What a wonderful train-of-thought ride.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Nappy was back for a limited engagement, bringing a bit of sparkle to what was an otherwise lackluster couple weeks. A mention of robin's egg blue got the tired mind thinking of fun retro-colors, my Danish grandma's pink kitchen and Deer Isle granite. A lovely pattern came up in a search that got me thinking all about Bergman, Arija and Marimekko. Now I'm thinking that I want to see Smiles of a Summer Night as soon as possible and get myself a little bit of fabric to make a summer dress with. Since my birthday's coming up (and it's a half milestone), I could manage a little indulgence, maybe.
What a wonderful train-of-thought ride.
What a wonderful train-of-thought ride.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Who hurt you so,
My dear?
Who, long ago
When you were very young,
Did, said, became, was...something that you did not know
Beauty could ever do, say, be, become?--
So that your brown eyes filled
With tears they never, not to this day, have shed...
Not because one more boy stood hurt by life,
No: because something deathless had dropped dead--
An ugly, an indecent thing to do--
So that you stood and stared, with open mouth in which the
tongue
Froze slowly backward toward its root,
As if it would not speak again, too badly stung
By memories thick as wasps about a nest invaded
To know if or if not you suffered pain.
-Edna St Vincent Millay
Thought of this after happening upon a couple posts regarding the politicising of trauma of living through something horrible. Is a major subject for me for a number of reasons, so have been following it with some interest for a while.
My dear?
Who, long ago
When you were very young,
Did, said, became, was...something that you did not know
Beauty could ever do, say, be, become?--
So that your brown eyes filled
With tears they never, not to this day, have shed...
Not because one more boy stood hurt by life,
No: because something deathless had dropped dead--
An ugly, an indecent thing to do--
So that you stood and stared, with open mouth in which the
tongue
Froze slowly backward toward its root,
As if it would not speak again, too badly stung
By memories thick as wasps about a nest invaded
To know if or if not you suffered pain.
-Edna St Vincent Millay
Thought of this after happening upon a couple posts regarding the politicising of trauma of living through something horrible. Is a major subject for me for a number of reasons, so have been following it with some interest for a while.
Whee!
What a rush! Hey...I just lost my shoe...would you mind...it's a little to your left...please...Oh, never mind.
What a rush! Hey...I just lost my shoe...would you mind...it's a little to your left...please...Oh, never mind.
It takes all sorts.
Seriously, though, if I were to look to carry on a relationship outside my species, I'd choose a dolphin. They're cute, they're tough (can fight off sharks from what I've read. That's pretty tough). They like to swim and fish as well, so we'd have that in common. According to Gary Larson they speak Spanish, so no language barrier...
-via Norm.
Seriously, though, if I were to look to carry on a relationship outside my species, I'd choose a dolphin. They're cute, they're tough (can fight off sharks from what I've read. That's pretty tough). They like to swim and fish as well, so we'd have that in common. According to Gary Larson they speak Spanish, so no language barrier...
-via Norm.
An important lesson learned this Christmas:
If you want to get out of cooking, cleaning up, doing dishes, etc, then get yourself a baby and keep them on your lap. They are such the "get out of (holiday) jail free" cards.
Other smaller, related lessons learned: babies pass gas and like to leave presents of curdled milk on your shoulder. Still, if you look past that, the soft skulls and lack of muscle tone, they're actually kind of neat.
(Above is little 'becca, approximately 10 weeks old, sporting a nifty little something I whipped up on the fly. Got to know her a bit this past weekend, lucky me.)
If you want to get out of cooking, cleaning up, doing dishes, etc, then get yourself a baby and keep them on your lap. They are such the "get out of (holiday) jail free" cards.
Other smaller, related lessons learned: babies pass gas and like to leave presents of curdled milk on your shoulder. Still, if you look past that, the soft skulls and lack of muscle tone, they're actually kind of neat.
(Above is little 'becca, approximately 10 weeks old, sporting a nifty little something I whipped up on the fly. Got to know her a bit this past weekend, lucky me.)
I dream a lot. If they're forgettable, I have no recall in the morning. If they're worth remembering, I do. Last night's was pretty memorable, and really pretty closed to attempts at interpretation:
My organisation hired a staff meterologist (our business is mental health services, so I have no thoughts as to why they'd hire a staff meteorologist. Odder things have shown up in admin overhead, though, I'm sure.) so I decided to be nice and stop by to introduce myself. Was pretty surprised to see Wallace Shawn in the new guy's office.
I sat down in a spare seat and he mentioned something about Simone Signoret. This immediately launched a discussion into A Room at the Top, a grim film that is beautiful in its brutal depiction of love vs ambition in post war England.
Someone wandered by the office, and immediately we hushed up. My new colleague stood up to point to some herringbone clouds out the window (even corporate meteorologists have to 'look busy,' I guess). I woke up.
My organisation hired a staff meterologist (our business is mental health services, so I have no thoughts as to why they'd hire a staff meteorologist. Odder things have shown up in admin overhead, though, I'm sure.) so I decided to be nice and stop by to introduce myself. Was pretty surprised to see Wallace Shawn in the new guy's office.
I sat down in a spare seat and he mentioned something about Simone Signoret. This immediately launched a discussion into A Room at the Top, a grim film that is beautiful in its brutal depiction of love vs ambition in post war England.
Someone wandered by the office, and immediately we hushed up. My new colleague stood up to point to some herringbone clouds out the window (even corporate meteorologists have to 'look busy,' I guess). I woke up.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Tis the season
to be tormented by one's addict relatives. Good thoughts go out to this fellow for the trials and triangulations he's being put through by his sister. It takes a lot of courage, clarity and detachment to be able to write as he has here. Am not there yet.
Despite nearly 20 years and 500 miles of separation, I still feel like an extension of my mother and not the autonomous being that I know logically myself to be. I hate that.
(via Althouse.)
to be tormented by one's addict relatives. Good thoughts go out to this fellow for the trials and triangulations he's being put through by his sister. It takes a lot of courage, clarity and detachment to be able to write as he has here. Am not there yet.
Despite nearly 20 years and 500 miles of separation, I still feel like an extension of my mother and not the autonomous being that I know logically myself to be. I hate that.
(via Althouse.)
No more doughnuts?
Michael Vale, best known for playing Fred the Baker in the Dunkin Donuts ads, passed away recently at age 83.
Is funny to still hear people today repeat the old catch phrase "time to make the doughnuts," though Fred the Baker'd retired years ago. Such is the effect of a particularly good ad campaign.
Michael Vale, best known for playing Fred the Baker in the Dunkin Donuts ads, passed away recently at age 83.
Is funny to still hear people today repeat the old catch phrase "time to make the doughnuts," though Fred the Baker'd retired years ago. Such is the effect of a particularly good ad campaign.
Out with the old and in with the new
Since mon ami de loin got a couple weeks off for the holiday, he decided to do a bit of rearranging around the house to accomodate a new lifestyle:
Fine and good, I guess, but it's going to be a bit tough to find the eunuchs he's without a doubt going to be needing to keep an eye on all those girls (and we all know how girls get in groups).
Since mon ami de loin got a couple weeks off for the holiday, he decided to do a bit of rearranging around the house to accomodate a new lifestyle:
Fine and good, I guess, but it's going to be a bit tough to find the eunuchs he's without a doubt going to be needing to keep an eye on all those girls (and we all know how girls get in groups).
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Friday, December 16, 2005
Made it home last night, weak and regressed to a preverbal state. Landlord was waiting around for me with a gift: a new cellphone (prepaid) with a couple little phonecards to go with it. Explained how to put the thing together (finally, a sim card!), set it up to charge and let me go. Went into my apartment, plugged my new appliance in to charge, sobbed a bit.
I'd had a cellphone for years until it became apparent that everyone thought I had to be accessible all the time with it. Got tired from the upbraiding I'd get if I turned the blasted thing off to get a moment's peace. Also, noted that I was seeing 'rate creep:' my initial $29.99/mo plan kept getting upped every few months by about $4-$5, so that by the time I decided to chuck the thing, my plan cost nearly nearly $50.00/mo.
Of course, it was a pain in the rear to have to find payphones when I needed to call someone. Dealt with it, though. Had considered getting a little prepaid phone, but never got around to actually comparison shopping or anything. Wasn't interested enough, I guess. It took my getting locked out of the house one Sunday afternoon to actually get Landlord on my case about getting cellphones and updating the keys left with neighbors. The key thing got done pretty quickly. Of course, the cellphone waited. And waited. And waited until last night.
I do have to admit - part of me is annoyed at the feeling of being tethered by this bit of technology again, but another part feels a bit warm because of the thoughtfulness of the gift.
I'd had a cellphone for years until it became apparent that everyone thought I had to be accessible all the time with it. Got tired from the upbraiding I'd get if I turned the blasted thing off to get a moment's peace. Also, noted that I was seeing 'rate creep:' my initial $29.99/mo plan kept getting upped every few months by about $4-$5, so that by the time I decided to chuck the thing, my plan cost nearly nearly $50.00/mo.
Of course, it was a pain in the rear to have to find payphones when I needed to call someone. Dealt with it, though. Had considered getting a little prepaid phone, but never got around to actually comparison shopping or anything. Wasn't interested enough, I guess. It took my getting locked out of the house one Sunday afternoon to actually get Landlord on my case about getting cellphones and updating the keys left with neighbors. The key thing got done pretty quickly. Of course, the cellphone waited. And waited. And waited until last night.
I do have to admit - part of me is annoyed at the feeling of being tethered by this bit of technology again, but another part feels a bit warm because of the thoughtfulness of the gift.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Hitting a wall? Or just feeling my way around one?
Wanted to get some knitting done last night and the night before, but didn't. Not very good for production when you get out of work late, wander for an hour in the dark, and then are so tired that all you want to do is flop into bed without dinner.
One aspect (of many) of holiday time I dislike is the feeling that I have to be in production all these weeks. Producing cookies, producing cards, producing gifts. Ordinarily I knit to amuse myself. I don't particularly enjoy it when I feel I should be doing it. Idem for baking and corresponding. Forget about shopping: even if I weren't in my current state of penury (This month's choice was groceries vs phone and oil. Phone and oil won out.), I'd not hit the stores. I detest shopping even during the non-rush times of the year, so why torture myself even further by doing so during the Christmas rush?
Holidays were nice for a time when I was little, but became miserable later on. When I became of the age where I couldn't get messed with financially by vindictive adults, I stopped going back to the family for holidays. Spent quite a few happy, quiet Thanksgivings, Christmas and New Years alone (How to do that? Simple: lie to all your well-meaning friends who think you shouldn't spend holidays alone. Tell them you have plans.). Recent years have seen me with those I call adopted family and the guy's family. Though am thankful for their taking me in (particularly my adopted mom in Connecticut - had me spend the weekend with her the year my one grandmother died and the other was dying. Made me a stocking and filled it up with toys. Never had a stocking before. Yes, I cried.), I am starting to feel like I need quiet again. No travel, no running around, no screaming children, no nothing. I want stillness and rest and reflection. There's so little of that right now.
It's not just the memory of sad holidays past that's making me feel so scroogelike and unspirited - there are other things: A dying grandfather who's trying to get hospice, but who's getting harassed to have invasive surgery instead. A mother who can't take care of herself, who is befuddled by everything going on, and who calls regularly to post the same reports over and over. A new and improved breast lump. A job where I'm underpaid and unappreciated, where there's no chance to improve myself or move forward. Essentially, I'm just marking time (Only 219 days...but who's counting!) in this limbo until I'm vested in the pension. Expanding my mind, healing my body and keeping up skills are all on hold due to cost of living. (Again - choices, choices...one hour of piano lessons or two weeks' worth of groceries? Another course and textbooks or rent?) I hope that I'm not sounding like I'm complaining. This triaging stuff gets a bit tiresome, is all. Am also feeling a bit homesick after my Thanksgiving visit which was so much fun.
I'm struggling mightily with possible realities here:
I'm weak, I'm whiny. I'm never happy. (There are kids in India breaking bricks for a living, for crying out loud. What's my problem?)
I'm depressed. (First diagnosis: mild dysthymia - glass-half-empty syndrome. Current diagnosis: adjustment problems - under a lot of stress, will get over it.)
I'm at a fork in the road and am struggling to choose which direction to take. (There's a reason why I'm marking time and why I know how long until my anniversary date. Don't want to talk about it too much, as don't want to jinx it.)
How I deal with my present and how I mold my future both hinge on how I choose to view myself. Am hoping that things will be clearer once I get through the emotional fog that the next couple weeks are for me. For now, I'll just do what I must to keep up the strength, to get what's required of me taken care of, to pull myself across the December 31 finish line. All major obstacles now, but still surmountable.
Wanted to get some knitting done last night and the night before, but didn't. Not very good for production when you get out of work late, wander for an hour in the dark, and then are so tired that all you want to do is flop into bed without dinner.
One aspect (of many) of holiday time I dislike is the feeling that I have to be in production all these weeks. Producing cookies, producing cards, producing gifts. Ordinarily I knit to amuse myself. I don't particularly enjoy it when I feel I should be doing it. Idem for baking and corresponding. Forget about shopping: even if I weren't in my current state of penury (This month's choice was groceries vs phone and oil. Phone and oil won out.), I'd not hit the stores. I detest shopping even during the non-rush times of the year, so why torture myself even further by doing so during the Christmas rush?
Holidays were nice for a time when I was little, but became miserable later on. When I became of the age where I couldn't get messed with financially by vindictive adults, I stopped going back to the family for holidays. Spent quite a few happy, quiet Thanksgivings, Christmas and New Years alone (How to do that? Simple: lie to all your well-meaning friends who think you shouldn't spend holidays alone. Tell them you have plans.). Recent years have seen me with those I call adopted family and the guy's family. Though am thankful for their taking me in (particularly my adopted mom in Connecticut - had me spend the weekend with her the year my one grandmother died and the other was dying. Made me a stocking and filled it up with toys. Never had a stocking before. Yes, I cried.), I am starting to feel like I need quiet again. No travel, no running around, no screaming children, no nothing. I want stillness and rest and reflection. There's so little of that right now.
It's not just the memory of sad holidays past that's making me feel so scroogelike and unspirited - there are other things: A dying grandfather who's trying to get hospice, but who's getting harassed to have invasive surgery instead. A mother who can't take care of herself, who is befuddled by everything going on, and who calls regularly to post the same reports over and over. A new and improved breast lump. A job where I'm underpaid and unappreciated, where there's no chance to improve myself or move forward. Essentially, I'm just marking time (Only 219 days...but who's counting!) in this limbo until I'm vested in the pension. Expanding my mind, healing my body and keeping up skills are all on hold due to cost of living. (Again - choices, choices...one hour of piano lessons or two weeks' worth of groceries? Another course and textbooks or rent?) I hope that I'm not sounding like I'm complaining. This triaging stuff gets a bit tiresome, is all. Am also feeling a bit homesick after my Thanksgiving visit which was so much fun.
I'm struggling mightily with possible realities here:
I'm weak, I'm whiny. I'm never happy. (There are kids in India breaking bricks for a living, for crying out loud. What's my problem?)
I'm depressed. (First diagnosis: mild dysthymia - glass-half-empty syndrome. Current diagnosis: adjustment problems - under a lot of stress, will get over it.)
I'm at a fork in the road and am struggling to choose which direction to take. (There's a reason why I'm marking time and why I know how long until my anniversary date. Don't want to talk about it too much, as don't want to jinx it.)
How I deal with my present and how I mold my future both hinge on how I choose to view myself. Am hoping that things will be clearer once I get through the emotional fog that the next couple weeks are for me. For now, I'll just do what I must to keep up the strength, to get what's required of me taken care of, to pull myself across the December 31 finish line. All major obstacles now, but still surmountable.
Always wanted a program on public access or some indie radio station. I could see myself reading the news in a very nasal voice, injecting talking points like those I typically hear in my neighborhood:
***
Rent increases are outpacing some wages? Damnit! Bring back Rent Control! And raise the minimum wage to $16.00/hour, already!
Mitt Romney won't be seeking reelection in '08. Good riddance to that (hiss, spit) Republican. Didn't accomplish anything except not raise taxes for all his wealthy buddies and see the MCAS scores go up in most schools. Standardized testing is racist and classist anyhow, so it's not like MCAS scores mean anything. Elitist. By the way...did you know that he's a MORMON? They're a CULT, you know. Intolerant white, racist heretics.
11 million adults in the US can't read. I blame No Child Left Behind.
Out of state college students bring lawsuit challenging tuition breaks for illegal immigrants. (Sigh, roll my eyes). It's not illegals; it's the undocumented.
Regional CO2 emissions pact stalled due to concerns over energy prices...(cough) Bush is evil, you know, because he won't ratify Kyoto.
Dress codes for juries? Yeah, he's starting with neckties. Next thing you know, brown shirts will be a requirement. Fascist. Voters shouldn't have to serve on juries, anyway. It's a right, not a privilige.
Fraudulent elections in Iraq draw attention away from its illegally-removed former president's unfair trial.
That about wraps it up for now. Thank you, good night, and don't forget that there are only five more shopping days till winter solstice.
***
Could I manage not to crack up for the entire broadcast? Don't know. Better to keep the text-blogging pokerface, then.
***
Snort! Looks like my 'straight face' is a bit too straight:
Unfortunately, some of the criticism isn’t particularly meaningful, such as
Whose intolerant and racist? Wonder if she’s as charitable when the Mormon in question is Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. Or is he acceptable because he makes Frist froth?
I've asked him to read through my post a bit more thoroughly.
***
Rent increases are outpacing some wages? Damnit! Bring back Rent Control! And raise the minimum wage to $16.00/hour, already!
Mitt Romney won't be seeking reelection in '08. Good riddance to that (hiss, spit) Republican. Didn't accomplish anything except not raise taxes for all his wealthy buddies and see the MCAS scores go up in most schools. Standardized testing is racist and classist anyhow, so it's not like MCAS scores mean anything. Elitist. By the way...did you know that he's a MORMON? They're a CULT, you know. Intolerant white, racist heretics.
11 million adults in the US can't read. I blame No Child Left Behind.
Out of state college students bring lawsuit challenging tuition breaks for illegal immigrants. (Sigh, roll my eyes). It's not illegals; it's the undocumented.
Regional CO2 emissions pact stalled due to concerns over energy prices...(cough) Bush is evil, you know, because he won't ratify Kyoto.
Dress codes for juries? Yeah, he's starting with neckties. Next thing you know, brown shirts will be a requirement. Fascist. Voters shouldn't have to serve on juries, anyway. It's a right, not a privilige.
Fraudulent elections in Iraq draw attention away from its illegally-removed former president's unfair trial.
That about wraps it up for now. Thank you, good night, and don't forget that there are only five more shopping days till winter solstice.
***
Could I manage not to crack up for the entire broadcast? Don't know. Better to keep the text-blogging pokerface, then.
***
Snort! Looks like my 'straight face' is a bit too straight:
Unfortunately, some of the criticism isn’t particularly meaningful, such as
Good riddance to that (hiss, spit) Republican. Didn’t accomplish anything except not raise taxes for all his wealthy buddies and see the MCAS scores go up in most schools. Standardized testing is racist and classist anyhow, so it’s not like MCAS scores mean anything. Elitist. By the way…did you know that he’s a MORMON? They’re a CULT, you know. Intolerant white, racist heretics.
Whose intolerant and racist? Wonder if she’s as charitable when the Mormon in question is Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. Or is he acceptable because he makes Frist froth?
I've asked him to read through my post a bit more thoroughly.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Link Digression (and a bit of Buffalosehnsuchten)
Following the previous link's links, I found this:
Spent many happy autumn days in Letchworth as a child. I hope to be able to return soon to do so again.
Following the previous link's links, I found this:
Spent many happy autumn days in Letchworth as a child. I hope to be able to return soon to do so again.
When I first saw this flyer last week, I thought it a bit odd, yes. Given that I've known a fair number of selective-kosher-keepers (you know the sorts - those who won't touch shrimp for 'religious reasons,' but think nothing of ordering a cheeseburger), I sort of forgot about it and moved on to other things. It is kind of funny, though.
-WWW, via the Hub.
-WWW, via the Hub.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Is The World All Wrong? Reform Yourself!
Over the weekend, I went spelunking around my boxed-up library. Wasn't looking for anything in particular, really - just wanted to get back in touch with some old friends. During my explorations, I happened upon something I thought to be long-gone: my Roycrofters Motto Book.
Elbert Hubbard's epigrams are pithy gems which never cease to bring a smile and a little nod in agreement from the reader. I can very well see how he'd be able to convince those he did to move on out to Western New York state to start the collaboration that would later be known as the Roycrofters.
Maybe it's time to start sharing some of these mottoes again. I think I'll start with this one:
-Dard Hunter design, in case anyone was interested.
Over the weekend, I went spelunking around my boxed-up library. Wasn't looking for anything in particular, really - just wanted to get back in touch with some old friends. During my explorations, I happened upon something I thought to be long-gone: my Roycrofters Motto Book.
Elbert Hubbard's epigrams are pithy gems which never cease to bring a smile and a little nod in agreement from the reader. I can very well see how he'd be able to convince those he did to move on out to Western New York state to start the collaboration that would later be known as the Roycrofters.
Maybe it's time to start sharing some of these mottoes again. I think I'll start with this one:
-Dard Hunter design, in case anyone was interested.
Y-O-U-R...Y-OU-apostrophe R-E: they're as different as night and day...don't you think that night and day are different? What's wrong with you?
-Strongbad (click on the beefy arm in the last frame of the cartoon for this and other 'rhythm and grammar' tunes.)
The Guy got into another proofreading pissing contest the other day. Corrected some bad punctuation on a Christmas card he was typesetting, then had the job bounce back because the customer didn't like his removal of an apostrophe. My grammar ninja refused to budge on this, citing one of his unimpeachable sources (rule #9, to be precise).
I'll admit fully to having problems with punctuation: colons and semicolons in particular give me headaches. The use of the apostrophe/posessive vs plural puzzle seems a bit of a no-brainer, however.
-Strongbad (click on the beefy arm in the last frame of the cartoon for this and other 'rhythm and grammar' tunes.)
The Guy got into another proofreading pissing contest the other day. Corrected some bad punctuation on a Christmas card he was typesetting, then had the job bounce back because the customer didn't like his removal of an apostrophe. My grammar ninja refused to budge on this, citing one of his unimpeachable sources (rule #9, to be precise).
I'll admit fully to having problems with punctuation: colons and semicolons in particular give me headaches. The use of the apostrophe/posessive vs plural puzzle seems a bit of a no-brainer, however.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Drained.
Wow, I had such hopes for writing thoughts down tonight: about how a day doesn't pass where I don't marvel at the wonderous things available to us thanks to Criterion. About gingersnaps, how they've supplanted tollhouse cookies as my favorites and how I came across my best ever recipe for them. About the Tufts students being good neighbors during and after the Friday storm.
Have all sorts of things I want to talk about, but just can't keep my head from nodding and my eyes from blinking. Guess I should just brush my teeth, comb my hair and go to bed.
Sigh, and it's only 8:30 pm. Maybe will feel better tomorrow.
Wow, I had such hopes for writing thoughts down tonight: about how a day doesn't pass where I don't marvel at the wonderous things available to us thanks to Criterion. About gingersnaps, how they've supplanted tollhouse cookies as my favorites and how I came across my best ever recipe for them. About the Tufts students being good neighbors during and after the Friday storm.
Have all sorts of things I want to talk about, but just can't keep my head from nodding and my eyes from blinking. Guess I should just brush my teeth, comb my hair and go to bed.
Sigh, and it's only 8:30 pm. Maybe will feel better tomorrow.
Part of what makes my apple butter so special to me is that I know which tree the apples came from: the last producing one in an abandoned orchard I visit downeast. The fruit that comes off it is smaller than what one would buy in a store, but larger than crabapples. Green with traces of blush, these feral sweethearts are sourer than anything when eaten raw, but very tasty when cooked with the right complements.
I like to play around with the spices, sweetners and cooking liquids from year to year, so it's never the same recipe twice. This year's batch was really an experimental one, as in addition to changing the spices, I tried a new cooking liquid:
Apple-of-my-eye Butter
I started with:
4lbs apples - washed, quartered, stems and blossom ends removed
Cooked these down in a large pot with two cups of red wine.
Ran the fruit through a food mill. Added 1/2 cup brown sugar to each cup of pulp, then mixed in 4t cinnamon, 3t cloves, 2t nutmeg and 1t berbere (Ethiopian red pepper). Simmered, stirring constantly (important! Don't want the stuff to scorch) first until the sugar melted, then until the mixture turned dark brown, thickened, and jelled a tiny bit (about 20-25 minutes). Poured into sterilized glass jars, then sealed.
Yield: +-12 pints.
I like to play around with the spices, sweetners and cooking liquids from year to year, so it's never the same recipe twice. This year's batch was really an experimental one, as in addition to changing the spices, I tried a new cooking liquid:
Apple-of-my-eye Butter
I started with:
4lbs apples - washed, quartered, stems and blossom ends removed
Cooked these down in a large pot with two cups of red wine.
Ran the fruit through a food mill. Added 1/2 cup brown sugar to each cup of pulp, then mixed in 4t cinnamon, 3t cloves, 2t nutmeg and 1t berbere (Ethiopian red pepper). Simmered, stirring constantly (important! Don't want the stuff to scorch) first until the sugar melted, then until the mixture turned dark brown, thickened, and jelled a tiny bit (about 20-25 minutes). Poured into sterilized glass jars, then sealed.
Yield: +-12 pints.
Numbers that made up my weekend:
# of inches of snow that fell during the storm on Friday: +6
# minutes it took my boss to get from work (Inman Square) to Union Square (about 1/4 mile): 45
# of driveways shovelled Friday night: 3
# of minutes we sat through an awful French film that Hal picked up for me at the library: 10
# of educational films we watched off a DVD from the library: 3
% of these educational films we thought were campy: 0
% we thought were commonsense and should be shown again in schools: 100
# of Japanese film stars from the New Wave era I now have a crush on, thanks to Shinoda's Samurai Spy: 4 (Just learned of the existence of Koji Takahashi.)
# of pints of apple butter made on Sunday: 12
# of toy rabbits knitted so far: 2
# of dozens of gingersnaps baked: 10
# of minutes late in waking up Monday morning because I set my alarm for 6:30 pm as opposed to 6:30 am: 45
# of hours beyond the usual eight hours a night I slept: 1 (So why am I so tired out?)
# of extra minutes that it took me to get to work due to icy sidewalks: 25
# of inches of snow that fell during the storm on Friday: +6
# minutes it took my boss to get from work (Inman Square) to Union Square (about 1/4 mile): 45
# of driveways shovelled Friday night: 3
# of minutes we sat through an awful French film that Hal picked up for me at the library: 10
# of educational films we watched off a DVD from the library: 3
% of these educational films we thought were campy: 0
% we thought were commonsense and should be shown again in schools: 100
# of Japanese film stars from the New Wave era I now have a crush on, thanks to Shinoda's Samurai Spy: 4 (Just learned of the existence of Koji Takahashi.)
# of pints of apple butter made on Sunday: 12
# of toy rabbits knitted so far: 2
# of dozens of gingersnaps baked: 10
# of minutes late in waking up Monday morning because I set my alarm for 6:30 pm as opposed to 6:30 am: 45
# of hours beyond the usual eight hours a night I slept: 1 (So why am I so tired out?)
# of extra minutes that it took me to get to work due to icy sidewalks: 25
Friday, December 09, 2005
See how I fall (like the snow).
December's hitting worse than usual; am in such a dark space right now.
Still, there are little things that can bring a happy tear to my eye. Stepped out the front door onto a soft blanket of snow and into small squall. Immediately, my absolute favorite Christmas song in the whole wide world showed up to accompany me to work.
***
Hal told me the other day that Kate Bush finally, after something like 12 years, has a new album out. Though we were both awfully disappointed with The Red Shoes, I at least have great hopes for Aerial.
December's hitting worse than usual; am in such a dark space right now.
Still, there are little things that can bring a happy tear to my eye. Stepped out the front door onto a soft blanket of snow and into small squall. Immediately, my absolute favorite Christmas song in the whole wide world showed up to accompany me to work.
***
Hal told me the other day that Kate Bush finally, after something like 12 years, has a new album out. Though we were both awfully disappointed with The Red Shoes, I at least have great hopes for Aerial.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Comfort food.
Knowing that I'd be having a rough day today, I packed myself a nice lunch of vegetarian sushi:
nori sheets
black beans cooked in soy sauce
rice (sadly not sushi rice) cooked sticky-style with a teeny bit of vinegar and sugar
straw mushrooms
cucumber
some spicy mayonnaise I made from mayo and vietnamese chili pepper garlic paste
plenty of wasabi and pickled ginger
some rice seasoning
Made myself three hand rolls (think sushi ice cream cone) and had them with a cup of green tea. Made me feel a little bit better, anyway.
Knowing that I'd be having a rough day today, I packed myself a nice lunch of vegetarian sushi:
nori sheets
black beans cooked in soy sauce
rice (sadly not sushi rice) cooked sticky-style with a teeny bit of vinegar and sugar
straw mushrooms
cucumber
some spicy mayonnaise I made from mayo and vietnamese chili pepper garlic paste
plenty of wasabi and pickled ginger
some rice seasoning
Made myself three hand rolls (think sushi ice cream cone) and had them with a cup of green tea. Made me feel a little bit better, anyway.
Well, today was my (bi)annual "lie back and think of England" exam. Such a nice way to get to know my new OB/GYN. She seemed nice enough, though I don't think I'm going to like her as well as I did my old doctor. Perhaps it's due to a different sort of bedside manner. Perhaps it's due to lack of history between us.
The part of the exam that usually bothers women the most goes by like a breeze for me. I can sit back, talk, even joke around a bit.
(I remember one time when the nurse assistant told me to relax. The doctor shook his head and insisted that NO ONE could EVER relax in my position. Contrary thing that I was, not only did I show them them I could, I started humming Wave in an effort to get them to relax.)
What really bothers and upsets me is the breast exam. I force myself to do it monthly, the doctor performs it, but it still horrifies me to the point of almost passing out or throwing up. In the past I have passed out, coming to propped against a nurse. Today I didn't do that. Made sure that I'd eaten a good breakfast and everything so as not to faint. I did shield my eyes with my free hand, wince and start to feel the tears well up. The weird feeling came over me, as well, but I did manage to stay conscious.
I apologized for being such a baby, that nothing actually hurt. Explained that I'd always been this way. The doctor asked if I was that afraid of cancer; couldn't honestly say that that was the whole reason, but did admit that that was part of it. She told me that in all her career, she'd only met two people now who'd been that upset about an exam, and tried to offer me some reassurances.
I know that I'm cystic: I feel them every month during the hormone surge. Even more so if I've not drunk enough soy, have been stressed-out, or have indulged in too much of three things: caffeine, red wine, chocolate. Already irritated and swelling tissue becomes even more painful if I don't. I can live with that.
I know that I'm young: Though there seems to be a higher incidence nowadays (1/9 women, as opposed to 1/10 before - could be due to more and earlier diagnosis), it's very rare in younger women. Add to that the fact that, as far as I know, no one on my mother's side of the family has ever had breast cancer. My dad's sister did recently, but she's fine now. But that's supposedly of less genetic importance to me than my mother's side.
I also understand intellectually that I'm dealing with some residual trauma from a long-past incident. I just wish that the emotional in this case would catch up to the intellect. It has in so many other areas, why not with my chest. Have worked so hard for so long to let go of pain, both psychological and physical. Why is there still this fixation on one part of me that don't particularly want to change?
Anyway, made it out of the doctor's office in one piece. Couldn't get out fast enough. Of course, in my haste to leave, I left something important behind. Now have to go back to retrieve it before closing time. Thank heavens this is all on my walk home.
The part of the exam that usually bothers women the most goes by like a breeze for me. I can sit back, talk, even joke around a bit.
(I remember one time when the nurse assistant told me to relax. The doctor shook his head and insisted that NO ONE could EVER relax in my position. Contrary thing that I was, not only did I show them them I could, I started humming Wave in an effort to get them to relax.)
What really bothers and upsets me is the breast exam. I force myself to do it monthly, the doctor performs it, but it still horrifies me to the point of almost passing out or throwing up. In the past I have passed out, coming to propped against a nurse. Today I didn't do that. Made sure that I'd eaten a good breakfast and everything so as not to faint. I did shield my eyes with my free hand, wince and start to feel the tears well up. The weird feeling came over me, as well, but I did manage to stay conscious.
I apologized for being such a baby, that nothing actually hurt. Explained that I'd always been this way. The doctor asked if I was that afraid of cancer; couldn't honestly say that that was the whole reason, but did admit that that was part of it. She told me that in all her career, she'd only met two people now who'd been that upset about an exam, and tried to offer me some reassurances.
I know that I'm cystic: I feel them every month during the hormone surge. Even more so if I've not drunk enough soy, have been stressed-out, or have indulged in too much of three things: caffeine, red wine, chocolate. Already irritated and swelling tissue becomes even more painful if I don't. I can live with that.
I know that I'm young: Though there seems to be a higher incidence nowadays (1/9 women, as opposed to 1/10 before - could be due to more and earlier diagnosis), it's very rare in younger women. Add to that the fact that, as far as I know, no one on my mother's side of the family has ever had breast cancer. My dad's sister did recently, but she's fine now. But that's supposedly of less genetic importance to me than my mother's side.
I also understand intellectually that I'm dealing with some residual trauma from a long-past incident. I just wish that the emotional in this case would catch up to the intellect. It has in so many other areas, why not with my chest. Have worked so hard for so long to let go of pain, both psychological and physical. Why is there still this fixation on one part of me that don't particularly want to change?
Anyway, made it out of the doctor's office in one piece. Couldn't get out fast enough. Of course, in my haste to leave, I left something important behind. Now have to go back to retrieve it before closing time. Thank heavens this is all on my walk home.
Nappy writes about a sensitive issue, someone gets abusive/too confrontational, she gets tired. I'm going to miss her terribly, but I do understand. Sometimes it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bushel, and I'm still kind of bitter about mine.
Good luck with the potential home-move (a possibility for me as well), enjoy the holidays, take care of yourself. I'm rooting for you.
Good luck with the potential home-move (a possibility for me as well), enjoy the holidays, take care of yourself. I'm rooting for you.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
I'm sorry, but this is reminding me too much of this.
(Speaking of earworms, whenever I see a headline in the news for that transplant surgery, the waltz from Face of Another immediately starts playing in my head. This is a problem, as it takes days to get rid of.)
(Speaking of earworms, whenever I see a headline in the news for that transplant surgery, the waltz from Face of Another immediately starts playing in my head. This is a problem, as it takes days to get rid of.)
Monday, December 05, 2005
Winter around the Mystic.
Yesterday, the sky was an odd grayish-yellow, the snow fell thickly, covering the dormant tree branches and dead reeds with dustings of powdered sugar.
I love exploring familiar places when the seasons change: details one might not have picked up on before are highlighted. The senses seem shocked back to life and for a time, they skirt saturation.
Even winter is a fertile time if one is open enough to it.
Yesterday, the sky was an odd grayish-yellow, the snow fell thickly, covering the dormant tree branches and dead reeds with dustings of powdered sugar.
I love exploring familiar places when the seasons change: details one might not have picked up on before are highlighted. The senses seem shocked back to life and for a time, they skirt saturation.
Even winter is a fertile time if one is open enough to it.
My Flower for a Busy Monday
Is a neon custard cone from Anderson's in Buffalo, NY. (My favorite's vanilla, by the way.)
Anderson's is a Buffalo institution, started in NYC, but relocated by its homesick founders. Though it's grown to at least a half dozen locations that I can readily name, my favorite is the Sheridan Drive store, which is period-perfect 1946:
Is a neon custard cone from Anderson's in Buffalo, NY. (My favorite's vanilla, by the way.)
Anderson's is a Buffalo institution, started in NYC, but relocated by its homesick founders. Though it's grown to at least a half dozen locations that I can readily name, my favorite is the Sheridan Drive store, which is period-perfect 1946:
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Hoop! Time to plastic up the windows. Time to maybe even turn the heat on, too. "Putting another sweater on" just isn't cutting it anymore.
Since oil's up to something extortionate like $2.39/gallon, I'm wondering about getting some insulating curtains as well. Would these be a good investment, or just overkill?
Since oil's up to something extortionate like $2.39/gallon, I'm wondering about getting some insulating curtains as well. Would these be a good investment, or just overkill?
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Aww, gee.
It's stuff like this that makes me wish a little bit that I'd have bred when I was supposed to.
Sigh.
It's stuff like this that makes me wish a little bit that I'd have bred when I was supposed to.
Sigh.
I have to agree with this fellow that Payzant did the right thing in not sanctioning a day off for students to attend a rally. Maybe I'm just an old fuddy-duddy or hopelessly out if it, but I don't see how cutting school honors Rosa Parks's memory. Then again, judging from the roster of groups supporting the action, I'm willing to bet my lunch money that this whole thing has very little if anything to do with Rosa Parks anyway.
As for Chuck Turner's statement regarding the BPS decision, it probably should be taken with a fairly large grain of salt. He does, after all, have a history of making some wild accusations.
-via Universal Hub.
As for Chuck Turner's statement regarding the BPS decision, it probably should be taken with a fairly large grain of salt. He does, after all, have a history of making some wild accusations.
-via Universal Hub.
What I like about my neighborhood I
Yesterday morning was unseasonably warm with lots of rain and wind. It was also trash/recycling day for my block. Noted that my neighbor across the street's bag for paper recyclables had torn and the contents were fluttering up the street. Though running late for work, decided to Do the Right Thing and run around collecting the flyaways. Weighted what I picked up down and headed off to work.
That evening after I got home, I heard a knock on my front door. Answered it to find my across the street neighbor standing there with a big bouquet of flowers and his Definitive Holiday Mix CD for 2005. Told him that this was all unnecessary, that I was just being neighborly. His answer was that what I did was not the normal neighborly thing to do around these parts and that he really appreciated it. Beat down my normal resistance to gifts of flowers from men and accepted them as graciously as possible.
Yesterday morning was unseasonably warm with lots of rain and wind. It was also trash/recycling day for my block. Noted that my neighbor across the street's bag for paper recyclables had torn and the contents were fluttering up the street. Though running late for work, decided to Do the Right Thing and run around collecting the flyaways. Weighted what I picked up down and headed off to work.
That evening after I got home, I heard a knock on my front door. Answered it to find my across the street neighbor standing there with a big bouquet of flowers and his Definitive Holiday Mix CD for 2005. Told him that this was all unnecessary, that I was just being neighborly. His answer was that what I did was not the normal neighborly thing to do around these parts and that he really appreciated it. Beat down my normal resistance to gifts of flowers from men and accepted them as graciously as possible.
What I like about my neighborhood II
This morning, had to get up early for some pre-physical bloodwork. Made my uncaffeinated way over to the new doctor's office over in Union Square, got through the paperwork, waited. Finally, a young woman led me over to the little office where she planned to poke me, prod me, draw blood, etc. While doing all this, she made some small talk about how long I'd lived in Somerville, how I liked it there, etc. Somehow during the conversation, we figured out that I worked with her sister in law. Laughing about how small the world was and how many experiences we had in common due to this new connection made the bloodletting, the EKG (something I'd never had before), and the asthma test (another novelty) much easier to get through than usual.
This morning, had to get up early for some pre-physical bloodwork. Made my uncaffeinated way over to the new doctor's office over in Union Square, got through the paperwork, waited. Finally, a young woman led me over to the little office where she planned to poke me, prod me, draw blood, etc. While doing all this, she made some small talk about how long I'd lived in Somerville, how I liked it there, etc. Somehow during the conversation, we figured out that I worked with her sister in law. Laughing about how small the world was and how many experiences we had in common due to this new connection made the bloodletting, the EKG (something I'd never had before), and the asthma test (another novelty) much easier to get through than usual.
What I like about my neighborhood III
Ali was away for the past couple of months to Egypt visiting family, eating well, relaxing. Though I'd become friendly enough with the people minding the store, I did miss him. Over the years, the morning coffee stop had turned turned into cafe time with him, as if we had time, I'd drink my cup with him and we'd get into solving the world's problems. In the summers, he'd bring me tomatoes, peppers and basil from his garden. In the fall, I'd save a few jars of whatever jams and jellies I've made for him and his family. This little time very often makes my day.
Last week, he finally returned, but I left for Buffalo. Didn't get to see him and ask about Home until yesterday. He put me up to date on things - how the food was, how nice it was to see the family, how much better the weather was. Assured me that no one was shooting people up in the Mean Streets of Alexandria while he was there.
Told me to wait a second and went into the stockroom. He came back out with a glittery little thing and said that it was a gift from Egypt. I looked at it and laughed - "really Ali, the best gift is your getting back here safe and sound!" His answer to that was that, though he didn't feel like coming back here for the hardest season of the year, he couldn't forget his friends. We're part of what makes America great for him.
My little candle painted to look like Tutankhamun's funerary mask sits on a shelf next to my computer monitor. I love to look at it; it makes me smile.
Ali was away for the past couple of months to Egypt visiting family, eating well, relaxing. Though I'd become friendly enough with the people minding the store, I did miss him. Over the years, the morning coffee stop had turned turned into cafe time with him, as if we had time, I'd drink my cup with him and we'd get into solving the world's problems. In the summers, he'd bring me tomatoes, peppers and basil from his garden. In the fall, I'd save a few jars of whatever jams and jellies I've made for him and his family. This little time very often makes my day.
Last week, he finally returned, but I left for Buffalo. Didn't get to see him and ask about Home until yesterday. He put me up to date on things - how the food was, how nice it was to see the family, how much better the weather was. Assured me that no one was shooting people up in the Mean Streets of Alexandria while he was there.
Told me to wait a second and went into the stockroom. He came back out with a glittery little thing and said that it was a gift from Egypt. I looked at it and laughed - "really Ali, the best gift is your getting back here safe and sound!" His answer to that was that, though he didn't feel like coming back here for the hardest season of the year, he couldn't forget his friends. We're part of what makes America great for him.
My little candle painted to look like Tutankhamun's funerary mask sits on a shelf next to my computer monitor. I love to look at it; it makes me smile.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Thought I'd grab a copy of the Gettysburg Address and dump it into Powerpoint to parody another text-overloaded presentation we received today. While searching, found this. It's much, much funnier than what I had in mind.
Times (and demographics) have changed.
Point taken about the Indian (sorry, Native American) with his tomahawk and the women not voting. This leads me to wonder how many Portuguese or Gay pilgrims there were and how they were represented. What about these silent minorities?
Point taken about the Indian (sorry, Native American) with his tomahawk and the women not voting. This leads me to wonder how many Portuguese or Gay pilgrims there were and how they were represented. What about these silent minorities?
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
A couple found images from my dad's place.
This is me thirty years ago - I was four at the time. Like every other little girl whose mom had show-biz aspirations for her, I had to take dance lessons. Since my mom had a thing for Shirley Temple, she put me in tap dance school. Funny thing: I still remember the routines for the different recitals.
This is my dad forty years ago - at the time, he was 24. This was taken in Texas, I think, just before he was shipped off to the far east. Of course, the only stories he's told me about his time in the Army were pleasant ones: reminiscences of the Emerald Buddha on his one leave to Thailand, of aggravating the Korean MPs in Vietnam, of watching the sun rise as he was leaving Hawaii for his tour. He has particularly fond memories of Tales of the South Pacific, the last book in the barracks library left for him to read. Told me that he avoided the book till the very end because he'd figured it to be a soap opera. Was very surprised to find that it wasn't.
This is me thirty years ago - I was four at the time. Like every other little girl whose mom had show-biz aspirations for her, I had to take dance lessons. Since my mom had a thing for Shirley Temple, she put me in tap dance school. Funny thing: I still remember the routines for the different recitals.
This is my dad forty years ago - at the time, he was 24. This was taken in Texas, I think, just before he was shipped off to the far east. Of course, the only stories he's told me about his time in the Army were pleasant ones: reminiscences of the Emerald Buddha on his one leave to Thailand, of aggravating the Korean MPs in Vietnam, of watching the sun rise as he was leaving Hawaii for his tour. He has particularly fond memories of Tales of the South Pacific, the last book in the barracks library left for him to read. Told me that he avoided the book till the very end because he'd figured it to be a soap opera. Was very surprised to find that it wasn't.
Of all of Winslow Homer's works that we saw at the Clark last week, Undertow is the one that keeps coming back to haunt me.
Could it be because of my fear of the ocean? I'm a strong swimmer, but feel that I'd been drowned out of a past life.
Perhaps I was just picking up on some other references. Hal mentioned that the composition reminded him of the arrangement of sculptures in a Greek pediment.
For some reason, I got to thinking of this alternately beautiful and horrifying piece at the Gardner.
***
Hmm, interesting. After clicking around on the Phoenix aht crit page I find this.
They're saying that there's no connection. Am not so sure about that.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Buffalosehnsuchten*
On the radio, Horowitz is playing Schumann's Scenes from Childhood. I'm sitting here mapping out a sweater for Baby Landlord, who showed up a few weeks early. One of my favorite beers all year, Harpoon's Winter Warmer, showed up at the package store, so had to get some. Heavens, nutmeg is good in beer.
Though I've only been back a day, am feeling some serious heimweh. Thank heavens I have my little 'kitchen cabinet comforts' to help ease the sting.
*longing for Buffalo.
On the radio, Horowitz is playing Schumann's Scenes from Childhood. I'm sitting here mapping out a sweater for Baby Landlord, who showed up a few weeks early. One of my favorite beers all year, Harpoon's Winter Warmer, showed up at the package store, so had to get some. Heavens, nutmeg is good in beer.
Though I've only been back a day, am feeling some serious heimweh. Thank heavens I have my little 'kitchen cabinet comforts' to help ease the sting.
*longing for Buffalo.
Poor devil never stood a chance.
-Nymphs and Satyr, William Bouguereau
My favorite from the Clark's Fiftieth Anniversary Fifty. (Happy Birthday to this gem in the Berkshires!)
-Nymphs and Satyr, William Bouguereau
My favorite from the Clark's Fiftieth Anniversary Fifty. (Happy Birthday to this gem in the Berkshires!)
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Time to head out.
This morning:
West down Rte 2. Stop at Williamstown.
Get ourselves onto the Pike heading west. Drive a bit. Make our way to Saratoga Springs. Catch another exhibit. Spend the night. Maybe get a mineral bath in. (Coopertown's a bit out of the way, otherwise, we'd visit Ommegang and Howe Caverns.)
Back on the road. Straight shot down the Thruway to Buffalo. In between family visits and turkey dinners (two scheduled so far), maybe we'll get to squeeze a bit of sightseeing in.
Next: grab rte 17 and head due east along the Susquehanna. Lots of Revolutionary War memorial sites along this route, so plenty to look at. Make our way up to Binghamton for the next round of Thanksgivings (two, I'm told). Stay a couple days to rest, catch up with family, admire Andrew's (redhead at the head of the table) new house. Head north to catch the Thruway east. Drive all day. Get home.
I'm going to be under radio silence for a while, but do try to pay a visit to these folks - they're wonderful company.
Enjoy your week. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving (or two...or three...or four).
This morning:
West down Rte 2. Stop at Williamstown.
Get ourselves onto the Pike heading west. Drive a bit. Make our way to Saratoga Springs. Catch another exhibit. Spend the night. Maybe get a mineral bath in. (Coopertown's a bit out of the way, otherwise, we'd visit Ommegang and Howe Caverns.)
Back on the road. Straight shot down the Thruway to Buffalo. In between family visits and turkey dinners (two scheduled so far), maybe we'll get to squeeze a bit of sightseeing in.
Next: grab rte 17 and head due east along the Susquehanna. Lots of Revolutionary War memorial sites along this route, so plenty to look at. Make our way up to Binghamton for the next round of Thanksgivings (two, I'm told). Stay a couple days to rest, catch up with family, admire Andrew's (redhead at the head of the table) new house. Head north to catch the Thruway east. Drive all day. Get home.
I'm going to be under radio silence for a while, but do try to pay a visit to these folks - they're wonderful company.
Enjoy your week. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving (or two...or three...or four).
Friday, November 18, 2005
Programming Language Inventor or Serial Killer?
I have to admit, I only scored 4/10. Also have to admit that the last boyfriend was a mathematician, wore a blue hoodie and had the nickname Ted.
-Thanks, Paula!
I have to admit, I only scored 4/10. Also have to admit that the last boyfriend was a mathematician, wore a blue hoodie and had the nickname Ted.
-Thanks, Paula!
Product review can be an artform in its own right. There was never any doubt in my mind that there'd be an Amazon version of Leonard Maltin at some point.
Literally ran into the car of an ex-someone last night on the way home. He offered me a ride which I ordinarily wouldn't have taken except for the cold. Was a bit of a shock, as had not seen or heard from him in a number of years (didn't part ways on the best of terms).
He's doing well; said that I looked like I was doing well for myself. Liked the haircut (or was being polite about it. It's been shockingly short for about three weeks, now.) When he got to the corner where my house is, said our goodbyes. Asked if I'd like to have lunch with him sometime soon. Told him that I was going away for a while to visit family, so not soon.
Don't know how to feel about this. I was thankful for the ride home and am genuinely happy that he's realizing everything he'd set out to do. Don't know that I feel like having lunch with a person who did the number on my heart that he did. I don't know that I'd be able to eat, and wasting food's a sin.
He's doing well; said that I looked like I was doing well for myself. Liked the haircut (or was being polite about it. It's been shockingly short for about three weeks, now.) When he got to the corner where my house is, said our goodbyes. Asked if I'd like to have lunch with him sometime soon. Told him that I was going away for a while to visit family, so not soon.
Don't know how to feel about this. I was thankful for the ride home and am genuinely happy that he's realizing everything he'd set out to do. Don't know that I feel like having lunch with a person who did the number on my heart that he did. I don't know that I'd be able to eat, and wasting food's a sin.
Went downstairs to do my laundry and found the basement filled with strange Brazillian men. Ordinarily, I'd not give this a second thought, as the house I live in is a work in progress and most people who do that sort of work here are either Brazillian or Vietnamese. It's just odd to have one's basement filled with swarthy strangers sawing, nailing, varnishing things way so far past dinnertime.
What made me really unhappy was that the varnish smell made its way up to my floor. My house smelled of it and I couldn't open the windows. Too cold.
What made me really unhappy was that the varnish smell made its way up to my floor. My house smelled of it and I couldn't open the windows. Too cold.
Hal's mom calls it skaubenites; my family simply called it cha. Whatever one calls it, it's tangy-tasty and grows like a weed.
Had a bumpercrop this year of both the wild and the cultivated varieties. Since I'm a firm believer in waste-not-want-not, I've been trying (with no success so far) to find a way to preserve the rest of seemingly undending supply.
If anyone has any suggestions on this, I'd really appreciate hearing them. For the moment, I'm eating as much in salads and soup as possible. I've also been bringing friends and coworkers bunches accompanied by this recipe:
Sorrel Soup
1 bunch sorrel (about 2 cups shredded)
1 small onion
1-2 cloves garlic (depending on taste)
1-2 stalks celery, diced
2-3 T butter (I use Smart Balance - works perfectly fine)
2T flour
3/4 c milk (I use 1% -a little fat, but not too much)
3-4 c chicken broth (or so)
Saute the onion, garlic, celery in a bit of the butter. When all this is transparent, add the sorrel. When sorrel cooks down, add remaining bit of butter along with flour to make a roux. When the roux get a little beige-y, start gradually adding milk. Be sure to keep stirring this so you don't end up with lumps! To this mixture, add the chicken broth until the soup reaches desired thickness*. If you have some spare herbs straggling around, add them if you'd like**. Simmer on low (low!) flame for another 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until soup's heated through.
Makes 4-5 cups.
*I usually eyeball it. In the spring/summer, I add more broth as I want a lighter soup. The current version's been thicker, almost like a potato leek soup.
**Last night's soup had some thyme, tarragon and oregano from the garden.
Had a bumpercrop this year of both the wild and the cultivated varieties. Since I'm a firm believer in waste-not-want-not, I've been trying (with no success so far) to find a way to preserve the rest of seemingly undending supply.
If anyone has any suggestions on this, I'd really appreciate hearing them. For the moment, I'm eating as much in salads and soup as possible. I've also been bringing friends and coworkers bunches accompanied by this recipe:
Sorrel Soup
1 bunch sorrel (about 2 cups shredded)
1 small onion
1-2 cloves garlic (depending on taste)
1-2 stalks celery, diced
2-3 T butter (I use Smart Balance - works perfectly fine)
2T flour
3/4 c milk (I use 1% -a little fat, but not too much)
3-4 c chicken broth (or so)
Saute the onion, garlic, celery in a bit of the butter. When all this is transparent, add the sorrel. When sorrel cooks down, add remaining bit of butter along with flour to make a roux. When the roux get a little beige-y, start gradually adding milk. Be sure to keep stirring this so you don't end up with lumps! To this mixture, add the chicken broth until the soup reaches desired thickness*. If you have some spare herbs straggling around, add them if you'd like**. Simmer on low (low!) flame for another 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until soup's heated through.
Makes 4-5 cups.
*I usually eyeball it. In the spring/summer, I add more broth as I want a lighter soup. The current version's been thicker, almost like a potato leek soup.
**Last night's soup had some thyme, tarragon and oregano from the garden.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Was taking a good serious look at the hands and feet just a few minutes ago. The swelling's gone down a bit, but the left one (yeah, the one I write with, scratch myself with, point the finger at folks with) is still smarting a fair bit. Hopefully, if the weather keeps drying out like it is, Left Hand will be back to normal again soon.
Left leg's been feeling weak. Last night, I was tired from a longer than usual day at work. My not being attentive to where I was placing my feet, along with the darkness and weak leg ended up in a fall. Sprained my poor left foot. I think if I brace it (and the knee) for the walk in today, it should be okay, though.
Left leg's been feeling weak. Last night, I was tired from a longer than usual day at work. My not being attentive to where I was placing my feet, along with the darkness and weak leg ended up in a fall. Sprained my poor left foot. I think if I brace it (and the knee) for the walk in today, it should be okay, though.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Objets Trouvés
Walking through the junkyards on my way to work, I often find things that catch my eye. If they aren't too cumbersome and I think I can use them for something, I'll take them with me to the office.
What I tend to like the most are hubcaps. You can do all sorts of neat things with them depending on their shape, whether or not they're broken, etc. Last week, I picked up a particularly nifty one that somehow shattered into a star - solder a few pieces of mismatched silverware on, give it all a little shine-up and it'll make quite the supernova. Attach a tail of CDs cut in half and I'll have a comet. Mentioned this to the department head after he asked me about my new treasure and how I was going to decorate my new wall. He told me I had a "singular vision" and backed away. Karen said that I should change my name to Sanford. Let them laugh.
Am willing to bet that a certain someone understands.
(-image via that jewelbox full of all things bright and beautiful.)
Walking through the junkyards on my way to work, I often find things that catch my eye. If they aren't too cumbersome and I think I can use them for something, I'll take them with me to the office.
What I tend to like the most are hubcaps. You can do all sorts of neat things with them depending on their shape, whether or not they're broken, etc. Last week, I picked up a particularly nifty one that somehow shattered into a star - solder a few pieces of mismatched silverware on, give it all a little shine-up and it'll make quite the supernova. Attach a tail of CDs cut in half and I'll have a comet. Mentioned this to the department head after he asked me about my new treasure and how I was going to decorate my new wall. He told me I had a "singular vision" and backed away. Karen said that I should change my name to Sanford. Let them laugh.
Am willing to bet that a certain someone understands.
(-image via that jewelbox full of all things bright and beautiful.)
The Wall
A couple years back, I got reorganized from the Fourth Floor down to the Second Floor. After being reorganized again last January, someone got the idea that it might be a good idea for me to be kicked back upstairs. The estimated re-reorg was to take place in July of this year, and I was to move into my former office which had been turned into a conference room. As could be expected, I made it upstairs a month late to a conference room instead of an office. No problem; I'd been working in The Agora before, so can handle just about everything now.
Things were coming along swimmingly until about three weeks ago, when I got a memo. Apparently, my wall was finally going to be built. Would be an overnight project, so I'd not be inconvenienced in any way.
Har! If anything, I got to know the guys in facilities really well: nailguns, buzzsaws and everything. Initially, I was to get a full wall and a door. Didn't happen. They started with a sort of shelf thing that was about four feet high. People would come by, lean over the shelf to see what I was doing and ask me why I had a shelf put in. Sometimes I'd answer that IT was starting an ice cream stand. Other times, that I needed it so that I could take in laundry. Someone in HR asked, so I replied that we were piloting puppet theater as an alternative to e-learning.
Word of my lunch counter got around to the head of facilities, so he inspected. Didn't understand why we weren't happy with the half a wall, but put in another workorder to get it extended to a reasonable height (meaning high enough for me to get some privacy). The next afternoon, the workmen came back and, after making fun of me for not being happy with the wall, started work again. After a few days (couple of which I couldn't stay in my work area), they extended it to about six feet (to my occasional cries of "For the Love of God,Montressor!" -Karen got it, anyway.) Now people have to lean around the wall in order to ask me how well I like it.
As I write, am chuckling a little. Before the workers got around to painting my wall, Karen and I tagged it. Since they only used one coat of paint, I'm still seeing her little maxim which didn't quite disappear: "Petit à petit l’oiseau fait son nid."
A couple years back, I got reorganized from the Fourth Floor down to the Second Floor. After being reorganized again last January, someone got the idea that it might be a good idea for me to be kicked back upstairs. The estimated re-reorg was to take place in July of this year, and I was to move into my former office which had been turned into a conference room. As could be expected, I made it upstairs a month late to a conference room instead of an office. No problem; I'd been working in The Agora before, so can handle just about everything now.
Things were coming along swimmingly until about three weeks ago, when I got a memo. Apparently, my wall was finally going to be built. Would be an overnight project, so I'd not be inconvenienced in any way.
Har! If anything, I got to know the guys in facilities really well: nailguns, buzzsaws and everything. Initially, I was to get a full wall and a door. Didn't happen. They started with a sort of shelf thing that was about four feet high. People would come by, lean over the shelf to see what I was doing and ask me why I had a shelf put in. Sometimes I'd answer that IT was starting an ice cream stand. Other times, that I needed it so that I could take in laundry. Someone in HR asked, so I replied that we were piloting puppet theater as an alternative to e-learning.
Word of my lunch counter got around to the head of facilities, so he inspected. Didn't understand why we weren't happy with the half a wall, but put in another workorder to get it extended to a reasonable height (meaning high enough for me to get some privacy). The next afternoon, the workmen came back and, after making fun of me for not being happy with the wall, started work again. After a few days (couple of which I couldn't stay in my work area), they extended it to about six feet (to my occasional cries of "For the Love of God,Montressor!" -Karen got it, anyway.) Now people have to lean around the wall in order to ask me how well I like it.
As I write, am chuckling a little. Before the workers got around to painting my wall, Karen and I tagged it. Since they only used one coat of paint, I'm still seeing her little maxim which didn't quite disappear: "Petit à petit l’oiseau fait son nid."
Lost 'Walking on the Moon' last night to a pretty Chuck Prophet song about old friends. This was brought on by static-y message from the soft, Australian-accented voice telling me that "we've been out of touch for so long; we have to catch up."
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
When I was a kid, I used to feel the same way as that little boy from work. It's really hard when you've a parent (or two) who's impaired in some way, and you have to make adult decisions when your brain's not mature enough to do so. I remember thinking so hard about stuff that my head would hurt and I wished to God for Dad/Grandma/our neighbor to come and help make life easier. Never happened, though.
I used to work in an agency that did foster placements, and it was amazing the number of times one of the social workers would find a foster parent whaling the hell out of a kid in the burger joint just outside the offices, often on the way to an appointment. This would call for taking the kid away right away and making emergency accomodations - even if that meant housing the kid at their place for a bit. Though I worked in administration, a couple requirements for us all were that we be trained in crisis intervention and that we do some field work. As a result, we'd often end up keeping an eye on stray kids.
For some reason, one little boy would find himself in our office regularly. He was small for his age (around eight), had huge eyes, and was very, very grave in demeanor. Whenever my one colleague (a tall, handsome Cape Verdean man who usually got boys left with him - great male role model, loved kids. The case workers loved him to bits.) wasn't around, I'd help out. I think that initially he was a little mistrustful of me, since I was another Big White Person, and they seemed to be the ones jerking him around a lot. Eventually, though, for a variety of reasons (Butcher paper and the big box of crayons. My really awesome tattoo. The fact that I took french fry breaks instead of coffee breaks, among other things), he warmed up to me.
We used to have some great conversations about what he liked (tattoos - wanted one on his arm like I had. Only in Chinese. When I asked him what he wanted the tattoo to say, he said that he didn't know, because he didn't speak Chinese and wouldn't understand it.) and disliked (sitting around in offices - he had plenty of experience in this), what he wanted to be when he'd grow up, places he'd like to visit. I learned that he liked roller coasters, but was too small to go on one yet. Also - he liked cheese pizza, but didn't care for egg rolls. Since he acted so mature for his age, I'd sometimes forget that he was a little kid and start asking him too many questions, giving him too many choices, treating him like he was older than he could handle. This was when he'd start getting a bit irritable, his body language would change, and he'd get this look in his eyes that said "hey, lay off. You're the big person, I'm the little person. Why don't you act your part so that I can act mine?" After a few experiences with this, figured out how to stop myself and let him be a kid again.
Eventually, he got placed with a good family whose intention was to eventually adopt (they had a history with us; it was cool.) him, so that was the end of the visits. All for the best, though. Two jobs and several years later, though, I still think about him. He'd be in high school now. How's he doing? Did he ever get adopted? Does he still want to be a police man? Has he ever gotten to ride a roller coaster? I also think a lot about the look he'd get when he wanted an adult to make the decisions. I hope that his new family picked up on it.
For some reason, one little boy would find himself in our office regularly. He was small for his age (around eight), had huge eyes, and was very, very grave in demeanor. Whenever my one colleague (a tall, handsome Cape Verdean man who usually got boys left with him - great male role model, loved kids. The case workers loved him to bits.) wasn't around, I'd help out. I think that initially he was a little mistrustful of me, since I was another Big White Person, and they seemed to be the ones jerking him around a lot. Eventually, though, for a variety of reasons (Butcher paper and the big box of crayons. My really awesome tattoo. The fact that I took french fry breaks instead of coffee breaks, among other things), he warmed up to me.
We used to have some great conversations about what he liked (tattoos - wanted one on his arm like I had. Only in Chinese. When I asked him what he wanted the tattoo to say, he said that he didn't know, because he didn't speak Chinese and wouldn't understand it.) and disliked (sitting around in offices - he had plenty of experience in this), what he wanted to be when he'd grow up, places he'd like to visit. I learned that he liked roller coasters, but was too small to go on one yet. Also - he liked cheese pizza, but didn't care for egg rolls. Since he acted so mature for his age, I'd sometimes forget that he was a little kid and start asking him too many questions, giving him too many choices, treating him like he was older than he could handle. This was when he'd start getting a bit irritable, his body language would change, and he'd get this look in his eyes that said "hey, lay off. You're the big person, I'm the little person. Why don't you act your part so that I can act mine?" After a few experiences with this, figured out how to stop myself and let him be a kid again.
Eventually, he got placed with a good family whose intention was to eventually adopt (they had a history with us; it was cool.) him, so that was the end of the visits. All for the best, though. Two jobs and several years later, though, I still think about him. He'd be in high school now. How's he doing? Did he ever get adopted? Does he still want to be a police man? Has he ever gotten to ride a roller coaster? I also think a lot about the look he'd get when he wanted an adult to make the decisions. I hope that his new family picked up on it.
War injuries.
I'm never without pain; some days I just manage it better than others. When the weather changes or I get stressed out, though, sometimes it can be darn well near unbearable. These are the times when I find myself in a terrible mood and liable to hurt others' feelings. I don't want them to feel pain like I do, yet like some sort of savage I'll still inflict it.
It's cold and damp out, so my hands and wrists are swollen like an arthritic's. My neck is starting to shift into an unhealthy position, so the shoulders and back are hurting. My left knee, pelvis and ankles are also throbbing. I'm sure that tonight my jaw will lock from the clenching I'll do in my sleep - a subconscious reaction to the pain.
As awful as this all sounds, it's actually better than not feeling. For years I pushed the feeling away and neglected the body. My therapist called it dissociation. I called it transcendence. Now I hurt sometimes hard enough to scream, to cry, to want to be dead. Sometimes I will scream, but into a pillow. I don't want to upset my landlord. I do cry a lot (have a lot of lost tears to make up for). I don't want to be dead, though. I was dead-alive for decades, but somehow managed to resurrect me. I don't want to go back to the dead place again.
I'm never without pain; some days I just manage it better than others. When the weather changes or I get stressed out, though, sometimes it can be darn well near unbearable. These are the times when I find myself in a terrible mood and liable to hurt others' feelings. I don't want them to feel pain like I do, yet like some sort of savage I'll still inflict it.
It's cold and damp out, so my hands and wrists are swollen like an arthritic's. My neck is starting to shift into an unhealthy position, so the shoulders and back are hurting. My left knee, pelvis and ankles are also throbbing. I'm sure that tonight my jaw will lock from the clenching I'll do in my sleep - a subconscious reaction to the pain.
As awful as this all sounds, it's actually better than not feeling. For years I pushed the feeling away and neglected the body. My therapist called it dissociation. I called it transcendence. Now I hurt sometimes hard enough to scream, to cry, to want to be dead. Sometimes I will scream, but into a pillow. I don't want to upset my landlord. I do cry a lot (have a lot of lost tears to make up for). I don't want to be dead, though. I was dead-alive for decades, but somehow managed to resurrect me. I don't want to go back to the dead place again.
Ordinarily I don't care for fisking; generally see it as an exercise in pettiness. However, this article does an excellent job of showing a very political appointment by a self-proclaimed non political group.
-via Andrew Sullivan
-via Andrew Sullivan
On one of my recent walks home from work, I decided to pick up a couple Honey Locust pods. Figured I'd try growing my own as a project over the winter. We have a lot of them in my neighborhood, and I've grown to love them in all their thorny glory. In the spring, they give us beautiful white-wisteria-looking flowers whose scent could never be bottled. In summer, sunshine filtering through the lacy-patterned compound leaves illustrates the term "sun dappled" perfectly for me. In fall, those same leaves turn the color of school buses before falling off - a nice change from the drabber yellows of the Norway Maple and Ailanthus. In the wintertime, the spiked varieties look a little bit like characters from a Tim Burton story; kind of sad and grotesque at the same time. It's always a relief to see them bud again come spring.
Karen, who spends a good amount of her gardening time battling the seedlings, told me that they're very prolific and they grow fast. Guess I'll have to choose wisely where I plant, then. (Maybe will give Pablo's backyard a present. We'll see.)
Karen, who spends a good amount of her gardening time battling the seedlings, told me that they're very prolific and they grow fast. Guess I'll have to choose wisely where I plant, then. (Maybe will give Pablo's backyard a present. We'll see.)
Day Four
Of 'Walking on the Moon.' I tried to hammer it out with a bit of gamelan last night but it eased its way back into my head while I slept.
Of 'Walking on the Moon.' I tried to hammer it out with a bit of gamelan last night but it eased its way back into my head while I slept.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Two particularly funny lists from McSweeney's:
Reasons Bloggers Hate the Mainstream Media.
The MSM is too liberal.
Professor always calls on the MSM.
Bloggers got stood up at prom. By the MSM.
-BY WILLIAM WOLFE
- - - -
Least Reputable Charities.
Doctors Without Credentials
Habitat for Sean Hannity
Red Cross—Undisclosed Location in the Cayman Islands Division
United l77t d00d College Fund
Feed the Children (to Other Children)
Oxporn
-BY LUCAS COX
- - - -
Also noticed that they've got some new sestinas up. (Yay! Sestinas!)
Reasons Bloggers Hate the Mainstream Media.
The MSM is too liberal.
Professor always calls on the MSM.
Bloggers got stood up at prom. By the MSM.
-BY WILLIAM WOLFE
- - - -
Least Reputable Charities.
Doctors Without Credentials
Habitat for Sean Hannity
Red Cross—Undisclosed Location in the Cayman Islands Division
United l77t d00d College Fund
Feed the Children (to Other Children)
Oxporn
-BY LUCAS COX
- - - -
Also noticed that they've got some new sestinas up. (Yay! Sestinas!)
On the ride up Broadway to the I93 connector, we sat waiting at a light. The fellow next to us had his windows down and was cranking some eighties underwater reggae sounds. Was very funny to note all the heads in cars around him bobbing in sync.
Maudslay.
This weekend's adventure took us up to the Maudslay estate in Newburyport. Strange to be on the North Shore, but not in sight of the Atlantic. Instead, we got to wander a ways along the Merrimac River.
Though leaf-season's largely over in this part of the state, we did see some indications that at peak it must have been stunning.
This park was, at one point, a second home to a wealthy family. Interestingly enough, all one could see was traces of the former estate: foundations of buildings, carriage trails, the layouts of some formerly spectacular gardens now gone to seed.
(Hal really got into photographing these ornamental grasses in one open area)
As always, the trusty assistant kept herself busy and in not too much trouble during the obsessive photoshoots.
(One could do worse than be a climber of trees.)
While wandering through a grove of rhododendrons (and it was a grove - these bushes were at least twice our height), we happened upon a small graveyard. Originally thoght it might be one of those old New England family plots. Turned out it was a plot for pets. Six or seven of them, if I remember correctly.
A great picnic spot was on the hill where one of the original houses stood. How wonderful to be out enjoying the sun, good company, a view that once only very wealthy people could have. Makes ordinary turkey sandwiches and apples that much nicer.
This weekend's adventure took us up to the Maudslay estate in Newburyport. Strange to be on the North Shore, but not in sight of the Atlantic. Instead, we got to wander a ways along the Merrimac River.
Though leaf-season's largely over in this part of the state, we did see some indications that at peak it must have been stunning.
This park was, at one point, a second home to a wealthy family. Interestingly enough, all one could see was traces of the former estate: foundations of buildings, carriage trails, the layouts of some formerly spectacular gardens now gone to seed.
(Hal really got into photographing these ornamental grasses in one open area)
As always, the trusty assistant kept herself busy and in not too much trouble during the obsessive photoshoots.
(One could do worse than be a climber of trees.)
While wandering through a grove of rhododendrons (and it was a grove - these bushes were at least twice our height), we happened upon a small graveyard. Originally thoght it might be one of those old New England family plots. Turned out it was a plot for pets. Six or seven of them, if I remember correctly.
A great picnic spot was on the hill where one of the original houses stood. How wonderful to be out enjoying the sun, good company, a view that once only very wealthy people could have. Makes ordinary turkey sandwiches and apples that much nicer.
Monday morning's flower is another Autumn fruit.
There's something about bushwacking through a field of ripe milkweed pods and setting the seeds aloft that makes us feel like kids again. Hal and I made short work of one such field we encountered on our Weekly Adventure up the Nawth Shaw.
Amazing how such a seemingly chaotic seed dispersal system is packaged so neatly.
The Jumblies had their sieve, Hal has his milkweed pod. Can't really cut through the waves like 'Jarvy,' (why don't people name rowboats like they do larger craft?) but seems to handle well in calmer waters.
There's something about bushwacking through a field of ripe milkweed pods and setting the seeds aloft that makes us feel like kids again. Hal and I made short work of one such field we encountered on our Weekly Adventure up the Nawth Shaw.
Amazing how such a seemingly chaotic seed dispersal system is packaged so neatly.
The Jumblies had their sieve, Hal has his milkweed pod. Can't really cut through the waves like 'Jarvy,' (why don't people name rowboats like they do larger craft?) but seems to handle well in calmer waters.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Glorious Sunday.
Today was one of those rare November days where I could open all my windows and warm up the house.
Spent a good half-day in the garden winterizing everything: pulled up the dead leaves of perennials, raked leaves, pruned/trimmed things that needed it, mowed the lawn for the last time this year, set the garden hose out to drain. Was too good a day not to be doing these things. As it turned out, most of my neighbors felt the same way, so got to get back in touch with them. Heard about Raphaella's newest grandchild, got to see my landlord's new kitchen and bathroom (similar to what's going to happen to my place if I'm to believe his threats), 'shot the sh!t' with my stoner just-out-of-college neighbor. He's funny and actually quite smart. Grew up on a farm in Vermont somewhere. Wish he didn't do so much pot, though.
In the house, I swept, but didn't bother with mopping. Just didn't feel like it. Instead, I bound off the raw edge of a sampler that Hal's mom wove. Though just a practice piece, it's pretty and exuberantly Latvian enough to make it a very happy addition to my house's décor as a piano runner. Bought some almond oil recently at Target and rubbed it into my piano (whose name is Daisy, in case you were wondering). She's positively glowing now. Now, to find a decent tuner.
Heard again from mon ami de loin. Assures me that, though things aren't wonderful right now, they aren't as bad as the media are playing things up to being. It's sort of the US media getting back for Europe's hyping of Katrina. (I tend to agree.) Talked a bit about Armistice - what we did for meditating on it, what it means to us. His favorite novel on that subject is "All Quiet on the Western Front." Mine is "To Serve Them All My Days."
I really appreciate how this person makes me laugh. May never meet him, but he does really benefit me. Am happy for that.
Ran some errands, finished cleaning my place, caught up with whom I needed to, napped. Am now getting ready to listen to Opera Night on 'HRB and get some knitting done. Then off to bed.
What a good life I have. Everyone should be as lucky as I am.
Today was one of those rare November days where I could open all my windows and warm up the house.
Spent a good half-day in the garden winterizing everything: pulled up the dead leaves of perennials, raked leaves, pruned/trimmed things that needed it, mowed the lawn for the last time this year, set the garden hose out to drain. Was too good a day not to be doing these things. As it turned out, most of my neighbors felt the same way, so got to get back in touch with them. Heard about Raphaella's newest grandchild, got to see my landlord's new kitchen and bathroom (similar to what's going to happen to my place if I'm to believe his threats), 'shot the sh!t' with my stoner just-out-of-college neighbor. He's funny and actually quite smart. Grew up on a farm in Vermont somewhere. Wish he didn't do so much pot, though.
In the house, I swept, but didn't bother with mopping. Just didn't feel like it. Instead, I bound off the raw edge of a sampler that Hal's mom wove. Though just a practice piece, it's pretty and exuberantly Latvian enough to make it a very happy addition to my house's décor as a piano runner. Bought some almond oil recently at Target and rubbed it into my piano (whose name is Daisy, in case you were wondering). She's positively glowing now. Now, to find a decent tuner.
Heard again from mon ami de loin. Assures me that, though things aren't wonderful right now, they aren't as bad as the media are playing things up to being. It's sort of the US media getting back for Europe's hyping of Katrina. (I tend to agree.) Talked a bit about Armistice - what we did for meditating on it, what it means to us. His favorite novel on that subject is "All Quiet on the Western Front." Mine is "To Serve Them All My Days."
I really appreciate how this person makes me laugh. May never meet him, but he does really benefit me. Am happy for that.
Ran some errands, finished cleaning my place, caught up with whom I needed to, napped. Am now getting ready to listen to Opera Night on 'HRB and get some knitting done. Then off to bed.
What a good life I have. Everyone should be as lucky as I am.
Ambient noise pillows to help soldiers in war zones sleep?
It's an intriguing theory, and if it works - great. I wonder, though, how many soldiers might find this sort of therapy annoying to the point of being detrimental to their mental health?
As I live in a very densely-populated urban area, I've learned to fall asleep through just about any noise (even the occasional gunshot). I cannot, however, fall asleep if a radio is on. One friend of mine, who couldn't deal with the constant outside noise, got one of those Sharper Image ambient noise-makers and absolutely loved it. I found, though, that the fake waves-on-the-shore and birds-twitttering sounds put me on edge. Made me grind my teeth. Enraged me to the point where I had to either sleep in another room or resign myself to waking up in a combattive mood the next day.
It's an intriguing theory, and if it works - great. I wonder, though, how many soldiers might find this sort of therapy annoying to the point of being detrimental to their mental health?
As I live in a very densely-populated urban area, I've learned to fall asleep through just about any noise (even the occasional gunshot). I cannot, however, fall asleep if a radio is on. One friend of mine, who couldn't deal with the constant outside noise, got one of those Sharper Image ambient noise-makers and absolutely loved it. I found, though, that the fake waves-on-the-shore and birds-twitttering sounds put me on edge. Made me grind my teeth. Enraged me to the point where I had to either sleep in another room or resign myself to waking up in a combattive mood the next day.
Looks like we've got the preschool equivalent to the $600 SUV stroller right here.
Apparently, some (more educated, better-heeled) parents are looking to provide academic advantage for their kids when they hit kindergarten, what with "No Child Left Behind" looming over everyone like the Sword of Damocles and all. Kaplan (et al), of course is right there to supply something to help them spend their money. From what I gather in the article, this sort of tutoring provides very little if any return for toddlers, unless they have a learning disability. If anything, it may well turn kids off of school. We'll see in a few years, I guess.
A little personal note, here: neither of my parents graduated college, and only one grandparent graduated high school. Everybody loved to read, however. Everybody loved music as well. As a result, my brother and I were always read to, danced with or sung to. Even my dad, who wasn't very musically inclined, would sing to us. We'd get "God Bless America" every night, though, because that was the one song he knew all the words to. My mom, who had years of lessons from her time with the nuns, would play anything and everything on the piano.
These loves wore off on my brother and me, and helped us quite a bit through some rough years both at home and school. The family investment, when we had it, is something that I've drawn comfort from during some awful, dark times.
I can't stress enough the importance of less, but better television. Push Big TV to give us something more useful than what they think we want. (And don't give me that whole "well, PBS lost a lot of government funding..." line - how many garbage travel shows with corporate sponsorship do they have now? How many membership drives do we submit ourselves to for the relative rock video that Nova's become? PBS is doing perfectly fine. They'd do better if what they offered was better.) Growing up, I rarely, if ever watched television; don't know that we had one when I was little. I vaguely remember the Big Three PBS shows from trips to grandparents' houses and from a grainy, off-color screen color TV somewhere that didn't get all the stations. Started learning French from Sesame Street. Also got a great head start in what some program director in one of Kaplan toddler tutorials called "valuable pre-reading experience and phonetic recognition" from Electric Company. Easy Reader gave me the confidence to sound things out on street signs, etc. By the time I started Kindergarten, I could read perfectly fine on my own. My brother took off a bit more slowly, as it turns out he's dyslexic. He consumes books like potato chips, though, and has turned out to be a darned good writer.
Back to music. As I said, there was a lot of that in our household and not just because everyone was a musician. They weren't, but that didn't stop anyone from having fun playing. Dust off that old guitar, get the piano tuned. One doesn't have to be a Segovia or Horowitz to play anything from the Fireside Book. Don't know an instrument? Then sing! Even if it's only one song! Or learn to play an instrument: Guitar setups are fairly cheap (cheaper than a piano, that's for sure). Buy one, get a Mel Bay book, learn a couple chords. Kids would learn something important, too, in seeing that not everybody's immediately a virtuoso, that some things take time to learn to do right, and that you can still have fun playing, singing, dancing, whatever, while in the process of learning. All that, in addition to getting one's kids outdoors (playing, not to Starbucks) every day is healthy both for the kids and for parents. Ultimately, it's the investment of things other than money in one's kids that generally brings greater returns than engaging yet another kind of paid help.
Apparently, some (more educated, better-heeled) parents are looking to provide academic advantage for their kids when they hit kindergarten, what with "No Child Left Behind" looming over everyone like the Sword of Damocles and all. Kaplan (et al), of course is right there to supply something to help them spend their money. From what I gather in the article, this sort of tutoring provides very little if any return for toddlers, unless they have a learning disability. If anything, it may well turn kids off of school. We'll see in a few years, I guess.
A little personal note, here: neither of my parents graduated college, and only one grandparent graduated high school. Everybody loved to read, however. Everybody loved music as well. As a result, my brother and I were always read to, danced with or sung to. Even my dad, who wasn't very musically inclined, would sing to us. We'd get "God Bless America" every night, though, because that was the one song he knew all the words to. My mom, who had years of lessons from her time with the nuns, would play anything and everything on the piano.
These loves wore off on my brother and me, and helped us quite a bit through some rough years both at home and school. The family investment, when we had it, is something that I've drawn comfort from during some awful, dark times.
I can't stress enough the importance of less, but better television. Push Big TV to give us something more useful than what they think we want. (And don't give me that whole "well, PBS lost a lot of government funding..." line - how many garbage travel shows with corporate sponsorship do they have now? How many membership drives do we submit ourselves to for the relative rock video that Nova's become? PBS is doing perfectly fine. They'd do better if what they offered was better.) Growing up, I rarely, if ever watched television; don't know that we had one when I was little. I vaguely remember the Big Three PBS shows from trips to grandparents' houses and from a grainy, off-color screen color TV somewhere that didn't get all the stations. Started learning French from Sesame Street. Also got a great head start in what some program director in one of Kaplan toddler tutorials called "valuable pre-reading experience and phonetic recognition" from Electric Company. Easy Reader gave me the confidence to sound things out on street signs, etc. By the time I started Kindergarten, I could read perfectly fine on my own. My brother took off a bit more slowly, as it turns out he's dyslexic. He consumes books like potato chips, though, and has turned out to be a darned good writer.
Back to music. As I said, there was a lot of that in our household and not just because everyone was a musician. They weren't, but that didn't stop anyone from having fun playing. Dust off that old guitar, get the piano tuned. One doesn't have to be a Segovia or Horowitz to play anything from the Fireside Book. Don't know an instrument? Then sing! Even if it's only one song! Or learn to play an instrument: Guitar setups are fairly cheap (cheaper than a piano, that's for sure). Buy one, get a Mel Bay book, learn a couple chords. Kids would learn something important, too, in seeing that not everybody's immediately a virtuoso, that some things take time to learn to do right, and that you can still have fun playing, singing, dancing, whatever, while in the process of learning. All that, in addition to getting one's kids outdoors (playing, not to Starbucks) every day is healthy both for the kids and for parents. Ultimately, it's the investment of things other than money in one's kids that generally brings greater returns than engaging yet another kind of paid help.
Friday, November 11, 2005
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
-John McCrae (1872-1918)
Au Champ d'honneur
Au champ d'honneur, les coquelicots
Sont parsemés de lot en lot
Auprès des croix; et dans l'espace
Les alouettes devenues lasses
Mêlent leurs chants au sifflement
Des obusiers.
Nous sommes morts
Nous qui songions la veille encor'
À nos parents, à nos amis,
C'est nous qui reposons ici
Au champ d'honneur.
À vous jeunes désabusés
À vous de porter l'oriflamme
Et de garder au fond de l'âme
Le goût de vivre en liberté.
Acceptez le défi, sinon
Les coquelicots se faneront
Au champ d'honneur.
-Jean Pariseau
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
-John McCrae (1872-1918)
Au Champ d'honneur
Au champ d'honneur, les coquelicots
Sont parsemés de lot en lot
Auprès des croix; et dans l'espace
Les alouettes devenues lasses
Mêlent leurs chants au sifflement
Des obusiers.
Nous sommes morts
Nous qui songions la veille encor'
À nos parents, à nos amis,
C'est nous qui reposons ici
Au champ d'honneur.
À vous jeunes désabusés
À vous de porter l'oriflamme
Et de garder au fond de l'âme
Le goût de vivre en liberté.
Acceptez le défi, sinon
Les coquelicots se faneront
Au champ d'honneur.
-Jean Pariseau
Thank Heavens.
Instapundit's right - we need to hear more of this from the President. The administration needs to work a heck of alot harder than they have been on getting the truth out because, thanks to a hostile press and the amazing ease of diffusing (dis)information, lies "...made it all the way around the world several times over before the truth had time to even get its underwear on, much less its pants..."
Instapundit's right - we need to hear more of this from the President. The administration needs to work a heck of alot harder than they have been on getting the truth out because, thanks to a hostile press and the amazing ease of diffusing (dis)information, lies "...made it all the way around the world several times over before the truth had time to even get its underwear on, much less its pants..."
Sorry, but...No.
White flags are not peace flags; they're surrender flags.
The traditional flag to be putting on a veteran's grave is an American flag.
Have seen these people before. Usually they're hanging out on bridges holding signs. I'd ask what the heck they were thinking, getting off their Sunday Lunch Hour sign-holding schedule, but I guess I already know the answer to that.
White flags are not peace flags; they're surrender flags.
The traditional flag to be putting on a veteran's grave is an American flag.
Have seen these people before. Usually they're hanging out on bridges holding signs. I'd ask what the heck they were thinking, getting off their Sunday Lunch Hour sign-holding schedule, but I guess I already know the answer to that.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Let's remember to keep the "X" in "Xmas."
Back when I was younger, you couldn't start harping on "Merry Christmas" as being Anti-PC until after Thanksgiving.
Back when I was younger, you couldn't start harping on "Merry Christmas" as being Anti-PC until after Thanksgiving.
Have seen a couple of interesting posts on parents' rights over the last day or so.
Come on, let's be reasonable: I don't go on benders at Chuck-E-Cheese, so what makes you think that you can turn, say, the 1369 into Romper Room?
Now, I, like most reasonable people without children, am not militantly anti-kid (How could I be? I worked in Child Welfare for years - yes, taking care of kids) or anything, but don't push me or others like me, okay? You have rights, but so do I. You infringe on my rights, I'm not going to be happy. It's not "hating," it's a natural response.
Come on, let's be reasonable: I don't go on benders at Chuck-E-Cheese, so what makes you think that you can turn, say, the 1369 into Romper Room?
Now, I, like most reasonable people without children, am not militantly anti-kid (How could I be? I worked in Child Welfare for years - yes, taking care of kids) or anything, but don't push me or others like me, okay? You have rights, but so do I. You infringe on my rights, I'm not going to be happy. It's not "hating," it's a natural response.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Okay, I've had it.
Over the past couple days, I've gotten well over twenty phone calls from everybody running for either alderman or school committee in Somerville. Since I don't believe that there are any Republican candidates running (come on, this is Somerville!), I don't know that I can do anything but not vote tonight. This makes me feel dirty and sick, though. What do I do?
Over the past couple days, I've gotten well over twenty phone calls from everybody running for either alderman or school committee in Somerville. Since I don't believe that there are any Republican candidates running (come on, this is Somerville!), I don't know that I can do anything but not vote tonight. This makes me feel dirty and sick, though. What do I do?
Tormented.
Of course, Peter Schickele's having pointed out that you can sing "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" to the melody of "Hernando's Hideway" doesn't help matters any.
***
Oh, what the heck. Yes, you can sing anything by Emily Dickinson to "The Yellow Rose of Texas," as well, I've found. Idem for just about anything by Schiller to the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth.
***
And let's not forget that since Hal has taken to calling my lovely Marcroft ovenware mugs "Hero Mugs," I can't drink a cup of tea anymore without humming the overture to Die Meistersinger. Thanks, Hal.
Of course, Peter Schickele's having pointed out that you can sing "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" to the melody of "Hernando's Hideway" doesn't help matters any.
***
Oh, what the heck. Yes, you can sing anything by Emily Dickinson to "The Yellow Rose of Texas," as well, I've found. Idem for just about anything by Schiller to the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth.
***
And let's not forget that since Hal has taken to calling my lovely Marcroft ovenware mugs "Hero Mugs," I can't drink a cup of tea anymore without humming the overture to Die Meistersinger. Thanks, Hal.
Some more images from our impromptu Saturday afternoon idyll:
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here to watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake the darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake to ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-Robert Frost
***
Though the Solstice is still another month an a half off, a combination of factors (Olmsted's design, a fog rolling in off Boston Harbor and the early sunset - 4:30 pm) created such an atmosphere that only Frost's poem could have provided the rhythm for my footsteps.
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here to watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake the darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake to ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-Robert Frost
***
Though the Solstice is still another month an a half off, a combination of factors (Olmsted's design, a fog rolling in off Boston Harbor and the early sunset - 4:30 pm) created such an atmosphere that only Frost's poem could have provided the rhythm for my footsteps.
My Tuesday Morning flower is actually flaming fruits and foliage caught by Hal on our Saturday walk.
***
Where did we walk? At World's End in Hingham - one of perhaps a score or so of privately managed nature preserves on the Massachusetts coast alone. Interestingly enough, in spite of their being privately owned and managed, none that we've seen so far have featured NASCAR tracks or a Golden Arches.
***
Where did we walk? At World's End in Hingham - one of perhaps a score or so of privately managed nature preserves on the Massachusetts coast alone. Interestingly enough, in spite of their being privately owned and managed, none that we've seen so far have featured NASCAR tracks or a Golden Arches.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Of course, I couldn't not be bothered while trying to sleep. Received no fewer than six recorded phone calls from people looking to get my vote in tomorrow's elections. As if the flurry of collateral I'd received from everybody (at least five pieces from each alderman and school committee candidate) weren't enough.
You know what? Just for that, I am not voting for anybody. I will go in and vote against the damn economic divestment of Israel proposition, and then leave. Hate them all. Hiss.
You know what? Just for that, I am not voting for anybody. I will go in and vote against the damn economic divestment of Israel proposition, and then leave. Hate them all. Hiss.
Sunday's follies were apparently not enough. Monday struck my head with the force of a hammer on an anvil. Clang...Ouch! I thought my skull was going to explode from the force of the pain. I don't believe that it was a migraine, as there wasn't any flashing, although I did throw up a number of times. Judging by the fact that it's been kind of difficult to breathe lately and that the pain was a soggy, hot one around my eyes and temples, I'm thinking that this was sinus-related. Called work to tell my boss that I didn't think I could make it in, vomited again, felt my way back to bed. Found in my brain a place where it didn't hurt, so concentrated on having it soften the rest of me up. The effort of this concentration wore me out, and I managed to sleep for a good six hours.
Heavens!
Was all set to get the fall cleaning done yesterday when Chance decided to mess with me. While the fall curtains were in the washer, I went outside to muck around in the yard a bit. Pulled up a bunch of dead plants and potted the chrysanthemums, then figured that the laundry was done. Went to the door, which in principle is never supposed to be locked, and found that it had locked itself. So, there I stood, barefoot, in a tee shirt and no good supporting undergarment, mud on my face and hands. The drizzle started getting heavier, the sky darker and the temperature cooler. What to do?
Checked with the neighbors to see if anyone had a key; no one did. Borrowed a phone and called the landlord up nawth. He said that he'd not be back in at least two and a half hours, so I'd need to sit tight somewhere. The guy across the street loaned me a sweatshirt, so put that on and wandered over to Pablo's.
Thank heavens he was home. Amused myself with the cats for a bit while he was fretting over what to pack for the conference he's currently attending (Bjarne Strostrop speaking at some Microsoft group grope in LV - Pablo's guru/childhood crush/person he wants to be when he grows up if he grows up some day). When he finished with that, I made something for dinner, and then called the landlord again. Three quarters of an hour north of the City on I95...could I hold tight a bit longer? Of course. Waited with Pablo for his taxi, then took the long way home. When I got back, I found the house wide open and everything lit up like Christmas...hallelujah! Thanked my landlord and Mrs. Landlord for letting me in, then managed to get the curtains up. Much as I wanted to go to bed, couldn't do so until I had some privacy.
Was all set to get the fall cleaning done yesterday when Chance decided to mess with me. While the fall curtains were in the washer, I went outside to muck around in the yard a bit. Pulled up a bunch of dead plants and potted the chrysanthemums, then figured that the laundry was done. Went to the door, which in principle is never supposed to be locked, and found that it had locked itself. So, there I stood, barefoot, in a tee shirt and no good supporting undergarment, mud on my face and hands. The drizzle started getting heavier, the sky darker and the temperature cooler. What to do?
Checked with the neighbors to see if anyone had a key; no one did. Borrowed a phone and called the landlord up nawth. He said that he'd not be back in at least two and a half hours, so I'd need to sit tight somewhere. The guy across the street loaned me a sweatshirt, so put that on and wandered over to Pablo's.
Thank heavens he was home. Amused myself with the cats for a bit while he was fretting over what to pack for the conference he's currently attending (Bjarne Strostrop speaking at some Microsoft group grope in LV - Pablo's guru/childhood crush/person he wants to be when he grows up if he grows up some day). When he finished with that, I made something for dinner, and then called the landlord again. Three quarters of an hour north of the City on I95...could I hold tight a bit longer? Of course. Waited with Pablo for his taxi, then took the long way home. When I got back, I found the house wide open and everything lit up like Christmas...hallelujah! Thanked my landlord and Mrs. Landlord for letting me in, then managed to get the curtains up. Much as I wanted to go to bed, couldn't do so until I had some privacy.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
"Je ris par peur..."
The upside to all this, according to Hal, is that now he doesn't have to buy the three disc set for Battle of Algiers. He can just turn on the news and see it for free.
The upside to all this, according to Hal, is that now he doesn't have to buy the three disc set for Battle of Algiers. He can just turn on the news and see it for free.
I wouldn't blog this with a ten foot pole, much as I'd love to.
(Not for profit is NOT a mandate from God. It's a tax status.)
(Not for profit is NOT a mandate from God. It's a tax status.)
I do hope that mon ami du loin is doing alright. He's old enough to take care of himself, but a girl has a right to be concerned.
I see that there's been a silent march against the violence in Aulnay-Sous-Bois this morning, where 2000-3000 people walked the streets in a show of solidarity with authorities. The mayor of that particular suburb stated that the march was a sign that the laws of the Republic applid to all and that they were not going to give themselves over to violence.
Of course, then there's the "beurre" view: "Of course we are all opposed to the violence. Sarkozy, however, was the one who set things off, and he's not to be excused."
Sarkozy, in case you don't remember, is the one who called those who started the violence thugs. Seems like an apt description to me. If they happened to be maghrebin, well, there you go. Maghrebin and thug are not mutually exclusive terms. To try to shift the blame in this way is a great example of the decadence of PC, I think.
***
Here is a discussion as to whether the riots were organized acts (with a fair bit of prior planning), or 'crimes of passion' fuelled by emotion and the moment. As to the islamification of the movement: It can't be conclusively proven at this time, according to Paris's head prosecutor, Yves Bot. "At the moment, we can say that this is a movement directed primarily against the Republic and that it's not yet taken any sort of philosophical or ideological (communautauriste) turn."
The head of SOS Racisme called for a discussion that would go beyond simple investigation of the events and would address the futures of the urban ghettos. (Not a bad idea. A lot of these places are pits and tend to get ignored.)
***
Now I see that the rioting's spread across the country. Not good. What on earth's going on? Goodness. Denmark, too?
I see that there's been a silent march against the violence in Aulnay-Sous-Bois this morning, where 2000-3000 people walked the streets in a show of solidarity with authorities. The mayor of that particular suburb stated that the march was a sign that the laws of the Republic applid to all and that they were not going to give themselves over to violence.
Of course, then there's the "beurre" view: "Of course we are all opposed to the violence. Sarkozy, however, was the one who set things off, and he's not to be excused."
Sarkozy, in case you don't remember, is the one who called those who started the violence thugs. Seems like an apt description to me. If they happened to be maghrebin, well, there you go. Maghrebin and thug are not mutually exclusive terms. To try to shift the blame in this way is a great example of the decadence of PC, I think.
***
Here is a discussion as to whether the riots were organized acts (with a fair bit of prior planning), or 'crimes of passion' fuelled by emotion and the moment. As to the islamification of the movement: It can't be conclusively proven at this time, according to Paris's head prosecutor, Yves Bot. "At the moment, we can say that this is a movement directed primarily against the Republic and that it's not yet taken any sort of philosophical or ideological (communautauriste) turn."
The head of SOS Racisme called for a discussion that would go beyond simple investigation of the events and would address the futures of the urban ghettos. (Not a bad idea. A lot of these places are pits and tend to get ignored.)
***
Now I see that the rioting's spread across the country. Not good. What on earth's going on? Goodness. Denmark, too?
A UN auditing board conducting an investigation says that the US should pay $208 million back to Iraq for overcharges. A UN auditing board. Something tells me they really shouldn't be going there.
Of course, the cynical side of me sees this as a great way for some folks to attempt to get the spotlight off them, what with the recent release of the Volcker report and all. Also a great way to whip up some resentment against the US in Iraq and maybe get a few more troops killed.
Of course, the cynical side of me sees this as a great way for some folks to attempt to get the spotlight off them, what with the recent release of the Volcker report and all. Also a great way to whip up some resentment against the US in Iraq and maybe get a few more troops killed.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Halloween's great, but November First is a pretty big day, too:
To my friends who celebrate All Saints Day, une joyeuse et benie fête de la Toussaint.
To those who pay homage on Day of the Dead, Feliz Día de los Muertos.
Of course we can't forget Diwali. Happy brightening up the night!
To my friends who celebrate All Saints Day, une joyeuse et benie fête de la Toussaint.
To those who pay homage on Day of the Dead, Feliz Día de los Muertos.
Of course we can't forget Diwali. Happy brightening up the night!
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