Holy shit I am SUCH a nerd! I just re-read my last post and realized that I really do sound like a total geek. Oh well. If the tennis shoe fits... (oblique reference to the 10th Doctor's choice of footwear). Damn, see? There I go again.
My students had to write a detailed description of someone or something or someplace for their first paper. The first paper off the stack I read was, in fact, a biography of Vincent vanGogh. How do you say "HUH?" in Chinese? But it's okay; we had our conference today and she gets to rewrite the entire thing. She did have some description of a few of his paintings, but 85% of the paper was about how he got kicked out of everything because of his problem with authority, and how he went nuts, and how he cut off his ear, and how he shot himself.
Oh well. Whaddyagonnado?
Tomorrow we go to the campus museum (which isn't bad for what it is). Had to give them a crash course in art appreciation, which I didn't appreciate because you cannot teach someone how to appreciate art in 3 days. Not only are they supposed to understand what they're looking at, then they have to write a paper. I am not down with that. At all. But it's not my call. *shrug*
Even with teaching a class and four conferences and a trip to grocery store, I was still home by 4:30 today. This is a schedule I can live with.
Didn't sleep well last night, though. Insomnia and multiple wake-ups during the night. Don't know why. I'll be hitting the hay as soon as I am well-entertained by Chip Coffey and his Psychic Kids tonight.
But first, dinner, laundry, and to finish the book of short stories I've been reading, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li, which apparently has been made into a movie of the same title.
P.S. We bought a new toaster oven yesterday. The box is in English and Spanish (today's title). Finally, after being married 3 years, we're starting to replace all the old and busted bachelor/bachelorette stuff with grown-up stuff. The only downside to eloping is not getting the cool wedding presents.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
End of June (and DW Spoilers below... you've been warned)
Wow, here we are at the end of the month. What the hell? We're coming up on my huzzbinnd's burfday and Independence Day. And before you know it, it'll be Thanksgiving.
Week One is under my belt now, and it was a good week. I'm looking forward to the rest of the program, though my "homework" will start pouring in now that they are writing papers.
Just watched the 2nd-to-last episode of this season of Doctor Who. We don't watch them on SciFi - the bastards cut the episodes down to fit American advertising and they are also 3 episodes behind their airdate on the BBC. So of course we find other ways to acquire them, uncut and hot off the airwaves.
Major shit is going down in the multiverse of the Doctor. I can't help myself... so here come spoilers, so DON'T READ THEM IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.
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Here's an interesting blog page for Doctor Who (DOES include spoilers esp. if you watch it on SciFi, behind schedule of the BBC): Blogtor Who
How did "Bad Wolf" get scrawled all over everything? How did Rose find her way out of her universe (with what technology)? Did she use the same gizmo that Martha did?
Since David Tennant IS confirmed at least for the '08 Christmas Special, and we left him regenerating at the end of this week's ep., can we expect that he'll keep his present form?
And will the Doctor and Rose finally get to consummate their love with a kiss before she's shunted back into her own universe?
I don't think the Daleks would listen to the babblings of an insane Dalek who won't even allow itself to be encased in a new casing. Wouldn't they call him/it a freak and EXTERMINATE him/it? That part doesn't ring true for me, even if he/it did rescue Davros. Davros is clearly even more insane (wants to be the emperor of... nothing?? what sense does that even make? you can't even levy taxes!)
I was like a 10-year-old version of myself watching these last couple of episodes, totally hanging on every turn, and jumping for joy when Martha, Sara Jane, Captain Jack and the former P.M. were on the sub-wave chat, and feeling so sad for Rose, left out of the session.
Week One is under my belt now, and it was a good week. I'm looking forward to the rest of the program, though my "homework" will start pouring in now that they are writing papers.
Just watched the 2nd-to-last episode of this season of Doctor Who. We don't watch them on SciFi - the bastards cut the episodes down to fit American advertising and they are also 3 episodes behind their airdate on the BBC. So of course we find other ways to acquire them, uncut and hot off the airwaves.
Major shit is going down in the multiverse of the Doctor. I can't help myself... so here come spoilers, so DON'T READ THEM IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.
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Here's an interesting blog page for Doctor Who (DOES include spoilers esp. if you watch it on SciFi, behind schedule of the BBC): Blogtor Who
How did "Bad Wolf" get scrawled all over everything? How did Rose find her way out of her universe (with what technology)? Did she use the same gizmo that Martha did?
Since David Tennant IS confirmed at least for the '08 Christmas Special, and we left him regenerating at the end of this week's ep., can we expect that he'll keep his present form?
And will the Doctor and Rose finally get to consummate their love with a kiss before she's shunted back into her own universe?
I don't think the Daleks would listen to the babblings of an insane Dalek who won't even allow itself to be encased in a new casing. Wouldn't they call him/it a freak and EXTERMINATE him/it? That part doesn't ring true for me, even if he/it did rescue Davros. Davros is clearly even more insane (wants to be the emperor of... nothing?? what sense does that even make? you can't even levy taxes!)
I was like a 10-year-old version of myself watching these last couple of episodes, totally hanging on every turn, and jumping for joy when Martha, Sara Jane, Captain Jack and the former P.M. were on the sub-wave chat, and feeling so sad for Rose, left out of the session.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Birdland
I'm listening to "Weather Report's" landmark album "Heavy Weather," the title track of which is the famous (among some circles) "Birdland."
Hearing this song sends me flashbacks to Bristol Hills Music Camp, where the jazz band often played this song under the baton of Mr. Ventura, who has since passed away (a great loss; what a fine music teacher he was).
Today was the first day of actual classes, and I remain excited about the coming weeks, though a little apprehensive about the intense schedule. I think I need to up my Vits. C and B!
Hearing this song sends me flashbacks to Bristol Hills Music Camp, where the jazz band often played this song under the baton of Mr. Ventura, who has since passed away (a great loss; what a fine music teacher he was).
Today was the first day of actual classes, and I remain excited about the coming weeks, though a little apprehensive about the intense schedule. I think I need to up my Vits. C and B!
Monday, June 23, 2008
What a guy...
(No disrespect intended, of course. I'm a Buddhist, myself, and thought this was adorable.)
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Summer Solstice
This weekend marks the Summer Solstice, which means it's officially summer. Which makes no sense, since the days are now getting shorter. It seems counter-intuitive, don't you think? Despite the warm temps and summer holidays to come, we're actually in the 2nd half of the year when the days become shorter - the waning cycle. Which is odd, 'cause it's also the growing season, with juicy corn on the cob and fresh fruits for the next couple of months, leading to the harvest in late summer.
It's all very confusing. Once the Fall Equinox rolls around, I'm on square footing again, because at least everything makes sense: the days will continue to get shorter, AND the nights will be longer than the days. That of course drives into winter - and on Winter Solstice again the days start to become longer on their journey back to Summer Solstice. Except that in January and February, with the days getting longer, it's cold as ballz, the sun never shines, and I want to shrivel up under the bed until May Day, because of course the Spring Equinox means absolutely NOTHING in Upstate NY. On May 1st, I come crawling out, skin so white it's translucent, and hunt round for my sun glasses because my pupils are the size of electrons.
And that's my wrap-up of the pagan calendar year. Happy Summer Solstice, everyone!
It's all very confusing. Once the Fall Equinox rolls around, I'm on square footing again, because at least everything makes sense: the days will continue to get shorter, AND the nights will be longer than the days. That of course drives into winter - and on Winter Solstice again the days start to become longer on their journey back to Summer Solstice. Except that in January and February, with the days getting longer, it's cold as ballz, the sun never shines, and I want to shrivel up under the bed until May Day, because of course the Spring Equinox means absolutely NOTHING in Upstate NY. On May 1st, I come crawling out, skin so white it's translucent, and hunt round for my sun glasses because my pupils are the size of electrons.
And that's my wrap-up of the pagan calendar year. Happy Summer Solstice, everyone!
Week 1 Preview
Thus begins the count-down for the 6-week summer college ESL program I will be eating, living, breathing, cursing, crying in the coming month.
Last week we had our initial faculty meeting, which was more of a free-for-all, and classes start tomorrow. But I'm not worried. Why? Because this is typical for summer programs. Absolute pandemonium. By the end of the first week, we'll have ourselves sorted out and on our merry way. I'm not worried, not even in the least. Which is odd. I guess that means I've done this kind of thing long enough to know what's what.
I've already dragged out my summer teaching wardrobe out of the closet (thank gawd it all still fits me, thanks to skirts that are very forgiving of thighs). The ironing board is set up with the must-iron set, but of course I have my perm-press skirts waiting for those mornings I just can't drag myself out of bed 10-minutes early (and/or don't get to ironing the night before).
Now that I have my 6-week overview and my first week sketched out, and a bunch of questions emailed to the director that I will have answers to at least by end of day tomorrow, I feel pretty good.
So good that I will allow myself to go get ice cream tonight with Bizarro. What better way to start Week !?
Last week we had our initial faculty meeting, which was more of a free-for-all, and classes start tomorrow. But I'm not worried. Why? Because this is typical for summer programs. Absolute pandemonium. By the end of the first week, we'll have ourselves sorted out and on our merry way. I'm not worried, not even in the least. Which is odd. I guess that means I've done this kind of thing long enough to know what's what.
I've already dragged out my summer teaching wardrobe out of the closet (thank gawd it all still fits me, thanks to skirts that are very forgiving of thighs). The ironing board is set up with the must-iron set, but of course I have my perm-press skirts waiting for those mornings I just can't drag myself out of bed 10-minutes early (and/or don't get to ironing the night before).
Now that I have my 6-week overview and my first week sketched out, and a bunch of questions emailed to the director that I will have answers to at least by end of day tomorrow, I feel pretty good.
So good that I will allow myself to go get ice cream tonight with Bizarro. What better way to start Week !?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Does anybody really know what time it is?
Does anybody really care?
It's 5:17 no 5:18 as I start this post. In the a.m. that is. I woke up an hour ago and couldn't get back to sleep. WAAAAY too much caffeine yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon I attended our first meeting for the summer program I'm teaching in, which starts up on Monday. It was a typical end-of-the-summer-is-vacation-really-over? kind of meeting, but the good news is that I think I will like teaching for this group. The Boss Lady is very funny, although a bit scattered, and the other teachers seem like interesting, cool people. One of them teaches at the Other School on the Hill in the same department I taught in this past spring. She teaches the ESL section there, which is what I'd like to teach, but since she was the trailing spouse of a tenure track prof, I have no hope to ever get in on that action.
I will say this, though - if I hear one more teacher in this bloody town tell his or her story about how they "just fell into" their present, cushy, life-long job, I am going to box someone's ears. It's really getting old and I'd like to know why I don't just "fall into" some awesome job teaching writing or ESL and never have to worry about money or stability ever again!
Aside from that fleeting moment of negativity, well and a few others involving parking permits, I-9 forms and I.D.s, yesterday went well enough and I am looking forward to teaching this summer. My class will comprise 8 students, mostly Chinese, all in high school. How much fun! (remember I said that in 3 weeks when I'm tearing my hair out and condemning Chinese teenagers to the lower depths of Lake Ontario).
It's 5:17 no 5:18 as I start this post. In the a.m. that is. I woke up an hour ago and couldn't get back to sleep. WAAAAY too much caffeine yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon I attended our first meeting for the summer program I'm teaching in, which starts up on Monday. It was a typical end-of-the-summer-is-vacation-really-over? kind of meeting, but the good news is that I think I will like teaching for this group. The Boss Lady is very funny, although a bit scattered, and the other teachers seem like interesting, cool people. One of them teaches at the Other School on the Hill in the same department I taught in this past spring. She teaches the ESL section there, which is what I'd like to teach, but since she was the trailing spouse of a tenure track prof, I have no hope to ever get in on that action.
I will say this, though - if I hear one more teacher in this bloody town tell his or her story about how they "just fell into" their present, cushy, life-long job, I am going to box someone's ears. It's really getting old and I'd like to know why I don't just "fall into" some awesome job teaching writing or ESL and never have to worry about money or stability ever again!
Aside from that fleeting moment of negativity, well and a few others involving parking permits, I-9 forms and I.D.s, yesterday went well enough and I am looking forward to teaching this summer. My class will comprise 8 students, mostly Chinese, all in high school. How much fun! (remember I said that in 3 weeks when I'm tearing my hair out and condemning Chinese teenagers to the lower depths of Lake Ontario).
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I am a writer!
Forgive my child-like bliss, but I've just sold a feature about living and working in Korea! When it is published (online) I will post a link. $150, which isn't shabby.
This is only the beginning!
This is only the beginning!
T'ai Chi Master in My Backyard
I went back to the T'ai Chi lady yesterday and sure enough at 9 a.m. she was ready for me! We walked over to the park and had a great session. Today, too, although I had to leave a little early for my counseling app't.
This woman can kick some serious ass - she's 61 and was jumping around like a 25-year old. She showed me some other forms besides the 24-move form I'm learning, and she blew me away. It's too bad she's only here for a month, but I am ever so pleased to have found her.
Yay for small victories like this! These things keep me going when the going gets tough.
This woman can kick some serious ass - she's 61 and was jumping around like a 25-year old. She showed me some other forms besides the 24-move form I'm learning, and she blew me away. It's too bad she's only here for a month, but I am ever so pleased to have found her.
Yay for small victories like this! These things keep me going when the going gets tough.
Assisted Living Dracula
Yesterday was awful. We looked at an AL residence with no A/C and a car salesman for an intake counselor (offered to have her move in 2 weeks - like we'd be ready!), and the residents sitting around the hallways looked like zombies. Mom and I hightailed it out of there (I think I heard someone mumble "Brains! Give me your brains!" on the way out).
We were both very discouraged, but after a good night's sleep and some additional input from her social worker, we talked this morning and agreed (along with my brother) that she doesn't need that level of "assistance" yet. My Bro and I are going to split the cost of additional home health aides to come in more often during the week to help her with the business of living (Laundry, house kleening, cooking, groceries, personal care). Meantime, she and I will begin going through her piles of stuff and work on paring down her belongings so that when she is eventually ready for more assistance, we can move her without the crisis of clearing out an apartment with a lifetime of stuff in it. There is also the issue of $$$. Even with SSI, we'd have to cough up the first month's rent for any AL place, so we need to plan for that, as well.
Meantime, we're all taking a deep breath and counting this as a learning experience. I have a lot of work to do now for organizing and hiring the aide(s). I will try to go through the agency we're currently using at least to start.
Yesterday's difficulty was exacerbated when the woman at the "Vital Statistics" office wouldn't let me get a copy of my own father's death certificate b/c I don't have power of attorney for my mom (yet), and neither did I have his birth cert. After the experience at the Assisted Living Dracula place, I could barely keep it together. I was fuming, and I responded with "Fine, I'll have my 81 year old mother with her WALKER come over and get it!" and I stormed out. I feel bad for the lady at the window. She was just doing her job but it so happened that the red tape only fueled the furnace of my rage at that moment in time.
Thank gawd for counseling, T'ai Chi, hot baths and meditation. These are my chief stress reduction techniques, you see. Which is a good thing because yesterday afternoon I felt like I could have turned into The Hulk (don't make me angry; you won't like me when I'm angry).
(A prize to anyone who can identify the animated TV series from which I stole the title for this post.)
We were both very discouraged, but after a good night's sleep and some additional input from her social worker, we talked this morning and agreed (along with my brother) that she doesn't need that level of "assistance" yet. My Bro and I are going to split the cost of additional home health aides to come in more often during the week to help her with the business of living (Laundry, house kleening, cooking, groceries, personal care). Meantime, she and I will begin going through her piles of stuff and work on paring down her belongings so that when she is eventually ready for more assistance, we can move her without the crisis of clearing out an apartment with a lifetime of stuff in it. There is also the issue of $$$. Even with SSI, we'd have to cough up the first month's rent for any AL place, so we need to plan for that, as well.
Meantime, we're all taking a deep breath and counting this as a learning experience. I have a lot of work to do now for organizing and hiring the aide(s). I will try to go through the agency we're currently using at least to start.
Yesterday's difficulty was exacerbated when the woman at the "Vital Statistics" office wouldn't let me get a copy of my own father's death certificate b/c I don't have power of attorney for my mom (yet), and neither did I have his birth cert. After the experience at the Assisted Living Dracula place, I could barely keep it together. I was fuming, and I responded with "Fine, I'll have my 81 year old mother with her WALKER come over and get it!" and I stormed out. I feel bad for the lady at the window. She was just doing her job but it so happened that the red tape only fueled the furnace of my rage at that moment in time.
Thank gawd for counseling, T'ai Chi, hot baths and meditation. These are my chief stress reduction techniques, you see. Which is a good thing because yesterday afternoon I felt like I could have turned into The Hulk (don't make me angry; you won't like me when I'm angry).
(A prize to anyone who can identify the animated TV series from which I stole the title for this post.)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Ennui in the Haus
Today was a gorgeous day outside, but I, I... sat around the living room for most of it pining for the fjords. The relentless grip of Ennui had me by the knuts, and it wasn't until around 8-ish that I was finally able to shake it off. A bowl of cherries and about 30 minutes of watching Milla jump around in Resident Evil: Apocalypse was all it took.
Yesterday I saw an older Chinese lady doing T'ai Chi outside and I ran up to her and asked if I could learn. We did the form together - somewhat familiar to me, then her son came out and translated for us. I asked if we could trade English for T'ai Chi, but her son explained that she is too old to learn English and was going back home in a month, but I was free to hang out and do T'ai Chi. We agreed on 9 a.m. I showed up at 9 a.m. this morning, terribly excited and prepared with some Chinese phrases I reviewed from my one quarter of Chinese in grad school. I waited 17 minutes but she didn't show. I came back to the apartment devastated and pissed off at old Chinese ladies... and then the Ennui set in.
It was just like that episode of "Paranormal State" I half-watched today, where the family's trailer is a disaster of a mess, the couple's relationship is just as much a horror show, and all this disarray and disharmony attracts a demon (that only Chip Coffey can denounce). I allowed my disaffected mind to become a playground for the Ennui Demon. But eventually I overcame its dark and monstrous apathy. So take note - the cure for ennui: a bowl of cherries and Milla kicking ass.
P.S. Now this is creepy - this just happens to be post #666!
Yesterday I saw an older Chinese lady doing T'ai Chi outside and I ran up to her and asked if I could learn. We did the form together - somewhat familiar to me, then her son came out and translated for us. I asked if we could trade English for T'ai Chi, but her son explained that she is too old to learn English and was going back home in a month, but I was free to hang out and do T'ai Chi. We agreed on 9 a.m. I showed up at 9 a.m. this morning, terribly excited and prepared with some Chinese phrases I reviewed from my one quarter of Chinese in grad school. I waited 17 minutes but she didn't show. I came back to the apartment devastated and pissed off at old Chinese ladies... and then the Ennui set in.
It was just like that episode of "Paranormal State" I half-watched today, where the family's trailer is a disaster of a mess, the couple's relationship is just as much a horror show, and all this disarray and disharmony attracts a demon (that only Chip Coffey can denounce). I allowed my disaffected mind to become a playground for the Ennui Demon. But eventually I overcame its dark and monstrous apathy. So take note - the cure for ennui: a bowl of cherries and Milla kicking ass.
P.S. Now this is creepy - this just happens to be post #666!
Happy Birthday or Whatever, by Annie Choi
Go out and read this book! It's delightful, hilarious, touching, and if you've ever spent time in Korea like I have, it will give you flashbacks. Here's the author's site: Annietown.com.
Her descriptions of her mother are priceless, and on more than one occasion brought to mind my Filipina mother-in-law - particularly with the controlling, you're-not-good-enough antics combined with the many ways she can be cute and manipulative at the same time. And the noraebang (karaoke) scenes had me rolling on the floor (once you have that reverb-powered mic in your hand, you won't ever want to speak without it!). Assah!!
Annie Choi's book inspires me. JET and I have been saying since our reconciliation that we need to write a memoir - told in the voice of funny-yet-poignant. JET is a master of this and I could learn so much from her in this regard. Mostly I just whine, as evidenced on this here blarg.
Another project in the wings... after I clear off a couple of my other items.
Her descriptions of her mother are priceless, and on more than one occasion brought to mind my Filipina mother-in-law - particularly with the controlling, you're-not-good-enough antics combined with the many ways she can be cute and manipulative at the same time. And the noraebang (karaoke) scenes had me rolling on the floor (once you have that reverb-powered mic in your hand, you won't ever want to speak without it!). Assah!!
Annie Choi's book inspires me. JET and I have been saying since our reconciliation that we need to write a memoir - told in the voice of funny-yet-poignant. JET is a master of this and I could learn so much from her in this regard. Mostly I just whine, as evidenced on this here blarg.
Another project in the wings... after I clear off a couple of my other items.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Let's Go Red Sox!
They are on top so far this season, and will remain there, I'm sure. What sucks is that I can't see many games here - we don't have a deluxe cable package. The only baseball we usually see is Yankees and Mets, and who the hell cares? Ha ha. Well I know some people care about those teams, but I sure as hell don't.
I'm psyched for Drew that he's having his moment to shine with Ortiz out of order for a while: Sox Roll.
I'm psyched for Drew that he's having his moment to shine with Ortiz out of order for a while: Sox Roll.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Write Stuff
I did it! I sent off some free lance writing queries to local publications with 5 story ideas, and two of them responded with interest in having me write my proposed articles! The glossy regional magazine wants me to write about the local artists' colony and my life in Korea; the local paper has a life section (as most papers do) and that editor is interested my other three ideas: the history of local theaters, the local Taoist T'ai Chi Society chapter, and (best of all, IMO), doing a series of reviews on supposedly haunted locations!
I am beside myself with excitement. Things are starting to happen - and all it took was a deep breath and a little self-confidence. I am hopeful that this will be the beginning of some semi-regular free lancing.
I am beside myself with excitement. Things are starting to happen - and all it took was a deep breath and a little self-confidence. I am hopeful that this will be the beginning of some semi-regular free lancing.
Say Hello To My Little Pen!
George Lopez loves to find ways to use this paraphrase of Scarface's deranged challenge. In my case, it is the perfect description of the letter of complaint I penned this morning. Someone's ass is going to BURN!
Mom and I went to visit the assisted living facility here in I-Town yesterday. It was only after we arrived that we were informed by the intake counselor that they can't take residents on oxygen due to some health department code. Mind you, it was in the 80s and very humid out - making it hard for mom to breathe, so the trip was quite a challenge for her. We took the time, expense and the physical exertion (esp. on mom's part) to haul our asses up here from where mom lives (45 minutes away) only to be turned away for something that should have been discussed on the phone.
This intake counselor never mentioned anything about restrictions from using O2 in either of our phone calls. She should be using a checklist of pre-screening questions over the phone. Instead, she couldn't wait to get us in there and start selling us on the place.
WORSE, she went on to tell us IN THE LOBBY (IOW, in public) that residents on O2 were allowed only to stay in the independent living apartments, and, get this: "You can't afford that."
Needless to say, I have a pointed letter going out to the director of the facility, the president of the board that runs the facility, the director of the county's office for aging, and the aging specialist I'd spoken with at the office for aging.
Thankfully, this ridiculous health code doesn't apply to the county where mom lives now, and so we have an appointment with the other assisted living place in the next town over from her. In many ways this is a better fit - she can keep all the same doctors and the dialysis unit where she is now. The only down side is I'll still have to make a 45-minute drive to see her. But I can take it - the important thing is that she's got a good place to live with the care she needs and deserves.
Meantime, I am going to send my letter of complaint out and be done with it. Time to move on. As Grant and Jay say on Ghost Hunters, "On to the next!"
Mom and I went to visit the assisted living facility here in I-Town yesterday. It was only after we arrived that we were informed by the intake counselor that they can't take residents on oxygen due to some health department code. Mind you, it was in the 80s and very humid out - making it hard for mom to breathe, so the trip was quite a challenge for her. We took the time, expense and the physical exertion (esp. on mom's part) to haul our asses up here from where mom lives (45 minutes away) only to be turned away for something that should have been discussed on the phone.
This intake counselor never mentioned anything about restrictions from using O2 in either of our phone calls. She should be using a checklist of pre-screening questions over the phone. Instead, she couldn't wait to get us in there and start selling us on the place.
WORSE, she went on to tell us IN THE LOBBY (IOW, in public) that residents on O2 were allowed only to stay in the independent living apartments, and, get this: "You can't afford that."
Needless to say, I have a pointed letter going out to the director of the facility, the president of the board that runs the facility, the director of the county's office for aging, and the aging specialist I'd spoken with at the office for aging.
Thankfully, this ridiculous health code doesn't apply to the county where mom lives now, and so we have an appointment with the other assisted living place in the next town over from her. In many ways this is a better fit - she can keep all the same doctors and the dialysis unit where she is now. The only down side is I'll still have to make a 45-minute drive to see her. But I can take it - the important thing is that she's got a good place to live with the care she needs and deserves.
Meantime, I am going to send my letter of complaint out and be done with it. Time to move on. As Grant and Jay say on Ghost Hunters, "On to the next!"
Monday, June 09, 2008
Logging and Slogging
I finally created the space in my head and on my desk for logging the footage from Korea. The good news is that the B-roll is fantastic; bad news is half the interviews appear to be unusable for technical difficulties. But that still leaves 5 great interviews that are very usable. I'm hoping some of the technical stuff might be fixed up a bit in post. We'll see.
I am thrilled with most of the footage, though, and I am ramped up to see this thing through despite all the delays and mom's situation weighing in.
A small victory - had the A/C recharged in my car this morning. Woo hoo! No more driving around saying "how 'bout this heat?" (Name that reference! Bizarro, you can't play, it wouldn't be fair.)
I am thrilled with most of the footage, though, and I am ramped up to see this thing through despite all the delays and mom's situation weighing in.
A small victory - had the A/C recharged in my car this morning. Woo hoo! No more driving around saying "how 'bout this heat?" (Name that reference! Bizarro, you can't play, it wouldn't be fair.)
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Opportunity Knocks
Yesterday on my evening walk, I had one of my "Duh" moments. "Duh" because a piece of inspiration or wisdom hits me and then it seems something that I should have realized ages ago.
It occurred to me that life is nothing but a series of opportunities. When bad shit happens, it's an opportunity to choose between two reactions. Column A: the serenity prayer, anger turned to motivation to effect positive change, a chance to be honest about the causes of the situation, seeing the ways to learn and grow, remain present and let the experience make you more human, and ultimately, more compassionate. Or, Column B: anger turned to bitterness, hardening your heart, becoming selfish and turning away from our true nature. Every single challenge in life is really this opportunity presenting itself again and again in different forms.
And when good things happen, they are also opportunities: to either take and take and not think about it, or to be grateful, and find ways to share the fortune.
Opportunities are everywhere - sometimes we just don't see them. Or we have to make them, instead of waiting for them to smack us on the forehead and say "Helloooo! I'm over heeee-rrrre!"
So yeah - a new view of the world. Not so new really - Buddhists have been teaching this kind of stuff for a couple thousand years. Pema Chodron's books "When Things Fall Apart" and "Start Where You Are" are full of this kind of wisdom. Funny that it took this long for it to sink in, and now I have to continually remind myself when I feel my anger and selfishness creeping in.
It occurred to me that life is nothing but a series of opportunities. When bad shit happens, it's an opportunity to choose between two reactions. Column A: the serenity prayer, anger turned to motivation to effect positive change, a chance to be honest about the causes of the situation, seeing the ways to learn and grow, remain present and let the experience make you more human, and ultimately, more compassionate. Or, Column B: anger turned to bitterness, hardening your heart, becoming selfish and turning away from our true nature. Every single challenge in life is really this opportunity presenting itself again and again in different forms.
And when good things happen, they are also opportunities: to either take and take and not think about it, or to be grateful, and find ways to share the fortune.
Opportunities are everywhere - sometimes we just don't see them. Or we have to make them, instead of waiting for them to smack us on the forehead and say "Helloooo! I'm over heeee-rrrre!"
So yeah - a new view of the world. Not so new really - Buddhists have been teaching this kind of stuff for a couple thousand years. Pema Chodron's books "When Things Fall Apart" and "Start Where You Are" are full of this kind of wisdom. Funny that it took this long for it to sink in, and now I have to continually remind myself when I feel my anger and selfishness creeping in.
Laughter - The Best Medicine
Last night Bizarro and I watched a parody of sports/martial arts movies, and I have to say it's probably the funniest thing I've seen in a long time: "Balls of Fury." If you need a hearty laugh, and especially if you're familiar with the genre the film parodies, by all means go out, buy a six-pack of your favorite beer, and rent it.
Friday night we watched "Meet the Spartans" which parodies the Frank Miller abs-extravaganza "300" (a film I didn't really much care for in the first place). "Meet the Spartans" was a fairly well-made parody but wouldn't be very funny if you hadn't seen the original film or read any of Frank Miller's stuff. And in general, although it has very amusing moments, it ends up being just an hour and a half of silliness and gay jokes. I'm glad I didn't pay theatre prices to see it.
But I have say, the weekend of laughter was well-deserved and much-needed.
Friday night we watched "Meet the Spartans" which parodies the Frank Miller abs-extravaganza "300" (a film I didn't really much care for in the first place). "Meet the Spartans" was a fairly well-made parody but wouldn't be very funny if you hadn't seen the original film or read any of Frank Miller's stuff. And in general, although it has very amusing moments, it ends up being just an hour and a half of silliness and gay jokes. I'm glad I didn't pay theatre prices to see it.
But I have say, the weekend of laughter was well-deserved and much-needed.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Maybe...
...this is why I haven't had more than one interview in 2 years?
more funny fail pictures at FAIL Blog
more funny fail pictures at FAIL Blog
Wheel of Fail
This little video was posted on the Fail Blog (failblog.org), which is brought to you by the makers of LOL Kitteh (icanhascheezburger.com). There are some pretty funny bits in here. It makes me feel less of a bumblefuck for spraining my ankle a few weeks ago.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Some updates
Back in NY now. Had a decent time in Mass, all things considered, but it was good to arrive home to a clean apartment and my wonderful huzzbinnd.
I woke up this morning feeling oddly refreshed and more than that - feeling centered. I have now accepted my "new" role as mom ages. I'd spent a good month feeling angry and resentful that my life was being put "on hold." Now I see that this IS my life - ALL of it. None of it is bad, unless I create the interior circumstances for it to be ugly.
Mom and I have an appointment at the only assisted living facility that takes SSI. I have been all over their website and have spoken to their on-staff social worker, and so far I am impressed. We'll see how it goes. It's going to have to do, because no place else in this godforsaken place takes SSI. Yah - one more example of how this supposed-wannabe progressive liberal town doesn't practice what it preaches. 90% of the assisted living places are for rich folk.
I am leaving to go see Mom in a few minutes. I'm a bit nervous - will my calm crack under the weight of seeing her in a cast? and if she starts crying? But hopefully the info I've collected on the assisted living place will cheer her up (it looks awfully appealing, and the menus are outstanding).
But before I close, I will leave you with this. My nephew edited this after our BBQ in his backyard last week:
I woke up this morning feeling oddly refreshed and more than that - feeling centered. I have now accepted my "new" role as mom ages. I'd spent a good month feeling angry and resentful that my life was being put "on hold." Now I see that this IS my life - ALL of it. None of it is bad, unless I create the interior circumstances for it to be ugly.
Mom and I have an appointment at the only assisted living facility that takes SSI. I have been all over their website and have spoken to their on-staff social worker, and so far I am impressed. We'll see how it goes. It's going to have to do, because no place else in this godforsaken place takes SSI. Yah - one more example of how this supposed-wannabe progressive liberal town doesn't practice what it preaches. 90% of the assisted living places are for rich folk.
I am leaving to go see Mom in a few minutes. I'm a bit nervous - will my calm crack under the weight of seeing her in a cast? and if she starts crying? But hopefully the info I've collected on the assisted living place will cheer her up (it looks awfully appealing, and the menus are outstanding).
But before I close, I will leave you with this. My nephew edited this after our BBQ in his backyard last week:
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