To hell with the consequence

On the playlist for the show, these two songs are listed together. I could only imagine it is because of the commentary in between that speaks right to me.

Today, I was listening to my Melissa Etheridge concert from 3 months ago – because I am a strange bird, I noticed – I think she is talking to me – or about me – are all lesbians really that similar?

It was about that moment when I realized, what if she had been able to come with me? How would I feel listening to all of these songs with her life. She would probably hold my hand like she did during that sex scene in that movie and then everything would be better.

Gruene Hall

When I saw this at the first show, you can hear me laugh in amusement. I really shouldn’t be amused with this – but at least I am not alone, right?

He just plays guitar and smokes a lot of pot

Something has got to change. I work too hard to feel this way about my house.

I started a list when I was upset about Couch Boy that I never intended to give him but more to collect my thoughts for when I could bring up such items, hopefully not all at the same time, that’s quite overwhelming for anyone.

Please Stop:

  • Leaving wet clothes in the washer
  • Leaving the coffee pot on when no one is home
  • Putting the toilet seat behind the metal bar of the shelf thing
  • Moving items to new locations like the mops
  • Putting plastic bags under the sink (roaches)

Please:

  • Take the dogs out before you leave the house
  • Lock the door behind you if you won’t be home before 8 PM
  • Leave the lights on in the living room between 10 AM and 10 PM on weekends

A friend was over and saw my list. She read it and laughed and said the he complains about half of the items I am irritated with. The thing is, I have set up my life so that I don’t need anyone else and by the looks of people around me, that doesn’t seem to be a common practice – so the fact that I help out nearly 6 other people on a daily basis is starting to get to me.

The reason that I mention this is that I have never asked for anyone that lives with me, 3 of those 6, for any money for bills or rent – I just pay it all despite their electricity consuming habits, internet addictions and disregard for manners when it comes to food that I primarily buy. I can’t tell you how many times I have come to eat something that I bought for the first time and it is already completely gone. At this point, I feel like i have 2 teenage sons – one with a part-time job that can not afford to pay him. The problem is that they are about 36 and 32 and I am not getting any younger either, but I am somewhere in between and should not have to deal with this shit from either of them, but definitely not Couch Boy.

The part that really bothered me was when she went on to tell me that he felt dehumanized because I let my friend, Willa, stay in my brother’s room for the night to watch some TV show that wasn’t kid appropriate. She was having to bunk with the 8 year old next-door because the 4 year old’s grandma was there and took the couch. I had plenty of room, it seemed normal to offer to let her stay in my makeshift room that I have organized for my brother.

I put a TV in there and she used the Xbox to watch some Zoo show. It was nothing the 8 year old needed to see – but somehow, I didn’t tell my guest that is wearing his welcome. I picked him up in January, so maybe it’s about that time. He used to be appreciative and clean. He would always do the dishes and mop the floor but now he is dehumanized when I let someone stay at my house without running it through him.

He must think that he has some sort of say around here. If I was staying somewhere for free, which I haven’t ever except when I lived with my dad until I was 21 because school said that I had to be there or in a dorm, and well, I was too straight-phobic for that. They would have probably hated me and I am not about to go somewhere I think someone will hate me, so I stayed home, but I have been working since I was 16 and I haven’t taken many breaks – ever, so when I see people spending years of their life living off of me, I start to get defensive.

I think that my psych would be proud. The only thing I got out of our visit the other morning was that I needed to set boundaries. He said it in a tone that meant he knew that it was easier said than done but at least we were on the same page. Every time I go in there – he asks me a series of questions about my sleep and my social interactions. I feel like he wants me to say more because then he says things like, “Sounds like you are married to your work, its okay, a lot of us are.” We talked about my mom – so far I have not found anyone that has given me any trouble about what I did – but I know people can tell it bothers me, because I have gotten plenty of reassurance.

Maybe jail is the best place for her. My texts have ran out and I don’t really want to spend the money that I have on them. Her last text said to use her card information to spend $50 out of her account, she insisted. She knows that our texts cost 50 cents each way, I remind her because sometimes each of us forgets, at least I do. I see her text and reply with my first sentence thought and then realize that I just paid 2 cents a character.

I can’t tell you how many times I have been called selfish in my life, even while over giving to help someone. It boggles my mind. I am sure that I am selfish, because that sounds efficient to me, but if I was so selfish, I feel like I would have a lot more at this point.

Your basic average super star

This song ended just as I pulled up to my house after work. I let it resonate for a moment and I was taken back to nearly a year ago.

Before I get into that, I will mention that I have a friend because he liked the line above, the title to this post, that I have on my facebook page – and he met me in an Ani DiFranco but didn’t recognize it. I suppose it is hard to know all of her songs. So far I think I have covered her first 5 albums from start to finish and I plan to continue but I am moving through them as I read her book and so far they seem to match up and it gives me a deep sense of understand that I couldn’t appreciate more.

Twenty years ago, I was learning about feminism. I feel like I have taught a lot of people a lot but things started getting out of control and feminists started getting a bad name. I have admitted to being sexist and have tried really hard to work on that character flaw and I believe that I have come along way but this song reminds me why things are different this time.

People that have always identified as lesbian probably understand my little lesbian brain that I have yet to fully comprehend. It is so much deeper that the surface and that’s why I don’t let anyone’s critical remarks get to me.

Before my brother met her, he would give me a hard time. He has asked me – so what is so great about SaidLady and we usually have some generic discussion about it – but he is as stubborn and judgmental as they come. There was a point, years ago, that he tried to be really sensitive and explain to me that she might just not be into me. He was completely sincere and was trying to help but it wasn’t long before I felt like I understood why she said what she said that day she told me not to talk about her to my friends.

I feel its a level of maturity that I had not reached yet and then I am reminded it’s probably because we live in this tiny town and I know everyone – that’s not quite true but I am getting there. There’s no telling why that conversation was had but I have done my best to never talk about her but once in a while a smile will be followed by her name in some matter – always her first name, it could be anyone.. that same anyone – all of the time, so a few people this I am insane and I could care less. The activist that is typically in an altered state finds it absolutely adorable – she is one that I had to tell that I was in love with someone else. I think I used that excuse over 10 times when people thought they wanted to get close to me. Anyone that is in it for the right reason will back off real fast – but I have found, when someone just wants your money, attention and children skills, they could care less if you are in love with someone else.

She asked me to hang out the day that I bought the Placebo Album, Sleeping with Ghosts at Kiss n Fly or whatever Sundance was at that moment in time. I met 2 friends and went to the sandwich shop next door when I unexpectedly walked right up to C to order. I nervously over-tipped him and then my awkward friend, L, did too. He brought us jalapeno poppers so he must like me… but we were not tough enough to eat them anyway.

It was a great gesture, especially since I had found an emotion that I did not know existed – what was it? I still don’t know. How do people in the military feel when they come in contact with enemy civilians? I feel like it was something like that. You just look at them, can’t help but make eye contact. Try to make the interaction as brief as possible and hope no one gets killed – what emotion is that?

Can’t you get that with me

Tonight, was one of those nights that restored my faith in at least one human being – well, there was really no restoring to be done – it has been just fine but I was trying to be cleaver somewhere in there.

This morning, I had to wake up early to go a couple blocks away to the psych doctor – I just do it for cheap medicine and so that I can assure anyone that thinks I am unhealthy that I see tons of doctors in all sorts of fields so I must have my shit together, right? I clearly don’t know how that works but I did bake cookies today after work – that’s kind of epic.

I was planning on mixing stuff together from a box like brownies until I realized it didn’t seem to be that easy. I looked at the ingredients on the chocolate chips for the cookies and decided the would probably prefer I didn’t screw it up so I opted for cookie dough and I think they turned out well. I didn’t eat any but they weren’t burnt.

The rest of that story will stay in my memory but I can say that I turn into the oddest little bird for her.

As fucked up as it all may seem

I saw Aaron Lewis once, back in about 2003 in Dallas. I never understood why he would be the one to open for Marilyn Manson at the Freaker’s Ball show. Back then I used to be so brave and carefree. During that time, I had been dating Mindy, who is now Kristopher. That is a complicated conversation, but she had already started talking to Pam. I wasn’t having it. I lived here. Mindy lived in Oklahoma and Pam lived in Washington State at the time. I drove my happy ass to Davis, Oklahoma in hopes that she would go with me to this concert. I had a back up plan to take one of her friends if she refused, but she agreed to go with me and we had a great time. Just like everyone one, we had a complicated relationship. She left me for Pam, who was much more feminine. Since I had no limits back then, somehow – I ended up with Pam. She ended up coming to visit over spring break of 2004 and then she moved to Texas to live with me for the next few years.

It all ended when she went back to WA to go to her step-sister’s wedding. Some jealous mutual friend of ours told her that she saw me take someone home from Lucy’s – which was a complete lie. She was so distraught, she ran to the one person that I told her to stay away from back there and then what I knew would happen did – and well, I used to be, a lot different.

When she left, I told her, if you touch Aimee while you are there, you will never touch me again – and I held true to that.

I used to be very passionate and romantic. Now I try my best not to be either. I feel like it’s forbidden and I try my best to just stay away.

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town

She played this last night in Green Elk, IL but the quality was not as good. If I was hooked to a computer through some microchip inserted into my brain, then someone would be able to track how many times my heart-rate spiked today. On my lunch break, I decided to tell her that I had another blue tank dress dream again. You know – I didn’t even know what a tank dress was before that day and I remember enough to know that she told me it was knew. I must remember her telling me to get in the car, I feel like I walked out to the main road and I know she said something about the car being dirty but that was the last thing I noticed. I also remember her walking up to my house, so she must have just parked out there. This was years ago – so many years ago, but I think about it more than I should. I wonder what my facial expression must have been. At this point, I feel like it was the last time my breath was completely taken away – I guess, just because I didn’t expect it.

I actually feel incredibly guilty about it all. I suppose she knows that. At this point, I try my best not to be attracted to anything or anyone because it just gets me in trouble, but there I am. heart racing, when I feel brave enough to say something that I feel I shouldn’t. I wonder if she remembers the conversation the same way that I do, or if it is just because I talk about it when I get too day dreamy. I never felt like she meant to say, “We should move here.” She had a way of making me feel hyper feminine in an emotional way that wanted to run off and.. you know, do those things people do when they run off. I wouldn’t know because I have never gotten to live that adventure yet. …it’s always been too soon.

Look back before you leave my life

When I saw this pop up on my suggested videos, I was surprised to see there was an official video and had completely forgotten about a song that used to make me feel quite tough. It doesn’t make me feel the same way it used to. His image also takes something away from it for me.

I feel like I have more to say about this but no time at the moment.

Dazed and burning state

There are two man-children living in my house. The first one is my fault, he is my brother, and after several tragic events in our lives, I take pity on him and try my best to ensure he sticks around for the rest of our family, and myself of course. The other, is getting on my last nerve. He is a long time acquaintance. I can’t say that we have ever been really good friends but due to my many defense mechanisms, I can’t say I have many real friends these days. This post is going to be about that one, his name is Harley. It is actually James but he goes by a nickname or his middle name, I am not even sure – but that alone is slightly shady if you ask me.

He finds himself in the strangest predicaments and I don’t think his attitude towards life helps him much. He needed a place to stay last January because his polyamory relationship with a married couple, that he was living with started to decline quickly. I can only imagine he started acting like he ran the place without paying for a thing, but that’s just an educated guess – I really have no idea what the issue was.

We met back in 2001, when I was working at a Subway in a gas station in NB and he was working at the Hastings. The population of NB was just under 40K back then and there were far less options when it came to shopping. He ate at that Subway and I shopped at Hastings so much, we became friends.

He and I didn’t really keep in touch but ran into each other from time to time. He was living in my neighborhood, next door to a friend many years later and we ran into each other again. Now that Social Media was prevalent, we kept in touch.

Fast forward several years to where he is now my resident couch boy. He was doing the dishes and mopping the floors incessantly, but something changed that and he stopped abruptly. He has been asking me for money nearly daily for vape juice, coils and kratom but I finally put my foot down when I accidentally bounced a rent payment because so may people were “borrowing” money from me, I couldn’t even keep up anymore. I was fortunate to have the needed money in uncashed checks, but my broke as friends were starting to take advantage of me.

He hasn’t asked me for money since, but whenever I say something, he argues. This guy is a self proclaimed feminist, so I badly want to call him out when he mansplains why it is okay for him to smoke his vaporizer in my closet next to hand-made 30 year old dresses that my grandmother made me that I do not plan to ever wash again. My take on that is, if you are in my house for free, have your office set up in my closet and vape constantly to the point where all of my clothes smell now and I ask you to stop, you should just fucking stop, even if you are the scientist behind vape juice and know that it ‘disappears’ and leaves behind no residue.. I don’t want to hear about it, I want you to listen.

I may have an inferiority complex, I may be controlling – but I am not a charity that is obligated to care for disrespectful men that feel they are better than everyone else but can’t even support themselves.

He used to donate plasma for his income but since my subsidies were cut off, he got a job at AJs BBQ. He owes me quite a bit of money since he claimed he was borrowing those daily $30 transactions but I have not seen a dollar yet. He doesn’t buy food for the house. He doesn’t share and no longer cleans. I hate to break it to him but he is not here so I can check out his fine midget body. Pardon my unruly attitude but he better start doing something to make himself useful.

Today the argument was because at 3 PM I turned some faint lights on in my living room so that I could walk through there without tripping. He had the audacity to ask me if he could turn them off and when I said no and explained I want to be able to walk through my house without tripping he tried to explain to me that I am never in there – I had to bit my tongue not to be more rude. The reason I am never in there is because its pitch black and full of all of his shit. I feel like I am losing control over my house and this type of thing just stresses me out.