One of my very, very favorite bands, Stone Temple Pilots. Top five for me. Headed by (God rest his tortured soul) the great Scott Weiland. Scott grew up about seven miles from where I am seated while writing this. He was a heroin addict, which killed him. But he was so amazingly creative when high (the shame of high-level creativity). Most uber creative people are not “normal”, they go to another place one way or another, to have that focus, those inspirations.
I'm half the man I used to be
(For as I feel as the dawn, it fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(For as I feel as the dawn, it fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
(For as I feel as the dawn, it fades to gray)
Well, I'm half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be
Half the man I used to be
Creep was off the band’s 1992 debut album, Core. That was a fabulous, flawless CD. Songs like Sex Type Thing, Dead and Bloated, Wicked Garden and Plush changed music for me in a great way. Creep, as you can read above, describes yours truly, I’m half the man I used to be…
Rock Hall, induct this deserving band!
Back to work at CIFF, Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16, 2026. It just keeps getting better and better. On Wednesday I chatted with a local TV anchor as he was filing a report on a tremendous short film. I also talked extensively with the subject of that film. He was the first Polynesian to play professional football as well as the first Polynesian opera singer. He was drafted by Bill Belichick when he was Browns coach and got injured, ending his career, in his first game (very Browns). As he was telling me this story, I got very somber and told him I was so sorry he had to be a Brown. He and I spoke on and off a lot while he was there. I was very interested in how he pivoted to opera of all things, never having sung opera before the end of his football career. He now tours all over the world.
Then I am standing in my place at the booth and a film maker, with whom I had an amazing encounter a few years back, came up to me and remembered everything about me, my name and the things we discussed years ago. She is from LA and this is her second film at the festival. A big hug and a big wow for me. I met film maker after film maker and had so many great conversations. The love I am receiving, due to my daily presentation, good humor, people skills, has been off the charts. I am so very fortunate to be able to do this!
There are always many LGBT themed films at CIFF. This day was a film called “Free Beer Tomorrow” about a gay bar in Columbus in the early ’80’s. The place was packed with lesbians, and I was treated with laugh after laugh, hug after hug. I made many, many new friends already at the festival.
Proving that people actually find me somewhat interesting, you can click on the above picture (if you are on Facebook) to see yours truly in her element!
Thursday’s dress was selected for one reason; it is very close to identical to the carpeting that covers the vestibules for a few theaters in Playhouse Square. This day was very special for a variety of reasons. I won’t bore you with the tremendous love and support I simply receive by being seen in public, at this particular venue and event. I did have an extended conversation with one particular film maker about possibly working together. We’ll leave it at that for now because I have learned a long time ago never to get excited about the possibility of anything, I get excited about the actual occurrence of something.
Here we were on Day Eight, exhausted and exhilarated!
I’m Not Dead, I’m Not For Sale
From the song “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart” and the title of Scott’s autobiography.
2 Responses
Kandi, your work for CIFF is wonderful! It’s no wonder you are always recognized and remembered. The orange print dress is fabulous, your ‘girls’ are shown off perfectly.
😊😊