Ode to Casey-Jo

Years ago, I nearly ruined my afro by doing a terrible job of cutting it myself. Lucky for me, my mother came to my rescue. As she went about her business with her clippers, she said something that stuck with me.

A haircut shouldn’t look like an apology.

Hilarious, but true.

Those words came to mind as I was taken in by bits and pieces of the Much Music VJ Search last night. I chose to watch because of the previews. They suggested some racial tension might be brewing. (Supposedly Erik used a racial slur against Frank. But from what I saw, no footage was shown (taken?) to back up Frank?s claim.) However, while I came for the promised mini race-war, I stayed for the debacle that was?The VJ Makeovers.

Which brings me to the focus of this entry. Casey-Jo. I have to ask the people at Much one question: What were you thinking? For those who didn?t see it, essentially, these are the basics: The VJ hopefuls were whisked off to a uberchic salon to be transformed for a photo shoot. I?m talking the works: Hair, makeup, clothes.

Clips were deftly interspersed?there was the fashion stylist, the hair stylists, VJ wannabes, etc. Of particular interest was the head hair stylist?er?Visionary, Jie Matar, of Salon Jie (pronounced like a soft, buzzing, “G”). He commented on the wannabe VJs and their attitudes.

Mr. Matar complained quite a bit regarding Casey-Jo. In fact, as far as I could tell, she was the only one he really had anything negative to say about. Apparently, unlike her contemporaries, CJ wasn?t grateful, blah, blah, blah?

Unbeknownst to the people at Jie, given the way they made her look, if I was in CJ?s place, ?grateful? would have been the least of their worries.

Casey-Jo?s haircut was hideous. I don?t care how cutting-edge any fashionista said it was. You know that adage about the right thing at the wrong time?? Well, the right hairdo on the wrong person is just wrong. Period.

Yet the coverage of CJ?s reaction?.I don?t know what to make of Jie?s comments. His minion made CJ look preposterous. Her only consolation? As mentioned on the show, ?Hair grows??

In the end, I applaud Casey-Jo. She strikes me as one who doesn?t believe in putting up with anyone?s crap. Honestly. What did the people at MuchMusic expect her to do? Smile and act nice?

I recognize the footage last night might have been hewn together in an attempt to make Casey-Jo seem like an ungrateful little waif. Instead, it made Jie, and (inadvertently) MuchMusic, seem arrogant and presumptuous. ?I am a styling superstar. You must approve of my decisions, no matter how ghastly I make you look. After all, I am a Big Name, no??

No.

It?s a pity Casey-Jo probably signed a waiver/contract to be on the MMVJS. If it was me?Hmmm….Let’s look at the facts…You made a fool out of me on national television…And your editing team did their best to make me look like a whiny harpy. Failing miserably, I might add.

I don?t know who I would have to get in touch with. But someone would be getting sued.

You’re kidding me, right? RIGHT?

One of my favorite authors, Josh Harris, has two younger brothers. They have a blog.

I just read this entry, and I’m still stunned by the details. Apparently, down the road, Ms. Stacy Dow, of Scotland, might have a talk with her daughter explaining her existence. For, you see, young Jayde was born by accident due to an unsuccessful abortion. (She’s suing the hospital and everything.) The Harris boys quote another blogger’s solemn commentary. He says, “Try to imagine the conversation…”

And in truth, as soon as I read that, my mind actually considered such an absurdity.

Stacy (to Jayde): Honey, I have tragic news regarding your birth. The doctors screwed up. They were only able to abort your twin sister, but somehow they made a mistake when it came to you…You shouldn’t even be here in the first place. 

Where is this woman’s head? How could she possibly think that these circumstances warrant a mother-daughter talk?

Where is this woman’s head? How could she think that these circumstances warrant a mother-daughter talk?

Olympic Thoughts

Watching the closing of the Torino/Turin 2006 Games. Canada’s hosting the 2010 Winter Games (Woohoo!). And now…A question:

Why was Avril* doing an impression of Alanis?

You’d have to have heard her to know what I mean.

*Better yet, why does Google state that Avril’s official URL is www.garbage.com? It’s true. I typed “Avril Lavigne”, and that’s the first link that appeared. By the time you read this, I hope they will have fixed the problem.

How is it…?

How is it that we go on this way? And just who are we? Day by day, I find myself consumed by thoughts of love. And more. I am consumed by trying to comprehend this madness, and this beauty, into which we have been…Inserted.

Inserted? Does that make sense? Because I know that I and we are here with reason. Too often, my senses fail to comprehend the plan behind it. God creates nothing if not for something. Am I making sense? The only soul I care to feed as I type this randomness is my own. Yet I want to share my methodless madness with someone, as I believe deeply that my strangeness is another’s sanity.

Why do so many of us attempt to defy human nature, insisting that we can do all alone? For we are better together. I say this in earnest, though I risk dragging you into my mire. Are you inspired? For, I love my solitude. Crave it, when others insist that they must follow the crowd. Yet I long for like-minded beings to mingle with, to commune with. It’s as Alanis once said in song, “…and what I wouldn’t give, to meet a kindred.”

Kindred.

Calling to mind my childhood and my favorite book Anne of Green Gables, and how she, Anne, used to speak of wanting to meet a kindred spirit. Until she found Diana Barry.

One day I will find my bliss. One day I will know peace. I will know love. And a person to whom I can speak my language and be understood.

Red Alert!

Rick Mercer has a blog! Canadian political humor abounds. One of my favorite pics:

Time well wasted

Something occurred to me today. The amount of time that I’m online on various message boards could be better spent blogging. Over the past while I have spent (squandered) a considerable number of hours debating and discussing various issues with strangers.

I care more about expressing my opinion than about whether or not Poster #6 agrees with me. Therefore, the blog wins over my need to babble. I mean really. I could have written a novel by now. Or ten.

Don’t mess with Michael

Mr. Bloomberg, New York City’s mayor isn’t messing around.

I used to enjoy a good game of solitare. Heck, I found it addictive. I used to spend ages playing it.

But on my PC at home.

I’m not saying I feel sorry for the employee in question. However at work…You’ve got to use your judgment.

Why am I here?

No, not me. My blog.

I look at pages like the list of links on Josh Harris’ web site, and I feel both ashamed and inspired. Ashamed because at times in my blogging I feel purposeless. Sometimes I realize that I can seem a bit flighty and odd. (Where else on the web can you go for a rant about the importance of hanging onto one’s faith, and a commentary on the latest lingerie?) Inspired… Because I feel more and more these days, a need to cling to my divine inklings, and write about what I know.

And what I know is that I need God.

Recommended Reading

The back of my copy of The Imitation of Christ states that, “After the Bible, this is the touchstone and probably the best-loved book of Christianity”. I’m inclined to agree.

When I read my Bible, I am drawn in. I am overcome. And in pondering the meditations in The Immitation… I feel the same way.

On one level I cannot help feeling a sort of longing…For a distant time. Free from the constant rush of interDVDmicrocell distractions. I’m convinced that the simpler our lives get, the quieter, and the more likely it is that we will be able to hear the Lord’s voice and feel his presence.

(The other night I turned my computer off early. I felt so glad. I was in the mood to meditate on my faith, and I felt no regret. Only peace.)

Most recently, I have felt the weight of these words: “If you seek comfort or gain from others you will often meet with loss. If you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Jesus.” (76)

Jesus.

The man who is beyond men. The peace that he brings is deeper and more rewarding than any pleasure this world could ever hope to contain.

Any book that points your soul to the one who created it is a blessing indeed.

Just Jesus.

This morning I read this article about Jesus. Made me long for the days when everyone wasn’t determined that he take sides.