hip to my heart.

"I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return"

**********************************
Once upon a time there was a boy named Jimmie. This boy liked to live his life out loud, for all the world to see. He had dreams of shining bright beyond the streets of Small Town, Kansas and he had a fierce passion for the Hollywood world he surrounded himself with. The pages of US Weekly would come alive each Friday night and the celebrities would whisper in his ears. Jimmie spent many hours and dollars, dragging friends with him, traveling the US for artists he loved. It was in those times when Jimmie felt the most alive and his soul would sparkle. Like glitter.

*****************************************

Writing about myself in 3rd person and past tense just kind of creeped me out, so I had to stop. I felt like maybe I was a ghost-writer for myself, penning the Jimmie Taylor: Famous in a Small Town biography. Jinkies. There is a point to this blog, and I feel my weirdo intro was needed to set up my story. On Friday, July 16th, my boyfriend Josh and I (along with our friends Travis, Heather and Keri) went to the Adam Lambert/Allison Iraheta concert in Wichita, KS. The concert was general admission, which meant showing up hours early would pretty much guarantee a decent spot close to the stage. When we showed up at the venue, we joined the already-growing line. I pretty much pride myself in being a social butterfly and getting to know people, and the Adam Lambert fans were a fierce group for me to interact with. Right in front of us in line was a woman who had a purple glow about her. She was covered from head to toe in purple glitter w/ her purple outfit and self-created purple glitter shoes. (I was rocking my red wooden shoes, and I had a hunch we would get along.) I learned her name was Cathy and she was from Dallas. She had driven up just to see Adam Lambert. She had an extra ticket, because her son was unable to make the trip. I immediately got my picture with her, and we became Facebook friends. As the line was moving inside, the guys were pulled into a different line, and I didn't think we would see her inside. I was wrong. Not even ten minutes after we were in, Cathy appeared to us in what I swear was a glitter cloud. She was with us through the entire show, and when I wasn't watching the stage (or trying to fight off a Mean Girl, but that's another story) I loved watching Cathy watch Adam. Not in a creeper way, either. At midnight, Cathy would be turning 51 years old. I looked at her and I hoped I saw a little of me when I am her age. I wouldn't give a second thought right now, at the age of 35, to traveling solo to see the show of someone I love. I can only hope and pray I'm lucky enough to be doing that 16 years down the line. Cathy inspired me on a level I can't even explain. She was living her life out loud, and I feel blessed that for a night I was a part of it. I enjoyed Allison & Adam that night, but I came away from that concert with a feeling that I had a brief peek into my future. And I liked what I saw.

rumor 'bout a Revolution.

Picture it: Sicily, 1854. (that's a shout-out to Sophia Petrillo, of course.) As I was cruising the Kansas turnpike after dinner with Mama Cherryholmes, I decided I needed to send out a few words about the current Golden Girl of Country Music. It's not Taylor Swift or Carrie (she was my American Idol first, people!) Underwood, but Miranda Lambert. I don't normally buy entire cd's anymore, because frankly, I have been a little disappointed as of late. I usually end up enjoying 3-4 songs out of 12 and then I kick myself in the shin twice. (That's not true. I usually kick a chair. Or a foot stool.) I won't drop any names, but let's just say a certain sister duo was hurtin' for certain without Natalie Maines. After my burning LOVE for Dead Flowers, White Liar and The House That Built Me (hello, 1154 S. Arthur!) I decided it was time to drop the dollars for Miranda's REVOLUTION album. SIDE NOTE: I was crusing the Lambert section of Wal*Mart for Adam (the other Lambert)'s cd, as I prepare to attend his concert tomorrow in Wichita... as well as protest the Fred Phelps protestors. Not familiar with Phelps & Co? Click here, but it isn't pretty. It's ugly and filled with hate, and I plan to fight back with LOVE. It is, after all, an army. And the only house big enough for all the pain in the world. So... driving home through the Flint Hills I joined the Revolution de Miranda, full throttle. While I'll stop short of calling her a lyrical genius (because I'm not a critic, and that just sounds corny), I will scream from the mountain tops my love for this disc. (I've called it a cd, an album and a disc. Did you notice that? I like to keep things fresh 'round these parts.) And about those mountain tops. That was an overstatement, because I live in Kansas. But I did scream it from the Flint Hills. Then it just seemed unsafe, and I wasn't going to risk my life professing a love for my latest purchase. Bottom line? Buy the album. Tell Miranda I sent ya... that's the way that the world goes 'round.

Rimes with Silence.

Can I throw this out on the table? For any random reader who knows nothing about me?? (Which causes me to beg the question, what brought you to my blog if you know nothing about me? BRIBERY??) Anyway, for the randoms, here it is: I LOVE, ADORE & RESPECT LeANN RIMES. While it's true that since 1988, Deborah (wait, is it Debbie again?) Gibson has been my #1, when Ms. Rimes Blue me out of the water in 1996, I knew I had another musical hero. (and I don't say 'musical hero' like I am some aspiring artist. Far from it... just a simple gay guy in Kansas who knows good talent, good music- and most importantly, good people.) Did I ever tell you how easily sidetracked I am?? Again with the anyway... I have been lucky enough to meet LeAnn (and Deb Gib, mind you) a number of times over the years. I am a dedicated fan, and when anyone (wheteher it be a close friend, an encounter with a stranger, or a random writer of a crappy-ass article in a crappy-ass celeb magazine I am guilty of buying) says something negative about someone I feel extremely passionate about, I get on the defense. And if you know me, you know my years of playing defense on the high school football team. (oh wait. I was the drama nerd, with a crush on the high school football team. I'm easily confused.) Long story longer... LeAnn's personal life is her personal life. I respect her and care about her enough to be on her side. If for some reason I were no longer on her side, I would simply stop listening to her music and stop reading anything about her career or life. (Not that I ever see that happening.) It is beyond my brain how people who have such a negative opinion on celebrities will take the time to send hate... whether it be through Twitter, comments on websites or a personal letter to People magazine. (And I must thank the fan who wrote in to People and said something positive about LeAnn. The person who wrote in to diss my Tori Spelling... well, you might just have a blog post coming your way later.)
Because of the hate, LeAnn has abandoned Twitter for now, and I think it might be the smartest thing for her. And I am not speaking about her career or her image, I am speaking about her heart. I can't imagine the negative things she has had, and continues, to deal with.
Crap. My intention of this blog was to post LeAnn's final tweets (for now) and my follow-up.
Let me do that now.

*****************************

twitter, @leannrimes “Taking a break from twitter for a while. It’s unhealthy for me and my family to have to read negative comments from people who’s opinions have no bearing on my life. I love my fans so very much and will return one day soon. God bless to you all! I hope you understand. It’s time for me to focus on healing, my happiness and my music. I can’t wait to share it all with my fans soon! There’s a million other ways to stay connected with my fans and I plan to focus on those! The most important, bringing you great music!”

These tweets were posted on the site www.leannfans.com - to which I responded:
twitter, @jimbob90210 "I am very happy to read that LeAnn is taking a break, for her sake. I imagine there are hateful words from people who have no business sticking their noses in LeAnn's personal life, yet somehow feel the need to attack her character via Twitter. I think it's sad people sink to that level. Unless someone's name is Paula Abdul, there really isn't room to judge anyone. (oh wait- even she can't judge anymore.) :^) I enjoyed reading about LeAnn's happiness on Twitter, and while I will miss hearing updates from her, I think it's wonderful her happiness can go to another level... without haters in her face. I have been a fan since the VERY beginning... I am SO excited to hear the new album... and her original music after that. Bravo, LeAnn. I am happy you have learned to let go what you can not change. jimmie."


I hope to anyone reading this, you have an artist (or artists!) in your life you feel about the way I feel about LeAnn Rimes. (And Deborah (DEBBIE?) Gibson!!)

LOVE IS AN ARMY.

pic: LeAnn and me, at the taping of the ELVIS LIVES! special, Los Angeles, 2002.
(I was going through a BAD hair phase, with ZERO highlights.)

for the love of mary horowitz.

DISCLAIMER:
this an actual note from my facebook page, so forgive me now for trying to pass it off as a new blog entry... because the cold hard facts are that it's recycled Jimmie hash. and how lame am I for not honoring National Betty Rubble Day on June 24th here?? I just slapped my own hand...
(right after I slapped my facebook.)

*********************

Welcome to another note from yours truly.
I'm not posting rules for this alleged note, and I am tagging at random.
(and by random, I don't know what I mean.)
Before I left MySpace for all but dead, (mine still exists, but there's not much
of a pulse) I loved filling out these little bulletins. Why? Because I enjoy
letting my fingers go with the flow... (that just made me crave a
little Salt n Pepa if ya know what I mean.)
Anycrap- my local Gaga filled this out, tagged me, and here we are.
(And by we, I mean me.)


1. What time did you get up this morning?
6:12am. The alarm was set for 6:15. 3 minutes early. Kind of pissed me off.

2. How do you like your steak?
alive. No food with a face. I am approaching my 5 year anniversary of being a vegetarian. (If you don't count the time I enjoyed Crab Rangoon with artificial crab. Someone forgot to tell me imitation crab is a fancy way of saying cheap white fish.)

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
At the cinema? That would be sometime in my former life in the 1950's when the term 'cinema' was common. (That just reminded me of when MC's mom called Britney Spears 'common' and I didn't know what it meant. Good times.) I saw The Last Airbender w/ Josh, because he LOVES the cartoon... but the cartoon is called Avatar, and there was a conflict of interest with that title. I don't know... I don't make this stuff up.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
I assume we are not talking about BH, 90210... because that is not a show to me, rather a lifestyle. You think I might be kidding, but if you know me, you know there are 2 things I never joke about: my Zip Code and mice. I lived and breathed 90210 from 1990-2000, and it's forever in my blood. Think I'm being dramatic?? I once named a mouse AaronSpelling (no space) in honor of the greatest man that ever knew great television. I also had mice named Donna Martin, Kelly Taylor and Mrs. Teasley. If you do the math, that adds up to 90210. Enough about that? Ok. Can we discuss RAGS TO RICHES? The show about the singing orphans adopted by millionaire Nick Foley? That was my first true hardcore obsession in TV land. I recorded the episodes w/ my sisters on CASSETTE tape. (We didn't even have a VCR yet.) Luckily, I had a VCR and mastered the art of recording and re-watching by the premiere of the 2nd season. Thanks to music rights, this magical show will most likely never live to see the light of DVD. And that's a crying shame. Kind of makes me wanna cuss. (bitches!) Don't get me started on Wonder Woman, Small Wonder, Full House, Popular, Everwood, Melrose Place, Reba, SNL, gLee, The Facts of Life... stop me now.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Peoria or Toledo, because those names sound funny coming out of my mouth, and sometimes I like to pretend in my head I am form either place. I would love to meet someone and introduce myself as Jimmie from Peoria. Sometimes in my head, my name isn't Jimmie even. Maybe I'm Seth from Toledo?? Seriously... I would love to live back in LA again. New York City is somewhere I imagine myself living one day. I'm actually happy in Kansas, smack dab in the middle of it all, with my family, Josh, his family and a handful of close friends. That's the secret of life. (Don't tell I told you.)

6. What did you have for breakfast?
A random cup of dry Honeycomb at work.

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Macaroni and Cheese. I call it my death-row meal. If I were ever to find myself the evening before my execution, I imagine mac & cheese would be on my plate. (Again, in my head I am on death row for a crime I didn't commit. I was framed by a member of the Peoria mob... probably.) I would hope I would be allowed to take shots of Cheree as I toasted to the final episode Friends. Crap. I forgot to mention Friends on my list of fave shows. Shame, shame, shame.

8. What foods do you dislike?
I'm fairly certain the devil invented tomatoes. I don't know if I actually dislike brussel sprouts, but I certainly tossed them behind the fridge when I was growing up.

9. Favorite Place to Eat Sushi?
Anywhere with Lesly. New York City was a def fave. (I said def, cuz I'm hip like that.)

10. Favorite dressing?
the dressing worn on mannequins without heads. I feel so sorry for them.

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
She is a Nissan Sentra, and her name is Ally McBeal.

12. What are your favorite clothes?
My teenybopper attire... New Kids, Deb Gib, Backstreet, Britney, *NSYNC, Spice Girl & Aaron Carter tshirts. My 54 tshirt. Any shirt with any random last name on the back. I know I could rock skinny jeans, and one day, I plan to rock the skinny shirt again.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
The Land of Efron. I could get serious here for a minute, but why start now? I know my life would benefit greatly by visiting an underprivileged country. I know I am spoiled. I'll leave it at that.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
It's a glass. A shot glass. Filled to the brim!! (but not for long!!!)
Don't mind if I do!!!!!

15. Where would you want to retire?
Wherever The Real World is being filmed that year. (In the actual house, of course.)

16. Favorite time of day?
11:54... am and/or pm. Magic.

17. Where were you born?
Wichita, Kansas (by way of Toledo.)

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
SOCCER BOYS!!!!

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
anyone uncool.

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
anyone auditioning for the role of Jimmie Taylor's New Best Friend.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
Dakota Fanning, but we're not actual Facebook friends.

22. Bird watcher?
I watch the sad oil-covered pelicans on the news, and my heart cries a little.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
I'm such a night person, the night turns into morning and I must rush to bed before my flesh full-on sparkles... if ya know what I mean.

24. Do you have any pets?
Mimi LaRue Taylor, chihuahua... Weezy McGee, mouse.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
Well Josh hasn't surprised me with tickets to the Justin Bieber concert in Kansas City yet, so no...

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
Smurfette. I also wanted to be one of The Littles. Or Vicky the Robot.

27. What is your best childhood memory?
When I scored the winning touchdown for my peewee little league. (oh, wait...)

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
*meow* If I were a lawyer, I'd only represent cats.

29. Are you married?
When they legalize marriage to an iPhone in Kansas, I would seriously consider it.

30. Always wear your seat belt?
click it or ticket. (That's the true Kansas motto, I'm not that clever.) Seat belts save lives, and they're kind of like little one-armed hugs.

31. Been in a car accident?
A few. In high school, my window shattered. But not really, it was just my water that splashed all over the place. I panicked... and I think that was God's way of telling me not to skip CCD anymore.

32. Any pet peeves?
oh, plenty. bad manners is at the top of that list... say please & thank you. a lot.

33. Favorite pizza toppings?
cheese... and black olives!! (If I would've said white olives, I would've been labeled a acebook racist, no doubt.)

34. What is your favorite flower?
The dandelion. It's really your business if you want to call it a weed and complain about it when it grows into a fuzz ball, but it's my business to embrace it as a flower and make it feel special.

35. Favorite ice cream?
Dairy Queen, plain and simple.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Taco Tico, for as long as I can remember. I'm a slave for that place.

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
none. College Algebra, however, is a completely different story.

38. From whom did you get your last email?
eBay... reminding me to pay for my "Fashion Cute Hello Kitty Hard Case Cover for iPhone" seriously.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
You are assuming I have a credit card. I don't. Thanks a lot my first year of college and shopping sprees with Ang... I would kill for an eBay credit card, but then I'd end up on death row, for a crime I actually committed, and I wouldn't deserve mac & cheese as my final meal... so I'm gonna stick with no credit cards.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
welcome to my life.

41. Like your job?
LOVE my job. I feel sad for anyone that doesn't, and I know of many.

42. Broccoli?
I would also defend broccoli... if I were a lawyer, of course.

43. What was your favorite vacation?
my trip around the sun.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
The Artist Formerly Known as The Brooke White.

45. What are you listening to right now?
The end credits to ALL ABOUT STEVE... the Sandra Bullock movie the world crapped on. I watched it as I've been typing this, and it warmed my little heart. I love Sandra as Mary Horowitz, and I'm pretty sure I will own this movie soon. "If you love someone, let him go. If you had to stalk him, he probably wasn't yours to begin with." Were they talking to me??

46. What is your favorite color?
YELLOW!!

47. What book are you reading?
Uncharted TerriTori. I'm shallow enough to only read books written by Tori Spelling.

48. What is your favorite hobby?
my life is my hobby... you kinda gotta know me to understand.

49. Coffee Drinker?
Coffee is for grown ups... so that would be a no.

50. What time did you finish this quiz?
9:43pm