Okay, seriously: This title in before Megan Fox declares a moratorium on any and all connotations between her last name and her “foxiness.” I’m sure she’s quite tired of it. But since I really don’t pay attention to media circuses, I still haven’t quite had enough, hence my cheeky Post Title. Because in truth, Meghan may be the most Lily-like of all the actresses/artists/women-in-general I’ve discovered to date. There haven’t been many, let me tell you. Lily Godwin is one-of-a-kind…
Disclaimers to get out of the way: (1) The more popular someone/something becomes, the less interested I am with them. (2) I never get “crushes” on celebrities. (3) Whom society declares as “most beautiful/sexy/desirable” are rarely, if ever, the same as whom I decide are suitable for my tastes. And my tastes vary widely. (4) I keep myself very isolated from popular culture and news, not to mention television. I feel cleaner and less-manipulated that way; less of “a tool”, let’s say :-p
So: it comes as something of a delightful surprise to have discovered Megan Fox, some time ago at that, well before she was shoved into the entertainment media’s manipulative eye, well before she was named GQ/Maxim/whatever-men’s-rag-of-the-moment’s “Most Sexiest Woman of the Year” awards, well before you lot got ahold of her! Now she’s all over the place. But for some reason I’m not diminished in my enjoyment of seeing her photos, reading her quotes, and unable to resist the entertainment section’s tidbits on her (most of them anyway).
Dammit!
Plus, she’s an “avocate” which does add a huge green Point in my estimation
Anyway: she does remind me of Lily in many ways, mostly physical, but at times personal. This post isn’t going to go into the personal aspects; there are plenty of entertainment articles around, I’m sure. If you haven’t discovered Lily for yourself yet, I hope that you will by and by when you read her story (presuming your interest).
To be honest, I haven’t seen Megan act yet, so I don’t know of her capabilities to effectively portray the complexity of Lily Godwin in a film. Since most of those Readers who’ve read excerpts of the Novel or those few professionals who’ve read it in its entirety have remarked that it’s “very filmic”, and since I’ve always envisioned it as a film when writing it, having a movie-version of Unbound was always kind of a fantasy of mine. Though given its epic scope this would be highly unlikely, which is why I’ve favored lately developing it into an animated series akin to Japanese animation, or anime.
Still, I can have any fantasy I want, so with all due respect to all the Lily-likes who’ve gone before (and remain fondly in my heart), let me present to you the latest: Megan Fox. And NO, not because she’s the latest glamour girl!
Don’t piss me off LOL
Casual Lily -er, I mean Megan
Okay: Problem One: Lily will NOT decorate herself with tatoos due to a disinclination as mentioned in the Novel. She also disdains makeup and piercings of any kind. There’s a reason, believe me. But that would be telling So. Lily’s also not a Motley Crue girl, but that’s neither here nor there. Actually, her roommate Stephen, who shares her and William’s North Beach flat, turned her on to Kate Bush, whom she seems to like quite a lot! Hm… “soul-birds of a feather flock together…” yeah, we like that xD
Problem Two: Raven-colored hair; sky-blue colored eyes. That’s really the only difference, so imagine that in the following pics:
Dressy Lily. I mean Megan!
Lily doesn’t get a chance to dress up, except when she’s at work, and I doubt that she’d waste a lovely dress like this at THAT place, even though it’s an office taking up an entire floor in a skyscraper located on San Francisco’s Montgomery Street. Still, it’s probably a style that she’d appreciate, although she won’t wear bracelets either; in other words, nothing to bind her or remind her…
The (almost!) all-natural look
What a beautiful photo! Lily does have bangs though; she likes to hide behind them to shield William from her troubles and doubts, of which there are a few… Megan’s figure here is perfect for what I imagine Lily’s body to be proportioned as, unlike the Lily-Doll I commissioned (and who can be seen some ways below this post, or here).
Megan captures the essence of Lily
Damn, that’s her! It’s as close a picture of Lily Godwin that I’ve seen to date. Beautiful, not “hot.” Desirable, not “sexy.” Feminine, not “brazen.” Dignified, not “brash.” Substance, not “flash.” Sensual, not “sexual.” A genuine, natural, honest-to-God beauty; a Woman; a luminous Soul. Of sorts
To show you how picky and particular I am, here’s a pic of Megan in which I see NO Lily at all (just a gorgeous woman):
No Lily here, just luscious Megan
A confession: Popular culture doesn’t affect me. I have only watched maybe two or three episodes of “reality TV” ever; haven’t the slightest clue about who’s hot and who’s not or what is or isn’t (and don’t care in the least); couldn’t tell Kim Kardashian from… well, any other flavor-of-the-moment. In fact, I really do feel sorry for those celebrities of all stripes condemned to live their lives in such a fetid fishbowl. Now it’s Megan’s turn in the flickering yet harsh light of the limelight. But she shows that she has the wit, intelligence, and fortitude to deal with it; the future will no doubt bear witness.
I’m sure that in due time the pendulum of popularity will begin to swing back, and the fickle public and “fandom” forums and websites will begin to sarcastically criticize, mock, and deride her as they always do to those that fall out of favor, or age, or do or say something “un-cool” (as if the rabble has any clue as to what “cool” is LMAO), and she’ll likely slip down in the popularity polls and down towards the oblivion of the forgotten, as another “star” rises to take her place, though more likely as a fleeting firework than a fixed celestial body, as the Real Stars used to be. I hope not, but what do I know except that the common folk are so damned predictable and lemming-like…
But I don’t care. From in these Days, this Time, and these Moments which always pass, she will always remind me of Lily
Well, I’m back! Crap, that was the worst move EVER. I’m finally getting things sorted out, but it’s slow going. VERY slow. But this pace is a welcome relief from the hectic and frantic weeks leading up to the actual move, which was a nightmare. God. Glad that’s behind me! I’m already blotting it all out of my mind, so I’ll recap if I can, while I can…
The good news: I got the 26-foot diesel-fueled moving van picked up on time, which was a minor miracle since I had no way to transport myself to the Budget pick-up lot about ten miles away. But the owner of the lot said that he’d pick me up early and bring me there since I was on his way to work. For twenty bucks
THEN the Mormons who’d offered to help me load couldn’t come on that Thursday, so the truck was left empty as I continued to pack up a three-bedroom house worth of belongings (crammed into a 1 and 1/2 bedroom house). They did come on Friday though and after just the couple of guys who’d bicycled over saw the enormity of the load, called for reinforcements. Shortly thereafter, I had another 8 guys who rapidly filled the truck up. But… they had to leave by five PM, leaving ME with a lot of stuff still to cram in. So after loading the heaviest stuff, they left me to my own devices. Which pretty much were nonexistent. Two arms, two legs and a sleepy-head, ’nuff said…
That night after loading more into the truck I gave out around 3AM and slept on an air mattress on the floor, rose at around 9AM on Saturday and continued with loading all the “light stuff” that still needed boxing, such as clothes and etc. I kept expecting to be leaving at just any moment, but always there was more… always more… Loads of books, magazines, memorabilia, collectibles… You wouldn’t believe all the stuff I simply had to leave behind. Just no room in the truck, and already way overdue to get the truck unloaded and returned on time by Tuesday morning.
I’ll cut to the chase: I finally left the place around 5AM Sunday morning after being up (and working my ass off) for twenty hours. Ready to take on a 900-mile move? Oh yeah; let’s GO!!! So I put Pennie’s litter box and food & water dishes on the floor of the passenger side, put her in her carrier box (she did notgo willingly, big surprise), and various bags of necessities/snacks beneath the seat and took off.
One little aside about Google Maps: They lie. Well, they got the mileage right; it was902 miles. But a fourteen hour trip? Noooo….. not exactly. Fourteen hours later I was still in Oregon, around Roseburg if I recall. (I also was utilizing the Rest Areas along the way; it was really a tiresome challenge to steer this huge truck.) See, they don’t actually figure into the equation that a moving van’s best speed will be around 55mph and will only take grades at about 30-35 miles an hour. There had been very few up to that point. I had noidea what was ahead for me LOL But I was determined to drive straight through to my destination, an “undisclosed location” south of Sacramento.
Pretty much everything between Roseburg’s southern vicinity and the border between Oregon and California is uphill. So, it took me another four hours to climb over Grant’s Pass, through Ashland, and finally cross the border. Where it started raining right at the Inspection Station where all vehicles must stop. I’d been up at that point for about 38 hours, and I guess it was telling, because the Inspector recommended that I get to the Rest Area ahead for some sleep. On the three-mile drive there the rain began to POUR down; I could barely see the road. Visions of the truck crashing and scattering my belongings all over the highway flashed before my eyes (where that particular scenario had been playing out constantly for some time during this insane drive). I drove on…
At the Rest Area, I tried to sleep but couldn’t; the rain was too loud, like the impatient drumming of horned demons’ fingers tapping on the roof as if to say, “Get on with it! You can make it; what’s a little water?” Well, it was a LOT of water, and it was falling in sheets that draped across the roadways and off the cliffs on the other side of the shoulders. Finally after 45 minutes, a break. I thought if I could make it to Yreka, I could get a motel room, because with the last of my senses failing, a good decent night’s sleep was absolutely necessary. Dodging bullets of rainwater I finally got through; the rain was now very light and manageable. At 1AM I checked in and was given a very nice room (AND SHOWER!!!)… after a refreshing dinner/breakfast at Denny’s I slept the sleep of the just-too-tired.
I checked out at noon and resumed my journey. Pennie was doing as well as could be expected; at my very first stop I’d let her out of her carrier and she’d scooted under the seat and stayed there pretty much the whole time. Once she did get up on the seat to look around but at the first sign of instability on the road she retreated to her Safe Place. She’s a curious kitty but not all THAT curious! Believe me, she and I both were more than happy to finally get onto California’s straight and level highway!
I made it to my destination around 8PM. I would’ve kissed the ground but (a) couldn’t bend, and (b) it’s dirty, y’know.
So: here I am in my new Location, a total oppositeof where I’d come from; from the cool, moist, and friendly San Juan Islands into the fiery heart of California’s troubled Central Valley. Where it’s HOT. As an example: After my brother and my new room mate finished helping me unload what we could keep and fit here (which took two days), I had to take the truck back to the Budget place, where I would need to store the rest, probably around 1/4 of the full load. Left alone, I toiled in 98-degree heat and in about 3-4 hours finally got it inside te storage unit, the truck returned (two days late), and then unbound from my obligation, finally on my way home. 98 frickin’ degrees :-O
Oh well… once beyond 88 it’s all the same, pretty much. But what do I know? I just got here
Aside from a funeral trip in 2003, I hadn’t been in Cali since September 2001. Things have changed, but a lot has not. I kind of feel happy to be back, and definitely happy to see my family and friends whom I haven’t seen in so long. But I’m still sorting things out, setting up new accounts etc etc etc and am essentially still in a major daze. Moving. UGH. You know how it goes, right?
That’s enough for now; that made me tired again LOL Shortly I’ll make a new Post regarding first impressions and all that, which are still forthcoming. Hey, what IS Life anyway without a few earth-shaking experiences to deal with (and get through)?
Well, it’s come to this: time to vacate the premises. Dunno if I’m happy or sad about it; definitely annoyed! Pretty damn tired of the whole “selling the house to avoid foreclosure” thing, which has lasted for over a year, expecting it to sell at any moment and also expecting to have to uproot myself in the next. Bloody wearying it is. But I think I won’t go there in this post; if the short-sale doesn’t get approved and my debt forgiven though, you can bet that I will. And call for bloody revolution, lining the bastards first up against the wall, calling for the heads of those “in charge” of the financial industry, raising the rabble and the torches and pitchforks and etc etc etc…
Bitter much? Nah, just cranky. But now I’ll play the game MY way, because theirs is loaded to the gills. Can’t play games with cheaters, liars and scoundrels…
Man. Moving is just about my least favorite thing. Especially moving myself. Actually, I hate that more. $5,000 to have a mover do it vs $500 to do it myself. An especially easy decision when I don’t even have close to five grand. Or TWO for that matter. So yeah: Driving a 24-foot truck myself over 900 miles along with Lily, Pennie and all of my belongings in it, not to mention having to pack up enough stuff to fill a three bedroom house (minus two beds) accumulated over fifty years. I tried downsizing with decidedly mixed results. One minus to living in a small town: an equally-small number of businesses with which to do trade
A few months ago some door-to-door Mormons came by and after their furtive attempt at conversion failed miserably, offered to “help pack” pursuant to my remark that I was probably going to have to move. “Oh, sure, I will definitely take you up on that,” I thought. Well. After finding no-one to assist me with loading the large pieces of furniture onto the rental truck, I thought (yes, again; when will I learn?): “What have I got to lose?”
So I called the number on the little booklet they left and asked to speak to the Elder (which is ironic indeed because none of them look older than 20), and was overjoyed to discover that not only would they be happy to help load, but that they didn’t expect the meager payment I offered them. Which is good because I’m near broke and will need the funds I do have for fourteen hours of traveling expenses (i.e. truck, gasoline, food, and water for Pennie). I said, “But I’d really like to compensate you; how about a little donation to your church?” (God, I hope it’s called a church!) He replied, “No, it’s really okay; this is what we do: we help people.”
Wow! So they really exist!
Anyway, I’m going to leave them my television set, DVD player, VCR, and all the furniture that I won’t need anymore; perhaps they can find a family in need. I’m quite sure that they know some in these awful times. If they want to help people then I’ll be only too glad to help them be of help. Help is good
So let this be a lesson to you (and/or me). Be nice to those fellas (and ladies, if there are any who go door-to-door)! Or at least be tolerant. It’s good practice anyway, because what this world definitely needs is more tolerance. Not for fools though. Can’t stand them
So this’ll be my last post for a little bit. I’ll be moving not only to a new location but a new ISP as well (bye-bye high-speed Internet *sob*). Alastor will remain in place though, patiently awaiting my return (and your hoped-for and kind comments as well), and we should all be back together my midweek next. That is, if I don’t roll my truck into a shoulder, plunge over a cliff, plummet into a ravine and crash and burn and burst into flames. Or something.
Be good to each other
***
(EDIT:) Oh… what the hell. Since I dislike Posts that are simply all text, something inspiring to tide you over (and me LOL)! And a little “sneak preview” of sorts for my novel Unbound: The “bookend” songs I wanted for the opening and the closing of the story: “Sky Blue” and “Cloudless” by Peter Gabriel. Peter’s the only male artist whom I can equate with Kate Bush’s talent and creativity; they’ve also worked wonderfully together in the past. They both have reached so far into my heart and soul, and to be a completist about it, my mind as well. The Yin and Yang; the real deal; the fullest plate.
Since I’d always imagined the novel as a film while writing it, I also made a soundtrack for it to inspire me while working on it. These songs weren’t heard by me until after I’d finished my first draft, but when I remake the first “OST” I’ll definitely include them, as they capture perfectly the overall ”feel” of the story, at its beginning (which you can read here) and at its End (which you can’t, just yet)…
And because one (version) just isn’t enough, the exquisite “Cloudless” from the film Rabbit-Proof Fence. No video to speak of, but it’s not necessary if you just close your eyes and just Listen to it. And, as Kate says, “Please, feel it.” Do so
Oh, like a serpentine coil of coincidence: a song that really kept my spirit and fortitude together over the past year up to and and including these dark and dreary, yet strangely sunny days: Peter and Kate’s “Don’t Give Up”. You know this one, I’m sure
And for auld lang syne, Kate and Peter perform Roy Harper’s beautiful, poignant, and moving “Another Day”, taken from Kate’s Christmas Special of many seasons past. This is a real rarity, so enjoy it while it lasts -)
Ah, I do feel so much better now, and ready to take on The Road…
Be Seeing You
on the water
"When early youth had passed, he left his cold fireside and alienated home to seek strange truths in undiscovered lands. Many a wide waste and tangled wilderness has lured his fearless steps; and he has bought with his sweet voice and eyes, from savage men, his rest and food." (from 'Alastor, or, The Spirit of Solitude', by Percy Bysshe Shelley,1815)
For info on our novel UNBOUND, please see our website in the Blogroll!
You can appreciate why she needs the support, and I like to “spread the...
