a ticket to see her! So, how come this vanilla, married mother of two adores the outspoken, wicked Kathy Griffin so much?     Because Kathy's brave and funny and not afraid of taking on the school yard bully, that's why.  In this case, the school yard bully happens to be the shameful legislation known as "Prop 8."   In case you missed it before, I had the honor of guest blogging for The Bilerico Report regarding a particular  episode of Kathy Griffin's show  "My Life On The D-List" which aired, July 27th, on Bravo, (Episode 8, Season 5) when she took on a more serious tone than usual.   That particular show started off with a declaration of war on the California Supreme Court's decision on the constitutionality of Prop 8 and followed her as she marched to Sacramento on the eve of California Supreme Court's decision on this.

Kill me now, please.

In honor of those born today (and tomorrow) I celebrate you in song and germ warfare. Happy Birthday! -- to George, Jennie & Susan!

I had a vaccine, but I guess when everyone around you has it, you're going to get it, anyway.  I mean, it was an act of the purest optimism to think that I would avoid the flu given that the day I got vaccinated both my husband and daughter came down with it. It took 6 days for the bug to work it's magic on me, and now I've got it. Today, I went in and tested positive for H1N1, even though I didn't have a fever at the time. For some reason this seemed to surprise the doctor.  I don't know why, I explained the three other people I live with also have it. So, within one week and it got every one of us. I still think the vaccine is useful, but apparently it takes a long time for it to kick in.  In the end, it didn't help me much after all. By the time I was home today from the clinic I'd hit 102 and was sneezing more than I ever have in my life. Oh, well.  Thank God for TCM and motrin and kleenex and great nurses in this ward. By they wa

I didn't come up with the title of this even if they were posted in the time of Swine Flu. Click here to view an amazing collection   of vintage Halloween photographs from over the years.   They're a remarkable assortment of images some of which have a very Diane Arbus quality to them. Thanks to  stevechasmar  and his amazing work on Flickr Halloween in the Time of Cholera

------------------------------------------------------------------------ By the way, I realize it's a bit off topic, but speaking of chickens and girls, I'd like to introduce Koo-Koo . And remember, in Koo Koo 's world, the sky never falls very far from the coop.

 -- Or, The H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine.  Is it really safe, or not?  --  Swine Flu advice from an occasional "Chicken Little:" Okay, so the truth is, I really do try to keep an open mind to all things alternative and natural. I try to not be a pharmaceutical lemming jumping over the cliff with whatever "new drug" treatment is being offered simply because I'm being told to.  I've learned the hard way to research things first. I really do understand that there are safe and helpful drugs and bad ones which have been rushed to the market and have caused harm.  It's a major problem.   But, not all drugs are dangerous, medications are harmful and all western medicine is corrupt.  All ask is that people keep and open mind about the Swine Flu and make a wise decision. That's why, when I heard there was a city flu clinic last weekend, I stood in line for hours with hundred's of others a