I’m still recovering from a lack of sleep over the weekend. I went out Saturday night with a friend to a local club, Club Max. I hadn’t been out to a club in a few years. That seems like a long time, but my schedule in the past few years required me to get up early on Sunday mornings, so going out late on Saturday was really out the question. I was looking forward to it, so I bought a dress to dance in and got out my dancing shoes.

I had great time listening to the band playing and dancing. Nu Day is a local band with nine members playing mostly funk, some disco, some older music (not quite sure how to describe it). If you’re ever in San Jose and want to see a good band, you should see them. They will be playing at Music in the Park (Plaza de Cesar Chavez) on Aug. 31, and they will be back at Club Max on Sept. 8 and 9. You can hear their music on their website: http://www.nudayband.com.

This club though…I thought only people under 30 went to clubs. While this isn’t a bad club…lots of seating with a too small dance floor. The average age that night was 50! Mostly single. Some couples. It must be the place to go if your divorced and looking for your second or third marriage. Then again, we stay single out here for a long time, so there could have been plenty of never-married men.

That’s much too old for me. Even my friend (older than me) said he felt young among the people there.

Later in the night, I started watching the guys hitting on the women. Guess it takes a hour or so of drinking for the games to begin. It was hilarious. Most of the men were inept…they certainly weren’t getting anywhere. The women didn’t act terribly approachable. Oh, and to see the gray-haired set dance to funk! It’s always amusing to watch people dance…those who can and those who can’t.

While at least on this night, I can’t recommend this club for meeting people–although it depends on your age and pickiness–I highly recommend the band.

Technorati: NuDay, San Jose,

That’s probably a bit trite, but it is absolutely beautiful outside today. No clouds. Light breeze that I can feel through my office window.

I did some necessary errands, and now it’s time to get busy. Sometime today I need to go kill some ants. I’ve got a serious ant problem in my yard and around the house.

Maybe I’ll find something else to write about later. Today’s news and editorials are just too depressing to write more about. No need to ruin the mood.

Well with the most recent discovery of an airline terrorist plot, they’ve banned liquids and gels on the plane. As if it wasn’t difficult enough to travel. What am I supposed to do with my hairspray and hair gel? Some things you just can’t buy when you get there–nor do you want to. I’m waiting for the shipping bans on these things from FedEx and UPS. The post office already doesn’t like these things.

And they added makeup to the list! Doesn’t say if any of these things can be in your checked baggage. More stuff I cannot buy when I get there! Besides, I don’t wear liquid makeup.

They also added no beverages to the list. I always bring on a large bottle of water. Those tiny bottles from the stingy airlines just aren’t enough.

You’ll have to forgive my complaining. Most of the stuff I use you can’t buy at the local drugstore or mall. I hope they get over this overreaction soon. While I’m sure you can hide explosives in anything, not everyone is a terrorist. None of this makes me feel better traveling by plane.

News articles this morning were short on details. TSA says these items can be in checked baggage. Now, how is it safer in checked baggage if someone wants to put explosives in gels or liquids? I’m not fully aware of how the baggage detectors work, but I don’t think they can see into liquids and gels. If anyone knows more, let me know.

Today is “movie you must see” day. I have to write something until my next encounter with an odd human.

I came across this movie one night while channel surfing. We were in the middle of a heat wave, so I was awake late during the week. I came across LOGO and the movie “Queer Duck” was on. It was very late, so I only watched part of it. It was so funny, I had to rent it. Now, I suppose how funny it is to you depends on your sense of humor, but to help you decide if it is for you, I will give you some tidbits without giving away the whole movie.

Now, if movies about gays, even cartoon gays, bothers you–then this movie is not for you. However, if you like the Simpsons, it might be since one of the creators wrote this movie. Yes, every (well nearly) character is gay. And, they periodically break out into song. Again, quite gay. But they make fun of everyone. Conan O’Brien makes a guest appearance. They make fun of the groups who say they can make gay people straight. They make fun of Liza Minelli, Michael Jackson and Joan Rivers. My favorites are the jokes about Kaiser Permanente.

Now I don’t know if it is available at your local video rental store. I’m usually disappointed with the selection at my nearest Blockbuster. It is available on Netflix.

The movie seems like an odd choice, and don’t let the video clerk’s odd look keep you from renting this movie. I made a straight friend watch the movie. I’m not sure he truly appreciated it. So watch it yourself, or invite that gay friend over for a movie night.

I actually don’t have any gay guy friends. Strange since I live out here in northern California. I guess I should put that on my list of things to do:

1) Find gay male shopping partner a la Carrie Bradshaw

I don’t think I want to get into list making. Then I realize all the things I probably should do that I haven’t–or things other people think I should do that I haven’t. I really don’t need that today.

Once again, I am a freak magnet. Now people have always told me “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but…” I often want to reply, “I don’t either.” I tend to nod politely and smile.

Todays’ incident was particularly interesting. While many odd people can be found at the grocery store, it’s not often that the guy in line in front of you points out that he’s not really that black. Out of the blue. He even showed me how light his skin is…under his sleeve. But man, the guy was really black. And he was correct…he is very light. He then told me the story about removing tree stumps from his yard which turned him from light to dark in just 2 days!

While this guy was an interesting freak of nature…I have to wonder what possessed him to tell ME about it. Perhaps, it is because I’m so pale-skinned. Extremely light. I wanted to say “See this? I’m this color year-round!”

I’m having another one of those days where I just don’t feel like doing anything. I did clean the kitchen floor this morning only to find traces of a mouse. Now, how is it possible with four cats in the house to have a mouse? Yes, that’s four cats. A few too many, but I don’t plan to add any more cats. The last two were left by a feral cat on my doorstep last fall. One I had planned to keep, but I couldn’t find a good home for the other. I found a home for the third kitten of the litter.

The two kittens together has been good for both of them because my two older cats (not that old) are grumpy about the young newcomers.

I’m looking for some motivation to get more done today than I did the last few days of the last week. I’m currently looking for a job or paying gigs that I can do from home. Anyway, while I spend this extra time at home, my pets are loving it. If you’ve read my earlier posts, then you know I also have a Great Dane.

I’m also putting off practicing French. I’m supposed to practice talking about the weather. Apparently it’s the French national pastime. I can’t think of anything more boring to talk about.

I hope I didn’t bore anyone who read this far.

Well, I wasn’t sure what I was going to write. Today you can thank the American Express service representative who hung up on me for this rant.

I’ve never had an experience like that with any service rep or with Amex. It all started with a letter I received about a disputed charge asking for more information. I didn’t understand what they wanted since the disputed charge had to do with a double charge on two different Amex accounts. Seems to me that everything they need was on their computers. Also the letter gave no address and claimed to include an addressed envelope, which wasn’t there.

Apparently the woman didn’t understand, but no matter what I said, I couldn’t make her understand that the information for the dispute was available under my accounts. Her voice got louder and louder. First time, I turned down the volume on my phone. She also kept talking over me. I never did get an address either. She was nearly yelling and I had to turn down the volume again! I even said so. They record these conversations–should be interesting to whoever listens. After I said that this is the second time I’ve had to turn down the volume on my phone because of her yelling, abruptly there was no one on the line. She hung up on me!

I had to call back. I got a different representative this time, who (hopefully) noted that the charges on are both accounts. Unfortunately for me, this probably means that I will have to call again to find out why the credit hasn’t gone through. But that will have to wait until next month’s bill.

Anyone else had this problem? With any company? I’d like to hear stories from others who have experienced similar problems.

I’ve been waiting all day for some topic to strike me as worthy to write about on the blog. Nothing yet. I read some news articles and editorials today, but they only made me depressed. I don’t think what few readers I do have need to be further depressed particularly if they keep up on the news. If you listen to them, it seems pretty bleak. I honestly don’t think it will be that bad. Surely we can bounce back from the avalance of mistakes that have been made over the years.

I haven’t had any new encounters with the crazy world to provide for your entertainment. I can’t think of any old ones either. Even when I was last in San Francisco. Although I had forgotten what Market and Castro were like. We just don’t see the same things down south here. We don’t even see all the people with their dogs. I did see a lady with a whippet at Nordstrom. The dog could ride the escalator! I was quite surprised. I don’t often see dogs at the mall. I made a comment to the friend I was with that I should bring my dog to the mall. A Great Dane would be quite the laugh at the mall. I don’t think anyone would appreciate her. She’s so large that she scares quite a few people. She would be perfectly behaved…except around the cookie place. I think my cats would do better. I would like to see more of that on the streets–here and in SF. More people walking their cats on leashes or in those cute little bags. Mine would love it. They do like their stroller. Yes, stroller! Protects them from predators (dogs, cars, anything big and scary) and yet lets them smell and see the outdoors.

I often write with a cat on my lap. Sometimes another one tries to fit, but sadly my lap only has room for one cat.

So, all cat people: bring out the leashes, harnesses and bags and let’s take our cats to work, coffee, shopping!

Back in action

Well, I’ve been away for awhile. Politics got me down. Finally found a job after more than 4 years of seraching, only to quit after 6 months. so I’m back with lots of time on my hands.

I read a funny article this morning about people who are freak magnets http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14124484/. I didn’t realize there was a term for it. I’ve always been a freak magnet myself. It even happens on vacation.

My most recent freak encounter was in Honolulu on The Bus. What was I doing on the bus? i didn’t rent a car for the few days I was in Hawaii. I couldn’t see the point. Every time I’ve rented a car on vacation it sits at the hotel parking garage costing more and more money. Hotels certainly charge a lot for parking. Anyway, I was on my way to Chinatown in the morning. I was minding my own business when this lady–rather large woman with a cane, a bit crazy looking–begins talking to me about all of her medical problems. Guess she just had surgery on her leg or something. Then she got on about suing someone over the incident. Apparently it wasn’t voluntary surgery or caused by her. I hardly remember the conversation. Since I get this quite a bit, I generally appear to pay attention and nod politely. After she got off the bus, several people, including the bus driver expressed their relief. And for me? I was back to a quiet ride to my stop in Chinatown.

Also noticed that my blog is #15 over at Redheadedblogs.com. Wow!