Soul Suckers

It's a quiet day in the neighborhood! Ken is doing some "work" work while we watch water polo. Looks like they aren't going to win the gold. Bummer. One of the bigwigs at Ken's job has a son on the team, so it's been fun watching them play for the gold. I don't think the team has anything to be upset about, though--what a great run, and they got the silver! 

 

This is for Amy: tonight we're having barbecued chicken and grilled zucchini and onions. I'll probably do some noodles or something, too. Come on by, there's plenty!

 

Have you ever had one of those soul-sucking, life- and light-stealing friends who wants nothing more than to out-do, out-play, out-everything you? I suppose "friend" is too strong a word, because they're really kind of creepy and unfun to be around. I call them psychic vampires, and come to find out, they even have a user's manual!

 

I think we've all had the misfortune of having to be around these people, whether at work or in our personal life. We used to have someone at the lab who, no matter the subject, had always done it first, had done it more often, and without question, had done it much, much better than you could ever dream of doing it! It actually became a bit of a joke, because no matter what any of us said, this person would counter immediately with their own tale of how they were completely and utterly fabulous.

 

It was irritating as hell, but also kind of sad. The impression that came through loud and clear was probably not the one they were intending. I have a feeling that in this type of person's desire to one-up everyone around them, they are attempting to hide their own deep-seated insecurities and perceived failings, or perhaps they simply want to usurp someone else's life, experiencing vicariously through them the life that they would rather be leading. This person at the lab often felt persecuted, and felt that everyone was out to get them, or "picking on" them. Either way, it's incredibly draining--thus the vampire aspect--and unpleasant to be around.

 

It eventually got so that we did our best to avoid engaging this person in conversation because it just wasn't worth the headache. Again, it's really kind of sad because this was a very nice person in many ways, and they had a lot to offer. But their habit of sucking the life out of others was just too much to deal with. For your viewing and listening pleasure, please enjoy a great song by Concrete Blonde. I maintain that Johnette Napolitano has one of the best and most powerful voices of all the rock chicks. (Annie Lennox and Ann Wilson are right up there.)

 

"Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)"

by Concrete Blonde

There's a crack in the mirror
and a bloodstain on the bed
There's a crack in the mirror
and a bloodstain on the bed
O you were a vampire and baby
I'm the walking dead
O you were a vampire and baby
I'm the walking dead

(chorus)
I got the ways and means
to New Orleans I'm going
down by the river
where it's warm and green
I'm gonna have drink, and walk around
I got a lot to think about oh yeah oh yeah

There's a rocking chair by the window
down the hall
I hear something there in the shadow
down the hall
O you were a vampire and now I am
nothing at all
O you were a vampire and now I am
nothing at all

(chorus)

They used to dance in the garden in the
middle of the night
Dancing out in the garden in the
middle of the night
O you were a vampire
and I may never see the light
O you were a vampire
and I may never see the light

(chorus)

Oh yeah 10x

 

 

 

Tags: Psychic vampires, Concrete Blonde, Johnette Napolitano, Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)