Morning Edition - 5/18/05

Fiesta! Latino Mayor For L.A.
Antonio Villaraigosa beat out James Hahn to become LA’s first Latino mayor in 135 years. Villaraigosa won with 59 percent of the vote. Villaraigosa is a high school dropout who was known to show-off a “Born to raise hell” tattoo. He managed to pull himself together and become speaker of the California Assembly and most recently a member of the Los Angeles City Council. LA is the nation’s second largest city.

Do You Feel Me?
Ellen DeGeneres held a candid interview with Allure Magazine (on newsstands this month) where she reveals her stepfather molested her while she was in her late teens. DeGeneres alleges her stepfather fondled her breast and she was forced to run and sleep in a hospital wing to escape his advances. This all occurred while her mom was battling breast cancer. DeGeneres says she is speaking out to help teen girls know that “there are different ways to say no.” Sidebar: The stepdad is deceased. DeGeneres says the molestation has nothing to do with her sexual orientation.

Jack & Justin Sitting In A Tree
NBC’s Will & Grace will feature Justin Timberlake as Jack McFarlane’s (sp) boyfriend for three episodes next year. Insiders say Timberlake is being sold as Jack’s “bad boyfriend.” Other major celebrities have made appearances on Will & Grace, though not all have been gay-for-pay. Most recently, Cher, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Douglas and Matt Damon have appeared on the show. Of these, only Douglas played a gay character.

Madam Butterfly or Party Monster
You always think of your parents as laid back folks that live to take care of you and worry about your next step, not as social butterflies or party folk. Last night, mom chatted away with friends in preparation for, what appears will be, a shindig of a dinner party. When I gave her a quizzical look as she giggled at the details of her event, she looked over at me and simply said, “go somewhere and mind your business.” Excuse me mother, but I can’t go anywhere, since you’re cramping the 20 square feet I have to move around in. Worse even, is the thought that she is having some of her friends over without asking if this will be okay. While squeezing past her to walk the dog (and get some air) I noticed she was also asking my callers (who would beep-in on call waiting) to call back since she would be on the phone for a while. At one point she made use of both my cell and home phone while coordinating some store runs between her friends. When I attempted to give hand signals to dad (I gave up on attempting speaking to him) about the use of the phone, he said I should use the telephone in my sister’s apartment upstairs. Tonight her freakish friends will be coming over to a dinner I’m not invited to – again, in my own home. Would I be wrong to show-out? Should I crash her little event? Should I make an attempt to sabotage her meal? My sister suggested that I just spend time with her and the baby at her place tonight. To directly quote her, my sister somberly said, “It’s just safer for you than trying to upstage mom. If you haven’t noticed, in her theatrical performance, you’re the understudy.” THE UNDERSTUDY?! ME?!?!

Keep passin ‘the open windows…