Man oh man, vacation rocks. I haven't gone out of town, haven't done anything uber special, but lately I am MADLY IN LOVE with SLEEP. Sleeping in is better than anything.
Christmas was pretty lowkey except my stinking best friends (who are for all intents and purposes my siblings) went and broke the Christmas gift draw rules.
Let me go back a ways. My best friends' brother and his girlfriend had a baby in July. Granted, Alex was an oopsie baby, but Steve and Kelly are turning out to be great parents, and we all love the little guy more than anything. But of course they're not independently wealthy, and I figured a name draw for Christmas gifts would be a good idea as I didn't want them to worry about having to buy presents for us all, especially since Kelly has a huge family of her own. So I drew Deb's husband, and figured all was right with the world.
The day after Christmas comes around, and we all get together to celebrate. I have Eric's present, plus stocking stuffer presents for everyone else - and everyone else has a regular present for me. DOH! They all said I've done so much for the family and for the baby that they couldn't not get me presents. Well, that's sweet but I wish they'd let me in on it - I love giving presents more than I love getting them and I felt really awkward and kind of robbed. I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but Christmas would have been perfect for me if I could have gotten presents for everyone. On the super plus side - Eric LOVED his Cardinals jersey - especially since Deb's plans to get him a laptop were foiled and she ended up getting him....foot spray. No I'm not making that up. I have a great imagination but even I couldn't come up with that.
Today I ordered a new pair of coke bottle glasses with heavily nerdo frames - $406. Thank you, Flex Account. Thank you. The kindly Eastern European technician asked if I'd like the featherweight lenses. YES please. Anti-glare coating? YES please. Rolled and polished edges? Honey, yes to anything you can do to diminish the impression that I'm wearing two glass bathroom wall blocks on my face. Sigh. Someday the FDA will approve a laser for my horrendo eyes. Until then, thank God for contacts, or I would have to strap these magnifying glasses to my face 24/7.
Tomorrow I'm going on the search for a book to teach me how to knit and some knitting needles. I've had four bundles of burgundy and green yarn sitting in my closet for years now, I am going to learn me how to knit! Maybe I can make Mom something for her birthday in February. Ok maybe for Mother's Day. Or Memorial Day. People don't give enough Memorial Day presents.
I'd stick around and blog for longer, but this is requiring way too much concentration during my vaca. I wish I could make a New Year's resolution to become independently wealthy before the end of my vacation.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Insane for the Holidays
The holidays are a crazy time of year, but for me they are crazy in a mostly nice way - even nicer this year thanks to online Christmas shopping. Making time to get together with friends is one of the nicest parts of the season.
This weekend I saw my friends Brenda and Mark and Barbi for dim sum on Saturday. There's few things I've experienced better than dim sum - if I could alternate sushi and dim sum for the rest of my meals on this big marble I'd be happy forever. And I would need to be equipped with one of those special sirens for when I back up because I'd be fat as a house. Brenda and Mark gave me a bag of presents the size of my ass, which is HUGE. Turned out to be an appetizer grill (complete with Sterno! I smell madcap high jinks!) and this cool toy for my kitties which through the miracle of technology and 3 "AA" batteries, dangles and drags around a fuzzy mouse for their amusement. So far they are both completely fascinated with it. Barb had previously trounced us all right after Thanksgiving by giving us champagne glasses that she and her husband MADE and champagne to go with. I gave them bags full o Lush Fresh Handmade cosmetic goodies and hope they love them.
Sunday I saw my friends Cheryl and Scott, who have the cutest Great Dane (Kona) and who are rockstar cooks. They dished up salad, bruschetta, salmon wrapped in phyllo, asparagus, and warm potato salad. If we weren't already stuffed after that, Cheryl then brought out this divine lime mousse cheesecake. As I hate cheesecake (it feels like school paste on my tongue) I was a little hesitant but upon tasting this - oh my gentle Jesus. Light, creamy, rich - essentially love, sunlight, and the salvation of mankind in cheesecake form. Cheryl noted the next day that she had forgotten to send some home with us, to which I retorted:
"Uh, please, if that’d been me who made that cheesecake, after my first bite I’d have grabbed the plates back from all of you and shoved you out the door. You’d have found me in a few months, 100 pounds heavier and with a Gollum-like complexion, huddled in the corner petting some graham-cracker crumbs and calling them “my precious”." No joke, that's how good this thing was.
We also test-drove their home theater setup in the basement which Scott finished with his own two hands. Granted, we did it by watching The Matrix Revolutions, which, if I had never seen the first two installments of the Matrix franchise, I would have titled "A Very Special Episode of Transformers." Still, good effects, and Scott's home theater setup makes any movie better. (Well, in most cases - nothing would make Jeepers Creepers better other than jumping into a time machine and going back to that idyllic era where you had never wasted 2 hours of your life on this movie) Those dirty monkeys also gave us lovely gift baskets (I got champagne with mimosa mix and really cool champagne glasses - good thing too as I suddenly have a lot of champagne on my hands) I only had a tiny bag o Lush for them but am already shopping for their Martin Luther King day present.
Well, tomorrow I get to see John and LK, their friends Sean and Niki, and my favorite gay men in the whole world, Jasen and Michael. (Actually, they're two of my favorite people, period, gay men or no) So during this crazy holiday season, try to stop and make time for friends, because friends make the holidays (and life in general) much better.
Peace,
Donna
This weekend I saw my friends Brenda and Mark and Barbi for dim sum on Saturday. There's few things I've experienced better than dim sum - if I could alternate sushi and dim sum for the rest of my meals on this big marble I'd be happy forever. And I would need to be equipped with one of those special sirens for when I back up because I'd be fat as a house. Brenda and Mark gave me a bag of presents the size of my ass, which is HUGE. Turned out to be an appetizer grill (complete with Sterno! I smell madcap high jinks!) and this cool toy for my kitties which through the miracle of technology and 3 "AA" batteries, dangles and drags around a fuzzy mouse for their amusement. So far they are both completely fascinated with it. Barb had previously trounced us all right after Thanksgiving by giving us champagne glasses that she and her husband MADE and champagne to go with. I gave them bags full o Lush Fresh Handmade cosmetic goodies and hope they love them.
Sunday I saw my friends Cheryl and Scott, who have the cutest Great Dane (Kona) and who are rockstar cooks. They dished up salad, bruschetta, salmon wrapped in phyllo, asparagus, and warm potato salad. If we weren't already stuffed after that, Cheryl then brought out this divine lime mousse cheesecake. As I hate cheesecake (it feels like school paste on my tongue) I was a little hesitant but upon tasting this - oh my gentle Jesus. Light, creamy, rich - essentially love, sunlight, and the salvation of mankind in cheesecake form. Cheryl noted the next day that she had forgotten to send some home with us, to which I retorted:
"Uh, please, if that’d been me who made that cheesecake, after my first bite I’d have grabbed the plates back from all of you and shoved you out the door. You’d have found me in a few months, 100 pounds heavier and with a Gollum-like complexion, huddled in the corner petting some graham-cracker crumbs and calling them “my precious”." No joke, that's how good this thing was.
We also test-drove their home theater setup in the basement which Scott finished with his own two hands. Granted, we did it by watching The Matrix Revolutions, which, if I had never seen the first two installments of the Matrix franchise, I would have titled "A Very Special Episode of Transformers." Still, good effects, and Scott's home theater setup makes any movie better. (Well, in most cases - nothing would make Jeepers Creepers better other than jumping into a time machine and going back to that idyllic era where you had never wasted 2 hours of your life on this movie) Those dirty monkeys also gave us lovely gift baskets (I got champagne with mimosa mix and really cool champagne glasses - good thing too as I suddenly have a lot of champagne on my hands) I only had a tiny bag o Lush for them but am already shopping for their Martin Luther King day present.
Well, tomorrow I get to see John and LK, their friends Sean and Niki, and my favorite gay men in the whole world, Jasen and Michael. (Actually, they're two of my favorite people, period, gay men or no) So during this crazy holiday season, try to stop and make time for friends, because friends make the holidays (and life in general) much better.
Peace,
Donna
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Random Thoughts into the Void - Answered
In an unprecedented blogging moment (for myself anyway) I am answering a comment to my blog with a new blog entry. Carl the Great, (my onetime PS2 DOA2 nemesis) has taken the time to answer the questions I had cast into the void, so I feel it is only fair to continue the dialogue.
cillic the fantabulous is here to answer ALL of your questions.
Q. Who at the Febreze company is getting fired for Scentstories?
A. The one that smells like feet.
D's Answer. Shouldn't the one that smells like feet be fired anyway on general principle? You're hardly good PR for the company when you smell like feet. No, I'm pretty sure some douche that smells like Love's Baby Soft has gotten discharged over this one. (and no, not an ACTUAL douche that smells of Love's Baby Soft. Excuse me while I go do the 3-d technicolor yawn and welcome back my breakfast)
Q. Name the movie where Will Smith says, "Oh HEEELLLLL no!"
A. Will Smith does movies?
D's Answer. I so cannot wait till you and Heather come back up here so you can be the ones that John and LK drag to I, Robot 2: Revenge of the JVC Stereo
Q. Who let Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas into the recording studio? Actually, who let them into the public eye, period?
A. The same people who brought you Cop Rock!
D's Answer. I was so looking forward to Cop Rock, having loved Schoolhouse Rock so much. Dirty dirty lying dirtbags.
Q. Why did Care Bears come back? Who were the douches that liked these the first time around? Whatever happened to plain brown teddy bears?
A. The Real Question is, where is Teddy Ruxpin when you need him?
D's Answer. Teddy Ruxpin is scary like spiders and clowns and the characters' eyes in The Polar Express. But yes, Teddy Ruxpin could pummel Care Bears seven ways to Sunday.
Q. The DiSaronno commercial where the chick sucks on the ice cube and makes the barkeep spooge his panties? Do guys think she's hot?
A. Speaking as a guy and an ex-barkeep of sorts, DiSaronno sucks. Any woman who gets off on the stuff is obviously a mono-sylabic alient beast-hound from Neptune in disguise looking for prey. Not a bad disguise, eh?
D's Answer. Thank you, Carl. However, I'm pretty sure you're one of the men who, besides being already taken and therefore useless to us single women, is in the minority about wanting women who can actually talk. I have driven through Tennessee, I know backtalking womens is frowned upon.
Q. In Sixteen Candles, when Samantha and Jake finally get to smooch, leaning over the cake with a bazillion candles on it, didn't that burn the shit out of their chins? And how many teen couples tried that after that movie and burned the shit out of their chins?
A. If you EVER dis Sixteen Candles again I'll use my John Cryer voodoo doll to put the smack down on your near-cheddar-headed ass!
D's Answer. Whoa Nellie. No one dissed Sixteen Candles. Sixteen Candles is the movie that taught me that if I have to be the lone Asian in school, funny is the way to go. Perhaps not YankeeMyWankee funny, but the take-home lesson is that everyone loves a funny Asian. Something about our teeny eyes makes jokes that much better.
Q. Did Van Halen seriously think Gary Cherone was going to work out for them? Come on. I'll take a stoned and incoherent David Lee Roth every day over the pansy who sang More than Words.
A. Hey, David Lee Roth is now an EMT. Pretty sad that the only time he can make out with a woman is because she's unconscious from Smoke Inhalation (kinda like Larry Hagman's character in Mother, Juggs and Speed. What? You've never seen Mother, Juggs and Speed? Go get it. NOW! Bill Cosby, Raquelle Welch, Harvey Kietel, and Dick motherfucking Butkis! Pure '70s gold!
D's Answer. *writing furiously, adding Mother, Juggs, and Speed to Christmas list.* Is it as good as Foxxy Brown?
Q. How horrible was it that Viktor Yushchenko got poisoned?
A. Not nearly as horrible as Bush getting re-elected.
D's Answer. I'm actually looking forward to this administration *setting tivo to C-SPAN 24/7, waiting for the moment Donald Rumsfeld's face pops off on camera, revealing him to be the ugliest FemBot ever manufactured*
BTW - Donna! I did it all for you! [Jumps off of cubicle railing...]
D's Answer. Thank you Carl, thank you. But I ask that you save yourself for now, until the next time you come up north and I put the DOA2 muffocation hurt on your weeping schoolgirl arse.
Q. Stirrup pants. Why did we do that to ourselves?Girls in low-rider pants with plumbers' butt crack. Why are they doing that to us?
A. I still miss my parachute pants. And regarding the low-riders... why the hell don't chicks with hips wear those. That would be nice. I only see scrawny little bitches with the hips of 13-year-old boys wearing those things. That's my only complaint...cillic
D's Answer. Because society has taught us that chicks with hips are fatties that must hide from the light of day, lest we throw everyone off with the gravitational pull we each exert as walking behemoths circling the globe. (kind of like Saturn's moons but with boobies)
In conclusion, thank you Carl for inspiring this blog entry. Perhaps one day we (that includes John and LK) as the Blog Super Monster Heroes. (I call dibs on Mothra now!)
cillic the fantabulous is here to answer ALL of your questions.
Q. Who at the Febreze company is getting fired for Scentstories?
A. The one that smells like feet.
D's Answer. Shouldn't the one that smells like feet be fired anyway on general principle? You're hardly good PR for the company when you smell like feet. No, I'm pretty sure some douche that smells like Love's Baby Soft has gotten discharged over this one. (and no, not an ACTUAL douche that smells of Love's Baby Soft. Excuse me while I go do the 3-d technicolor yawn and welcome back my breakfast)
Q. Name the movie where Will Smith says, "Oh HEEELLLLL no!"
A. Will Smith does movies?
D's Answer. I so cannot wait till you and Heather come back up here so you can be the ones that John and LK drag to I, Robot 2: Revenge of the JVC Stereo
Q. Who let Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas into the recording studio? Actually, who let them into the public eye, period?
A. The same people who brought you Cop Rock!
D's Answer. I was so looking forward to Cop Rock, having loved Schoolhouse Rock so much. Dirty dirty lying dirtbags.
Q. Why did Care Bears come back? Who were the douches that liked these the first time around? Whatever happened to plain brown teddy bears?
A. The Real Question is, where is Teddy Ruxpin when you need him?
D's Answer. Teddy Ruxpin is scary like spiders and clowns and the characters' eyes in The Polar Express. But yes, Teddy Ruxpin could pummel Care Bears seven ways to Sunday.
Q. The DiSaronno commercial where the chick sucks on the ice cube and makes the barkeep spooge his panties? Do guys think she's hot?
A. Speaking as a guy and an ex-barkeep of sorts, DiSaronno sucks. Any woman who gets off on the stuff is obviously a mono-sylabic alient beast-hound from Neptune in disguise looking for prey. Not a bad disguise, eh?
D's Answer. Thank you, Carl. However, I'm pretty sure you're one of the men who, besides being already taken and therefore useless to us single women, is in the minority about wanting women who can actually talk. I have driven through Tennessee, I know backtalking womens is frowned upon.
Q. In Sixteen Candles, when Samantha and Jake finally get to smooch, leaning over the cake with a bazillion candles on it, didn't that burn the shit out of their chins? And how many teen couples tried that after that movie and burned the shit out of their chins?
A. If you EVER dis Sixteen Candles again I'll use my John Cryer voodoo doll to put the smack down on your near-cheddar-headed ass!
D's Answer. Whoa Nellie. No one dissed Sixteen Candles. Sixteen Candles is the movie that taught me that if I have to be the lone Asian in school, funny is the way to go. Perhaps not YankeeMyWankee funny, but the take-home lesson is that everyone loves a funny Asian. Something about our teeny eyes makes jokes that much better.
Q. Did Van Halen seriously think Gary Cherone was going to work out for them? Come on. I'll take a stoned and incoherent David Lee Roth every day over the pansy who sang More than Words.
A. Hey, David Lee Roth is now an EMT. Pretty sad that the only time he can make out with a woman is because she's unconscious from Smoke Inhalation (kinda like Larry Hagman's character in Mother, Juggs and Speed. What? You've never seen Mother, Juggs and Speed? Go get it. NOW! Bill Cosby, Raquelle Welch, Harvey Kietel, and Dick motherfucking Butkis! Pure '70s gold!
D's Answer. *writing furiously, adding Mother, Juggs, and Speed to Christmas list.* Is it as good as Foxxy Brown?
Q. How horrible was it that Viktor Yushchenko got poisoned?
A. Not nearly as horrible as Bush getting re-elected.
D's Answer. I'm actually looking forward to this administration *setting tivo to C-SPAN 24/7, waiting for the moment Donald Rumsfeld's face pops off on camera, revealing him to be the ugliest FemBot ever manufactured*
BTW - Donna! I did it all for you! [Jumps off of cubicle railing...]
D's Answer. Thank you Carl, thank you. But I ask that you save yourself for now, until the next time you come up north and I put the DOA2 muffocation hurt on your weeping schoolgirl arse.
Q. Stirrup pants. Why did we do that to ourselves?Girls in low-rider pants with plumbers' butt crack. Why are they doing that to us?
A. I still miss my parachute pants. And regarding the low-riders... why the hell don't chicks with hips wear those. That would be nice. I only see scrawny little bitches with the hips of 13-year-old boys wearing those things. That's my only complaint...cillic
D's Answer. Because society has taught us that chicks with hips are fatties that must hide from the light of day, lest we throw everyone off with the gravitational pull we each exert as walking behemoths circling the globe. (kind of like Saturn's moons but with boobies)
In conclusion, thank you Carl for inspiring this blog entry. Perhaps one day we (that includes John and LK) as the Blog Super Monster Heroes. (I call dibs on Mothra now!)
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Casting Random Thoughts into the Void
I frequently don't blog because quite often, I don't have enough to say to make a substantial blog entry. But I find myself having many "I wonder...", "WTF?...." and "You have got to be kidding me..." moments every day. So now I'm just going to throw a few of them out there:
Who at the Febreze company is getting fired for Scentstories? This is seriously the dumbest thing I've seen since Hidden Valley Ranch tried to cater to children with Nacho Cheese Ranch dressing. (My dad works there so I know someone got fired for that train wreck.) What's worse is I like Febreze, it's a great idea, so these guys should have known better. I have books and tv and friends to tell me stories, I don't need smells for that. Smells are for telling me very specific, succinct messages like:
"Toxic waste is nearby." or
"Dinner is ready" or
"John recently ate apple pancakes. Or food."
Name the movie where Will Smith says, "Oh HEEELLLLL no!"
Who let Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas into the recording studio? Actually, who let them into the public eye, period?
Why did Care Bears come back? Who were the douches that liked these the first time around? I've seen these in the store lately, and now there are Care Bear Cousins, which is basically the Care Bear franchise expanding to include other animal species that are in no way related to bears, like elephants and velociraptors or some such nonsense. Whatever happened to plain brown teddy bears?
The DiSaronno commercial where the chick sucks on the ice cube and makes the barkeep spooge his panties? Do guys think she's hot? She looks nearly plastic and her forehead's three foot tall. Or does that bartender just do the old EagleOne FoxTwo thing really easily?
In Sixteen Candles, when Samantha and Jake finally get to smooch, leaning over the cake with a bazillion candles on it, didn't that burn the shit out of their chins? And how many teen couples tried that after that movie and burned the shit out of their chins?
I'm Lemon-Fresh Smurf
Did Van Halen seriously think Gary Cherone was going to work out for them? Come on. I'll take a stoned and incoherent David Lee Roth every day over the pansy who sang More than Words.
How horrible was it that Viktor Yushchenko got poisoned? I think the Republicans in power in this country are cheating assholes, but at least no one poisoned John Kerry. All that cragginess on his face is just the product of good somber living. (or maybe too much windsurfing) Although I do think if Karl Rove could figure out a way to not get caught, he'd poison a LOT of people.
Duran Duran - please let me just remember you the way you were. Just because leg warmers came back doesn't mean you have to. (It also means that leg warmers did not need to come back either. Forenza, you stay right there with 1987 where you belong.)
There is nothing better than snuggly sleeping critters. (Unless the critters are spiders or clowns, that's just not cool.)
The fact that Eddie Murphy did Beverly Hills Cop and Daddy Day Care really proves his range. I cannot think of a single other good thing to say about that fact. He's like the Beatles in reverse.
Do cats think anything is funny? How can I love mine so much when they show no evidence of having a sense of humor? If I met a man who was adorably warm and fuzzy but had no sense of humor, would I be able to love him? Something tells me no. The kitties don't talk back when I sing the A-Team theme song to them, but I have a feeling the guy would. I need my freedom to sing the A-Team when necessary.
Even more than clowns, the nanny from The Omen will always scare the shit out of me. That woman's creepy with a capital oooog.
Stirrup pants. Why did we do that to ourselves?
Girls in low-rider pants with plumbers' butt crack. Why are they doing that to us?
Well that's it for now, tune back in soon for the Holiday Edition of Random Thoughts into the Void.
Cheers,
Donna
Who at the Febreze company is getting fired for Scentstories? This is seriously the dumbest thing I've seen since Hidden Valley Ranch tried to cater to children with Nacho Cheese Ranch dressing. (My dad works there so I know someone got fired for that train wreck.) What's worse is I like Febreze, it's a great idea, so these guys should have known better. I have books and tv and friends to tell me stories, I don't need smells for that. Smells are for telling me very specific, succinct messages like:
"Toxic waste is nearby." or
"Dinner is ready" or
"John recently ate apple pancakes. Or food."
Name the movie where Will Smith says, "Oh HEEELLLLL no!"
Who let Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas into the recording studio? Actually, who let them into the public eye, period?
Why did Care Bears come back? Who were the douches that liked these the first time around? I've seen these in the store lately, and now there are Care Bear Cousins, which is basically the Care Bear franchise expanding to include other animal species that are in no way related to bears, like elephants and velociraptors or some such nonsense. Whatever happened to plain brown teddy bears?
The DiSaronno commercial where the chick sucks on the ice cube and makes the barkeep spooge his panties? Do guys think she's hot? She looks nearly plastic and her forehead's three foot tall. Or does that bartender just do the old EagleOne FoxTwo thing really easily?
In Sixteen Candles, when Samantha and Jake finally get to smooch, leaning over the cake with a bazillion candles on it, didn't that burn the shit out of their chins? And how many teen couples tried that after that movie and burned the shit out of their chins?
I'm Lemon-Fresh Smurf
Did Van Halen seriously think Gary Cherone was going to work out for them? Come on. I'll take a stoned and incoherent David Lee Roth every day over the pansy who sang More than Words.
How horrible was it that Viktor Yushchenko got poisoned? I think the Republicans in power in this country are cheating assholes, but at least no one poisoned John Kerry. All that cragginess on his face is just the product of good somber living. (or maybe too much windsurfing) Although I do think if Karl Rove could figure out a way to not get caught, he'd poison a LOT of people.
Duran Duran - please let me just remember you the way you were. Just because leg warmers came back doesn't mean you have to. (It also means that leg warmers did not need to come back either. Forenza, you stay right there with 1987 where you belong.)
There is nothing better than snuggly sleeping critters. (Unless the critters are spiders or clowns, that's just not cool.)
The fact that Eddie Murphy did Beverly Hills Cop and Daddy Day Care really proves his range. I cannot think of a single other good thing to say about that fact. He's like the Beatles in reverse.
Do cats think anything is funny? How can I love mine so much when they show no evidence of having a sense of humor? If I met a man who was adorably warm and fuzzy but had no sense of humor, would I be able to love him? Something tells me no. The kitties don't talk back when I sing the A-Team theme song to them, but I have a feeling the guy would. I need my freedom to sing the A-Team when necessary.
Even more than clowns, the nanny from The Omen will always scare the shit out of me. That woman's creepy with a capital oooog.
Stirrup pants. Why did we do that to ourselves?
Girls in low-rider pants with plumbers' butt crack. Why are they doing that to us?
Well that's it for now, tune back in soon for the Holiday Edition of Random Thoughts into the Void.
Cheers,
Donna
Monday, November 29, 2004
Back to the Grindstone
If there's anything I have learned in my adult life, it's that vacations rock. Thanks to my company's tricky pea-under-the-shell accountants, I have to hoard vacation days every year for our mandatory Thanksgiving week shutdown. (It's hoard vaca or don't get pay, period.) So since Saturday the 20th I have been jubilantly lazy and self-absorbed.
Thanksgiving was great, despite the inevitable last-minute glitches and miscommunications. My best friends' family (really, they're more like my family too) came over. I got to see my little quasi-nephew Alex, who started out cute, but who now leaves the Gerber baby and any other baby I've seen in the dust. I frankly don't understand how Steve gave him half his genes. Or how Alex's mom, Kelly, actually likes Steve for his looks and not his personality as much. Wonders will never cease. There really is someone for everyone. Whatever, I remain grateful that things are working out, that Steve and Kelly are turning out to be great parents, and that I like Kelly far and away the best out of any girl I've seen Steve with. (not too hard, but Kelly really is a sweetheart)
We also drew names for Christmas presents, and much to my dismay I got my best friend's hubby, who never wants anything and is the hardest person alive to shop for. If only I'd gotten one of the girls I could have hooked them up with a supply of my new favorite addiction, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. In any case, I went on eBay and won a new Cardinals 2004 World Series baseball jersey for Eric, so I'm hoping he will like it, and if not well then pbbbbttttttt.
Last night I tried to put up my 7.5 ft pre-lit Christmas tree but a few branches around the top are not lighting so I need to go through and find which bulb is burnt out. The kitties have so far been very good about not using the tree as a ladder, instead embracing as their duty the coating of the tree skirt with a generous layer of cat hair. I really love Christmastime - right down to cheesy Andy Williams Christmas carols. (Listen, if Andy Williams restored your faith in Christmas after seeing your dad in a red Santa suit when you were 5, you'd love his Christmas tunes too. I knew full well Santa Claus is not Korean - or my dad. Thank you Andy Williams. Thank you.)
(PLEASE NOTE: Even though I love cheesy Christmas carols, I still hate that frigging "Simply! Ha-a-aving! a Wonderful Christmas Time!" tune. I may be Backstreet Boys queer but I'm not mentally impaired. Any of you who think I'm queer for the Andy Williams thing - well, I just got my revenge by sticking "Simply! Haaaaving! A Wonderful Christmas time!" in your head. Enjoy.)
Anyway, it's Monday and I gotta put my nose back to the grindstone. If in the holiday madness I don't get to blog again (although I am hoping there will be spectacular mayhem at the office Christmas party this Saturday to relate) then I wish you all a great holiday season.
Mooches Smooches,
D
Thanksgiving was great, despite the inevitable last-minute glitches and miscommunications. My best friends' family (really, they're more like my family too) came over. I got to see my little quasi-nephew Alex, who started out cute, but who now leaves the Gerber baby and any other baby I've seen in the dust. I frankly don't understand how Steve gave him half his genes. Or how Alex's mom, Kelly, actually likes Steve for his looks and not his personality as much. Wonders will never cease. There really is someone for everyone. Whatever, I remain grateful that things are working out, that Steve and Kelly are turning out to be great parents, and that I like Kelly far and away the best out of any girl I've seen Steve with. (not too hard, but Kelly really is a sweetheart)
We also drew names for Christmas presents, and much to my dismay I got my best friend's hubby, who never wants anything and is the hardest person alive to shop for. If only I'd gotten one of the girls I could have hooked them up with a supply of my new favorite addiction, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. In any case, I went on eBay and won a new Cardinals 2004 World Series baseball jersey for Eric, so I'm hoping he will like it, and if not well then pbbbbttttttt.
Last night I tried to put up my 7.5 ft pre-lit Christmas tree but a few branches around the top are not lighting so I need to go through and find which bulb is burnt out. The kitties have so far been very good about not using the tree as a ladder, instead embracing as their duty the coating of the tree skirt with a generous layer of cat hair. I really love Christmastime - right down to cheesy Andy Williams Christmas carols. (Listen, if Andy Williams restored your faith in Christmas after seeing your dad in a red Santa suit when you were 5, you'd love his Christmas tunes too. I knew full well Santa Claus is not Korean - or my dad. Thank you Andy Williams. Thank you.)
(PLEASE NOTE: Even though I love cheesy Christmas carols, I still hate that frigging "Simply! Ha-a-aving! a Wonderful Christmas Time!" tune. I may be Backstreet Boys queer but I'm not mentally impaired. Any of you who think I'm queer for the Andy Williams thing - well, I just got my revenge by sticking "Simply! Haaaaving! A Wonderful Christmas time!" in your head. Enjoy.)
Anyway, it's Monday and I gotta put my nose back to the grindstone. If in the holiday madness I don't get to blog again (although I am hoping there will be spectacular mayhem at the office Christmas party this Saturday to relate) then I wish you all a great holiday season.
Mooches Smooches,
D
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Enough with the Hillary for President Talk
If you've read any of my earlier posts, you know I campaigned hard for John Kerry and John Edwards. I watched John Kerry give his concession speech and sobbed out of sheer disappointment and fear over what would happen to this country in the next 4 years. I looked to people like Barack Obama for hope and inspiration. The Democrats must look to 2006 and 2008 with a plan for victory, a plan that not only includes our hopes and dreams, but logic and practicality - in short, a plan that will WIN.
And that is why I am begging the Democrats to shut it with the Hillary Clinton in 2008 talk. Do I like it that this country still shits on minorities and that women are consistently paid less than men for doing the same job? HELL NO. But if you can look at the election results maps and still think that ANY woman, much less Hillary Clinton, can win the Presidency, then I hope you're just about done with the brick of hash you broke out after the election, and that there's no more where that came from.
For Hillary Clinton to be a viable, winnable Presidential candidate, we would basically have to saw off the nation at the Mason-Dixon line, and use the Men in Black neuralizer on all the red counties that are left. (Something which you may find tempting, but something which in practicality, won't be done) Her name alone evokes a negative kneejerk reaction in too many people across the country. It would be a waste of time and money for her to run, and if she did throw her hat in the ring, I would actively campaign against her. For the good of the party and the country, Hillary Clinton cannot make a run for President.
I am not suggesting we sell out our hopes and our dreams for a better country, and this is not meant to be a slam on Senator Clinton or the good things she has accomplished. But neither do I think the Democrats should throw away their 2008 hopes with both hands, and then wonder where we went wrong when we lose again.
And that is why I am begging the Democrats to shut it with the Hillary Clinton in 2008 talk. Do I like it that this country still shits on minorities and that women are consistently paid less than men for doing the same job? HELL NO. But if you can look at the election results maps and still think that ANY woman, much less Hillary Clinton, can win the Presidency, then I hope you're just about done with the brick of hash you broke out after the election, and that there's no more where that came from.
For Hillary Clinton to be a viable, winnable Presidential candidate, we would basically have to saw off the nation at the Mason-Dixon line, and use the Men in Black neuralizer on all the red counties that are left. (Something which you may find tempting, but something which in practicality, won't be done) Her name alone evokes a negative kneejerk reaction in too many people across the country. It would be a waste of time and money for her to run, and if she did throw her hat in the ring, I would actively campaign against her. For the good of the party and the country, Hillary Clinton cannot make a run for President.
I am not suggesting we sell out our hopes and our dreams for a better country, and this is not meant to be a slam on Senator Clinton or the good things she has accomplished. But neither do I think the Democrats should throw away their 2008 hopes with both hands, and then wonder where we went wrong when we lose again.
Monday, November 08, 2004
The Need for Election Reform
I'm all for states' rights but a federal election should be uniform across the nation and be subject to federal standards.
From the NY Times: "An electronic voting machine added 3,893 votes to President Bush's tally in a suburban Columbus precinct that has only 800 voters." And who the heck knows how many voting machines could have done the same thing across the country...I'm getting to the point where I think voters should just be handed marbles to throw in the bin of their candidate of choice....
For those of you who haven't seen this article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/politics/campaign/07elect.html
Voting Problems in Ohio Set Off an Alarm
By ADAM LIPTAK
Published: November 7, 2004
Voters in Ohio delivered a second term to President Bush by a decisive margin. But the way the vote was conducted there, election law specialists say, exposed a number of weak spots in the nation's election system.
"We dodged a bullet this time, but the problems remain," said Heather K. Gerken, who teaches election law at Harvard. "We have problems with the machines, problems with the patchwork of regulations covering everything from recounts to provisional ballots, and problems with self-interested party officials deciding which votes count."
Advertisement
Had the electoral math been only a little different, lawyers would be examining even closer finishes in other states.
"If it was Iowa or New Mexico that held the balance," said Richard L. Hasen, who teaches election law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, "we would be in litigation now." Mr. Bush won those states by one percentage point; he won Ohio by two.
As it turned out, though, Ohio was the crucible.
The state relies heavily on punch-card balloting machines of the hanging-chad variety. Voting machines in Ohio failed to register votes for president in 92,000 cases over all this year, a number that includes failure to cast a vote, disallowed double votes and possible counting errors. An electronic voting machine added 3,893 votes to President Bush's tally in a suburban Columbus precinct that has only 800 voters.
Officials in Ohio will be able to reject some of the approximately 155,000 provisional ballots cast there, offered to potential voters whose names could not be located on local election rolls, because of the ambiguity of the standards.
There were also long lines at the polls, and it is unclear how many people grew too dispirited to keep waiting and ended up not voting.
"In Ohio," said Edward B. Foley, who teaches election law at Ohio State University, "there is a cloud over the process, even though there is not a cloud over the result."
Democratic lawyers concluded that challenges based on these problems could not bridge the 135,000-vote deficit Senator John Kerry faced on Wednesday morning. A recount of the punch cards would have yielded no more than 20,000 votes, election law specialists said, and there was no reason to think that those votes or the provisional ballots would uniformly favor Mr. Kerry.
Based on the Ohio experience, election law scholars advocate two types of broad reform: more uniformity within states - in registration lists, voting technologies and the distribution of voting machines - and replacing partisans with professionals in election administration.
"Congress has got to try again," Professor Foley said. "We need more money for machines. We need uniform allocation of machines. And Congress has to develop a clearer picture of the process for evaluating provisional ballots."
All these issues might have been before the courts if the vote in Ohio had been a little tighter.
"We had cases ready to be filed," said Daniel J. Hoffheimer, state counsel to the Kerry campaign in Ohio. "If Senator Kerry had decided to really go to the mat on provisional ballots, the Kerry-Edwards legal team would have looked at all the issues out there."
Most scholars and lawyers agree the main problems in Ohio resulted from technical failures and inadequate resources rather than partisan bickering in polling places or intentional disenfranchisement. But they said poor and minority voters may have suffered disproportionately.
"There is a feeling here that the long-line problem was a problem of disparity that fell along socioeconomic lines," Professor Foley said. "There were isolated instances of long lines here in the seven- to nine-hour range, and the common lines were two to three hours. When your line gets to two or three hours, it's system failure."
Even if the waits were comparable in poorer and richer precincts, legal scholars said, they might have had a disproportionate impact. If time is money, a long wait is a sort of poll tax, and the rich may be more able to pay it.
The lines were in any case baffling, Mr. Hoffheimer said.
"Although the turnout was not as large as the secretary of state had predicted," he said, "in quite a widespread number of precincts around the state, lines were horrendously long. At one time, one of them was estimated to be 22 hours."
On Oct. 29, the Ohio secretary of state, J. Kenneth Blackwell, said he expected 72 percent turnout. His office reported that the actual turnout on Nov. 2 was about 70 percent.
Election law scholars say too many decisions about the election process are now made by people who are partisan. Professor Gerken of Harvard took exception to the actions of Mr. Blackwell, a Republican.
"He was making judgment calls that were simply implausible," she said, citing a decision, later rescinded, that registration forms on anything less than 80-pound paper stock should be rejected.
Legal scholars agreed that changes to the system must be made behind what philosophers call the veil of ignorance - without knowing how the change will affect particular outcomes.
For this reason, it is unclear whether the Colorado initiative that would have allocated the state's electoral votes proportionately was defeated on its merits or because it could have immediately changed the outcome of the election. Bush voters confident of victory in the state may have voted against the measure to ensure that their candidate received all nine of the state's electoral votes.
For similar reasons, scholars say that if litigation is needed to clarify election procedures, it should be brought before an election.
The election left many questions unanswered about its most significant innovation: provisional ballots, required by a 2002 federal law intended to restore public confidence after the grueling Florida recount. County election officials in Ohio are now determining whether those ballots should be counted.
That will take some time, and the process has critics. In Ohio, for instance, four-member county election boards, each with two Republicans and two Democrats, will decide, with the approval of three members needed to count the votes. "Party officials should not be deciding who can vote," Professor Gerken said.
From the NY Times: "An electronic voting machine added 3,893 votes to President Bush's tally in a suburban Columbus precinct that has only 800 voters." And who the heck knows how many voting machines could have done the same thing across the country...I'm getting to the point where I think voters should just be handed marbles to throw in the bin of their candidate of choice....
For those of you who haven't seen this article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/politics/campaign/07elect.html
Voting Problems in Ohio Set Off an Alarm
By ADAM LIPTAK
Published: November 7, 2004
Voters in Ohio delivered a second term to President Bush by a decisive margin. But the way the vote was conducted there, election law specialists say, exposed a number of weak spots in the nation's election system.
"We dodged a bullet this time, but the problems remain," said Heather K. Gerken, who teaches election law at Harvard. "We have problems with the machines, problems with the patchwork of regulations covering everything from recounts to provisional ballots, and problems with self-interested party officials deciding which votes count."
Advertisement
Had the electoral math been only a little different, lawyers would be examining even closer finishes in other states.
"If it was Iowa or New Mexico that held the balance," said Richard L. Hasen, who teaches election law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, "we would be in litigation now." Mr. Bush won those states by one percentage point; he won Ohio by two.
As it turned out, though, Ohio was the crucible.
The state relies heavily on punch-card balloting machines of the hanging-chad variety. Voting machines in Ohio failed to register votes for president in 92,000 cases over all this year, a number that includes failure to cast a vote, disallowed double votes and possible counting errors. An electronic voting machine added 3,893 votes to President Bush's tally in a suburban Columbus precinct that has only 800 voters.
Officials in Ohio will be able to reject some of the approximately 155,000 provisional ballots cast there, offered to potential voters whose names could not be located on local election rolls, because of the ambiguity of the standards.
There were also long lines at the polls, and it is unclear how many people grew too dispirited to keep waiting and ended up not voting.
"In Ohio," said Edward B. Foley, who teaches election law at Ohio State University, "there is a cloud over the process, even though there is not a cloud over the result."
Democratic lawyers concluded that challenges based on these problems could not bridge the 135,000-vote deficit Senator John Kerry faced on Wednesday morning. A recount of the punch cards would have yielded no more than 20,000 votes, election law specialists said, and there was no reason to think that those votes or the provisional ballots would uniformly favor Mr. Kerry.
Based on the Ohio experience, election law scholars advocate two types of broad reform: more uniformity within states - in registration lists, voting technologies and the distribution of voting machines - and replacing partisans with professionals in election administration.
"Congress has got to try again," Professor Foley said. "We need more money for machines. We need uniform allocation of machines. And Congress has to develop a clearer picture of the process for evaluating provisional ballots."
All these issues might have been before the courts if the vote in Ohio had been a little tighter.
"We had cases ready to be filed," said Daniel J. Hoffheimer, state counsel to the Kerry campaign in Ohio. "If Senator Kerry had decided to really go to the mat on provisional ballots, the Kerry-Edwards legal team would have looked at all the issues out there."
Most scholars and lawyers agree the main problems in Ohio resulted from technical failures and inadequate resources rather than partisan bickering in polling places or intentional disenfranchisement. But they said poor and minority voters may have suffered disproportionately.
"There is a feeling here that the long-line problem was a problem of disparity that fell along socioeconomic lines," Professor Foley said. "There were isolated instances of long lines here in the seven- to nine-hour range, and the common lines were two to three hours. When your line gets to two or three hours, it's system failure."
Even if the waits were comparable in poorer and richer precincts, legal scholars said, they might have had a disproportionate impact. If time is money, a long wait is a sort of poll tax, and the rich may be more able to pay it.
The lines were in any case baffling, Mr. Hoffheimer said.
"Although the turnout was not as large as the secretary of state had predicted," he said, "in quite a widespread number of precincts around the state, lines were horrendously long. At one time, one of them was estimated to be 22 hours."
On Oct. 29, the Ohio secretary of state, J. Kenneth Blackwell, said he expected 72 percent turnout. His office reported that the actual turnout on Nov. 2 was about 70 percent.
Election law scholars say too many decisions about the election process are now made by people who are partisan. Professor Gerken of Harvard took exception to the actions of Mr. Blackwell, a Republican.
"He was making judgment calls that were simply implausible," she said, citing a decision, later rescinded, that registration forms on anything less than 80-pound paper stock should be rejected.
Legal scholars agreed that changes to the system must be made behind what philosophers call the veil of ignorance - without knowing how the change will affect particular outcomes.
For this reason, it is unclear whether the Colorado initiative that would have allocated the state's electoral votes proportionately was defeated on its merits or because it could have immediately changed the outcome of the election. Bush voters confident of victory in the state may have voted against the measure to ensure that their candidate received all nine of the state's electoral votes.
For similar reasons, scholars say that if litigation is needed to clarify election procedures, it should be brought before an election.
The election left many questions unanswered about its most significant innovation: provisional ballots, required by a 2002 federal law intended to restore public confidence after the grueling Florida recount. County election officials in Ohio are now determining whether those ballots should be counted.
That will take some time, and the process has critics. In Ohio, for instance, four-member county election boards, each with two Republicans and two Democrats, will decide, with the approval of three members needed to count the votes. "Party officials should not be deciding who can vote," Professor Gerken said.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Good Things in the Shadow of the Apocalypse
In an effort to cheer myself up, I am listing all the good things to remember as something to hang onto for the next 4 years. I will update this post when I think of more.
1) I can finish the anti-Bush books I didn't have time to finish before the election, and they won't just be historical references.
2) All my anti-Bush t-shirts are still in style.
3) Candy is still tasty and delicious.
4) Barack Obama.
5) There is a woman I know who is unbelievably annoying, condescending, and manipulative. I had made a promise to God that if Kerry won, I would stop complaining about her. Now I can declare open season on the bitch.
6) John Kerry, Russ Feingold, Gwen Moore, Melissa Bean, and all the other Democrats (and the few Republicans) who will work to make a difference.
7) In some cultures, my large ass would be worshipped and revered.
8) My two kitty cats, Molly and Guinness, are warm and fuzzy and love me lots.
9) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will certainly not run out of material in the next 4 years.
10) I have my health and many friends who love me.
Cheers,
Donna
1) I can finish the anti-Bush books I didn't have time to finish before the election, and they won't just be historical references.
2) All my anti-Bush t-shirts are still in style.
3) Candy is still tasty and delicious.
4) Barack Obama.
5) There is a woman I know who is unbelievably annoying, condescending, and manipulative. I had made a promise to God that if Kerry won, I would stop complaining about her. Now I can declare open season on the bitch.
6) John Kerry, Russ Feingold, Gwen Moore, Melissa Bean, and all the other Democrats (and the few Republicans) who will work to make a difference.
7) In some cultures, my large ass would be worshipped and revered.
8) My two kitty cats, Molly and Guinness, are warm and fuzzy and love me lots.
9) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will certainly not run out of material in the next 4 years.
10) I have my health and many friends who love me.
Cheers,
Donna
The Beginning of the End
I am unbelievably heartsore and disappointed in the voters of this country. I really underestimated the number of ignorant, selfish, short-sighted bigots that there truly are in this country. And to give credit where credit is due, the Democrats did not do a good enough job in turning out their base voters, as is evidenced by the Presidency, Senate, and House results.
As John Edwards said yesterday, the fight has just begun. We are down, but we cannot allow ourselves to be shoved out. Barack Obama is a good start for us. I expect great and inspiring things from him. And he is just the beginning, and just one person. We can expect good things from Russ Feingold, Gwen Moore, Melissa Bean, and many others. The Democrats need to work together towards the Congressional races of 2006 and do our damnedest to get some kind of balance back from the GOP-strangled government. There is no alternative. We have lost far too much and are about to lose more. If we let ourselves become cynical and discouraged, there will be no coming back from this disaster. The future is all we have left.
Cheers,
D
As John Edwards said yesterday, the fight has just begun. We are down, but we cannot allow ourselves to be shoved out. Barack Obama is a good start for us. I expect great and inspiring things from him. And he is just the beginning, and just one person. We can expect good things from Russ Feingold, Gwen Moore, Melissa Bean, and many others. The Democrats need to work together towards the Congressional races of 2006 and do our damnedest to get some kind of balance back from the GOP-strangled government. There is no alternative. We have lost far too much and are about to lose more. If we let ourselves become cynical and discouraged, there will be no coming back from this disaster. The future is all we have left.
Cheers,
D
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Misinformation and Apathy
If the provisional ballot count in Ohio goes against Kerry, and it very well may, this country will effectively go to hell. Anything that people didn't like about Bush in his first 4 years, any mistakes he committed, any lies he told, any ridiculous and arrogant moves he made will only come back to bite us all tenfold over the next 4 years. Bush will not have to worry about re-election this time around, and we will have effectively validated him in his own eyes. In addition, he may well have the chance to replace half the Supreme Court with nutbags like Priscilla Owens.
Here is who I blame for what will happen to our country:
1) Everyone who voted for Bush. Whether you are misinformed or simply have no conscience, you have your head in the sand with respect to this President and his policies. Or maybe you are just as arrogant as he is.
2) Every Kerry supporter/Bush hater who did not get out to vote. I don't care if you live in a swing state or not. While this country is in total crisis, the attitude that you could just sit on your ass and not do the ONE CONCRETE THING you could do to secure a victory for Kerry, is bullshit and sickens me.
3) Myself. I certainly have to take a portion of the accountability. I've known what was at stake for almost 3 years here and I did not get involved early enough in the campaign to make a significant difference.
4) The Kerry campaign. Too much time was spent fending off Vietnam allegations, too much time was spent ducking for cover and not nearly enough time getting out a clear message to the American voters. And it showed. Hindsight may be 20/20, but I gotta tell you, this is what I've been thinking the entire campaign and it was why I got involved late in the process in the first place.
Please God, don't let this country destroy itself. Don't let Bush do it either.
Here is who I blame for what will happen to our country:
1) Everyone who voted for Bush. Whether you are misinformed or simply have no conscience, you have your head in the sand with respect to this President and his policies. Or maybe you are just as arrogant as he is.
2) Every Kerry supporter/Bush hater who did not get out to vote. I don't care if you live in a swing state or not. While this country is in total crisis, the attitude that you could just sit on your ass and not do the ONE CONCRETE THING you could do to secure a victory for Kerry, is bullshit and sickens me.
3) Myself. I certainly have to take a portion of the accountability. I've known what was at stake for almost 3 years here and I did not get involved early enough in the campaign to make a significant difference.
4) The Kerry campaign. Too much time was spent fending off Vietnam allegations, too much time was spent ducking for cover and not nearly enough time getting out a clear message to the American voters. And it showed. Hindsight may be 20/20, but I gotta tell you, this is what I've been thinking the entire campaign and it was why I got involved late in the process in the first place.
Please God, don't let this country destroy itself. Don't let Bush do it either.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Last Weekend (Prior to the Month of the Recount)
Another weekend spent with the Kerry/Edwards campaign in Wisconsin. I feel bad for the people who live in swing states, as they must have gotten inundated with phone calls, doorbells/knocks, and tv ads from both campaigns. The people I've spoken to say it hasn't been too bad, but I tend to think they're just numb to it all now, as they've all described much more than I've experienced here in Illinois. And snaps to everyone I met in Wisconsin during this campaign - they've all been so helpful and pleasant, carting me around to the different places we had to canvass etc. We're all working towards a common cause, I know, but it's so much better when everyone's friendly and gracious.
Anyway, all day Saturday I was out doing "knock-and-drops" - knocking on people's doors and leaving Kerry/Edwards fliers. Most people weren't home, and after a while I just started leaving the fliers, as I know I wouldn't want to be bothered by yet another knock on the door. There was a fierce wind blowing and occasional rain which didn't help, and as I was pounding the pavement from 9am - 4:30pm, I had some serious blisters on my feet at day's end. One incident I found funny - even though we were not stopping by houses that had Bush yard signs out, while I was walking up and down one street, a Bush supporter felt the need to come out and straighten (or perhaps more firmly entrench) her Bush/Cheney sign. Three times.
Sunday morning I got Visibility duty instead, which entailed standing on a (relatively) busy street corner, holding a giant Kerry/Edwards sign and passing out yard signs/stickers to any who wanted them. This was considerably easier in my opinion than phonebanking or canvassing, as I don't feel I'm invading people's lives. The responses I got from passing vehicles went as follows:
1 guy flipped me the bird
1 yelled "KERRY SUCKS"
1 woman yelled "GEORGE BUSH"
And a few thumbs down from people, one of whom in his sheer concentration to give me a vehement thumbs down, nearly drove into the curb. Oops.
I smiled and waved at all of them. They've got a right to their own opinion too.
I did get considerably more beeps and waves, thumbs up, big smiles, and one guy cruising past on his motorcycle, who could easily have passed for one of John Stillman's uncles, held up his fist in a salute of support. Several people stopped and asked for yard signs (of which I didn't have many since the campaign is running out up there) and stickers. One lady hopped out of her van to stash the signs in her trunk, and as I gave her husband the stickers, he said "I've never seen her this excited about anything like this!!!" So there was much to be encouraged about. Still, in my effort to present a pleasant Democratic face, I have not smiled so much since sorority rush in college. I couldn't move my facial muscles afterward - that must be what Botox feels like.
Through all of this I've remained puzzled about the sheer will of Bush supporters to defend Bush and refuse to listen to anything bad about him. You have to be a different kind of person to be a politician, and more often than not, politicians make mistakes and don't live up to their promises. (Of course there's sometimes extenuating circumstances, but you have to admit the general trend is to not trust politicians.)
So I am bewildered by this blind trust and resolute loyalty in defense of Bush. It nearly smacks of religious fervor, and to exhibit that kind of faith in a politician is not only foolish, but dangerous in my opinion. Kerry supporters generally seem to have a more rational view of things, that being that Bush has done the country a lot of wrong, and a person like that does not deserve another 4 years as our President.
Anyway, we're almost to the end, and hopefully by Christmas, we'll have a new President. One bit of potentially good news - the Redskins lost their home game before the election (Thank you Green Bay!!!) and if that incumbent statistic holds up, we'll be planting a Bush back in Texas real soon.
Cheers,
Donna
Anyway, all day Saturday I was out doing "knock-and-drops" - knocking on people's doors and leaving Kerry/Edwards fliers. Most people weren't home, and after a while I just started leaving the fliers, as I know I wouldn't want to be bothered by yet another knock on the door. There was a fierce wind blowing and occasional rain which didn't help, and as I was pounding the pavement from 9am - 4:30pm, I had some serious blisters on my feet at day's end. One incident I found funny - even though we were not stopping by houses that had Bush yard signs out, while I was walking up and down one street, a Bush supporter felt the need to come out and straighten (or perhaps more firmly entrench) her Bush/Cheney sign. Three times.
Sunday morning I got Visibility duty instead, which entailed standing on a (relatively) busy street corner, holding a giant Kerry/Edwards sign and passing out yard signs/stickers to any who wanted them. This was considerably easier in my opinion than phonebanking or canvassing, as I don't feel I'm invading people's lives. The responses I got from passing vehicles went as follows:
1 guy flipped me the bird
1 yelled "KERRY SUCKS"
1 woman yelled "GEORGE BUSH"
And a few thumbs down from people, one of whom in his sheer concentration to give me a vehement thumbs down, nearly drove into the curb. Oops.
I smiled and waved at all of them. They've got a right to their own opinion too.
I did get considerably more beeps and waves, thumbs up, big smiles, and one guy cruising past on his motorcycle, who could easily have passed for one of John Stillman's uncles, held up his fist in a salute of support. Several people stopped and asked for yard signs (of which I didn't have many since the campaign is running out up there) and stickers. One lady hopped out of her van to stash the signs in her trunk, and as I gave her husband the stickers, he said "I've never seen her this excited about anything like this!!!" So there was much to be encouraged about. Still, in my effort to present a pleasant Democratic face, I have not smiled so much since sorority rush in college. I couldn't move my facial muscles afterward - that must be what Botox feels like.
Through all of this I've remained puzzled about the sheer will of Bush supporters to defend Bush and refuse to listen to anything bad about him. You have to be a different kind of person to be a politician, and more often than not, politicians make mistakes and don't live up to their promises. (Of course there's sometimes extenuating circumstances, but you have to admit the general trend is to not trust politicians.)
So I am bewildered by this blind trust and resolute loyalty in defense of Bush. It nearly smacks of religious fervor, and to exhibit that kind of faith in a politician is not only foolish, but dangerous in my opinion. Kerry supporters generally seem to have a more rational view of things, that being that Bush has done the country a lot of wrong, and a person like that does not deserve another 4 years as our President.
Anyway, we're almost to the end, and hopefully by Christmas, we'll have a new President. One bit of potentially good news - the Redskins lost their home game before the election (Thank you Green Bay!!!) and if that incumbent statistic holds up, we'll be planting a Bush back in Texas real soon.
Cheers,
Donna
Friday, October 22, 2004
Face Paint and Fox Trucks (or: How I Made an Ass Out of Myself in Front of John Kerry)
For those of you who don't know, I've been volunteering in Wisconsin for the Kerry/Edwards campaign. A few weeks ago I got to help get ready for a Milwaukee visit from Senator Edwards - as volunteers however, we were kept away from all the real action by Secret Service - we did hear Edwards' son running through the hall of the hotel. Sounded like a nice kid. The main object lesson I took home from this experience is that Democrats, probably due to their all-inclusive, warm and fuzzy nature, are disorganized.
Anyway, this is the story of my making another trip up to Milwaukee, this time to help with a small rally to herald the arrival of Senator Kerry.
I get to the hangar, and it takes a good half hour before the campaign staff knows what's going on and where we should all be - which turned out to be a dank hallway inside the hangar. Apparently, Laura Bush was ALSO arriving last night, prior to Senator Kerry, so her Secret Service wasn't about to let 30 or so strange people have free reign of the hangar.
So we're in the hallway for what seems like forever, and then we finally get moving - metal detection by Secret Service, then we got to help corral the people arriving for the rally (about 200). At this point, I discover that I have neglected to put the storage card back in my digital camera after the party I was at last weekend. But I think, big whup, I won't get to see Kerry anyway I bet.
Then I got roped into painting signs for Friday's rally, which would have been a lot more fun if we didn't have to go outside to do it. Brrrr. Keep in mind for later in the story that this paint did not dry particularly fast. After this, I got to do crowd traffic control to get the ralliers from the hangar out to the holding pen to greet Senator Kerry.
Ah here it is, the Kerry-Edwards plane has landed. Now, I get pulled out of the rally holding pen and was given a large sign with which to direct traveling press to the busses. I'm a little bummed that I don't have a very good view of the Kerry festivities at this point. Then, another campaign staff member grabbed me and asked me to take a videotape (presumably of Kerry shaking hands and waving) over to the Fox satellite truck. Swallowing my distaste for Fox, I say ok sure.
So I'm by myself basically, away from the rally crowd, and about 20 feet away from me, 30 max, I see Senator Kerry smiling and waving from his giant Escalade or whatever car it was. I take my opportunity to really shine, and start waving and jumping up and down like a complete asshole. There was no way he missed me, as I was alone and carrying a huge sign for "TRAVELING PRESS". We make eye contact, and he smiles, waves, and gives me a thumbs up. And of course the whole time my camera is completely useless to me.
The videotape destined for Fox gets shoved at me at this point. But as soon as I try to leave the perimeter of the crowd, Secret Service stops me and I can't go any further. I find the staff member who asked me to direct press traffic, tell him the deal, and he took the tape over for me.
Rally's over, we all walk back into the building and one of the other volunteers turns to me and says "Oh, you got paint all over your face!" WhatwhatWHAT? My insides shrivel as I realize there's no way to know how long it was there, and it was highly likely that I had been jumping up and down like a maniac in front of John Kerry, with paint all over my face. (For those of you wanting to know color, quantity, and location of the paint - red, enough, and on my nose and right cheek)
Then I get home, and see 5 missed calls on my cell phone - remember the Fox videotape? Evidently it never got to where it was supposed to go. Before I can call back, they call me again, I explain what happened and (not in so many words however) that I wasn't about to try and mow down Secret Service to get to a Fox truck.
So, that was my adventure last night, and how I made an ass out of myself in front of Senator John Kerry. But hey, I guess I really don't mind, and here's to Kerry kicking Bush's ass on November 2nd!
Cheers,
Donna
Anyway, this is the story of my making another trip up to Milwaukee, this time to help with a small rally to herald the arrival of Senator Kerry.
I get to the hangar, and it takes a good half hour before the campaign staff knows what's going on and where we should all be - which turned out to be a dank hallway inside the hangar. Apparently, Laura Bush was ALSO arriving last night, prior to Senator Kerry, so her Secret Service wasn't about to let 30 or so strange people have free reign of the hangar.
So we're in the hallway for what seems like forever, and then we finally get moving - metal detection by Secret Service, then we got to help corral the people arriving for the rally (about 200). At this point, I discover that I have neglected to put the storage card back in my digital camera after the party I was at last weekend. But I think, big whup, I won't get to see Kerry anyway I bet.
Then I got roped into painting signs for Friday's rally, which would have been a lot more fun if we didn't have to go outside to do it. Brrrr. Keep in mind for later in the story that this paint did not dry particularly fast. After this, I got to do crowd traffic control to get the ralliers from the hangar out to the holding pen to greet Senator Kerry.
Ah here it is, the Kerry-Edwards plane has landed. Now, I get pulled out of the rally holding pen and was given a large sign with which to direct traveling press to the busses. I'm a little bummed that I don't have a very good view of the Kerry festivities at this point. Then, another campaign staff member grabbed me and asked me to take a videotape (presumably of Kerry shaking hands and waving) over to the Fox satellite truck. Swallowing my distaste for Fox, I say ok sure.
So I'm by myself basically, away from the rally crowd, and about 20 feet away from me, 30 max, I see Senator Kerry smiling and waving from his giant Escalade or whatever car it was. I take my opportunity to really shine, and start waving and jumping up and down like a complete asshole. There was no way he missed me, as I was alone and carrying a huge sign for "TRAVELING PRESS". We make eye contact, and he smiles, waves, and gives me a thumbs up. And of course the whole time my camera is completely useless to me.
The videotape destined for Fox gets shoved at me at this point. But as soon as I try to leave the perimeter of the crowd, Secret Service stops me and I can't go any further. I find the staff member who asked me to direct press traffic, tell him the deal, and he took the tape over for me.
Rally's over, we all walk back into the building and one of the other volunteers turns to me and says "Oh, you got paint all over your face!" WhatwhatWHAT? My insides shrivel as I realize there's no way to know how long it was there, and it was highly likely that I had been jumping up and down like a maniac in front of John Kerry, with paint all over my face. (For those of you wanting to know color, quantity, and location of the paint - red, enough, and on my nose and right cheek)
Then I get home, and see 5 missed calls on my cell phone - remember the Fox videotape? Evidently it never got to where it was supposed to go. Before I can call back, they call me again, I explain what happened and (not in so many words however) that I wasn't about to try and mow down Secret Service to get to a Fox truck.
So, that was my adventure last night, and how I made an ass out of myself in front of Senator John Kerry. But hey, I guess I really don't mind, and here's to Kerry kicking Bush's ass on November 2nd!
Cheers,
Donna
Friday, September 10, 2004
Thank You GOP - Bring on the Semi-Automatic Weapons!!!
For the first time in the history of modern guns, the assault weapons ban is being allowed to expire. (Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton all passed/renewed it)
I hope the first casualty of an assault weapon now is a loved one of a GOP male official who was against renewing the ban. And that the bullet ricochets and gets his penis.
I hope the first casualty of an assault weapon now is a loved one of a GOP male official who was against renewing the ban. And that the bullet ricochets and gets his penis.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
What the Heck is with Alan Keyes? (or Who Would Jesus Vote For?)
Prior to Jack Ryan dropping out of the Senate race in Illinois, I knew faintly who Alan Keyes was, but hadn't paid much attention to him. But when the GOP in Illinois began scrambling for a black candidate to face off against Barack Obama, I got a quick edumacation on the subject of Mr. Keyes.
First, I was puzzled that someone from Maryland would presume to waltz into Illinois and think he can represent this state's interests and needs in the Senate. I didn't like it when Hillary Clinton did it in New York either - and much to my surprise, neither did Alan Keyes!!!
In March 2000, Keyes had denounced Hillary Clinton for campaigning for a United States Senate seat from where she had only recently established residence, "I deeply resent the destruction of federalism represented by Hillary Clinton's willingness go into a state she doesn't even live in and pretend to represent people there, so I certainly wouldn't imitate it."
Hmm. The plot thickens.
So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when Keyes came out swinging, denouncing Dick Cheney's daughter amongst other gays as "selfish hedonists and claiming that Jesus Christ (who I assume Keyes loves and respects, being a devout Catholic) would never vote for his opponent, Barack Obama. But Keyes stopped shy of saying that Jesus would in fact, vote for Keyes. I imagine Keyes must have spoken to Jesus directly, but since Jesus has Sprint for a cellular carrier, the call dropped before He could let Keyes know that for sure, Alan's got His vote.
Everyone has a right to his/her own beliefs, whether or not they offend me or anyone else. And no one can say Alan Keyes doesn't stand behind his beliefs (although it appears he's free to flip-flop on the political ones). I don't have a problem with any of that.
My problems with Keyes are as follows:
1) Forcing his personal religious beliefs onto the public. This is not okay with me and never has been. Religion is personal. No one has any business trying to force their religion into public policy. Period. End of story. Your religion helps define who you are, but your religion has no part in dictating who I am or what I can do.
2) Taking advantage of this Senate race and the media attention to advance his own agenda. Keyes, while being honest, has to know that his remarks would offend millions of Illinoisans, millions of potential VOTERS. Yet he continues with his remarks (which oh so conveniently garner tons of media coverage), knowing it cannot help him win the race.
Mr. Keyes, you can do whatever you want on your own time and money, but don't dare to assume that you can represent the people of Illinois, because in general we don't much favor gaybashing bigots who presume to know what Jesus wants. I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for most of the people I know, and even the Illinois GOP is disavowing your existence faster than you can say "Who Would Jesus Vote For?"
To win Illinois, Alan Keyes would have to get God to throw the city of Chicago and its collar counties into Lake Michigan. (a move which a sizable chunk of Central and Southern Illinois might be ok with) I for one cannot wait for this race to be over so we don't have to hear about Keyes' grandstanding anymore (in this particular arena anyway.)
Cheers to a resounding Obama victory,
Donna
First, I was puzzled that someone from Maryland would presume to waltz into Illinois and think he can represent this state's interests and needs in the Senate. I didn't like it when Hillary Clinton did it in New York either - and much to my surprise, neither did Alan Keyes!!!
In March 2000, Keyes had denounced Hillary Clinton for campaigning for a United States Senate seat from where she had only recently established residence, "I deeply resent the destruction of federalism represented by Hillary Clinton's willingness go into a state she doesn't even live in and pretend to represent people there, so I certainly wouldn't imitate it."
Hmm. The plot thickens.
So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when Keyes came out swinging, denouncing Dick Cheney's daughter amongst other gays as "selfish hedonists and claiming that Jesus Christ (who I assume Keyes loves and respects, being a devout Catholic) would never vote for his opponent, Barack Obama. But Keyes stopped shy of saying that Jesus would in fact, vote for Keyes. I imagine Keyes must have spoken to Jesus directly, but since Jesus has Sprint for a cellular carrier, the call dropped before He could let Keyes know that for sure, Alan's got His vote.
Everyone has a right to his/her own beliefs, whether or not they offend me or anyone else. And no one can say Alan Keyes doesn't stand behind his beliefs (although it appears he's free to flip-flop on the political ones). I don't have a problem with any of that.
My problems with Keyes are as follows:
1) Forcing his personal religious beliefs onto the public. This is not okay with me and never has been. Religion is personal. No one has any business trying to force their religion into public policy. Period. End of story. Your religion helps define who you are, but your religion has no part in dictating who I am or what I can do.
2) Taking advantage of this Senate race and the media attention to advance his own agenda. Keyes, while being honest, has to know that his remarks would offend millions of Illinoisans, millions of potential VOTERS. Yet he continues with his remarks (which oh so conveniently garner tons of media coverage), knowing it cannot help him win the race.
Mr. Keyes, you can do whatever you want on your own time and money, but don't dare to assume that you can represent the people of Illinois, because in general we don't much favor gaybashing bigots who presume to know what Jesus wants. I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for most of the people I know, and even the Illinois GOP is disavowing your existence faster than you can say "Who Would Jesus Vote For?"
To win Illinois, Alan Keyes would have to get God to throw the city of Chicago and its collar counties into Lake Michigan. (a move which a sizable chunk of Central and Southern Illinois might be ok with) I for one cannot wait for this race to be over so we don't have to hear about Keyes' grandstanding anymore (in this particular arena anyway.)
Cheers to a resounding Obama victory,
Donna
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Donnie Darko and the Cruel Ministrations of Old Pediatricians
One of my favorite movies of all time is Donnie Darko. If you haven't seen it, go see it. Unless you're the kind of person who lives for Britney Spears and Hillary Duff, in which case I'm not sure why you're reading this blog anyway.
(Incidentally, the director's cut of this film has been released to theaters (well one in Chicago anyway). It's certainly not worse than the original, but I don't think it's better either)
If you have seen Donnie Darko, you know it's the story of a troubled teenage boy who sees an excruciatingly ugly six-foot rabbit in places where you wouldn't expect to see an excruciatingly ugly six-foot rabbit. (And by that I mean anywhere). In the course of events, this rabbit (Frank) gets shot in the eye.
Now come back 30 years back in time with me. I am 3 years old, at a visit to my heretofore-considered-kindly old pediatrician. I assume he meant the following scene as a fun distraction to a small child who has to get a shot in the arm.
(Doctor draws a large pink rabbit on my arm, and carefully gives the rabbit a single dot for an eye)
Doctor: "Now let's shoot the bunny in the eye!!!"
Well you can imagine what shrieks of horror and dismay issued from my tiny lungs at that point.
So although I love Donnie Darko, I'm forced to relive that shot from my wacked-out pediatrician every time I see Frank. But I guess it's a small price to pay for such a great film. And I'm pretty sure Dr.WeirdAssSenseofHumor has passed on and is no longer shooting bunnies. (Actually if he shot any more after the hissy I threw, he must have been deaf as well as weird)
(Incidentally, the director's cut of this film has been released to theaters (well one in Chicago anyway). It's certainly not worse than the original, but I don't think it's better either)
If you have seen Donnie Darko, you know it's the story of a troubled teenage boy who sees an excruciatingly ugly six-foot rabbit in places where you wouldn't expect to see an excruciatingly ugly six-foot rabbit. (And by that I mean anywhere). In the course of events, this rabbit (Frank) gets shot in the eye.
Now come back 30 years back in time with me. I am 3 years old, at a visit to my heretofore-considered-kindly old pediatrician. I assume he meant the following scene as a fun distraction to a small child who has to get a shot in the arm.
(Doctor draws a large pink rabbit on my arm, and carefully gives the rabbit a single dot for an eye)
Doctor: "Now let's shoot the bunny in the eye!!!"
Well you can imagine what shrieks of horror and dismay issued from my tiny lungs at that point.
So although I love Donnie Darko, I'm forced to relive that shot from my wacked-out pediatrician every time I see Frank. But I guess it's a small price to pay for such a great film. And I'm pretty sure Dr.WeirdAssSenseofHumor has passed on and is no longer shooting bunnies. (Actually if he shot any more after the hissy I threw, he must have been deaf as well as weird)
Monday, August 16, 2004
The Importance of Being Right (or What the Hell is Wrong with Being Wrong?)
A lot of things that are wrong in the world today seem to stem from man's basic urge to be right.
Religion: If my religion is true, it must be right and everything else must be wrong
Politics: My party is right so yours must be wrong. (because God forbid people work TOGETHER on anything)
The Chronicles of Riddick: Everyone else is WRONG because I know a movie starring Vin Diesel in silver contact lenses is basically a license to print money.
My way is right, yours is wrong. Or if your way isn't exactly wrong, my way is at least better.
Hey, it feels so darn GOOD to be right, doesn't it? Is that all there is to it? People just can't face the agonizing, soul-cleaving, thumb-screwing PAIN of being wrong?
Wait, I've been wrong before. I've been wrong plenty of times. Heck, I've been wrong twice today already. And if you are reading this and today is a day that ends in "y", chances are you've been wrong too. As has every other person who's drawn breath on this big blue marble.
And we're all still here. We survived being wrong. People survive being wrong and yet they don't learn the lesson that having been wrong once, it's possible to be wrong again, and it's not the end of the world to be wrong again.
Even worse than refusing to be wrong, people will lie or at the very least put a questionable spit-shine on the truth to MAKE themselves be right. If you start barking loud enough that you're RIGHT, no one will question that you could be wrong. Kind of like when Reagan was shot and Alexander Haig started telling anyone who would listen that he was in charge of the White House. When everyone knows full well that the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the Secretary of Sandwiches would take over before he could.
I know I am bemoaning a basic construct of human nature that in all likelihood can never be changed. I can't expect people to not have insecurities and to not feel good about being right. I can't expect people to look at the big picture when an individual's personal arena is usually already more than he/she can handle.
But I've already given up my right to be right, don't ask me to give up hope as well.
Religion: If my religion is true, it must be right and everything else must be wrong
Politics: My party is right so yours must be wrong. (because God forbid people work TOGETHER on anything)
The Chronicles of Riddick: Everyone else is WRONG because I know a movie starring Vin Diesel in silver contact lenses is basically a license to print money.
My way is right, yours is wrong. Or if your way isn't exactly wrong, my way is at least better.
Hey, it feels so darn GOOD to be right, doesn't it? Is that all there is to it? People just can't face the agonizing, soul-cleaving, thumb-screwing PAIN of being wrong?
Wait, I've been wrong before. I've been wrong plenty of times. Heck, I've been wrong twice today already. And if you are reading this and today is a day that ends in "y", chances are you've been wrong too. As has every other person who's drawn breath on this big blue marble.
And we're all still here. We survived being wrong. People survive being wrong and yet they don't learn the lesson that having been wrong once, it's possible to be wrong again, and it's not the end of the world to be wrong again.
Even worse than refusing to be wrong, people will lie or at the very least put a questionable spit-shine on the truth to MAKE themselves be right. If you start barking loud enough that you're RIGHT, no one will question that you could be wrong. Kind of like when Reagan was shot and Alexander Haig started telling anyone who would listen that he was in charge of the White House. When everyone knows full well that the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the Secretary of Sandwiches would take over before he could.
I know I am bemoaning a basic construct of human nature that in all likelihood can never be changed. I can't expect people to not have insecurities and to not feel good about being right. I can't expect people to look at the big picture when an individual's personal arena is usually already more than he/she can handle.
But I've already given up my right to be right, don't ask me to give up hope as well.
Monday, July 26, 2004
Good Weekend
I'd planned to do nothing this weekend, but instead ended up quite busy.
Saturday, I went to see my new little quasi-nephew, Alex Daniel. Unlike most newborn babies where the only compliment that honesty permits is: "My, what a healthy-looking baby", Alex D is a cutie. He slept on my boobies for about 45 minutes - to which I say, I'm glad they're useful for something, as I don't see much purpose for them. Had lunch with his mom and pop and one of his real aunties, and we checked out an apt for Mom and Pop which they decided to go with - pretty cool joint and excellent price.
Then I headed on over to John and Laura's, where I was greeted by John, Laura, and Laura's sis playing ghetto Uno, with John making up definitions for Uno cards. Then we got yummy Mexican food for dinner, mine was scallops with a mandarin orange chipotle sauce that nearly burnt a hole right through to the back of my head. But yummy. We checked out this cool Celtic shop on Armitage, then all these gaymos wanted to go see I, Robot, so I went along for the ride.
What took me out of the film was really the first scene, in Will Smith's house, where they pan to a close-up of a JVC stereo. Ok, let's put aside my suspension of disbelief about the rest of the story, now they want me to believe that a JVC stereo lasted for 30 years. Nope, sorry, not buying it. There's also a battle scene between humans and pesky robots where I fully expected Mel Gibson to come riding through calling "THEY MAY TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT THEY'LL NEVER TAKE OUR ROOOBOOOOOOTS!!!!" Thankfully the battle cries drowned out my hysterical giggling at this scene. All in all, a movie that should be sliced and served on crackers. Good special effects though.
Then Laura's sis and John helped me out to the car with the hand-me-down desktop PC I have purchased from Johnny. Once I get it set up I plan to use it to work on my novel, not to play City of Heroes (sorry, John)
Sunday I had a relaxing lunch with my p's, and then out to another dinner, this time to celebrate the birthday of a former colleague of mine from Abbott. We went to Wildfire where I had the tuna steak that had on the side the best invention on earth, wasabi cream sauce. Yum!
I am looking forward to a relatively lowkey week and a ROOFTOP CUBS GAME on Sunday! whoo hoo! until later....
Cheers,
D
Saturday, I went to see my new little quasi-nephew, Alex Daniel. Unlike most newborn babies where the only compliment that honesty permits is: "My, what a healthy-looking baby", Alex D is a cutie. He slept on my boobies for about 45 minutes - to which I say, I'm glad they're useful for something, as I don't see much purpose for them. Had lunch with his mom and pop and one of his real aunties, and we checked out an apt for Mom and Pop which they decided to go with - pretty cool joint and excellent price.
Then I headed on over to John and Laura's, where I was greeted by John, Laura, and Laura's sis playing ghetto Uno, with John making up definitions for Uno cards. Then we got yummy Mexican food for dinner, mine was scallops with a mandarin orange chipotle sauce that nearly burnt a hole right through to the back of my head. But yummy. We checked out this cool Celtic shop on Armitage, then all these gaymos wanted to go see I, Robot, so I went along for the ride.
What took me out of the film was really the first scene, in Will Smith's house, where they pan to a close-up of a JVC stereo. Ok, let's put aside my suspension of disbelief about the rest of the story, now they want me to believe that a JVC stereo lasted for 30 years. Nope, sorry, not buying it. There's also a battle scene between humans and pesky robots where I fully expected Mel Gibson to come riding through calling "THEY MAY TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT THEY'LL NEVER TAKE OUR ROOOBOOOOOOTS!!!!" Thankfully the battle cries drowned out my hysterical giggling at this scene. All in all, a movie that should be sliced and served on crackers. Good special effects though.
Then Laura's sis and John helped me out to the car with the hand-me-down desktop PC I have purchased from Johnny. Once I get it set up I plan to use it to work on my novel, not to play City of Heroes (sorry, John)
Sunday I had a relaxing lunch with my p's, and then out to another dinner, this time to celebrate the birthday of a former colleague of mine from Abbott. We went to Wildfire where I had the tuna steak that had on the side the best invention on earth, wasabi cream sauce. Yum!
I am looking forward to a relatively lowkey week and a ROOFTOP CUBS GAME on Sunday! whoo hoo! until later....
Cheers,
D
Thursday, July 22, 2004
the Daily Grind
Yes, all's been quiet on the creative front for me this week - work's been summarily kicking my ass the past couple of weeks, plus I spent all last weekend AWAKE as a team captain for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Each team keeps at least one team member on the track from 6pm to 6am. Luckily we had great weather for the event and our screen tent only blew away twice. There were a lot of inspiring people and stories. Plus, our team raised $3000 (pretty good for only 6 people!) and the Gurnee Relay as a whole raised $130,000! whoohooo!
Anyway, I'm mostly here just to remind myself of my goals after a couple of weeks of getting submerged in The Man's goals. John got his pimped-out new machine early, so I expect to be getting his hand-me-downs in a few weeks and start writing in earnest then.
Meanwhile, I leave you with a bit of poetry for the record
Aging Dichotomy
One day you're frumpy
The next you're a teenile ho
Must suck to be you
Anyway, I'm mostly here just to remind myself of my goals after a couple of weeks of getting submerged in The Man's goals. John got his pimped-out new machine early, so I expect to be getting his hand-me-downs in a few weeks and start writing in earnest then.
Meanwhile, I leave you with a bit of poetry for the record
Aging Dichotomy
One day you're frumpy
The next you're a teenile ho
Must suck to be you
Friday, July 09, 2004
Catalyst
I dedicate this post to my good friend John.
It is so easy for people to become entrenched in a routine. Routine is familiar, routine is safe. The status quo is where it's at, ho. (I just felt like rhyming) People love the security of routine - it's generally hard to get someone to try something new, consider a new opinion, embark on a course to change their life. This of course isn't true of everyone, but you have to admit, change is hard.
Like many others, I am sure, routine has just about numbed me to how unhappy I am with what I do to pay the bills. Sure it's a good gig, and sure it DOES pay the bills. But it ain't me and it never has been. And if I hide behind routine, I will head into the clearing at the end of the path, having never tried to do what I really want to do. (I know that John is reading this now thinking "What she really wants to do is anal sex." Not true.)
My friend John related a very sad and disturbing story the other day. It's a story that I'm glad he got off his chest, and even though it's sad, I'm glad to know of it. He said it was really cathartic for him, and I hope it helps him. The story really spoke to me, and with his permission, I am going to use part of it as a basis for my biggest dream (besides winning the lottery) which is to write a novel and become a bona fide published author. I may not succeed, but I at least have to try. Wish me luck.
Cheers,
D
It is so easy for people to become entrenched in a routine. Routine is familiar, routine is safe. The status quo is where it's at, ho. (I just felt like rhyming) People love the security of routine - it's generally hard to get someone to try something new, consider a new opinion, embark on a course to change their life. This of course isn't true of everyone, but you have to admit, change is hard.
Like many others, I am sure, routine has just about numbed me to how unhappy I am with what I do to pay the bills. Sure it's a good gig, and sure it DOES pay the bills. But it ain't me and it never has been. And if I hide behind routine, I will head into the clearing at the end of the path, having never tried to do what I really want to do. (I know that John is reading this now thinking "What she really wants to do is anal sex." Not true.)
My friend John related a very sad and disturbing story the other day. It's a story that I'm glad he got off his chest, and even though it's sad, I'm glad to know of it. He said it was really cathartic for him, and I hope it helps him. The story really spoke to me, and with his permission, I am going to use part of it as a basis for my biggest dream (besides winning the lottery) which is to write a novel and become a bona fide published author. I may not succeed, but I at least have to try. Wish me luck.
Cheers,
D
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Compromise
It is a fine line between compromise and subjugation of one's self. The weaker your conviction in yourself, the fainter the line is. The stronger your conviction in yourself is, the fainter is your possibility of getting laid on a regular long-term basis.
Thursday, June 24, 2004
No Sympathy for the Technophobe Scrooge
You got a virus
I laugh - it's what you deserve
Read your damn email
I laugh - it's what you deserve
Read your damn email
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Teeth-Grinding Irritation Haiku
Fingernails scraping
'Cross the chalkboard of my soul
Some co-workers suck
'Cross the chalkboard of my soul
Some co-workers suck
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Men CAN Multi-task
A frequent complaint I hear from women (among other frequent complaints women may make) is that men cannot multi-task. I believe this is not true, and here's why.
It all boils down to the way men and women think about sex. To put this in a purely nerdy perspective, let's think of this in terms of a personal computer.
When women think about sex, it is much like using an application such as Microsoft Word. They call upon it when they want or need to use it, do what they have to do, then close the application and move on.
When men think about sex, it is a process that runs in the background from the moment you boot up to the moment you shut down. For many men it may even be the entire operating system that holds everything together. This means at any given moment, though a man may appear to be doing only one thing, they are in reality, multi-tasking. They are:
1) thinking about sex
2) doing whatever else is most pressing at the moment
Quite frankly, we are lucky they are able to remain upright at all, much less multi-task to the extent that they do. The constant strain on their resources may also partly explain why they seem incapable of hitting a hole as large as the standard toilet hole when they pee.
So remember this the next time you're about to be unfairly hard on your man - and be grateful that men, unlike dogs, cannot lick their own balls.
Cheers,
D
It all boils down to the way men and women think about sex. To put this in a purely nerdy perspective, let's think of this in terms of a personal computer.
When women think about sex, it is much like using an application such as Microsoft Word. They call upon it when they want or need to use it, do what they have to do, then close the application and move on.
When men think about sex, it is a process that runs in the background from the moment you boot up to the moment you shut down. For many men it may even be the entire operating system that holds everything together. This means at any given moment, though a man may appear to be doing only one thing, they are in reality, multi-tasking. They are:
1) thinking about sex
2) doing whatever else is most pressing at the moment
Quite frankly, we are lucky they are able to remain upright at all, much less multi-task to the extent that they do. The constant strain on their resources may also partly explain why they seem incapable of hitting a hole as large as the standard toilet hole when they pee.
So remember this the next time you're about to be unfairly hard on your man - and be grateful that men, unlike dogs, cannot lick their own balls.
Cheers,
D
Thursday, June 17, 2004
An Ode to Filkins
Here is a limerick dedicated to the sometimes-object of my affection.
Though Filkins looks much like an elf,
I wanted his hands on my shelf.
But committed is he
So forever I'll be
Forced to love me by myself.
Disclaimer/Background: When I first met this guy, I honestly thought he was gay. (What else am I supposed to think about an elfin man who reads the commie pinko rag The Nation???) I asked to have his love child, and then found out he was straight as the line that George W. Bush's finger makes as it follows along with each word in his favorite tome, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since then, I have kept up the charade just to freak out my friend LK (who thinks of him as a brother) with visuals that make her wake in the night screaming. And because Filkins likes the attention from a foxy asian girl such as myself.
Cheers,
D
Though Filkins looks much like an elf,
I wanted his hands on my shelf.
But committed is he
So forever I'll be
Forced to love me by myself.
Disclaimer/Background: When I first met this guy, I honestly thought he was gay. (What else am I supposed to think about an elfin man who reads the commie pinko rag The Nation???) I asked to have his love child, and then found out he was straight as the line that George W. Bush's finger makes as it follows along with each word in his favorite tome, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since then, I have kept up the charade just to freak out my friend LK (who thinks of him as a brother) with visuals that make her wake in the night screaming. And because Filkins likes the attention from a foxy asian girl such as myself.
Cheers,
D
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