#reversepuberty

Congratulations you won a tough contest now the real work begins. Thanks to the shenanigans of the two major parties, the media, you, and much of the American populace, our country is more divided than it has been in a long time.  So after thanking those who voted for you, as a third-party voter that doesn’t include me, you need to unify our war-weary hearts and minds as only you can do. Any one can be a sore loser or an egotistical winner, but only you can demonstrate the calm grace to bring us back together as the family of Americans we are.

Wasp’s Nest

Today I made the trip to a warehouse store that I refuse to do the honor of naming and giving it any free publicity. I rarely frequent this store with cement floors because it recently stopped accepting AmEx and its products, customer service and shopping experience have declined faster than Brangelina’s relationship. When checking out today, the cashier told me it was time to renew my “executive” aka pricier membership. I said I wanted to change to a regular priced membership so I was forced to go to the ironically named Customer Service desk. After weaving through the long lines of shoppers waiting in line to buy fast food, I explained my choice to the Customer Service Rep, also a misnomer, he refused to honor my request and insisted on attempting to sell me the higher priced membership. Only when I allowed him to finish his sales pitch did he allow me to downgrade to the regular membership. I had already told him I was shopping there less frequently for many reasons and he added one more! Know your rights, friends, don’t let salespeople or customer service people bully you into purchasing more than you want. They’ll try to wear you down – don’t fall for it! Remember, if it was really to your benefit, they wouldn’t want you to have it!

Your friend,

Reverse Puberty

adorabull (a – DOR – ah – bʊl): adjective

one who insists on working out near the door in any exercise class, especially spin class, in order to hold the oh-so-sweet delusion of escaping the room without notice.

I recently had the distinct pleasure of helping out my good pals Peter and Gordon as they try to earn some money towards their retirement. Seeing as how they each have been in the music business for over 30 years and have been reasonably successful, I am confident they should be able to afford to settle down fairly soon. You may have heard of them: Peter Gabriel and Gordon Sumner, also known as Sting. They put on a terrific show and my SO and I had a fantastic time.

Besides their musical integrity, I appreciate Gabriel’s and Sting’s respect for their fellow musicians, particularly the women. I saw Sting perform with Paul Simon in 2014 and noted the same phenomenon. What was this remarkable thing, you ask? Thanks for asking; you’ll be glad you did. The back-up singers were dressed casually and comfortably, attractive but not like sex objects. I have been to too many concerts where the male singers/musicians are clad in jeans and t-shirts but the women performers are poured into tight-fitting, spike-heeled outfits that are more form than function. It is heartening to see women on stage being treated with respect for their talent. My heart goes out to you if your appearance is your only talent; however, you may want to expand your horizons. From what I’ve observed, maintenance and good genes go a long way but relying on your looks is a precarious business model.

Who are these amazingly gifted women musical artists on the Rock Scissors Paper North American Tour? Jennie Abrahamson on vocals and flute, Rhani Krija on percussion, Jo Lawry on vocals, Linnea Olsson on cello and vocals, and Angie Pollock on keyboards and vocals. Lawry may be a familiar name as she has toured with Sting before and is featured along with Darlene Love and Judith Hill in the film 20 Feet from Stardom. Morgan Neville’s documentary gives us a behind-the-scenes look at back-up singers and their role in supporting the featured artists. It’s a fascinating look filled with backstage stories and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2014.

Hozier is another musician who generously shares the stage with his fellow musicians. I am eternally grateful to him for introducing me to the musical genius of cellist and vocalist Alana Henderson.

Bravo to these musical talents who are confident enough to feature other equally talented musicians and not reduce them to sexual objects!

Your friend,

Reverse Puberty

Like a puppet on a string.

with potential. It just so happens that I earned my baby belly over a decade ago. 

Maui art photography