The Difference a Preposition Makes

In case you hadn't noticed, I've been on a bit of a k.d. lang kick lately.
"Kick," "small obsession," tomato, to-mah-to.

I've even taken to listening to some songs while I fall asleep.  There's nothing quite like hearing her say, "Sleep, silent angel / Go to sleep" in my ear as I do just that.

Those lyrics are from "The Air That I Breathe," and when singing along (in the car, not in bed) as I am wont to do, I realized I was singing a line wrong.  I was singing, "Making love to you / Has left me peaceful, warm, and tired."  But that's incorrect.

The actual lyric is: "Making love with you / Has left me peaceful, warm, and tired."

Just one small preposition mix-up, but it makes a world of difference in the song and when using the phrase in life.  And I was briefly stunned when I realized the difference.  To make love "to" someone makes the other person a rather passive participant in the love-making.  But making love with someone -- that's entirely different.  That's two people engaged in a (fun, wonderful) activity together.

So thank you, k.d. lang, for writing the difference.

Breaking News Update:  While finishing this post, I discovered that lang did not write this song/these lyrics.  The Hollies did in 1972.  All of the songs from her Drag CD are covers, actually.  So I guess I should be thanking The Hollies...but I think I'll stick with k.d. because see above:  "obsession."

Anti-Valentine's Day Mix

I made a copy of this mix for my two co-workers, but I thought I'd share it with the masses as well.

Please note:  Leonard has nothing against Valentine's Day in theory.  As I've grown older, it means less to me, especially as my Unit and I typically typically have work, a show, a blizzard, etc. on February 14th.  So it's not a big deal for us.  If you like it, great!  If you don't, don't get hung up on it.  There is no need to feel bad on a made-up holiday.  But Ludo's "Love Me Dead" inspired me to make this somewhat ironic list.  It has changed over time.  Here's the most recent incarnation:

1. "Bad Reputation" (Joan Jett)
2. "Before He Cheats" (Carrie Underwood)
3. "Coin-Operated Boy" (The Dresden Dolls)
4. "Cowboy Casanova" (Carrie Underwood)
5. "Every You Every Me" (Placebo)
6. "Fuck You" (CeeLo Green)
7. "Heart-Shaped Glasses" (Marilyn Manson)
8. "Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)" (P!nk)
9. "Love Me Dead" (Ludo)
10. "She Hates Me" (Puddle of Mudd)
11. "She's So Mean" (Matchbox 20)
12. "U + Ur Hand" (P!nk)

Enjoy my "Anti-Valentine's Day" list!  Or, as the lady who lives in my iPod calls is, my "AN-teh-vel-EN-tin-us" Day mix.

Today's the Day!

"The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize."

-Clairee Blech (Olympia Dukakis), Steel Magnolias (1989) 

I shouldn't be nervous, but I am.  Today is Day #1 of a two-day photo shoot.  But I'm not the model this time.  I'm the hair and make-up stylist.

Hair, make-up, and costumes (or "playing dress-up") is one of the main things I enjoy about theatre, so let's hope it translates to the camera.  People are counting on me for my esoteric knowledge of victory rolls, red lipstick, and wig caps!  I already had a stress dream about it last night (in which I forgot several key items), so I know I'm right on track.

During a conversation with a co-star about visual arts, I said that I "had no talent" in that area.  I come from a long line of artists, but I can't draw (or paint or sculpt or photograph) for shit.  My co-star disagreed.  She said that I "have an editorial eye."  And that stuck with me.  I'd like to think she was right.  I know what I want in my head when trying to achieve certain looks.

At any rate, we can all thank Leonard's mother for this.  Because of her most of my childhood was spent watching musicals and movies from Hollywood's Golden Age; that has played no small part in my desire to play dress-up all the time.  And like my acting, I have no formal education in hair/make-up.  Just trial and errors, a mother who sold Mary Kay cosmetics for a very long time, and now, YouTube tutorials.

Below is the tutorial I used to teach myself how to do victory rolls:


When this photo shoot is complete, I'm sure the Frogman will have things to post, including (possibly) some "behind the scenes" stuff in which you may see me poking about.