Month: August 2009

Awkward Chit-Chat

More than once lately, I have been making small talk with someone I’ve just met — usually a guy, usually one that’s interesting in some way — and he’ll ask if I have a boyfriend, which is easy enough to answer. (No, in case you think I’ve had a mystery man stashed away somewhere. It’s been a while.) But then there’s a follow-up: “Why not?”

Seriously? What the fuck kind of a question is that to ask someone? I suppose it would be simple enough to answer if I’d made a conscious decision, and I could say something to the effect of “I reject heteronormative coupling because I find it politically and socially oppressive.” Really, though, there’s not an answer. If there were a clear reason, then it would probably one that I could address in some fashion.

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Magnificent

Yet another iconic figure of the pop-cultural world has left us, and comics artists Cliff Chiang pays tribute in a subtle and sublime way:

“Dear Batman: We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in Bat-detention for whatever it is we did wrong, but we think you’re crazy for making us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is an archer, and a speedster, and a swimmer, a princess, and an acrobat. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Teen Titans.”

For the record, Sixteen Candles is still my favorite, for a million reasons including:

  • Jake Ryan
  • A short but perfect soundtrack album
  • Ginny on muscle relaxers
  • “I can’t believe my grandmother actually felt me up. ”
  • Ted trapped under the glass coffee table
  • ”Can I borrow your underpants for 10 minutes? ”