Myriad. Dining out with friends. Theatre (active and passive). Film. Books. Television. Art. Um, oh yeah...and...er...sex.
I'd like to meet:
There are puh-lenty of folks that I'd like to meet, if you're talking about those considered to be "famous." Bette Midler and Rosie O'Donnell top that list. I'd die to meet Meryl Streep, as she's our greatest living actress. Bring back Kate Hepburn for just one day. Armistead Maupin needs to come over for Cosmos.But mostly I'd like to meet my friends for a cocktail and delightful, witty conversation.
Music:
Eclectic. Just walk naked through my CD's sometime. Today I feel like 70's harmonies, such as Mama's and Papa's, Peter, Paul, & Mary, or Simon and Garfunkel. Or, it's 8th grade study hall, 1984, and I love everything on the radio. Way back when, Billy Joel's Greatest Hits changed my ways. Don't get me started on Elton John. My freshman year of college I couldn't seem to get enough Madonna, Janet Jackson, REM, 10,000 Maniacs, or Depeche Mode. If I wanna rock out, some classic Melissa Etheridge might do the trick. Or better yet, throw in a hair band from back in the day, especially Poison or AC/DC. Feeling nostalgic, how 'bout some Bangles? Like Marie, I'm a little bit country...so I can put on Wynonna or Dolly or Loretta. Perhaps today is Disco. Or, I could always get my rap on with some Beastie Boys or Salt n Pepa. Should I like to mellow out there is KD Lang or Bonnie Raitt. Suicidal? Tori Amos is there. Oh, wait! I might feel like belting something from my collection of over 100 Original Broadway Cast Recordings. If I can't decide, screw it. I'll put on the one and only Divine Miss M, Bette Midler, and I truly know peace.
Movies:
Almost anything with a boy in a dress: TOOTSIE, LA CAGE (and yes, even THE BIRDCAGE), CONNIE AND CARLA, HAIRSPRAY, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, SORDID LIVES et al. Some other favorites include POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, RAISING ARIZONA, THE WIZARD OF OZ, REBECCA, MOULIN ROUGE, ANY movie with Muppets, ALL Mel Brooks flicks, Christopher Guest mock-umentaries, STAR WARS (4, 5, & 6), all Hail Walt Disney, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, PRINCESS BRIDE, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, 9 to 5, classic musicals, and lots of others. Oh yeah, and if it's about Peter Pan, I'm SO in. Oh yeah...just saw RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. Excellent.
Television:
This could easily be a doctoral dissertation. First of all, I can watch reruns and be totally content. My favorite "classic" shows are MARY TYLER MOORE, THE LOVE BOAT, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, M*A*S*H, ALL IN THE FAMILY, and MAUDE. And can we talk about The Seventies Variety Shows? Nirvana! Name any Eighties Sitcom and I can prolly sing ya the theme. I adored GOLDEN GIRLS and DESIGNING WOMEN. Of course. I also CUH-RAVE ROSEANNE. I think it most accurately depicts the REAL American Family than anything that's ever been on the small screen. I miss the quick, hard wit of THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN and NEWSRADIO. "Modern favorites" are pretty broad in spectrum and my TiVo is constantly stocked to the brim. Highlights from my "Now Playing" list from the past two years: FRIENDS, ER, WEST WING, QUEER AS FOLK, SEX AND THE CITY, AMERICAN IDOL, SIX FEET UNDER, WILL AND GRACE, MY NAME IS EARL, MADTV and SNL, and SCRUBS. While most await their turn on Nick at Night, Comedy Central or Bravo, I'm having faith that television will reinvent itself (especially NBC) and fill the nighttime air with some more classics such as these. The past two seasons have introduced me to some fabulous treasures. I really enjoy LOST, STUDIO 60, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, WEEDS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, 30 ROCK. And can I get a witness and an amen to UGLY BETTY?!
Books:
This list is ever-changing. I can change my favorite book as easily as I change my underwear. It's all dependent upon my mood. The only constant is my favorite writer: Armistead Maupin. His TALES OF THE CITY set is the best thing anyone could ever read. His other two tales, THE NIGHT LISTENER and MAYBE THE MOON are just as important. Everyone else's writing pales in comparison to his. HARRY POTTER has changed the world and reminds me of the Narnia of my youth. I enjoy a good self-help book. I adore a trashy (auto)biography. Two words: Southern Literature. TO KILL MOCKINGBIRD. Sigh. Flannery O'Connor changed me. Plays/musicals? Tennesse Williams thankfully let his freak flag fly. Thank you, Bill Shakespeare. God Bless Tony Kushner and ANGELS IN AMERICA. And anything you put on paper, Terrence McNalley, I'm gonna absorb as quickly as your words will carry me away.
Heroes:
My bitchez. My Dad. My loving partner. My ex. My mother. Michael and Douglas. Holly and Ann. Single mothers. Teachers. Anyone that makes me laugh.
