Found this neat video of dudes surfing at Nantasket Beach (where I'll be visiting next month):
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Announcing...
Baby May, born to JET on Sept. 26 at 11:53 a.m. Spoke with the new mom for about 3 minutes tonight. She sounded peaceful, relieved and tired, about what you'd expect. Says JET of Baby May, "She very cute." I can't wait to meet her next month!
Two New Obsessions
1. The Harvey Wallbanger - classic cocktail. Much simpler and cheaper to make than a Mai Tai. SMJ & PMP - after I'm done with the antibiotic, we needs to get our drink on!
2. Surfing. A few weeks ago I had a stupendous dream involving me riding on top of a tsunami tidal wave and surviving it to the applause of all the other survivors on the beach. Since then, I've been obsessed. I've never been to California, but I now have a mission to watch the surfers at Cortez Banks some day. If I thought my busted up knee and ankle could take it, I'd take lessons. However, boogie boarding and body surfing are both possibilities, if I can get some hot surfing chick from "Blue Crush" to teach me.
2. Surfing. A few weeks ago I had a stupendous dream involving me riding on top of a tsunami tidal wave and surviving it to the applause of all the other survivors on the beach. Since then, I've been obsessed. I've never been to California, but I now have a mission to watch the surfers at Cortez Banks some day. If I thought my busted up knee and ankle could take it, I'd take lessons. However, boogie boarding and body surfing are both possibilities, if I can get some hot surfing chick from "Blue Crush" to teach me.
You are not of the body!
I've decided. My favorite Star Trek episode is "Return of the Archons," where Kirk & Co. find a planet that is being controlled by a computer that calls itself Landru. This episode's got everything - zombies, mind-control, dystopia masked as utopia, turning logic against a computer to destroy it, rape & pillage in the streets, menacing dudes in hooded cloaks, and Kirk in a waistcoat and tie.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Quote of the Day Award
...goes to Salty Miss Jill for this gem:
"If I hear someone say ‘irregardless’ one more time, I’m going to beat them to death with my plum Feistaware coffee mug."
I know exactly what you're talking about - I share your pain, SMJ! It sucks to be highly educated among morons. *sigh* (Said from my perch on high, meting out wisdom and justice to the masses far below me...)
"If I hear someone say ‘irregardless’ one more time, I’m going to beat them to death with my plum Feistaware coffee mug."
I know exactly what you're talking about - I share your pain, SMJ! It sucks to be highly educated among morons. *sigh* (Said from my perch on high, meting out wisdom and justice to the masses far below me...)
Over it
I guess all my heart-wrenching drama has played itself out because I woke up this morning not feeling stressed by the prospect of quitting. I guess I got it out of my system. I will do it when the time is right and I am guessing that will be mid-October.
Feeling a whole lot better on the amoxacillan. Got some good stuff done today and will have a busy weekend catching up on work and helping Mom with getting rid of more crap.
JET was scheduled for her C-section this morning, and she'd promised to have her sister email and let people know... I'm dying to find out how it went. It's so weird - JET and I grew up together, so she's my age, and this is her first (and only) child. It's just a strange feeling - but a good one!
Feeling a whole lot better on the amoxacillan. Got some good stuff done today and will have a busy weekend catching up on work and helping Mom with getting rid of more crap.
JET was scheduled for her C-section this morning, and she'd promised to have her sister email and let people know... I'm dying to find out how it went. It's so weird - JET and I grew up together, so she's my age, and this is her first (and only) child. It's just a strange feeling - but a good one!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A time for everything...
more animals
When do I quit my desk job at the chorch? Now? How bout now?
Okay, now?
*sigh*
I'm stressing over this big time. I want to do right by them, but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot. It's driving me absolutely bonkers and I hate it. Every time something is mentioned about "next year" or how "we're partners" or some such thing, I feel horrendously guilty (clearly the Catholic Church has left its mark on me). I have been trying to figure this out for days and it's taking up way too much time and brain space. If these people were a bunch of wheezes, I wouldn't be having this dilemma; my boss is a great boss and I know how much I will be letting her down, and what a nightmare it will be for her to train someone up again (after a string of part timers and losers before me). That's why on one hand I just want to get it over with. But of course if I give notice too soon, there's nothing to stop them from saying "we won't be needing you after Oct. 31st," and then I'm screwed for a 2nd job in November and most of December. See my quandry? Meantime, my cash cow school can't give me a contract until Thanksgiving because that's their policy (which means although it's unlikely for my sections to be cancelled, there's always an outside chance). Well, there's still the community college to weigh in. They were very keen on me this semester; I'm hoping they won't have cooled off for next semester and beyond.
URRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRG! I just want this settled once and for all!
But in a stroke of good fortune, Momazoo will be relocating to her assisted living place the first week of November! Turns out a resident is moving into independent living, so Mom gets her spot! Woo hoo! At least there's SOMETHING finally nailed down. Of course I have a lot to do for her and for this move in the next month, but I know we'll get it done.
I'm on an antibiotic for what turned out to be a sinus infection. Ew. No wonder I felt like shit for so long. One day on the drug and I'm feeling better already. Thank keee-rist!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
New Look
Since it's a new season, and since I'm really looking forward to my trip to The Land Where I Was Birthed (the South Shore of Boston, that is to say, near the ocean), I thought it appropos to change up the look, including a photo I took in May at Scituate Light House.
"I forgot all about your needs; I was too busy tending to my own."
This awesome quote from Aqua Teen Hunger Force seems to be a reigning theme of the week. I've experienced a distressing lack of boundaries, disrespect for my hallowed and well-deserved yet puny 30 minute lunch break, and the stink eye from a fellow customer who clearly felt I needed to get out of her way so she could do her business.
What the hell, people? First of all, there's this thing called CIVILITY which used to be a mark of CIVILIZATION. Secondly, a person's lunch is SACRED. You're a liberal, don't you realize how hard the unions fought for that? Jeezuz!
It's okay; I kept telling myself today that every time someone treats me like an inferior admininstrative assistant with no human rights, it will be that much easier to walk away from the job when the time comes. I've been wracked with guilt at the thought of "betraying" my boss who HAS been incredibly wonderful to me in so many ways. Then my space gets stepped on by the Flying Nun, or the Jersey Girl interrupts my lunch to get a message off the answering service, and I remember why I'm not happy there. Oh, and also, I'm not a freaking secretary - I'm a TEACHER and a WRITER.
Last night Paranormal State was a repeat, which was a bummer. But next week they go chasing UFOs (with Chip Coffey!) for their mid-season finale. Stoke!
I am cooking up a kick-ass sauce with a base of hot turkey Italian sassage, sauted onions and garlic with sherry, and some organic tomatoes. Can't wait to eat when Bizarro gets home!
Last thing - I want to recommend that everyone see the film "Tampopo," a Japanese foody flick so-called a "noodle Western." It's fun, kooky, and will make you hungry (esp. if you like Japanese food)!
What the hell, people? First of all, there's this thing called CIVILITY which used to be a mark of CIVILIZATION. Secondly, a person's lunch is SACRED. You're a liberal, don't you realize how hard the unions fought for that? Jeezuz!
It's okay; I kept telling myself today that every time someone treats me like an inferior admininstrative assistant with no human rights, it will be that much easier to walk away from the job when the time comes. I've been wracked with guilt at the thought of "betraying" my boss who HAS been incredibly wonderful to me in so many ways. Then my space gets stepped on by the Flying Nun, or the Jersey Girl interrupts my lunch to get a message off the answering service, and I remember why I'm not happy there. Oh, and also, I'm not a freaking secretary - I'm a TEACHER and a WRITER.
Last night Paranormal State was a repeat, which was a bummer. But next week they go chasing UFOs (with Chip Coffey!) for their mid-season finale. Stoke!
I am cooking up a kick-ass sauce with a base of hot turkey Italian sassage, sauted onions and garlic with sherry, and some organic tomatoes. Can't wait to eat when Bizarro gets home!
Last thing - I want to recommend that everyone see the film "Tampopo," a Japanese foody flick so-called a "noodle Western." It's fun, kooky, and will make you hungry (esp. if you like Japanese food)!
Happy Autumn
Yesterday was, of course, the Autumnal Equinox. The days are now shorter than the nights, and will continue to dwindle. I'm fine with this. What I dread is the turning back of the clocks. I think we just need to stay on the daylight savings schedule all year round. It doeesn't need to be dark out at 5:00, people! As someone who does major battle with seasonal depression, I don't see the need for it being dark from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 A.M. the next day. I needs me some sunlight! My doctor prescribed a light box for me this winter, which I will use and see if it does any damned good. Darkness + Cold + A drafty apartment = a very unhappy Ms. Bizarro.
But we still have a good month/month and a half of daylight savings and beautiful fall weather. I am going to Massachusetts next month for a whirlwind visit to the old hometown, to see JET's Baby Girl (she has her C-section scheduled for this Friday) and possibly my grand niece, who is due Nov 3 but who may well come early, seeing as how her brother Owen made a Preemie appearance. We shall see... the drive out will be beautiful, and I've booked a family-owned motel room that I've stayed at before (it's wicked cheap - $65/night compared to $130 at the chains just up the road). And of course, I will visit the ocean... all bundled up with a large cup of Marylou's black coffee. Heaven.
I am feeling better after last week's Virus That Ate My Brain, but still my sinuses are holding on to every drop of gunk they can. Can I just tell you that nasal irrigation is the weirdest thing I've ever done? It has helped, I think, but it wasn't pleasant. Still, I recommend it to anyone with sinusitis.
Dammit I sound like an old person complaining about my ailments. I pray that I never become so self-involved that all I ever talk about is what's wrong with me. So many old people come into the church office where I work, and when you ask them how they are (a fairly perfunctory question, mind you), they spew forth a litany of complaints. Meanwhile I just nod and make sounds that are supposed to be read as sympathetic, while I continue doing my work. I do feel bad for these people, though. For some of them, the church is the center of their social life as well as their spiritual life, and without it they'd have no one to talk to.
Speaking of the chorch job, I need to get ready for work. Blech. I want to curl up with a blanket and a book and stay home, but no can doing.
But we still have a good month/month and a half of daylight savings and beautiful fall weather. I am going to Massachusetts next month for a whirlwind visit to the old hometown, to see JET's Baby Girl (she has her C-section scheduled for this Friday) and possibly my grand niece, who is due Nov 3 but who may well come early, seeing as how her brother Owen made a Preemie appearance. We shall see... the drive out will be beautiful, and I've booked a family-owned motel room that I've stayed at before (it's wicked cheap - $65/night compared to $130 at the chains just up the road). And of course, I will visit the ocean... all bundled up with a large cup of Marylou's black coffee. Heaven.
I am feeling better after last week's Virus That Ate My Brain, but still my sinuses are holding on to every drop of gunk they can. Can I just tell you that nasal irrigation is the weirdest thing I've ever done? It has helped, I think, but it wasn't pleasant. Still, I recommend it to anyone with sinusitis.
Dammit I sound like an old person complaining about my ailments. I pray that I never become so self-involved that all I ever talk about is what's wrong with me. So many old people come into the church office where I work, and when you ask them how they are (a fairly perfunctory question, mind you), they spew forth a litany of complaints. Meanwhile I just nod and make sounds that are supposed to be read as sympathetic, while I continue doing my work. I do feel bad for these people, though. For some of them, the church is the center of their social life as well as their spiritual life, and without it they'd have no one to talk to.
Speaking of the chorch job, I need to get ready for work. Blech. I want to curl up with a blanket and a book and stay home, but no can doing.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Day 3 of being on the couch. This virus is kicking my ass. I did get up and take a shower, eat breakfast, fix a cup of tea, in hopes that it would give me the push to get to work, at least for a couple hours, but no go. My sinuses hurt like a muther and I can't stop sneezing or blowing my nose. And I'm just tired and miserable. So. Here I am. Another beautiful Indian summer day and I'm stuck on the godsdamn couch.
At least there's food in the house. And I have plenty of cold drugs, Riccola and hard-ass lozenges, 2 new boxes of soft tissue, and a full bottle of Tylenol. And of course, mounds of tea. Irish Breakfast for the morning, Echinacea Cold Care for the afternoon.
I finished writing that Space: 1999 novella I started in February. It just needs some technobabble added to it, and I have a source for that (a guy into the tech stuff for sci fi and 1999 in particular. His site for 1999 is on the sidebar.)
I know it's just a piece of fan fiction, but it was a great experience for me, to write something that long beginning to end, and go through the revision process. It helped me to apply screenwriting to prose writing - especially dialogue. In screenwriting there's a mantra: cut, cut, cut. Even when you think it's "just right," you cut. Too much talky dialogue not only makes a shitty movie, it makes a boring read. Too much over-explanation, or driving home the same idea over and over, or, worst of all, relentless exposition, will suck the marrow out of any story. So this was a great experience for me to not let that happen to my story. At least, I think I accomplished that much. I essentially wrote something the length and breadth of an episode (the concept and story are mine) but without the "cut to commercial cliff-hangers with ominous horns."
As to my sci fi script - I have temporarily suspended slogging through notes in a final revision. I got swept up in my other script - the 1950s beauty school story - which is now giving me a problem in the second act. I have some plot points to hammer out before I continue writing.
I've been reading THE DANCE OF 17 LIVES, about His Holiness the Karmapa (spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism). It's a great read; well-researched and well-written, though it can be disappointing to read about how these high lamas, rinpoches and tulkus are just like the rest of us - human with human failings. The book tells how Tibetans never had that kind of idealistic view of the lamas; Westerners applied that impossible state of perfection to their gurus and masters when Buddhism was first introduced to the West in the 60s. Damned hippies.
I've expended all my "sitting upright in a vertical position" energy for now. Must lie down. More later.
At least there's food in the house. And I have plenty of cold drugs, Riccola and hard-ass lozenges, 2 new boxes of soft tissue, and a full bottle of Tylenol. And of course, mounds of tea. Irish Breakfast for the morning, Echinacea Cold Care for the afternoon.
I finished writing that Space: 1999 novella I started in February. It just needs some technobabble added to it, and I have a source for that (a guy into the tech stuff for sci fi and 1999 in particular. His site for 1999 is on the sidebar.)
I know it's just a piece of fan fiction, but it was a great experience for me, to write something that long beginning to end, and go through the revision process. It helped me to apply screenwriting to prose writing - especially dialogue. In screenwriting there's a mantra: cut, cut, cut. Even when you think it's "just right," you cut. Too much talky dialogue not only makes a shitty movie, it makes a boring read. Too much over-explanation, or driving home the same idea over and over, or, worst of all, relentless exposition, will suck the marrow out of any story. So this was a great experience for me to not let that happen to my story. At least, I think I accomplished that much. I essentially wrote something the length and breadth of an episode (the concept and story are mine) but without the "cut to commercial cliff-hangers with ominous horns."
As to my sci fi script - I have temporarily suspended slogging through notes in a final revision. I got swept up in my other script - the 1950s beauty school story - which is now giving me a problem in the second act. I have some plot points to hammer out before I continue writing.
I've been reading THE DANCE OF 17 LIVES, about His Holiness the Karmapa (spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism). It's a great read; well-researched and well-written, though it can be disappointing to read about how these high lamas, rinpoches and tulkus are just like the rest of us - human with human failings. The book tells how Tibetans never had that kind of idealistic view of the lamas; Westerners applied that impossible state of perfection to their gurus and masters when Buddhism was first introduced to the West in the 60s. Damned hippies.
I've expended all my "sitting upright in a vertical position" energy for now. Must lie down. More later.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A Haunting
The other thing I watched today while on the couch, clutching my roll of T.P. and my box of cough drops, was "A Haunting" which is a show that dramatizes supposed true stories of haunted houses. I'd seen the ep. before but I didn't remember that the demonologists in the case were Lorraine and Ed Warren, of Amitiville Horror fame and now enjoying TV fame on "Paranormal State."
I wonder what possesses someone to become a demonologist.
GET IT? I couldn't resist.
We are now watching "Destination Truth," which I usually don't watch, but they're ghost hunting in a Javanese cave. Josh Gates has the most annoying voice on TV, and he seems to enjoy disrespecting the native peoples he visits in search of his mythical beasts. But he is occasionally funny, in a self-deprecating annoying kind of way. One thing's for sure, he really gets himself into some dangerous spots in search of whatever (truth?).
I will say that he scored points with me when he guest-starred on Ghost Hunters International and taunted the ghost by saying "Whip a rock into Andy (Andrew)'s face." Now that is something I'd like to see.
I wonder what possesses someone to become a demonologist.
GET IT? I couldn't resist.
We are now watching "Destination Truth," which I usually don't watch, but they're ghost hunting in a Javanese cave. Josh Gates has the most annoying voice on TV, and he seems to enjoy disrespecting the native peoples he visits in search of his mythical beasts. But he is occasionally funny, in a self-deprecating annoying kind of way. One thing's for sure, he really gets himself into some dangerous spots in search of whatever (truth?).
I will say that he scored points with me when he guest-starred on Ghost Hunters International and taunted the ghost by saying "Whip a rock into Andy (Andrew)'s face." Now that is something I'd like to see.
Sick on the couch
Today was my 2nd day on the couch. I watched a 2-hour program on the history of UFOs in America. I remember when the History channel was all about Nazi battle strategy and tanks. Now we have UFOs, USOs (Unidentified SUBMERGED Objects, for those who don't follow such things), and of course, cryptozoology (how many "o"s in that word? Anyway it's the study of mythical creatures like Nessie and Bigfoot).
I did learn something from the UFO show, though. I learned that the secret air force stuff out at White Sands began with a crop of German scientists who were brought here after WWII to divulge all their rocket science and propulsion research. Basically Area 51 started out as a research facility for a bunch of ex-Nazis to help us build the space program. So in one way, you could argue that Adolf Hitler funded (albeit unwittingly) the U.S. space program. Sweet.
I am facing a trip to the grocery store this evening, which I am not looking forward to, because I am about out of everything necessary for the sick or the healthy, including tissues (been using a roll of T.P.) and non-drowsy sinus stuff.
I did learn something from the UFO show, though. I learned that the secret air force stuff out at White Sands began with a crop of German scientists who were brought here after WWII to divulge all their rocket science and propulsion research. Basically Area 51 started out as a research facility for a bunch of ex-Nazis to help us build the space program. So in one way, you could argue that Adolf Hitler funded (albeit unwittingly) the U.S. space program. Sweet.
I am facing a trip to the grocery store this evening, which I am not looking forward to, because I am about out of everything necessary for the sick or the healthy, including tissues (been using a roll of T.P.) and non-drowsy sinus stuff.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
JC Penney's Ain't So Bad
Last Saturday I took Mom shopping because she's lost so much weight, her clothes don't fit her any more. She's always loved shopping at Penney's (formerly JC Penney's but now it's just Penney's) so that's where we went. I was surprised at the upscaleness of the place when we walked in. It had been a long time since I last stepped foot in the Penney's, mainly because it's a 45 minute drive a few towns over and I just couldn't be bothered. They had "door buster" sales in progress, and the clothes didn't seem so awful. The women's bathroom had been remodeled from the stank-hole it was when I was a teenager, and it didn't even smell like a urinal!
Mom found a couple pairs of pants and a couple tops, and I found an exercise jacket (black and purple - I like!). It was a very productive trip. I realized that I needn't be so hard on Penney's because apparently they've cleaned up their act.
So now I will heap my retail scorn upon The Bon Ton. First of all, what the fuck kind of name is Bon Ton? Mind you, here in upstate NY, it's pronounced "BAHN TAHN" and it makes me shudder even thinking about it (so much for the linguist). Secondly, their store looks like crap. There are always tables of complete crap clogging up the tiny aisles, and the clothes are always a mess, and the service is utter crap. In comparison, Penney's is like Nieman Marcus.
I am exhausted from this entry. I'm home sick and clearly have nothing better to write about at the moment. It is a beautiful late-summer/early-fall day and I'm cozied up with a comforter and my laptop on the couch. Writing about 2nd rate and 3rd rate department stores.
Mom found a couple pairs of pants and a couple tops, and I found an exercise jacket (black and purple - I like!). It was a very productive trip. I realized that I needn't be so hard on Penney's because apparently they've cleaned up their act.
So now I will heap my retail scorn upon The Bon Ton. First of all, what the fuck kind of name is Bon Ton? Mind you, here in upstate NY, it's pronounced "BAHN TAHN" and it makes me shudder even thinking about it (so much for the linguist). Secondly, their store looks like crap. There are always tables of complete crap clogging up the tiny aisles, and the clothes are always a mess, and the service is utter crap. In comparison, Penney's is like Nieman Marcus.
I am exhausted from this entry. I'm home sick and clearly have nothing better to write about at the moment. It is a beautiful late-summer/early-fall day and I'm cozied up with a comforter and my laptop on the couch. Writing about 2nd rate and 3rd rate department stores.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Looking Up
Things are looking up - I've got 2 sections of advanced screenwriting to teach next semester! And still waiting to hear about a possible ESL class at a community college. I am ready to give my desk job the boot to the head.
It's almost a full moon (next week). Which makes this so appropriate: Ways in Which The Future Has Failed Me.
Gotta get ready for class.
It's almost a full moon (next week). Which makes this so appropriate: Ways in Which The Future Has Failed Me.
Gotta get ready for class.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I know I should post something for 9/11, but I kinda don't want to. We need to remember, but do we need to relive it? I won't be turning on the TV at all today, because I don't want to see those towers falling again and again and again.
It's now 7 years later, and I shudder to think how much worse off we are now. We live in a world of fear, where our basest instincts to defend aggressively have been whipped up by our leaders, encouraged by on-going horrific events in all parts of the globe, and there have been and are children being born who never knew the pre-9/11 world. The tragedy extends past those who lost their lives, and their family and friends (though in no way am I downplaying their losses and pain). The tragedy now includes how this nation has presented itself in the world community, and how we have repeatedly made bad decisions that have long-reaching effects. I know the chest-thumping "Proud to be an American" patriots don't want to accept that the U.S. of A. actually makes mistakes, but we do. And I'm sure that at some point we'll figure some things out. Our country is in its developmental adolescence in many ways, after all.
I'm just worried that there won't be much of an adulthood if humanity has destroyed the planet we live on and created an environment in which no one ever trusts anyone.
See? This is why I don't like to focus too much on this date. I get awfully depressed awfully quickly. I say we should remember and keep a watchful eye, but we should remember who we are as human beings, as well. We have the capacity to be much more than defenders and aggressors.
Om mani padme hum. May all beings benefit.
It's now 7 years later, and I shudder to think how much worse off we are now. We live in a world of fear, where our basest instincts to defend aggressively have been whipped up by our leaders, encouraged by on-going horrific events in all parts of the globe, and there have been and are children being born who never knew the pre-9/11 world. The tragedy extends past those who lost their lives, and their family and friends (though in no way am I downplaying their losses and pain). The tragedy now includes how this nation has presented itself in the world community, and how we have repeatedly made bad decisions that have long-reaching effects. I know the chest-thumping "Proud to be an American" patriots don't want to accept that the U.S. of A. actually makes mistakes, but we do. And I'm sure that at some point we'll figure some things out. Our country is in its developmental adolescence in many ways, after all.
I'm just worried that there won't be much of an adulthood if humanity has destroyed the planet we live on and created an environment in which no one ever trusts anyone.
See? This is why I don't like to focus too much on this date. I get awfully depressed awfully quickly. I say we should remember and keep a watchful eye, but we should remember who we are as human beings, as well. We have the capacity to be much more than defenders and aggressors.
Om mani padme hum. May all beings benefit.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Atom Smashing
Have you been keeping up with the story about the 9 billion dollar, underground atom smasher? Scientists are trying to find out what happened during the Big Bang, so they decided it would be a good idea to recreate the event somewhere under France and Switzerland's borders. Critics claimed it would create a black hole that would destroy everything. It's hard for a layperson such as my self to know what to think. But, they gave it a test whirl and everything seems fine and dandy (so far). I hope this doesn't end up being one of those long-range disasters that sneaks up on us and in 10 years we realize we should never have built the thing.
Read all about the test run here: Atom Smasher Success (CNN).
To quote Bobby Lee playing the N. Korean nuclear scientist:
"I'm a scientist. You're a scientist. SCIENCE!"
Read all about the test run here: Atom Smasher Success (CNN).
To quote Bobby Lee playing the N. Korean nuclear scientist:
"I'm a scientist. You're a scientist. SCIENCE!"
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Paint-ball Patton
An old episode of MadTV aired last night, and this clip had me laughing till I couldn't breathe:
Departures & Arrivals
I am pleased to see this past week departing into the mists of the Past. It was not, by any measure, a particularly good week. But I'm not complaining, and I'll tell you why later.
It was a short week, last Monday being Labor Day, but that only added to the stress of going back to the chorch job on Tuesday with a day less in which to do all my work (mind you, the boss is still on vacation, so I'm still doing all the extra crap for her), plus the fact that the semester has begun so I am gone Wed. and Fri. afternoons.
Then on Thursday I called Mom in the morning and she was on her way out to the E.R. because she'd fallen again (4th time this year). Nothing broken this time - just an ugly gash in her upper arm that had to get stitched. I brought her her home after the 3 hour hurry-up-and-wait E.R. discharged her, and then spent the rest of the day doing housework and laundry and cooking for her (normally her Home Health Aide does that work but the woman had taken Mom to the E.R. and waited with her until I arrived). I drove home around 8:00 p.m. exhausted. Mom is doing just fine now, and we are both really looking forward to her move to assisted living next month (which is moving forward nicely).
But Friday was actually a decent day - a good day, in fact - and this is why I'm not complaining. I was able to finish out a stresful week on a good note and not let the whole thing get my pants in a twist. I am grateful that I finish my weeks teaching - I have a good class and I enjoy it SO much. I then have quiet time in my office at the end of day on Friday to get caught up on stuff for school and just sort of wind down the day's activity. I went home and found the pool was still open, so I spent about an hour there, swimming and lounging and reading, enjoying the late-summer vibes. As I sat in the whirlpool jets on the shallow end, I admitted that I was ready to accept the end of summer and welcomed late summer to my personal world. I decided last year and I confirm that decision that late summer is my favorite time of year.
Later Friday night PMP called me back from earlier in the day and we had dinner at our favorite Korean restaurant in town and had a lovely walk in the warm evening air. It was nice to catch up and have some time downtown.
I am looking forward to seeing how things shape up for the chorch job - this first month, I have to admit, was probably atypical. The first 2 weeks had the learning curve of the full-time hours and the other parts of the job I hadn't been doing before, then my boss was out for 2 weeks (with me still shaky on a few things) such that I had extra work. Now I've been doing it for a month and she comes back tomorrow, so perhaps things won't seem so freaking annoying as I get into a routine.
That doesn't change the fact that I am hoping to depart that job if my community college teaching opportunities arrive as I have been told they will.
So all in all - I am in a good place and feeling just about ready to take on the new week arriving shortly. Today I have some nesting to do, and some writing, and I intend to make the most of it.
It was a short week, last Monday being Labor Day, but that only added to the stress of going back to the chorch job on Tuesday with a day less in which to do all my work (mind you, the boss is still on vacation, so I'm still doing all the extra crap for her), plus the fact that the semester has begun so I am gone Wed. and Fri. afternoons.
Then on Thursday I called Mom in the morning and she was on her way out to the E.R. because she'd fallen again (4th time this year). Nothing broken this time - just an ugly gash in her upper arm that had to get stitched. I brought her her home after the 3 hour hurry-up-and-wait E.R. discharged her, and then spent the rest of the day doing housework and laundry and cooking for her (normally her Home Health Aide does that work but the woman had taken Mom to the E.R. and waited with her until I arrived). I drove home around 8:00 p.m. exhausted. Mom is doing just fine now, and we are both really looking forward to her move to assisted living next month (which is moving forward nicely).
But Friday was actually a decent day - a good day, in fact - and this is why I'm not complaining. I was able to finish out a stresful week on a good note and not let the whole thing get my pants in a twist. I am grateful that I finish my weeks teaching - I have a good class and I enjoy it SO much. I then have quiet time in my office at the end of day on Friday to get caught up on stuff for school and just sort of wind down the day's activity. I went home and found the pool was still open, so I spent about an hour there, swimming and lounging and reading, enjoying the late-summer vibes. As I sat in the whirlpool jets on the shallow end, I admitted that I was ready to accept the end of summer and welcomed late summer to my personal world. I decided last year and I confirm that decision that late summer is my favorite time of year.
Later Friday night PMP called me back from earlier in the day and we had dinner at our favorite Korean restaurant in town and had a lovely walk in the warm evening air. It was nice to catch up and have some time downtown.
I am looking forward to seeing how things shape up for the chorch job - this first month, I have to admit, was probably atypical. The first 2 weeks had the learning curve of the full-time hours and the other parts of the job I hadn't been doing before, then my boss was out for 2 weeks (with me still shaky on a few things) such that I had extra work. Now I've been doing it for a month and she comes back tomorrow, so perhaps things won't seem so freaking annoying as I get into a routine.
That doesn't change the fact that I am hoping to depart that job if my community college teaching opportunities arrive as I have been told they will.
So all in all - I am in a good place and feeling just about ready to take on the new week arriving shortly. Today I have some nesting to do, and some writing, and I intend to make the most of it.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Riddle me this...
A question for anyone else interested in paranormal -
Why is it that only Christian or Catholic rites of exorcism are deemed to work? No one goes to a Buddhist lama when they think they are haunted by a demon (and yes, Buddhists do believe in the spirit world, especially Tibetans). I wonder about that - is it because most people at least recognize Christianity and can therefore receive a psychological placebo effect?
Why is it that only Christian or Catholic rites of exorcism are deemed to work? No one goes to a Buddhist lama when they think they are haunted by a demon (and yes, Buddhists do believe in the spirit world, especially Tibetans). I wonder about that - is it because most people at least recognize Christianity and can therefore receive a psychological placebo effect?
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Ostrich Feathers
As we are all painfully aware, the election season is in full swing with the Democratic National Concruption and Republican National Confuscation. I choose to stick my head in the sand. I choose, instead, to think about blather like The Paranormal Research Society.
These guys have it made - college kids with digital equipment and a keen interest in the paranormal who go to people's homes to research their potentially paranormal problems and come up with possible solutions. Although Ryan Buell is cute and seems to have his heart in the right place - I wonder if it's A&E's programming people who are controlling the type of stories that are included - there seems to be a predominance of evil/demonic spirit stories lately.
I watch it every week because 1. I'm interested in the paranormal, 2. I love the idea of a student group doing this kind of work and 3. Chip Coffey ROCKS. His antics are very entertaining. Supposably (that's a nod to rival paranormal researcher Jason Hawes' terrible grammar, as heard on GhostHunters), Ryan B. doesn't believe in mediums/psychics and is not one to take Chip's word (or any medium's) at face value. That might explain why he often wears a quizzical expression for most of the episode. Hell, he doesn't even seem to believe his own staff when they go to the library and turn up research that supports a medium's claims. I have a feeling that A&E doesn't allow a lot of his skepticism to come through because it wouldn't be as exciting to the audience (and they might tune out).
These ghosthunting groups like TAPS and PRS get picked up by cable TV and turned into a commodity like everything else, though, complete with formulaic programs and cheap knock-offs and "if you like X, you LOVE Y" from lesser networks' daytime programming (I'm thinking here of "A Haunting" which has to be the MOST ridiculous piece of shit I've ever seen glowing out of my cathode ray tube).
(Edited for snark-rant content on 9/3.)
These guys have it made - college kids with digital equipment and a keen interest in the paranormal who go to people's homes to research their potentially paranormal problems and come up with possible solutions. Although Ryan Buell is cute and seems to have his heart in the right place - I wonder if it's A&E's programming people who are controlling the type of stories that are included - there seems to be a predominance of evil/demonic spirit stories lately.
I watch it every week because 1. I'm interested in the paranormal, 2. I love the idea of a student group doing this kind of work and 3. Chip Coffey ROCKS. His antics are very entertaining. Supposably (that's a nod to rival paranormal researcher Jason Hawes' terrible grammar, as heard on GhostHunters), Ryan B. doesn't believe in mediums/psychics and is not one to take Chip's word (or any medium's) at face value. That might explain why he often wears a quizzical expression for most of the episode. Hell, he doesn't even seem to believe his own staff when they go to the library and turn up research that supports a medium's claims. I have a feeling that A&E doesn't allow a lot of his skepticism to come through because it wouldn't be as exciting to the audience (and they might tune out).
These ghosthunting groups like TAPS and PRS get picked up by cable TV and turned into a commodity like everything else, though, complete with formulaic programs and cheap knock-offs and "if you like X, you LOVE Y" from lesser networks' daytime programming (I'm thinking here of "A Haunting" which has to be the MOST ridiculous piece of shit I've ever seen glowing out of my cathode ray tube).
(Edited for snark-rant content on 9/3.)
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