Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Truth Be Told

My father can levitate, pretidigitate and he does not hate.


He is a professional magician but also entertains kids in juvenile hall, homeless folks down on their luck and somehow finds a way to deliver a spiritual message to the youth at church using decks of cards, bits of string and a whole lot of whiffle dust!


I did live in a convent! You can read a little about it here - those of you that have been visiting buttercup for a while may remember the story. We called it the Non-Vent because although we lived amongst Catholic relics, had taken a vow of poverty and were cloistered in a community of seven - our life was more Real World than monastic.


Back in grad school I volunteered for the university performing arts organization. It enabled me to see Lyle Lovett, Sting, Cecilia Bartoli, Stomp, Laurie Anderson, Mikhail Baryshnikov...and, yes...the Ramones (plus a whole lot more) for FREE! I just had to show up and tell people where to sit. During the Ramones show I was asked to go backstage to count tickets and found myself doing so about 10 feet away from Joey Ramone - God rest his soul. He and I shared a gaze and a wave. In my book, that counts as a meeting.


I was such a psychology geek in college that not only was I the president of Psi Chi but I used to wear a Sigmund Freud t-shirt to exams and I got two research projects published with the WPA.


Had I been a teen living in Corpus Christi, TX - I most certainly would have been an extra in the Legend of Billie Jean. That is where the film was shot and apparently they used a LOT of local kids as extras. I'm not sure where we were residing at the time, but it wasn't TX. Jzboy and I did just watch the movie last weekend and I would recommend it as a great 80s flashback. That is, if you don't mind having Pat Benetar's Invincible play through your mind for a week later.


Finally - the beef thing. When the Persian Gulf War began my plan was to fast completely - for Peace. I was young. Once I realized that there was no way I could work while starving, I became vegetarian. In my mind, the fast was symbolic of "No Blood for Oil" and I didn't touch any meat for years. When I missed sushi, I welcomed fish back in my diet. Chicken & turkey returned over time. But, never beef. Not in 17 years. That is because I love cows.

18 comments:

C's Mom said...

I'm a proud listener...and a decent guesser ;0)

"M" said...

It is so fun reading all of these on people's blogs. Such interesting information gained! I have to go back and read your post about living in a convent. All cool things.... even the Freud tee.

Red Sand said...

very, very neat history! so many fascinating people, so little time. Oh wait, we have all the time in the world, don't we?

Shannon said...

So close! Such fun facts. I've been trying to come up with some of my own but between your non-vent and Connie's Best Chest awards, my life seems so tame... =)

Middle-Aged Moi said...

I was WRONG? Oh well, we all have to be wrong ONCE in our lives....

walternatives said...

Your pedestal is now gilded, friend, having a magician for a father. Unbelievably cool. Can you show us a few tricks in September? I'm happy that I remembered the other facts (proud to be a long-time buttercup fan) but it was a toss-up between the movie and your dad.

Anne Marie said...

Oh, man, I was on the right track, I just picked the wrong '80s moment -- that was the '80s wasn't it?

Irena said...

I KNOW YOU I KNOW YOU!! I am so proud of myself for being the only one right!
From, a member of Psi Chi, never president

Beth and Shayna said...

Too funny, I would never had guessed. I would have most definitely believed if you said you were an extra in Valley Girl!!!

aimeeg said...

We will be invincible! Helen and Christian, working together!

Headmeister said...

Cool beans, sister! I gotta do this one for myself soon - it was so much fun reading yours! (and BTW, I am a HUGE Lyle Lovett fan, AND I also met Joey Ramone (and the rest of the original Ramones!). And although I didn't live in a convent, I did live next door to one...lol. I was once in a teaching filmstrip doing some science experiment. Although not a shrink, mother is a social worker and was a psych major initially. I can't say that I don't eat meat, because I am a big-time carnivore... but I love sushi more.

Oh, and the only magic tricks I can do is make my ass appear 3x it's natural size (done) and I can make money disappear by the buckets-full ;)

tundrachica said...

Hey...I did a pretty darn good job at the guessin' considering I have only been Buttercup reader for not so long. Love the whole convent thing and just all the fun facts about ya. I am now a dedicated Buttercup fan!

rubyiscoming said...

you are the coolest - seriously, i wanna be you when i grow up!

"M2" said...

Dad sounds awaesome!!!

great list
shall I ruin you forever explaining the dairy industry???
xxx

Liene said...

I'd have a horribly hard time giving up red meat. Not that I eat a lot of it, but there are some dishes that I absolutely love that have beef in them.

I would've guessed you were an extra. I loved that movie when I was younger.

I read your blog but don't think I've made a comment on it yet. At least I don't remember.

Tammy said...

You're one cool chickie. Buttercup will never be bored, that's for sure.

Headmeister said...

BTW - how's the Thousand Splendid Suns coming? Finish yet?

JMCS said...

Dang, I guessed the vegetarian thing was false, but that's very good. I just hate I lost. :(

That was fun! I think I want to do it to.

Hugs,
Jonni