Gossip Folks: LeBron James Edition

Sorry (to myself, because I am the only person who really keeps track of this business) for the hiatus, taking three classes had me a little less eager to get on the computer and do fun writing. But I'm over it, and we should all be over it.
Pretend it never happened.

Something that DID happen (or didn't- it has not been confirmed): Scandalous Rumor surrounding LeBron James. Apparently some are chalking up his terrible performances during games 4 and 5 of the semifinals against the Celtics to an emotional break. What could possibly trigger the King to perform more like a princess?
They say he found out his mother was sleeping with Delonte West right before game 4. Which is ridiculous. But so ridiculous, it almost has to be true, right?
D. West has had his own issues. He's a troubled young man, I could totally see him going to Gloria for some love and support and getting a little something extra. But then again, that seems a little too Jackie Collins for real life.
So here it is, I'm on the fence on this one. It might have happened, and it would explain a lot, but it also seems like a deus ex machina-style excuse for LeBron's customary playoff slump. Doesn't he always lose it for at least a game or two? Who knows.
True or not, this rumor has a lot of value to me, mostly because I don't rate gossip on its veracity. To me, it's the juicier the better; I don't really care if it's true. If it's been confirmed or refuted, whatever that's fine, what I enjoy about it is getting to marvel at the idea of something like that happening.
Or not actually happening. Either it happened, or something like it happened, or it didn't happen at all. But if it was totally made up, someone had to make it up, and I find that very fascinating.
Some devious rumor monger with a great imagination had to sit there and come up with this ridiculous notion that one of the Cavs was doing LeBron's Mom. I often wonder what drives someone to come up with a rumor like that. Did it come out of nowhere? Maybe. The product of a late night brainstorming session? Perhaps. Scientifically researched and defended as a Master's Thesis? eh...probably not.
Wherever it came from, it's a strange phenomenon. I like to think about the origin of gossip, because whether it is based in fact or fantasy it always elicits the same response from me: That's some shit.
Either it's true and some people did some messed up stuff, or its a lie and somebody came up with this crazy theory on their own. Ultimately, I think the latter is more interesting because the motive behind the actions is harder to pinpoint. Why would Delonte and Gloria hook up? Easy - they both needed some lovin'. Why did somebody fabricate a relationship between Gloria and Delonte? There are a lot of possibilities: revenge, malicious intent, boredom, psychological breakdown, fantasy, hell the originator could have misunderstand a comment from someone else and been just as confused the rest of us about where this rumor came from. If the gossip in question is NOT true, there are more unanswered questions than if it ends up being fact. And this applies to all gossip, not just LeBron rumors.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I will share the incident that first sparked my interest in gossip mongering. When I was a senior in high school, a friend told me something. She had heard some other girls in our grade talking, and apparently they had heard that "White Grace" was pregnant. Being the only Grace (and coincidentally the only white Grace, but we'll get to that later) at my school, they were clearly talking about me. Initially I was a little shocked, because at this point in time that would have been...impossible. Or immaculate, take your pick. But whatever it was it was CERTAINLY not true. But the more I thought about it, the more flattered I was. Strangers were not only talking about me, but at least one had been invested enough to make up a story about me. And not an embarrassing, lame one - a pretty good and juicy and rumor. I felt like a celebrity. Kind of.
The point is, I still wonder where that rumor came from, and I still don't know. It's one of life's little mysteries: who sits there grinding the wheels of the rumor mill? More importantly, why do they do it?
If I were more math and science-y, I'd mount an impressive study that would make Alfred Kinsey proud. But I'm not so good with figures and scientific accountability, so I will continue to speculate wildly. I enjoy the mystique of juicy gossip, you know the real good stuff, and I don't need to understand it completely to value it. As long as it makes me raise my eyebrows, or drop my jaw, or just think to myself, "That's some shit." then I'm entertained. Just keep 'em coming.

war paint

I wish it was socially acceptable to go around with face paint on as a semi-adult. I know that there are those attention whores who would do this, and probably do, but that's not what I'm going for. Yesterday I was working at the farmer's market and this little girl we were playing with painted our faces. I was lucky enough to get multi-colored "whiskers" all over, some were not so lucky. But all the people walking by looked at us like "what on earth is wrong with that person."

all hallows eve

I love Halloween. It's the best. Dressing up is so entertaining and seeing what everyone wants to be is a rarely allowed insight. For example. I was Jareth the Goblin King for Halloween, better known as David Bowie in the Labyrinth. A lot of people didn't get it- I can't tell you how many times I was asked "Are you Avril?"Or how mad that made me.... seriously, Avril? what does she even do anymore and why the HELL would I desire to be her in any way. Gross.
David Bowie, on the other hand, is awesome. I would be David Bowie everyday if I could be. But sadly I try not to repeat costumes.
I did manage to do most of the things I like to do around Halloween. I watched some classics, Hocus Pocus and Halloween; I got to explain the special relationship between Michael Meyers and his niece Jamie to my parents ( she is like in his brain and can tell when he's going to kill); I carved a pumpkin for my mother; watched a bunch of old Scooby Doo episodes with the little girl I babysit; and freaked myself out pretty good on a few occasions.
I also got to go to a very nice little gathering with which started with a keg of PBR and ended with a bottle of chocolate wine.
It was a big night for everyone - I caught Brandon watching the Garfield movie in bed the next day. He claims he was watching it for Jennifer Love Hewitt, but he was enjoying it a little too much for that.

video ho

We were talking about Ludacris last night, and I was reminded of some of the awesome videos of the earlier (than now) 2000's. Ludacris- Stand Up starts things up. A classic with the line "it feels like a midget is hangin from my necklace." And there is, in the video at least. Missy's Get Ur Freak On, next sweet video. She's nuts, I love it. And of course the one that mesmerized me when It came on TV a while back- Put your hands where my eyes can see by Busta Rhymes. Can't find a good video on youtube.......tear.

hiatus over

Not that I expect anyone to read this except myself, but I am trying to get myself into some sort of discipline. So I'm back in action.
I am working on a theory- a couple of theories actually, but I can't remember them all right now- that I will try to address here.
Theory 1-

The "I-like-to-look" effect.
In high school there were was this guy who was not especially attractive when you first looked at him, but over time it became accepted that he was. I felt this way as well as some other friends, so I wondered why it is that we came to find him attractive. Here it is.
He has an interesting face, so interesting that you keep looking at it. You kinda want to figure out what's going on in over there, so you keep looking. And the more you look, the more familiar you become with it. At this point I was taking a psychology class in which we discussed the fact that the more familiar you are with something the more attractive you find it. So I don't really know if I can take credit for this 'theory' (groundbreaking, I know)- but I applied it to the mysteries of high school romance. So an interesting face may be more successful than a straight-up classic pretty face because you'll have more of an audience. If you know they're pretty, looking more won't tell me anything I don't already now- but if there's something unique going on...... chances are it'll grow on you.

This song makes me happy.
I want to go on vacation. I don't have the money too.
I want to move somewhere, but I don't have the guts.
confliction!
Point: this song makes me want to stop wasting time and make myself accomplish something, even something minimal. Mostly what it makes me want is something that you can't just go out and get - it's not that tangible and you can't control it.
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I babysat a 5 yr old today and she showed me her pet "square." It was a giant die (as in dice).
I love kids.
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It's amazing how many people I don't know but recognize from hanging out in the same vicinity. Makes the world seem small, but it's just that Cleveland Heights is small. right.

movies fashion and judgement

I saw (500) days of summer last night. I liked it. I know certain groups will love it, and then there will be the cynics that say its a hipster movie for hipster posers bullshit. But I really liked it, it reminded me of Amelie a lot, and I liked how it wasn't exactly what you want at the end, but then it kinda was. Job well done, director.
I saw Public Enemies last week and I liked that too although some people had said it was bad. I can't see how Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Michael Mann could go wrong. Very epic, Very Dillinger - makes me want to watch Bonnie and Clyde again, then refashion my wardrobe after Faye Dunaway.

I feel like more and more clothes are becoming costumes instead of outfits - I saw the most ridiculous ones on Sunday Night. Let me Paint you a Picture: High waisted shorty shorts in black, a backless leotard thing with a shrug over it and some heels. Granted I'm sure all these things are very trendy currently, but she looked like an idiot - it was a little fancy for Coventry, lets put it that way. I think one of the whore's in American Psycho wears the same outfit.
My point being, any one of those elements could be interesting on their own, and maintain some lasting style over time, but all together it's too much. It's like she was trying to prove that she was certainly more hip or stylish than everyone else because she was so clearly adhered to ONE style. I like to the think that if the 80s are in, you should "CHANNEL" the 80s, not embody them.
But whatever, people can wear whatever they want style is personal expression, yadda yadda yadda - even if you copy the exact personal expression Urban Outfitters ( see illustration) promotes in the summer catalog....:P
Don't get me wrong, I love urban ( too much for my own good) but I temper my addiction with common sense and liberal use of such helpful questions as "Do I look like I'm trying too hard?" "Will I regret this the second I leave the house?" and "Do I look like a hooker?"