Gina, Our Video Store Lady

Back before the days of Netflix and DVRs, we rented a lot of DVDs, and before that, VHS movies.  That made it quite convenient that we had our very own video store just down the street and around the corner. This was a privately owned business named Video Depot, not a Blockbuster or Hollywood Video.  The owner of this little place was a little spitfire Chinese lady named Gina.

I always approached the store wondering what humorous antics Gina would have for us.  

Gina used her down time at the video store wisely.  She bought a keyboard and was teaching herself to play the piano.  I would often hear her playing, "Lightly Row" or "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie" as I browsed through the movies .  She also exercised.  Sometimes I would enter the store and see Gina laying down on a exercise mat doing those scissor exercises with her legs.  Other times she would be wearing a headband and a spandex leotard, and carrying weights as she made laps around the store.  When this happened she would look at the entrance and greet us by saying, "Oh, HIIIIII!  I ex-uh-size!" and she wouldn't break her stride until she was certain we were ready to rent our movie.  I figured it took her about 183 laps around the store to make a mile.

Gina was curious about Giancarlo and me.  She would say, "Oh, you two again?  You two broth-ahs?"  We would reply that no, we weren't brothers, but we wouldn't provide any further explanation.  She would then invariably answer, "Oh, well, you two have cute mask!"

After five years of living in this area, we moved to our current home.  Eventually, Gina closed her store, but consolidated with her brother or husband or someone in a store on the other side of town.  As you can imagine, it is now the only video store remaining in our city.  All of the Blockbusters and Hollywood Videos have become a thing of the past, so if you want to rent a video from an actual local store, you have to go there.

I went a few weeks ago to return a DVD Giancarlo had rented for Diego.  As I walked in, Gina dropped what she was doing and reached across the counter and grabbed my hands, holding them tightly.  "I so glad to see you!  You a wund-uh-ful puh-son!"  I grinned and squeezed back.  I had missed her.  "I saw your broth-ah the oth-uh day.  He so nice!  He have cute mask!"

The time had come for me to clear up the mystery for Gina.  I said, "Gina, he isn't my brother, he's my husband."

"WHAT?" she shouted.  "That is wond-uh-ful!"  She then turned around and started trying to get one of her employee's attention, who was helping the customer she had forgotten about when she saw me. 

"Brian, Brian!"  She tapped him on the shoulder.  Brian ignored her.  "Brian, you need to meet someone!"

Brian was annoyed.  "Just a minute, Gina.  Hold on, I'm helping a customer," he all but whined.  I stood awkwardly while Brian finished and then turned around.

"Brian, he married to Jason!  He was from the other store!  I see him all the time!  He is wun-duh-ful person!"

"I'm married to Giancarlo, I'm Jason, but yeah, thanks, Gina."

Brian shook my hand, seemingly pleased.

Gina continued, "Why you not tell me you two married?  I always think you two twin broth-uhs!"

I shrugged sheepishly.  We each said goodbye, and I walked through the parking lot musing.

I've been open about my life for over 15 years now; Giancarlo and I have been together over 13 years.  And I'm just now starting to feel comfortable enough to tell everyone that I have a husband.

What would Gina have done?  Nothing, I'm sure.  What would it have mattered if she had?  Not at all.

It's Time

The producers of The Jason Show found this gem on Facebook via this amazing woman.  The producers realize that they are preaching to the choir.  The producers want to share anyway!

All I Want for Christmas

. . .is this bad boy.  It's the Braun 7 760cc (sounds like the name of a BMW).  Have I mentioned to you that I just DETEST shaving?  It is a huge pain and it takes too long!  Plus, I've always gone for the more economical electric shavers, which I assume is partly why shaving has been such a chore.  It is hard to be this virile without the proper tools, don't you think?

I used to use a regular razor, and I just got to a point where I was tired of being all cut up and raw.  Even if I bought the more expensive razors, they still nicked me and cut me.

So.  Now that I'm most likely at the exact middle of my life, I am standing up, putting my foot down, and proclaiming, "NO MORE!"  I will no longer settle for anything but the best when it comes to cutting thick stubble off of my face!

Chances are, those he who would buy me this expensive gift doesn't watch The Jason Show much, so if I don't get it this for Christmas then I am going to march right out on December 26th and buy it myself.

Duckie, Don't Grumble!

As I slid into bed Sunday night after returning from the 3-Day, several things seemed to occur to me all at once.

First.  Ohhhhhh my bed.  My pillow.  And clean sheets.  And silence.

Second.  The feel of Giancarlo's skin against mine as we snuggled up before falling asleep.  So nice.

That seemed to lead my mind into a drowsy reverie of how fortunate I am.  I think that truth is always present in the back of my head, but my brain gets so filled up by other things that sometimes it is hard to see back there, let alone think about it.  It's good to dump everything out of your brain except that one thing from time to time.  Life is good, and that in spite of all of the troubles and challenges that come along, life is still good.  As I write this I think about those in this world who are the least fortunate of all, you know, starving children, victims of violence and disease, the homeless.  I would venture to say that even many of them would agree that life is good. 

I walked this weekend with people who have had tremendous challenges to face in life, not necessarily breast cancer related.  It is time well spent being with people who have looked hell right in the face and have come out on the other side not only intact, but smiling and really living life.

I speak from experience on both sides.  

Thank goodness for all of the things you are not! Thank goodness you're not something someone forgot, and left all alone in some punkerish place like a rusty tin coat hanger hanging in space. That's why I say "Duckie! Don't grumble! Don't stew! Some critters are much-much, oh, ever so much-much, so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!"

- Dr. Seuss

Three Days of Inspiration

Where to begin?  Completing the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for a Cure brings a multitude of contrasting feelings.  I feel exhausted, I feel rejuvenated.  I feel joy, I feel pain.  I feel fulfilled, yet I know that there is so much left to be done.  I have an intense sense of accomplishment, but I lack words to explain the depth of the whole experience to so many of you who have not yet had the chance to do this yourselves.

Mostly, I feel gratitude.  I am thankful to all of the many people who donated to make this journey possible. I am grateful that I am healthy and able to walk all sixty miles without so much as a blister.  I am glad to belong to a team that motivates and cheers and laughs and cares.  I am grateful for the amazing collective spirit of the 3,600 other men and women that I walked with.  I've never been around a more supportive, friendly, loving group of people.  And, I am thrilled that breast cancer is being backed into a corner.

This year, the San Diego 3-Day efforts raised 9 million dollars for breast cancer research and early detection and treatment programs!

Pink laces.  Pink ribbon hat.  Pink boobie scarf.  Ready to go!

Putting our breast feet forward

Sporting my new boobs.  My aliolies are showing, what of it? (Thank you Pumpkin Delight!)

3Day credentials proudly displayed

Necklace bearing names of survivors and victims

The opening ceremony

Bling in place

One of the first of many gorgeous photo ops

3-Day walkers are hot.

On the beach at the end of the first 20 miles

Yes.  This walker beat breast cancer.  Twice.

Look!  I'm on TV!

Blink if you want me. . .

I got this!

At the top of the largest of the 3-Day hills.  Look!  We're all smiling.

Closing ceremony. . .tears and inspiration

  It's great to feel like a hero!

Mom....this was for you!  And my two lovely daughters. . . this was for you, too!

Condiments and the Elephant in the Room

Nothing says happy Veteran's Day like going to Hometown Buffet to celebrate your Mexican mother-in-law's birthday.  Right?  Well, that's what we did last night.  My mother-in-law wanted to go there because she thinks Diego likes it, which is nice.  But I can tell how much she and my father-in-law hate it.  I don't love it, but I must admit I like their greasy fried chicken and their macaroni and cheese.  Plus (shhhhh, don't tell) I ate some shrimp there.  I know, I know, I know, it goes against my fishvorce, but once in a while it's nice to slip in a meaningless one-nighter now and then.  IF it involves cocktail sauce.  Which I love.  I adore cocktail sauce.

I also enjoy A-1.  But now that I haven't eaten red meat for almost a year now, I don't have it much, although I have put it on grilled chicken.

What condiments do you like?

All right, all right.  FINE.  I will talk about it.  The elephant in the room.  The one that I said I would never discuss because it annoyed me so much when others would blog about it.  Here I am trying to fill space with condiment prattle, but the truth is, I have lost my blog mojo.  It used to be such a vital part of my day.  I would spend the day thinking about upcoming posts.  I would create things to post about.  I loved it so much because The Jason Show was a marvelous place for me to channel my creative energy.  Lately, though, 

every time I open up Blogger to post something, I stare at the blank screen and then just say to myself,
"Ahhh, I just don't feel like it."  Part of the reason is that one of the biggest things I want to write about, I can't write about.  The other problem is, I'll admit, I've fallen into some of the mind numbing Facebook games, and even moreso, Words With Friends.  I won't call that game mind numbing, but it certainly is an excellent distraction!

Do all blogs just run their course?  Is that why so many people I have known through their past blogs are no longer doing it?  Many of my very favorites have fallen by the wayside.  Which, of course, is fine, but The Jason Show has been such an important part of me over the years that I would hate to see it end.

Bossy still pumps out posts.  I'm sure The Pioneer Woman does, too. Not that I'm trying to equate myself to either of them.   And chances are if you're reading this, you still post things regularly as well.  And thanks for sticking with me.  You know who you are.

Maybe I just need to take it into another direction.

What do you think?

Goal Met!

For the second year in a row, a HUGE thank you goes out to all those that have contributed to my Susan G. Komen account, enabling me to participate in the 3-day for a Cure in San Diego next month.  You'll never know how much it means to me.

I owe my team, Team Safe at Second, my gratitude as well, because their efforts have also made this all possible.  I can't wait to spend another 60 miles with them.  If you have a spare second, I highly recommend that you pop over to this post and get to them a bit.

Some of our fundraising efforts this year have included a Goodwill truck drive, in which we asked friends to bring their unwanted items to help fill the truck.  

Here, the team takes a break on some comfy and conveniently donated couches during our Goodwill truck drive.  How I love these gals.

Another big part of our fundraising efforts this year has been something called "flocking."  During this operation, our victims friends mysteriously have a flock of pink flamingos land in their front yard during the night, along with a note explaining our team and our purpose and our goal.  If the flockee so choses, he/she may leave a donation, along with the name of someone else they know who might enjoy a good flock.

We also had a bake sale, along with a fundraiser night at one of our local restaurants, which was arranged by my supportive husband and his office.  Thank you, Giancarlo!  Your support makes all of this end the world of breast cancer business so much more doable and enjoyable.

Stay tuned for further kick cancer in the butt episodes!