You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘cher thursday’ category.
I love this blog. It is a wonderful outlet for me to say and do whatever I want to, yes, and I like writing here, which is a necessary ingredient for blogging, and that is what started my writing here (that and Sinclair’s nudging.) But it’s not really writing here that makes this space interesting to me anymore. I mean, interesting things happen to me now and then and I do like to share them, but more than anything it’s all of the amazing random connections that could not have ever been made in any other way in all of the world and in all of my lifetime that HAVE been made because of this space. THAT is what makes me continue to show up here. THAT is what I love about this little blogo’mine.
When I got emails from folks saying, “jesse! Did you hear about Blanche (or Dorothy or Sophia)?!? I’m so sorry!” I mean WOW! No, I hadn’t heard yet and oh my lord, thanks for thinking of me and for taking the time to let me know. Or when folks ask for updates on Marcus or Fraidy or Violet or the Seal. Or all of the wonderful emails and comments about my visiting the new GSA club at my old haunted high school posts, one email about how you are going to write one of your high school teachers and thank them for supporting your little closeted lesbian self after all these years. Or a heads up that Cher is in a new movie or video or that she brushed her teeth this morning. Or how if I didn’t hear from Blazer in some tweet or comment form for more than a few days I would start to worry. Or how someone wrote, “I’m not your gay googler, but I might as well have been a few years back. Where was that hot line then?” Or how one of my very favorite new friends, greg, will put me on email-chatting-hold so to finish her newest, fabulous post. Or that I am so lucky to have met a slew of amazing bloggers last fall with plans to meet a few more this weekend. Or how Jen leaves a comment, “this has nothing to do with your post or whatever it is that you are writing about but Kathy Griffin spent her birthday with CHER and I thought of you!” And I am a better, happier person to know this, let me tell you.
And on and on it goes. And really, is this not all just totally amazing? And with all of the ways that this let’s me reach back and is teaching me, daring me, challenging me to brave reaching out more, a little bit at a time, past where I sit so comfortably (and anonymously) behind this screen, and push myself in what I chose to write, in how revealing I am, in how much of me, what about me I’ll set free and hand over, well, it all just blows my mind a little.
On that same long-winded-as-usual note, Melissa, someone I have never met before, tweeted this video to me and damn if she didn’t find something Cher that I had never seen before. And to that I say, well done and thanks for reaching out.
Happy Friday eve, everyone! Happy Cherday.
I have mentioned before that I was the graduation speaker for my class in college, and as all graduation speeches go, I knew I needed to quote deeply profound words from a deeply profound person. And so I did. And because no one proof read my speech before it was presented I got away with quoting Cher. In the second to last line of my speech I quoted the Queen of All Things Fabulous and Sparkly by saying this: “If you really want something you can figure out how to make it happen.” See? Deep. Profound. Yes?
A few weeks ago, a favorite long time readers, Saintchick, chimed in with a fabulous Christmas gift idea for Violet. And although her very sweet, thoughtful and creative gift idea was both late and not what I ended up going with, she started her comment with “Please pick me… I want a chershoutout!” She could not have been any more to the point and I totally dig that. So, dear Saintchick, by request, this one is for you. You wanted it, you made it happen. Cher would be proud.
Happy Friday-eve, everyone, Happy Cherday!
Enjoy.
Once again I am without internet and am typing on my phone. Oh well.
I would love to write some grandiose post with my extensive reflections over the last year that would lead into what I hope for in 2010 but I haven’t gotten that far yet. I have ideas, snippets, flashes, things that make my chest swell, moments that make my eyes water, bits of the last year that flash underneath my eyelids like a movie, but I haven’t had the time yet, lately, to be still and in my own head, by myself. I will though, soon.
This i know: 2009 was hard. It was a lot of things, but significant in the way that makes me very excited to hang a new calendar. 2009 was not a bad year, not at all, but the taste it has left on my tongue is of loss. It feels like there is a lot that won’t walk into 2010 with me.
My godmother, Ruth, always says these two things:
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
and…
“The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.” (Robert Louis Stevenson)
I think of both of these simple quotes often and they bring me back down. I will carry them into 2010 along with a lot, an abundance of wonderful things really, namely love. With all of the loss I have felt, watching pieces of the world that make my little world make sense to me just disapear, I have been made very aware of the good, the love, the kindness that is everywhere if that is what you go looking for.
It might just be that I have cried more this year than any other in all of my life. I am getting quite good at it really, but I would bet safely that I have laughed just as much. I am lucky or blessed or something. But I am surrounded, covered, blanketed by love.
There is a song I will post when I have access to the internet again that I just found. It breaks me, open, and I love it. There is one line, “Follow your dreams, in through every out door, it seems that’s what we’re here for.” I am going to carry this very closely, in a safe warm place, into this coming year. And as I do this year, wake up, make plans, recount dreams and watch life happen I will keep you posted, like I do.
I am quite grateful for this space, this little blog. And I am grateful for everyone of you who stops by and takes the time to share in my life and my stories and random rants. The release it brings, the connections I’ve made, the friendships I’ve found are more than I could have ever thought to hope for. You all have a place in the creases of my smile. Thank you.
Happy New Year’s Eve to all of you, happy Friday-eve, and of course, happy Cherday everyone!
May 2010 be the most fabulous year so far!
jesse james
So, I am out of town and trying my best to keep this little house of just like jesse james in some sort of fair order while I’m away, meaning I WILL NOT skip Cherday just because of the Holidays! Actually I would have, to be totally honest, if it wasn’t for a wonderful reader, Kim. She sent me an email with a FABULOUS picture of the dining room in which our dear Goddess of All Things Sparkley and Fabulous will be spending her holiday meals. It is tres Cher and tres fabulous, which is redundant really, but anyway. Thanks Kim.
I know this isn’t a video but come on folks, there is still plenty to ogle.
Happy whatever-it-is-that-you-celebrate-and-to-each-a-good-holiday-of-attempting-to-survive-spending-time-with-family-and-those-you-love.
jesse james
Amongst all of the nicknames, cute and not so cute, that Violet has for me, one of the more regular is “good little boyscout.” Now, we all know this can’t be literal as I am not a boy and also, the boy scouts do not permit faggot lesbians to join their little club, but you get the point.
And Violet knows, because of all of my daily woahs, that one of my most frequent heartaches is constantly witnessing situations where I see a human make the conscious choice not to help where clearly help is needed or could be, you know, helpful. It breaks me really, on any level, and it happens a lot.
So anyway, I hate the cold weather but the best thing about the dawning holiday season is watching folks try a little harder to care, to be kind. Whatever the motivation is, I don’t care, I just sleep better watching someone need and someone give, just like that. I was downtown today and saw it a few times. It won’t last, I know that, and I would like to say I am prepared for that, but that isn’t true. Regardless, I will take kindness where and when I can find it, which, amongst all of the things I can’t stand about this time of year, really makes me smile.
There is no official video for this Cher song but this one is a nice collection of things and the song itself is a good one. It’s simple, to the point and it is CHER for gawd sake. She knows what she is talking about.
Hey you! Happy Cherday! Happy Friday-eve.
Ok folks, riddle me this: Who is sweet, funny, talented as all get out, some kind of seriously good looking, goofy, with a big ol’ Broadway voice like nobody’s business, and has a name to match a personality that was born to be a star? (And yes, of course the answer is Cher, but no, not in this particular case) You get three guesses…
Guess #1: Winona Ryder? Not sure about the voice but good guess. I love her and have always imagined that she would play a love interest of mine in my made for TV movie: “The Life And Times Of A Faggot Lesbian Who Stole Nothing But Hearts.” I was going to call it “Going Rogue” but, once again, Sarah beat me to the punch.
Guess #2: Me? Stop! Fair enough, though. I mean, I can see where you are coming from. Good guess, but no.
Guess #3: Haviland Stillwell? Your third guess is Haviland Stillwell?!? Damn you’re good! You are correct! Yes, indeed, Haviland Stillwell, Miss Stillwell, The Haviland, if you will.
I will start by admitting that I just discovered this fabulous woman and can’t get enough. I am a late bloomer in some areas and finding Haviland is one of them.
Ok, so now you are wondering about me, because you care about me and you want to know why I am so excited about Haviland and how I discovered the many talents that are Haviland Stillwell, right? Well, the very shortest version is this:
My second post on going to my old high school’s new GSA club meeting was up for a few days when all of a sudden it got a big ol’ spike in attention (this is in humble blog standards, mind you) and so I checked to see where the traffic was coming from. And to my blushing surprise, my favorite fabulous online magazine, Autostraddle, linked to my post (once again, I am after an article about Sarah P.) Secondly (and this will all come together eventually) I was getting some traffic from a facebook page and I found this odd because I don’t even have a facebook page. So, I clicked on the facebook link only to find a photo of this beautiful woman who had a gazillion and twenty three fans… eh hem, I mean friends and so I emailed her this sheepish email asking her if she might know why folks are landing on my blog via her facebook page. “Have you even heard of my blog?” I wrote, totally confirming that I am absolutely nobody.
Well, well, folks, not only is she beautiful and famous, she was also kind enough to respond. Turns out she had also linked my second GSA post to her facebook page (that too will make more sense in a minute.)
And so, totally flattered and curious, the Haviland Stillwell web stalking began. I spent hours looking things up, and as it should turn out, she is pretty incredible and has done a lot of incredible things. And here is just SOME of what I found:
Not only was she in Les Miserables and Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway… on Broadway, folks. She also has her own concert that she performs, has been dubbed “the modern day Scarlett O’Hara,” sang on the Rosie Cruises with Rosie, and has an escalating TV and film career, with a movie on its way. And apparently she has 42 hour days, and so in her spare time she teaches, consults, and produces. Oh, and did I mention her recent recurring role on the TV show Eastwick?… And for those of you who are not catching on to how this all goes back to Cher, which by now you should realize that everything good in this world will somehow lead back to Cher, in 1987 Cher starred in the movie Witches of Eastwick, and this Eastwick TV show is an adaptation- meaning, it rocks.
So, as you can see Haviland is amazing, Haviland is beautiful, Haviland has some connection to Cher, doubly confirming her fabulousness and Haviland is EVERYWHERE… which is to say that my late discovery of her doubly confirms that my address is in fact, Under A Rock, Seattle, WA.
Ok, back to me for a second (tis my blog after all.) So, my GSA post was linked on Haviland’s facebook page only to find out two more amazing things 1. She just happens to be friends with oh, you know, the woman behind the moment that I realized I was gay, Sophie B. Hawkins, and she sent her my post 2. At one point in time, Miss Haviland Stillwell, being the PL that she is (that’s Power Lesbian, yo), was the president of her high school’s GSA club… that’s right folks- who’s all perked up and paying attention NOW!?!
Wait, what’s that? Oh, you want more Haviland? Ya, well, get in line, sister. Also, you’ve come to the right place. I am going to do an interview with her fabulous self and will be posting that sometime in the near future. So, stay tuned for more of the mighty fabulous Haviland Stillwell on this blog… and everywhere else. (If you have questions for or about Haviland the Fabulous, either leave a comment or send them to my email, jessejamesblog(at)gmail(dot)com, and if the question doesn’t suck I’ll ask her, and if she doesn’t think it sucks, she might just answer… and just remember, there are no stupid questions, unless it is.)
Until I post our interview, here are some of my favorite online Haviland Stillwell finds:
No on Proposition 8: “We don’t like our gay friends, we support gay marriage”
Haviland as Sarah Palin? Really? YES.
Haviland does a Dolly song… sing it girl!
If Cher had even the slightest clue that Thursday was her day according to the queer elliptical spin of jljj world, I am sure she would be proud to share today’s spot with the fabulous Haviland.
Happy Cherday, everyone! Happy friday-eve!
(In order to preserve and maintain the high level of faggy queerness that I have very intentionally injected into this series, please click on the video below and count to fifteen before reading the final credits – it is just so gay and perfect that way, trust me.)
. . . . .
…And like every adventure that ever was, eventually there is – The End -
. . . . .
Tour of Fabulous: Final Credits (in order of appearance):
The oh so amazing and lovely, long time leading lady: Violet
My four legged shadow: the Seal
The reason I didn’t miss my flight: The SeaTac TSA lady that kind of hated me
Red backpack: As itself
Best hair product in the world: Not telling
Sexy smooth dude/ Ol’ school best buddy: Sinclair Sexsmith
Sweet girl that put up with Sin and me all week: Kristen
Partner in many a late night crimes, one of my very favorites, Park Slope pool survivor: Mikey
Crowd of fabulous on Friday night: Everyone that did not try to beat me up
Pool shark: Barb
Pool shark’s drunk friend: Suz
Very cool dude who threw an awesome party: JessHeIs
Lady who hypnotized me with her eyes and then fed me breakfast: Tina-cous
Snazziest dressed (by a long shot) at Jess’ party: Dr. Leo MacCool
Wonderful, sweet new friend willing to talk with me all night long: Freedomgirl
Doppelganger-Shane from the L-word: the DJ at Jess’ party
Lovely girl behind those green eyes: greg
greg’s dress: As itself
New long distance bff: greg’s girlfriend
. . . . .
TOF Director: Sinclair Sexsmith
TOF Producer: jesse james
TOF Executive Producer: the Seal
TOF Editor: Fraidy Phat the Fish
TOF Fact Verifier: Marcus the Raccoon
“Tour of Fabulous” Title Credit and Most Missed Blogger: Lady Brett
Onset Chef and Makeup Artist: Kristen
Windsor Tie Knot Maker and Hair Validator to jesse james: Sinclair Sexsmith
Cherday Sponsor: Thursday
(endless) Support Crew: Violet
Best Boy Grip: That’s what she said
*A special thanks to Sinclair Sexsmith, one of my very favorite people on earth, for putting me up and putting up with me for a week. You are a host with the most and one of my favorite ways to spend my time. And to all of you along this amazing vacation adventure, thank you for being so kind and wonderful and welcoming. I am very lucky to have met you and to have you all in my world. And thank you all for getting through all four parts with no one screaming “LIAR! I can’t believe you just said that about me!”
I very much look forward to TOF: The Sequel.
with love, of course,
jesse james
Look, it’s my blog, folks. I got all excited about the New York stories and wanted to post one of them right away (the rest will show up in the next week.) Yes, this whole New York adventure got in the way of Cherday, I get that, but such is life. And again, let us not forget, this is my blog.
So, being the king of this domain (and this domain only), I have moved Cherday this week. Can she do that, you are asking? Dude. Of course I can. How many times do I have to say it. This is my damn blog.
So anyway, this particular Cher song has been on my mind since last week. And this is my first ever dedication:
To my “why do they call me gay” googler- I am still thinking about you, buddy… a lot. And by ‘buddy’ I mean every single one of you out there.
This is actually one of my favorite Cher songs and I have been waiting for a special reason to post it. (Please also notice the NY theme in the video. Yes, I am that gay and coordinated, folks… tying it all together like that, yo.)
Happy Cherday, everyone! Happy Friday!
Have a fabulous weekend.
I’m not sure how possible it is to keep track of all of the Homo-got-some-rights-aaaand-now-homo-lost-his-rights bills and referendums that are being passed and proposed in this country anymore, but in my fine state of Washington we recently passed a semi-homo-loving bill that was dubbed the ‘Everything But Marriage’ bill which grants domestic partners all of the same Washington state laws and rights that our one-man/one-woman-I-liked-it-so-I-put-a-ring-on-it friends enjoy. Minus getting to use that oh so sacred M word, this bill is progress.
And, just like the story goes everywhere in this country, where something happens to make the world a better place there are always mean, ugly, grouchy, party pooper haters out there, lurking in the background, all ready to try and keep the world as segregated, discriminating, and unjust as possible… or in their words, ‘moral’.
So, after the Everything But Marriage bill passed here a queer-hating referendum to reverse the bill was proposed and received all of the signatures necessary to make it to the ballot. This means we the people of Washington state now get to vote on Referendum 71, specifically designed in attempt to reverse letting all consenting adults in a relationship have the ability to legal protections and to legally care for each other no matter if non or both tend to leave the toilet seat up.
Their angle: Preserve Marriage, Protect Children.
…What the eph are you ephing… eh hem, well, I would ask them to kindly explain this logic but they recently bailed on the town hall debate that they had agreed to. Convenient. Maybe they are too busy protecting their children or preserving their marriages? Don’t I mean marriage, you ask? NO. Marriages.
A few important side notes about the dickwads that created this bullshit (am I still sounding neutral?): One of them has been divorced several times, to which I have no personal opinion on – just seems that we must have different ideas of the word “preserve.” If by “preserve” you mean like the jelly kind that you put on toast and once it is opened it will eventually expire and then you have to throw it out and go buy more jelly, ok… I just thought you meant… you know what, never mind. Oh, and the other asshole doesn’t even live in Washington.
So, on a much lighter and way more entertaining note, here is fabulously relevant and funny and cute song with two cute girls with cute voices singing about the absurdity of some arguments to keep this country ‘moral’. Specifically about when Pat Robertson said that if we legalized gay marriage we might as well legalize child molestation and bestiality. Strong case there, Patty! And if you are a bit pissed off like I accidentally made myself writing this post, this video will help bring you back down. It’s funny and cute, and its a song about sex with ducks… did I mention that?
Well, it’s Thursday. Happy Friday-eve, folks! Happy Cherday everyone!
… Well, not totally. I mean, Cher is still involved. Of course. It IS Thursday after all.
I have spent way more time than I will admit trying to find a decent cover of Just Like Jesse James. It is just one of those songs that is nearly impossible to sing without sounding, well, pretty terrible. It just doesn’t get covered well. The song is exhausting really (yes, I know this from personal experience, come on folks), it has a huge range and you’re up against CHER for gawdsake. Not easy. And with no hard feelings to the many, many, maaaany attempts on youtube most of them really start to hurt after a while if not pretty immediately.
So just as I was about to give up I ran into the unsuspecting small-town-Lori Brown (I made that up for her). And folks, it’s not that she sings the song well, she ephing ROCKS IT out of the park! Home. Run. I’m telling you, The Goddess of all thing Sparkly and Fabulous would be so proud! I sure am.
*If you are one of those extremely impatient and attention deprived folks like myself AT LEAST watch from 2:08 to 2:17 AND 3:22 to 3:33! In the borrowed words of Leo MacCool “OH EM GEE!” This Lori Brown woman is ON FIRE.
Speaking of fire, the first time I watched the part in between 2:08 to 2:17 I stood up, point at the screen and yelled, “THAT’S RIGHT LORI BROWN! AIM AND FIRE, BABY! AIM! AND! FIIIIIRE!” (too much information?)
Happy Friday-eve folks! Happy Cherday… eh hem, I mean, Lori Brown day!
(If there are any haters out there that seriously think someone (besides Cher of course) can sing this song better I challenge you to send me the video…)
Recent Comments