Just For The Record, I Don't Like Your "Red Flags."

A Rant for the words: RED FLAG(s)

   "Red Flags" a phrase that is burning through the masses like a wild fire in the Hundred Acre Wood (Oh dear Poo). But that isn't all it burns. It burns my ears, it burns my throat from the verbal vomit I want to spew, and it burns my ass (with a bit of chapping too).
   So, you are either sitting there wondering why, or you are viciously nodding your head, concurring with what I have just offered.
   For those in wonderment. My answer is... When I hear things like "You're giving me red flags" or "That sounds like a red flag to me." My brain goes to work using the actual meaning of the words RED FLAG - which ultimately does mean a sign of danger. 
   Danger, such as in a gang sign or a flag signaling you to stop before your car flies off the mountain and over the cliff.
    My question when I hear those words directed at me or any person is "Why don't you just ask if we have prescription meds and if we're willing to share them or not." 
   Now, ask yourself who those red flags are for. If the person you had been referring to is not really under medical care or in need of a rubber room stay, I emphatically must insist that the chances of you being in real danger is probably slim or none. And the more likely culprit is that the RED FLAGS are put up by YOU,to protect YOU from whatever it is that YOU are truly afraid of. 
   There are a plethora of things that we definitely have "red flagged" over the years, isn't there?
   Some 'red flagged" items I feel we have come to readily accept and that I hear the phrase often freely associated with are : 

• Relationships - specifically in something requiring commitment, loyalty and/or monogamy.

• Jobs - when it requires us to do more than we are willing to do.

• Taxes - but the gov generally does use "red flags" in this area don't they? Does that mean 'dangerous' tax payers? Curious.

   In my opinion, which you know I can rarely contain :); as we become more automated, less animated, more logical, less huggable, more texted, less audible, more introverted, less extroverted, more sheep like, less read the more likely we are to collect more of those crimson colored triangles.
   My advice, stop collecting those excuses...oops I mean 'red flags' and start seeing people the way they are, acceptable to you or not. 
   I imagine that Master Yoda might put is this way...The eyes of the beholder, the same picture they do not see.

Oh wait you can't....until the next rant!! Cheers! :)

Copyright 2013 - Noelle Sangster/Sangster Entertainment LLC - All rights reserved

Not Gone..Right Here..

     If you thought for even one minute, that I had somehow managed to kick the writing habit...no dice.
     I wouldn't even think of trying to. It loves me and I love it, and together we are very happy.
     My sincerest apologies. Recently, it was brought to my attention that my last post was from March! Yikes!
     Well, to make up for my absence of blog, attention and writing fares that had been regularly served up monthly, if not weekly, I will let you know that I have a few 'themes' that will be added to the menu and they are definitely worth keeping an eye out for...the Adventures will stay in tact, because you can't keep me from that. :) 
     I will be introducing you to a new 'adventure' buddy, as well as my 'expert' friend in relationships, and of course there will always be random rants and venting, served with a side of sarcastic humor that hopefully provides satisfactory smiles, chuckles and even a occasional snort.
     Watch this space! I will be seeing you soon. Cheers!!!

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A Perfect Body is born

I recently finished work on a long over due novel that was inspired by a fellow musician's song called 'Death by Chocolate' (Shawn Southway). Although, the inspiration came from it, I can't say that my story turned out much like the song.

I've had the idea for the story for quite some time, I got started on in January 2009.
However, due to LIFE; including but not limited to: distractions of the opposite sex, broken hearts, jobs, divorces, raising children, new loves, moving cross country and back again, and sometimes just wondering what you really wanna be when you grow up, if in fact you actually want to grow up at all....This story found it's way to the surface of real existence in 2010, was finished and published for the world to enjoy in 2011.

To those of you who had anticipated an earlier release, I do apologize for the delay.
I have more novels knocking around my brain, and the writing of the next is already under way.

For those of you who know me or have ever known me, you will know right away that I do NOT purposely write romance of the Harlequin sort (except that one time in 9th grade English class); Not because I don't enjoy reading it once in a while (if the author is actually a good writer/story teller), but because some of us are just not cut out for the trade of writing the genre of romance.


With respect to genre writing, I have no clue where I fit in or if I even want to fit in any one specific genre. In my opinion, the story of  A Perfect Body doesn't quite fit into a category of suspense, horror, thriller, mystery. I think it's better for the reader to decide. That is, if they actually want to do that.

Stay tuned....

A Date, a Dog or a Kiss Goodbye??

   "Everything happens for a reason."
That's a statement that I wasn't always sure of...but looking back, with that particular perspective, it has impacted my own life in a lot of different ways. (even in the ones that I never seem to want to admit.)  
    Earlier in the year, I met a new friend whom I had loads in common with, it almost seemed like we were created from the same mold. 
    He understood my odd sense of humor. We talked about everything under the sun, probably even talked about the sun. It was nice to have a friend who was so much like me...
    We spent hours on the phone. We had breakfast every Wednesday morning. I taught him some of the things I know about real estate investing and business. 
      And then everything has a draw back doesn't it? Well this is no exclusion or exception to the rule. 
    My new friend, hung out for a short time and subsequently disappeared into the sunset, not riding a horse like the cowboy I've always dreamed of...he was driving a Lexus. 
    He didn't say much about his departure, just that he had some things to sort out. I do hope he got them sorted. 
      

    My new friend happened to rescue a cute little dachshund from a monsoon storm late in the Phoenix summer.  

     Of all the gifts I've ever received, this one was definitely the most unusual.. It started simply as    

   "This little guy needs a home." and turned into  
   "When are you taking him (the dog) home?" 
   I put it all off as long as I possibly could. Making lame excuses about why I couldn't take on the care of a pet. Eventually, I ran out of excuses.
   The truth is that the guilt of not being home much makes them (your pets) fat. I know this because my new house mate gets more than his fair share of treats..(my mom's vet says treats are like feeding your pet candy bars - nutritional value = 0). 
    Okay, the fun of a pet definitely outweighs the reasons NOT to have a pet. As you can see my little  "Lowrider" gets himself into some spots that are compromising and really makes me wonder what he does when he's alone and I'm not home. 

I also wonder what he's thinking when he gets himself into jacket sleeves or laundry baskets..
   I think we know how this story turned out. I got the dog, the friend never turned into a date and there certainly was no kiss goodbye. But I'm quite happy with the dog. 

Copyright 2014 - Noelle Sangster/Sangster Entertainment LLC - All rights reserved

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Death of a Rock and Roll Icon

" They came from near.......They came from afar....but they all came for the same thing......to play on the stage of the Mason Jar."

        Hot rods and Harleys don the dimly lit parking lot and if you don't know where you're headed, you might drive right past.

       The place is a tiny hole in the wall in a well known part of Phoenix called the Biltmore. The 'hole in the wall' in question is tucked neatly between 23rd and 24th Streets on the south side of Indian School Road.

      If you're early enough, you could catch a glimpse of Franco (the Jar's Manager) with his entourage of beautiful women and his funky shoes...actually they are clogs; yes the open backed, wooden soled shoe.
      I do remember on one or more occasions, hearing Franco's surname...but much like Madonna, Franco traveled and was recognized simply by his single first name, Franco.
      Franco's infamous and strange attire coupled with his thick accent, the famous, not so famous and soon to be famous bands that he put on stage at his club, made him somewhat of an icon himself... 
       
                       A Night in the Jar     
       
       It's a Friday night; there's a line out the door, spilling into the parking lot. Scantily clad gals with big hair are standing in line with boyfriends and husband's who boast sleeves of blue ink.
      You have your money in hand because it's cash only..a five dollar cover per person. The man at the door is big, bald and also covered in ink. He takes your cash and checks your identification to make sure you're twenty one. If you're not, you're not coming in, NO exceptions. 
       Past the door man and into the bar, grab a table if it's available, because you know it will soon be standing room only. Head to the bathroom to pee and "touch up" your makeup before the music starts, because when you come back, the que will be astounding. It's already starting to build.
         The bathroom is painted basic black, ceiling to floor, including the stalls, with splotches of florescent pink, yellow and green on the walls.
        You  hear your friend's band doing their initial sound check. You and your friends are here to support them. They are the opening act tonight for Phoenix's own Meat Puppets. 
        When you return, a girl pushing Jagermeister shots approaches and offers shooters in medical vials to the table.
      Five or six shots later, your friend's band sounds better then you've ever heard them before and you're, once again, looking for the bathroom. 
       While in line to the loo (bathroom), you notice the girl two people ahead of you is wearing an awesome pair of boots. You tap her on the shoulder and ask where she got them. She can't hear you, so you signal to the gal in front of you, who obviously understands obsessions with footwear and grants you safe passage (in elementary school this is called "line cutting").
        Ten minutes later, you spot a gal three people ahead in line whose outfit you know would look smashing on you (you're about the same size). The tapping begins, and of course the gal behind her understands cool clothes... well maybe not (you think as you look at her haphazard Garanimals gone wild outfit) but it's definitely cool of her to concede to your whims. 
        The Jager girl has been by three times since you started standing in the bathroom que and you have accepted two of the three shots she's offered. You begin to get a slight bit dizzy, but simply lean back against the wall and wait your turn. You look up and see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel...well at least you can see the light in the ladies room as the door is held open..at this point, THAT light will do just fine. 
        The "Garanimals" girl and her friend help you up and get you to the bathroom, moments before the last shot of Jagermeister is leading your Taco Bell to the porcelain throne. You make it but just barely before catching the shoes of the girl in the "smashing outfit."  You now have a pretty good idea of why the bathrooms are painted black.
         Nearly forty minutes later you make it back to the table and realize that you've missed most of your friends band, and the Meat Puppets are finishing their first song and announcing, their next gig on this very stage with
Nirvana 
          
     The Mason Jar, or as many called it..the Jar, which did eventually change it's name to just that, was not well known for it's great stage, great sound, or fabulous ambiance. Naw, it was just "the place to be."A great hang out for musicians and friends. 
     You agree to let your friends drive you home and promise you'll be back again when they are opening next month for another of Phoenix's favorite sons, Linkin Park (well the Chet Bennington part of Linkin Park anyway).

  Epilogue: The Mason Jar survived the 1980's and 1990's and was renamed the Jar in 2000. Think of any Rock, Hip Hop, Punk, Alternative or Funk band that came through Phoenix to get to L.A. and they may have played the Jar. 

In 2006 The Rock and Roll Icon known as the Jar was laid to rest..but will never be forgotten by those who were a part of it.

The former Mason Jar or the Jar, recently reopened in 2015 as the Rebel Lounge. It is with great hope that the once iconic stage will abound again with great local, unknown and well known talents. At least that's my hope :)

Copyright 2014 - Noelle Sangster/Sangster Entertainment LLC - All rights reserved

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All Hallowed Eve's Grandiose Spectacular....Muuahahahah

Everyone knows that Halloween is the one night of the year that we dress our little minions up in scary, spooky and cute costumes to go beg for Mom and Dad's favorite candy... at the neighbors.... oh wait that's....oops...misprint... Let's start again.  

    
   I was blessed to spend the trick or treating season this year, in Tucson with my boys and friends. There were few tricks, although, one man did ask a Costumer to stand on one leg and spin around..to receive the candy goods.. which was quite a funny treat.
  
   Our fun began, of course with the kids getting in costume. Once the Grim Reaper was dressed; we were off to meet our friends on the North side of Tucson, for Trick or Treating in their subdivision.

    Once in town, our candy gathering regimen was joined by a werewolf. I'm not sure if he was from London or not, he didn't howl with a British accent at tall.  

A cowgirl, Uncle Fester from the Munster's, a Crayola Crayon, The Sonic Burger Red Devil (whom her sister curiously referred to as Captain Save a Ho- more on that later) and an escaped Convict (not a relative, or an ex boyfriend thanks.)
      Off we go..The Crayon and the Convict are a slight bit older than the Reaper and the Wolf..The Crayon had decided that her handbag worked as well for catching and containing sugary treats as any other and at one stop is questioned by the man passing out candy. He said " It THAT your purse?" and she answered with an emphatic "Yes." Meanwhile, I'm thinking 'Do men really know how the things they find in a woman's purse, get there?'
      

Guided by James with a flashlight on the front side and Captain Save a Ho (the Red Devil) on the backside, using her new Samsung Galaxy III as the other guiding light, we continued on through the darkness gathering candy.

      We stumbled upon a place that someone had gone through the trouble to put together. A scary fun house guarded by this man..  

The theme music playing of course was "Werewolves of London."

      
     At one stop, the cowgirl and Uncle Fester approached the stoop and a man said to Uncle Fester " Look at the Dummy...I mean the Mummy." to which the Cowgirl quickly responded "I'm NOT a dummy...I'm smart and beautiful." and she is. We all chuckle.
     A few stops later, the cowgirl tripped and began to sniffle, "I hurt me knee." She was quickly reminded 
   "That shouldn't hinder your ability to continue begging for candy..get back to work." Sometimes a harsh dose of reality is needed to counteract laziness in children where chocolate is concerned...ummm...but ah..back to the story.
     
   About an hour later, we had managed our way through the subdivision, and the Grim Reaper was tired, but we hadn't yet stopped at our usual Trick or Treating Spot; The one that we had frequented for the past several years. A Halloween Utopia, the Carnival of Halloween subdivisions.  
     Due to the decline in the economy, it was not as decked out as in prior years, but was, however, still loaded with lights, decor and every other house was a Fun House, Fear Factory and Candy Cornucopia.

 

There were children riding in red wagons, pulled by their parents. I asked one parent 
 "Isn't that the way to go?" referring to her eight year old being pulled in a red wagon. She answered "What I wouldn't give to be towed in a red wagon and have candy dumped on me." We both laughed.  

       The Halloween festival neighborhood is not just for the kiddies. (Yes. that's a dog dressed as a banana)
Oh no. The first year we went, there were actually barbeques going on..Ribs, Baked Taters, Corn on the Cob style barbeques. 
       The fire department and the nearby church also get in on the fun creating a plethora of entertainment value for the community. 
       Because we went else where first, the festival in this neighborhood was winding down. We ran into a few other friends and the Grim Reaper advised that it was time to go home.
       It's been decided that next year will will begin and end at this sub division for our Trick or Treating Extravaganza.  

Cheers until next adventure!!!!! 


Copyright 2014 - Noelle Sangster/Sangster Entertainment LLC - All rights reserved

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Scenes from an Italian Restaurant Match Making Internet Dating Site?

 For Emma - Because we only know our true strength when our ability to endure has come to pass. x.x.

                        Author's note: All links are always yellow.
 
Okay..do we even make it past coffee anymore? I'm beginning to wonder. Let's talk about a subject that I've been putting off for some time; Maybe not for any other reason than it seems to me, much like continually repeating the simulation of a car crash. Are there casualties? Most definitely. You may even know some.

Roughly twelve years ago, YAHOO had a fantastic idea, people could meet online, date, get married, and have babies, all through the portal called "IM" (instant messaging). AND you could invite your entire family and friends via web cam to your virtual NUPS, call it good and spend all your wedding dough on a vacation to the Bahamas. NO DOUGH? The virtual trip may be just as good and you'll save even more, cause you don't have to TIP.

YAHOO's initial brilliant idea morphed into INTERNET DATING 

Insert Wavy Flashback here.

Video dating, by that time had become a defunct and quite extinct animal (frankly, I'm not quite sure it ever escaped the BETA phase)....but INTERNET DATING was just getting started and it was FRESH!!!

I probably don't need to name all the sites, and not sure that I could, but I am quite certain that you've seen them both online and on the TV (for those of you who do watch TV, I mean). And they've grown, exponentially since their meager beginnings. 

Hundreds if not thousands of internet dating sites boast that THEY are the ONE who can match YOU  "scientifically" or by using their special "formula," with your spouse, perfect mate, soul mate, best friend, acquaintance, girlfriend, boyfriend, school mate, band mate, bed mate, stand up comic, one night stand, slam dance buddy, tattoo artist...Whew! I'm sure I've forgotten some of them, but none the less...let's get to the fun part.

The first part of the fun is picking the Internet Dating site that will bring you one step closer to your TRUE LOVE. Know that you are going to spend at least a part time jobs worth of time finding the perfect site and possibly have to pony up some cash on a monthly basis to belong to that "exclusive" dating site. 

Fortunately Frugal people are still dating (who actually pays for the date is another blog altogether) and there are several FREE dating sites as well (Yes, we can include Craigs List with that.)  And you gotta wade through a little more crap to distinguish between FRUGAL and CHEAP. I don't think Wal-mart has quite gotten in the game yet, but they have their grubs in everything else, so don't count them out.

Once you've decided on the site or sites (you can become a member of more than one) You can do one of several things: 

• You can take a week or two to construct your own Power Point Presentation of the reasons you deserve that perfect person, who you know (or at least have been assured) is also a member, somewhere in the vast data banks of this Match Making site.
• Forgo actually answering any of those silly formulated questions and simply say " I Rock." and "If you have questions, just ask." Which at first glance to most proves how lazy you really are.
• You can hire a professional writer to write your perfect bio.
• You can pretend you're something you're not and write your life the way you wish it REALLY was, and tell the truth to your TRUE LOVE later, because you're pretty darn sure they'll understand, Hey, they are after all, your TRUE LOVE.

Add a Photo of your beautiful self....ummm preferably NOT the one that you had to Photoshop your former significant other out of - you know the one where you were actually smiling and you can barely see their hand or arm..but let's be honest..no one actually poses the way you look in it, without Photoshop. Maybe you're TRUE LOVE won't mind?

LET THE GAMES BEGIN.....At first, it seems an awful lot like the card game "Go Fish" And you excitedly check your e-mail and mobile for "hits" on your profile...and you find that loads of people are actually like fish....too big, too small, too skinny, unable to land, throw backs and the occasional "keeper" or "match."

If in fact you don't catch a "Keeper" after months of playing the game, "Go Fish" begins to vaguely but curiously resemble another famous card game called "Old Maid." And you wonder, "Was it something I said?.. Something I didn't say?....Something I could have said?...or  "D - All of the Above?" 

Truth is, if you can't keep someones attention in person, online is not gonna help you much, no matter who you are. 

Also, let's not overlook the fact that if you belong to one or more "social networks." You've gotten yourself what resembles a part-time job without pay. If it makes ya feel better, we can call it an "Internship."  :)

Either way, you now have to maintain a certain web presence in order to actively participate in Internet Dating. 

Once you've been actively maintaining your Internet Dating Presence (IDP for compulsive acronym users), you will begin what I'll call the "Interviewing Process."  

During the 'Interviewing Process' you many find many candidates who simply are NOT cut out for the 'position' you are offering.

Once you've weeded through the stalkers, the 40 somethings still living with my parents, the I'm married but I wanna get wit u baby, need a sugar momma/daddy, and closet trannys; you know that you are one step closer to meeting your TRUE LOVE, because you have endurance, sticktuitiveness, and stamina. Let's face it, you are loyal until you hate yourself.

The first date.....

Coffee...because coffee only lasts 20 to 30 minutes, it's less time than lunch and considerably less time and effort than dinner or a movie.

You've made it through the first few days of actual conversation through email, text and phone, with someone who you find quite attractive (or so their online pics would show) and whom you feel has quite a few things in common with you. So you make a coffee date and head for the plaza that has good coffee, is close enough to your house, yet far enough away from it, that if your date is a stalker or some other unmentionable freak, you can make a hasty and well plotted escape and lose them if they attempt to follow.

You arrive, you are waved over to a table by someone whom you have never seen before (not even in pictures...curious). As you get closer, you realize that the pictures of this person, are ones that you have seen, and are in fact representative of a much younger and thinner person than sits before you now.

Introductions ensue and you sit for 20 minutes politely listening to this person tell you all of the miserable things life has dumped upon their shoulders...you make it through, but decide that calling back would obligate you for more than you're willing with this person.

Back at home, your inbox is full of potential candidates once again. So you perform the same ritual...read, throw away, contact, set a date for coffee....drive home frustrated, check the email...read, throw away, contact, set a date for coffee..

A few months later, you decide that you just DON'T have enough time for the frustrations of accelerated (internet) dating and you delete all of your IDP's.

Later that evening, while you're taking out the trash, you run into your single neighbor, who happens to have loads in common with you. You talk for an hour and make a dinner date at your favorite Italian restaurant.


Copyright 2014 - Noelle Sangster/Sangster Entertainment LLC - All rights reserved

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