Red Lining

I just got wind of another internet scandal that is circulating here. A short story entitled "Beautiful C*cksucker" is making pretty big waves. As I understand it a number of people are offended by this title. The author Barbara Sheridan has explained her use of it, apparently it was used by one of the main characters in her story. So, what about me? What do I think? I think that Ms. Sheridan has the right to use what every terminology that she wishes, just as readers have the right to complain about it. Now, it if was me I would not have used this term. Why? Because quite frankly cocksucker is offensive. But its not Ms. Sheridan's fault, that view of the word came about by bigots and hatemongers who slung it around with no regard to who they were hurting.
I can understand why gays/lesbians/heterosexuals, hell, anyone would be offended by the term. I have a few terms that offend me as well. Just the other day I was watching TruTV and a case came up where a coroner described the hair they found on a bedsheet as Negroid? I was like WTF is Negroid hair? Needless to say, I turned. I was seriously not feeling that show after that. Anyway, the fate of the book and its title does not rest in my hands. I am curious to see what will come of all this though.

One other thing that boggles my mind. If the book title was not percieved before its release as offensive why turn the 'o' in cocksucker into a star. Its like internet shorthand for sites that don't allow cussing. We all know what it says, so why the star, eh? I wonder. Anyhoo, I think I'm done giving my two cents. Good luck to Ms. Sheridan. I wish her all the best.

Favorites of December

Books

1. Altered Heart by Kate Steele

2. Looking for Some Touch by K. Z. Snow

3. Highest Bidder Kate Steele

4. Not In Kansas by R.G. Alexander

Movie

1. Hancock

2. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

3. Pollyanna

4. The Parent Trap (1961 version)

TV

1. It's Me or the Dog

2. Dogs 101

3. Survivor Man

4. Cha$e

Music

1. Star by The Roots

2. Dare you to Move by Switchfoot

3. Get Me Bodied by Beyonce

4. Hard Knock Life by Jay-Z

Jive Turkey

The Thanksgiving
Denture Adventure

The day was a nightmare; I'll try to explain
the nieces and nephews and grandchildren came,
and grandpa and grandma had just spent the week,
this holiday dinner was more than unique.

The turkey was nestled all snug in the stove
as the moochers arrived at my door by the drove,
already regretting inviting this breed,
as their jackets came off and the children were freed.

They stood there and glared like a posse possessed,
just plotting and scheming some torture, I guessed,
then lo and behold, like a bat out of hell,
they turned on us grown-ups like some evil spell.

While setting the table I let out a shriek,
when a tiny white mouse from my gravy boat peeked!
Then pickles went flying and pies hit the floor;
I found a dead worm in the silverware drawer.

As soda was spilling and olives were tossed,
I thought about having my own holocaust,
poor grandpa and grandma were fit to be tied,
and hubby kept mumbling the word 'homicide'!

The dog ran and hid after grabbing his bone,
and I fled to the kitchen to be left alone,
the house was in chaos--beyond my belief,
when grandma cried, "Help me--I can't find my teeth!!"

I said they were soaking right next to her bed,
then gramps said, "Forget it...the woman's brain-dead!"
This started her bawling as bad went to worse,
I reached for the aspirin while chanting a curse.

While searching the house grandma sputtered and choked,
and I wondered which brat took her teeth as a joke,
but my thought was short-lived as a crisis arose,
someone's kid had a carrot stick lodged up their nose!

The turkey was done, so we sat down to eat
with poor grandma still sporting a look of defeat,
this Thanksgiving madness had altered her mood
for she hadn't her dentures to savor the food.

I dished out the dressing and to my surprise
a pair of false-teeth lay in front of my eyes!
I'd have left out the spices if only I'd known...
that the stuffing I cooked had a 'bite' of it's own!

The day had arrived; 'twas exactly one year
since my relatives, (moochers), had Thanksgiving here,
poor Grandpa was already stewed to the gills,
and Grandma--disgusted, was popping pink pills.

The turkey was turning a rich, golden hue
while children were screeching, "There's nothing to do!"
And memories from last year still had me spell-bound
when inside my stuffing Gran's dentures were found!

Soon mean Uncle Henry called--fit to be tied,
offended that no one would give him a ride
to this festive occasion--he's such an old crab,
so he cursed one and all, then he phoned for a cab.

His arrival came soon, not that anyone cared,
the adults began groaning, the children were scared,
then I noticed a change as I hugged him with dread--
he was sporting a rug on the top of his head!

A pie made of pumpkin shot into my view
being used to play catch; out the window it flew,
and I thought for a minute just who was to blame
as my prized candied yams disappeared down the drain.

My husband, the whiner, quick pulled me aside
and bribed me with cash for a place he could hide,
with my baster now loaded and aimed at his butt,
he crawled back to the couch, made a face, then shut-up.

A frog and a hamster decided to play
on the counter by Auntie, preparing souflee
with the aide of old Henry; they both stopped to stare,
then she screamed and he raced from the kitchen--sans hair!

When asked he replied, "Gee, I had it before--
but perhaps in my haste it fell off on the floor."
So we all made a search, but the hunt was in vain,
now poor Henry had nothing to blanket his brain.

Recalling what Auntie had started to make,
I put the large crock in the oven to bake,
then called for the vultures in voice sugar-sweet,
"Let's move it, you morons--we're ready to eat!!"

The turkey was carved when the timer rang out,
Auntie's dish didn't raise so I started to doubt
that ingredients used in her famous souflee
would've called for an ugly, synthetic toupee.

And lo and behold, as I dug through the dish
all smothered in egg whites--a hairy, Oh Ish!!
These Thanksgiving dinners, My God! I declare...
if it ain't someone's dentures, it's somebody's hair!

~ Copyright © Terry Lerdall-Fitterer ~

Bad Boys and... music?

I was floundering for a little while on my story Pride Fall. I was writing a really kick ass scene and I just couldn't get on with it. Also one of my protagonists was not talking, I mean I COULD not get the guy to clue me in on his personality. And then I found it;the gem that got me writing again. It turned out to be music. Now I find myself assigning music to my characters so that I can get into their mindset. For Pride I listen to Bad Things, it's the theme song for the popular HBO show True Blood. I also listen to The Man Comes Around and for a softer side I listen to Fastball's Out of My Head. Pride really is turning out to be a hotshot with a bad temper, but he's got a heart of gold even if you have to kick in the tin door to get to it. For Levi who is like the complete opposite of Pride I listen to softer stuff like I Stumble sung by Macy Gray. It really does sum up Levi's feelings towards Pride. I also am fond of Jeff Buckley, OneRepublic (all their stuff) and Bryan Adams when I'm writing Levi. Awe, he's such a sweetie. I hope he is as well loved by the fans as I love him.

Young Heroes

I never cease to be amazed by the bravery of children. This little boy was no exception, selfless in life and fearless of death.

Interview with Jared, Kenano, and Nurak

Check out my interview with Gideon at Playground Mystique. Gideon was nice enough to invite me, Kenano, Jared, and Nurak from my Science Fiction/Gay Erotic Novella G-Strain in for a little chat.

Dr. King Would Smile, I Think

Well, do I really have to say it? No. All over the world, on the internet, television, in newspapers, and by word of mouth, it is being said that Barack Obama is the first elected black president of the United States. Though I still refer to him as biracial, it is not my wish to detract from the significance of this event. I thought it would just be nice to post some pictures of him on my blog, so that perhaps when I am in my forties and fifties and god-willing have children of my own I can pull up this old blog and point to the date, and say "See, I witnessed History being made. I guess we all live in our huge slice of history. I may have missed Vietnam, World War I and II, but I lived through the horrifying pivotal point that was 9/11. I've seen the worse president we've ever had be re-elected a second time, and I've seen Barack Obama make history. I am happy to have lived in this generation. It was said all along that the younger generation would play a crucial part in the election of Barack and it appears that we have.

"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus. "
Martin Luther King, Jr.