i love the 90s

So I was a teenager in the 90s, I've spent far too many hours watching the VH1 series about the 80s and 90s, and I am writing some fiction set in the 90s. My mind is often back in that time of middle class supremacy and relative peace and prosperity. But this week it seems like everyone else has decided to join me back in my retro-revere.

First, I came across this article about how fashion trends from top TV shows and movies of the 90s are making a comeback. My So Called Life? Empire Records? Saved by the Bell? These are such formative parts of my adolescence, that most likely I am still taking some of my cues from these, if not dressing in plaid skirts and belly shirts all the time anymore (oh, but did I ever parade around the halls of my high school in them). I can admit it, I wanted to be Kelly Kopowski, having to choose between Slater and Zack, and of course ending up with Zack (after a hiatus during that awful Tori season that we all try to forget).

Also, it was a ritual for a while for a couple of my girl friends and I to watch Empire Records every weekend at a sleep over. I am pretty sure every line is still carved in my memory, where things like phone numbers and algebraic equations have been edged out. "Empire Records, open til midnight, this is Mark....Midnight!" Man am I glad to no longer work in retail.

And oh, My So Called Life. I bought the box set, so that I can relive that single season of glory. Finding new "cooler" friends, and letting go of the old ones; having a crush on a guy who doesn't know you exist, until suddenly he does, and you can't think straight, until your best friend hooks up with him instead; being sure your parents are hiding some ugly truth about themselves; wondering if everyone in the world is having sex but you. How are these not universal themes of high school? How did they cancel this show. I'll never really understand, but I'll always feel drawn back into being a self conscious teenager when I watch it.

And will always think of Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano.

So then today, Facebook alerted me to the petition for International 90210 day on Thursday, 9/2/10 (9-02-10). Aren't they clever...or bored. Now, I am always up for any event that means dressing up, and have thought about how I could transform myself a little more into Kelly Taylor or Donna Martin that day. But I can't quite see pulling off a mini-dress at work.

Of course, all of this came on the heels of the NYT article that Elaine Benes from Seinfeld is now a new fashion icon (even though she never was when the show was actually on). I'm not quite ready to jump on the flowered moomoo bandwagon.

The real question is, do I go dig the old flannel shirts and ripped jeans out of retirement at my parents' house, or just let other people play out this out to the inevitable backlash? I think I may have to let this pass, only dusting off my Doc Martins, because those never stop being awesome.

WerePanda activate

Sometimes the full moon affects me and brings out a bit of lunacy, I'll admit it. I completely believe that like the tides, the phases of the moon have an effect on people (who are after all about 60% water).

And being that I enjoy sci-fi/fantasy, I have given it enough thought to decide that obviously the animal I would turn into were I to become a Were is a werepanda. Naturally.

But for those in the know about Weres, their beast can come out not just from the pull of the moon, but also from extreme agitation. And let me say that I was on the verge of Hulk-ing out today, after reading a particularly unprofessional and rude email from a coworker.

I work in a sales department, and am responsible for making sure that the reps know what is going on with new releases, so that they can better sell them. Makes sense, yes? So the week before new releases come out, I send them pertinent information, including what advertising campaigns have been set up. I've been doing this for months, since this became a part of my position, I send a request to the various Ad/Promo departments for information, they send me what they have, the reps find out, and are able to sell.

Apparently this isn't as easy as it sounds for some people. Today I received a long disgruntled email stating that I should have been able to get this information for myself, (though it hasn't been discussed at any of our weekly meetings; yes, I do pay attention), and they don't have time to help me, so stop asking. Here is a direct quote, just to show that I am not exaggerating and becoming irrationally irritated:

“Please do not ask anyone in my department for this information unless you have exhausted all other avenues and have come up lacking. I'm sorry to have to say it so bluntly, but we do not have time to help you.”

So after I picked my jaw up, and brushed myself off (feeling the bristles of Panda fur rising to the surface, the desire to club someone with a bamboo pole growing stronger), I forwarded the email on to my boss, who may have the clout to verbally abuse this individual in return. I doubt my telling him that I'm at the end of the avenues, and therefore asking for information would provide me with a more helpful response.

What I do know for sure is that sending me the information I asked for would have been considerably faster and a better use of time that sending me a long email about how he doesn't have time to help me.

Distraction/ True Blood

Mentally, I am still on vacation. I just got back from ten days (not nearly enough) in Martha's Vineyard: beach, books, boogie boarding, bike riding, loBster...ok, I'm out of B things. But it was a great time, as always, with the extra bonus of a little summer romance thrown in.

So now I'm back at work, totally distracted and having a hard time actually remembering to do anything that I'm supposed to. Really, I'm lucky I didn't get run over by a bike on my way to work this morning, I had my music on and wasn't paying any attention to the hustle of the city.

So along with the loads of laundry I did last night, and instead of the grocery shopping or anything else useful I could have done, I caught up on the two episodes of True Blood that I missed while away. And I have to say, I'm not so sure about the ways that this season is deviating from the books. This is supposed to be when Sookie decides Bill is no good for her, after he lies and goes to Lorena, and then almost drains her while raping her in the trunk of a car. So they had a little bit of that on the show, and then they go off and have make-up sex. What about Alcide, the hot, good natured werewolf, who, yes, is a little pathetic in his obsessive feelings for Debbie (way more trailer trash in the show than in the books), but still would be worth having a little fun with. Come on, take a look and tell me you disagree.

But what it really comes down to is the fact that in this season, Eric is supposed to save her and arouse her interests. He is not supposed to provide distraction for a Vampire boy-toy (who kept getting in the way of all the good Eric nudity, may I add, so really just brought the staking on himself).

I do like Alan Ball's decision to keep Lafayette around, because he's awesome, and his new little romantic side plot is pretty cute. And the addition of Jessica doesn't bother me, though she seems kind of extraneous this season. But really, all of this Sam's family story I could do without. I don't care about his weird dog fighting mother and brother (who isn't even cute, so really, what's the point?).

And yes, from the books, I know what Sookie is and what this other world is, that Bill has absolutely no place in visiting, that was frustrating. I'm curious where this season is heading, and super excited for season 4, if it sticks pretty well to that book, which is my favorite in the series.

But back to vacation. I would happily trade in my TV and WiFi to go live full time on the island (of course they have those things, but my house there does not, which is fine by me). Of course, should a hot viking vampire attack me in the woods by my cabin, all the better ;-)