Opening Day - Anyone Else Uncomfortable?

W Throws Out the First Pitch to Rousing Jeers and Boos



I have to admit, this made me a little uncomfortable. And, as if I needed another reason to dislike Joe Morgan and Jon Miller, listen to them talk about what an arm Bush has for pitching, completely ignoring the reaction of the crowd. Lovely.

See that hurt look on his face? I'm cringing. The humanitarian in me starts to feel bad, actually. I almost want to say, "poor george." But then I remembered what Bush has done that warranted such a reaction, and I got over it real fast.

For one of millions of reasons not to feel bad for W, check out this story about a Marine Iraqi vet, named Eric W. Hall, who suffered a flashback, went missing because of it, & subsequently died of it:
READ - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/us/31war.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
LISTEN - http://realserver.bu.edu:8080/ramgen/w/b/wbur/herenow/2008/03/hn_0328.rm

-UPDATE- Youtube took down that video at the top
Here's this one from in the crowd. You can hear more specifically the reaction of the crowd:

Black Hole Sun

The following article

Try this headline: Black Hole Eats Earth

More strife in Iraq. U.S. financial system in crisis. Rice prices soar.

None of these headlines will matter a bit, though, if two men pursuing a lawsuit in a court in Hawaii turn out to be right. They think a giant particle accelerator that will begin smashing protons together outside Geneva this summer might produce a black hole that will spell the end of the Earth - and maybe the universe. (more)

which I read on Jen H's blog, makes me want to do the following things:

• Sing "1999"

• Travel- back to San Francisco, finally to France & again to Ireland--also, perhaps Japan
  

• Quit my job

• And it also makes think about this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSoEP1NVmPM

• And this one, though I don't think I'd agree with the existential sentiment. I'd feel disappointed.

• And finally, to go along with a previous post, I think of this song, from the summer of 1994:

So, It Was a Long Day

So, with the last seven posts, I'm sure you can tell it was a long day. I'm so tirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Oops, I just took an accidental nappy poo there.

Just kidding.

Holy crap I'm a dork.

GOOD NIGHT!!!!

A Day in the Life, pt 5 - Shifting Tastes

A Day in the Life, pt 5 - Shifting Tastes (I Guess I Like the Police)

Very strange thing happened today: after years of declaring my disinterest in Sting and the Police, with the exception of--see that's just the thing. The list of "with the exception of" list became so long that I realized I do, in fact, like the Police.

It all started with talking to a friend from back in the day about the same thing we always seem to talk about: politics. (One of us is for Barack, the other Hillary; that makes me think of one particular Police song. Then I watched that cutie little Jason Castro sing Sting's "Fragile", while I was decramping from designing Va nessa' necklace (see prev. post).



Then one of the other one's I like, Brook White, did the (still creepy but likable anyway) "Every Breath".



And so it was that I epiphanisized that I do, in fact, like a lot of Police songs. So, I bought the greatest hits.

A Day in the Life, pt 4 - V's Necklace

A Day in the Life, pt 4 - Vs Necklace

As you can tell, the day was a busy one. That's why it was super sad to see that, after 2 hours of setting up & 45 minutes of decramping from creating, I had run out of time and was unable to string Van essa's necklaces for her birthday celebration tonight.

Here's the work in progress:


Those turquoise glass beads were part of a clearanced napkin ring I found at Homegoods. Thrift stores, yard sales and clearance bins at home decor shops are great places to look for high quality, low cost beads.

Once it's strung it will be 24 inches long, so she can wearing it in fours as a choker, in twos as a long one or in threes as a medium one. It's colorful but not too bright and I think simple but pretty enough for V aness. Here's hoping.

A Day in the Life of Bridge, pt 1 - Mall Walk for Hospice

A Day in the Life, pt 1 - Mall Walk for Hospice

Today has to be one of the longest days in my life, but in a good way. It started off with waking up at 7 AM to do the Mall Walk for Hospice. This is a charity walk done at the South Shore Plaza to raise money for Hospice of the South Shore. Since Mom works at the VNA, I walked as part of their team, so I got a hideous but highly functional golden yellow long sleeve tee. The above is a picture of some of the other goodies I got today for doing the walk.

In all I raised $160. However, if you would like to pledge, here is more info and a link to my pledge page:

Donate: http://events.southshorehospital.org/site/TR/Walk/General?px=1003930&pg=personal&fr_id=1000&s_tafId=1011

I recently accepted the challenge of participating in the 2008 Walk for Hospice. Each year, Hospice of the South Shore provides end-of-life care for 450 patients and bereavement care for their families and friends. No patient is ever turned away, regardless of their ability to pay.

I am asking you to help by supporting my fund-raising efforts with a donation. Your tax-deductible gift will make a difference in the lives of many! It is faster and easier than ever to support this great cause - you can make your donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message.

Any amount, great or small, helps in the fight. I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

You can also send in your donation to Walk for Hospice, Foundation Office, South Shore Hospital, 55 Fogg Rd, Weymouth MA, 02190. Please include a note with your donation that you are sponsoring me.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://events.southshorehospital.org/site/TR/Walk/General?px=1003930&pg=personal&fr_id=1000&s_tafId=1011

So, click and pledge if you are so obliged.

Bridge's Odyssey: A Day in the Life, prologue

A Day in the Life (ADL) of Me, prologue

Back in 2000, when I started my career in education as a student teacher/ cross-country coach in Winterport, I had a student named [Bradon]. [Bradon] was in three of the classes I taught, plus he ran cross country, so I saw [Bradon] for half of the day. [Bradon] is about 20 years old now, and if I searched Facebook, I'd probably find that he was an engineering major at UMaine or WPI or something like that*.

(*Just found him. Is art-ish major but still runs. Feel all wrong but was literally matter of putting in name in facebook...)

[Bradon] randomly asked me one day during end-of-day homeroom, in his smart but fun kid, 7th-grade-boy-with-a-lisp, earnest way, "Ms Mwadin, whad is youwr favowite Beatwse awbum?"

I was so touched by the question. I mean, how many 12 year old kids would think to ask their 21 year old student teacher such a question, 32 years after the Beatles had bwoken up?

"Hmmm," I said. "Good question." Norweigan Wood is one of my favorite all-time songs. Sgt Peppers is in the history books for its avant-garde-ness, and I loved every minute of it. But the one that I could play 1 million times without hesitation is Abbey Road. So, I said, "Mmm, that's hard. I would say it's between Abbey Road and Sgt Peppers and if I had to pick one...Abbey Road."

[Bradon]'s face lit up so bright, "Abbey Woad is my favwit too!"

"Yeah, and Sgt Pepper is a close second," I said.

"Me, too," he said, matter-of-factly.

And here is one of many good songs from it:

Cover of Cover Controversy

Cover of Cover Controversy

So, that David Cook "Billie Jean" arrangement that you loved so much from Idol the other night? Guess what? It was a cover of Chris Cornell's arrangement of "Billie Jean", which explains why it sounded so good! And even though he has fallen off my list of phantom husbands -- what with the even-more-emaciated-due-to-heavy-drug-use look combined with the not-aging-well-rock-star look (interdependent) -- I still love his voice. It still makes my breath quick.

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/03/chris-cornell-s.html

"Original" Cover


Cover of Cover

Yet Another Reason Why Wal Mart Is Evil

This is from B eth, who was sorely missed at work today (see previous post):

In the "Worst Persons in the World" segment on the Wednesday 3/26/2008 broadcast of Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC, Wal-Mart earned the top spot on the list. It made me sad and angry enough that I felt compelled to spread the news. Below is a transcript of the story as recounted by Olbermann. Additionally, here is a link to a CNN report about the plight of the Shank family: <http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/25/walmart.insurance.battle/>

Just something you may choose to consider when you decide where to spend your money.

---

And our winners, Wal-Mart. Nearly eight years ago, a Wal-Mart shelf stocker in Missouri got broadsided by a semi. Debra Shank, now 52, is now brain damaged, in a wheelchair, in a nursing home. She needs 24-hour-a-day care. She got 700,000 dollars from a settlement from the trucking company. After attorney fees, $417,000 was left for a trust fund to make her shattered life better.

Wal-Mart promptly sued Mrs. Shank for the money, because, says spokesperson Webber, Wal-Mart‘s health plan says, and your company‘s plan may also say this—you'd better check—if you get really hurt and you receive damages in a settlement, your employer can sue to get back anything it paid you for your treatment. So they sued this woman, who had 417,000 dollars, for 470,000 dollars.

Contrary to general opinion, Wal-Mart is not owned by the devil. Its stockholders are not uniformly horrible people. The stores often do not destroy and sometimes even improve communities. But you know why people think of Wal-Mart and evil in the same sentence? Because of the crap you guys do, like this—instead of letting this one go and maybe even putting out a press release saying, "We take care of our own"; maybe you get 470,000 dollars worth of good publicity. No, now you get this.

Wal-Mart‘s profit last year was over 11 billion dollars, including 470,000 dollars it got back from Mrs. Shank, who is, between the truck that hit her and what you amoral Wal-Mart trolls did to her—she is so confused that she doesn't really understand that six days after you beat her in court, her 18-year-old son was killed fighting for this country in Iraq.
Wal-Mart, may your stores melt in the hot sun; today‘s Worst Persons in the World.

Lunch Time Blog

I don't usually blog from work, because I'm supposed to, uh, work during work. But it's soooo quiet here. I am definitely bored without cube-neighbors B eth & J ess to keep me company. So I'm taking my late lunch to blog.

What is keeping me company? Certainly not the outdoor lights that I'm supposed to be rewriting copy of.

So, the thing that's keeping me busy is Pandora.
It's like a radio station you make for yourself. My current mix is:

• Miles Davis
• Edith Piaf
• Nick Drake
• Joni Mitchell
• Mary J Blige
• Amy Winehouse
• Gillian Welch
• Sebadoh
• Jolie Holland
• Ben Harper
• Feist
• Otis Redding

Those are you "stations" and Pandora - whose trade mark is "the Music Genome Project"- play songs that go along with the favorites you list. Currently there's a Lauryn Hill song playing as part of my "Ben Harper" radio mix. I vote whether I like it or not and they play more like it or steer away from it, depending on my vote. It's pretty neat. The only thing is they sometimes play songs too often once you say you like it. Then you have to vote it down so they stop playing it.

Oooh, Etta James is on now. Very good call Pandora. Thank you. Now, should these things be called patio, garden, porch, walkway, or just plain outdoor lights? Solar charged, solar or solar powered? See why I'm looking for a bit of a brain break?

Marie Ponsot & Thought Popping

Marie Ponsot

What's that called when you mention someone or think of someone you haven't in a while and all the sudden they pop up in several places?

I was going through my RSS feeds at lunch yesterday and I read on Nomadics (Pierre Joris's blog) about Alice Notley winning the Lenore Marshall Prize. One of the judges for the prize was Marie Ponsot, who also wrote an article about Notley in the Nation.

I think the last time I had thought about Ponsot was when I found out Sylvester (Pollet, my creative writing teacher at UMaine) died. I was so resistant to writing in the poetry forms required for our Writing Poetry class. What did I call it? Something ridiculous and pretentious and embarrassing. Like "the poetry of the oppressive white male". Groan groan groan. What an effing dork.

Anyway, then Sylvester brought in this article featuring Marie Ponsot and she said some really swell things about writing in an established poetic form. I have the article saved somewhere but can't find it. It just said something about how the parameters of form can actually open things up for a writer and make her think in way she wouldn't have if she weren't writing in a set form. Then there was a tritina of hers (a form she made up that's a spin off of the sestina) and it was like "Eureka!" From there, I ended up writing a bunch of poetry in the forms assigned and I have never hated doing it since. (I can't say the same about the resulting poems I've written in form; I definitely hate lots of them...)

Then, just last Thursday, I was going through my poetry book shelves and reorganizing them, much like the nerds in High Fidelity would reorganize their music collection in some dorky way, and reopened "The Bird Catcher" (which I purchased at City Lights when I went to SanFran in 03). And I remembered how much I like Marie Ponsot & I talked about that on Saturday. Then - boom- there she was, mentioned by someone else just three days later. How very weird.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080407/ponsot

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080407/ponsot_poem

UPDATE

I found the article online. (Magical Maine MARVEL database thingy). Here is Marie Ponsot's quote from the NYTimes article that busted the door for me:

Difficult, but it's worth it, said Ms. Ponsot, because ''in the process of turning your brain around, you find something you didn't know.''

Poetic forms like the tritina are ''instruments of discovery,'' she said. ''The forms create an almost bodily pleasure in the poet. What you're doing is trying to discover. They are not restrictive. They pull things out of you. They help you remember.''

from

Recognition at Last for a Poet of Elegant Complexity; [Biography]

Dinitia Smith. New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)). New York, N.Y.: Apr 13, 1999. pg. E.1

Interesting Find

I am trolling the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Library Job postings for a part-time job, since I'm really truly moving in April - Rene and I are signing the lease on Saturday!- and I saw this posting:

Curator of Poetry

I think it would be a bit too over my head at this time (ya think?) and too, hmm, academic-y for me, but it's interesting to note the job that covers two of my fav things. If only it were the "Curator of Poetry, Episodes of General Hospital, Fashion Foot Wear, and Red Sox History at NPR". That would be freakishly kismet-ic.

Who ISN'T setting the alarm for 5:45 AM?

Who ISN'T setting the alarm for 5:45 AM?*

That's the question tonight. Because, according to the ticker... the first game of the season is in under 6 hours.

I love hearing the clips from Japan - it's all in Japanese, of course, but some English words, like "timing" "grand slam" and "j d drew" come through quite clearly.

*I realize that there are some baseball fans out there whose teams have not won TWO World Series during this century, nor have they even won ONE this century (despite having massive payrolls, and therefore some people -- the ones with not-as-good teams to watch -- might sleep in, having nothing to anticipate and be glad for). I am deeply sorry for those people (named Steve).

(Resentful + Defensive) Comments can be left by clicking on the "Comments" bubble below.

Basket Update

Mom just called from work to say that our Easter baskets were left on top of her dresser so that Daisy wouldn't get at them.

Mmm, Chocolate Mini Eggs. I've only had three so far. Trying to be good.

Seriously, I'm note sure what's more disturbing - the fact that I was little sad this AM when I didn't think I had a basket, or the fact that I actually do have a basket.

Whatever. I'm gonna go mull that over while eating some more chocolate. I bet you it's what Jesus would do.

Last Year Easter

I liked last year's Easter post, too.

Here's the link to all my "Easter" themed posts.

EASTER

Easter Things

Easter 2008

I know I'm almost the t-word, but when I went downstairs this AM, I really thought mom would have left us a little something something
...only because we got heart shaped boxes of chocolates on Valentine's Day. No such luck, though. Ah well. This is the hazard of living with your mother when you're well into your twenties.

Yet another sign that it's a good time to move.

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it!

Three Days' Time

Well, 2 days, 10 hours, 35 mins and 5 4 3 2 1 Seconds, to be exact...

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos

Konnichiha!

P.S.-The beginning of this Marianne Moore poem about baseball is quite cute. Poem's kinda long though...

Repost: Teaching & the BSQ

Teaching and the BSQ

July 27, 2006 @ 11:16 pm

If you ever consider working in the field of education, it is important to think about your BSQ before you pick what level you want to teach.

The three main levels are elementary, middle and high school. But there’s also pre-school, adult ed, college, ESL, etc. In regards to the 3 levels most thought of— elem., middle and high school— you should determine your BSQ early-on, then set out on the correct education path.

What’s the BSQ? The BSQ is a term I made up. It is short for the “bull shit quotient.” That is, what type of bull shit can you tolerate on a daily basis?

Can you tolerate unprovoked attitude or relentless apathy? Then teach high school.

Can you tolerate baby talk, tattle-tailing and whining? Elementary school is your game.

An insane combination of both? You’re one of the chosen ones: a middle school teacher.

Honestly, I’d rather vomit everyday than listen to little kids piss and moan about teasing and name-calling. “Timmy said I was stupid.” “Jeanie pulled Johnny’s hooded sweatshirt.” Ugh. Seriously, shut the eff up and deal with it.

Now, constant shrugs and replies of “nothun’” to any given question. Pshaw, that’s easy. Mostly what I did was ignore such apathy and keep chipping away at the wall until it came tumbling down. Don’t ask me why I cared; I just did.

Same with the unprovoked attitude. I just addresed it, instead of ignoring it or giving attitude back. I did— and still do— simply call the little PITAs on their BS shoulder-chips. I stress politeness and respect. I explain I will always give it, so I always expect it. I hold myself to it and also offer much praise when the little rays of sunshine shoot from behind the attitudinal walls.

And the next thing you know, half your friends on myspace are former students of yours! Magic.

But give me a kid slipping extra ”sshhh,” “sss” and “thhsss” in his words, like a baby, and I’ll show you a woman libel to smack ‘em around. Well, not quite that harsh, but that’s what I’d like to do.

Repost: Anais Nin & June Miller

Repost: Anais Nin & June Miller...oh, and Henry Miller, too

July 3, 2006- Happy Almost Birthday, America

All I can think of when Nin describes June Miller in the book is Uma Thurman, who played June in the movie “Henry and June.” I feel that was, body-wise, a little off. Uma Thurman is gorgeous and striking, as June was described, but June Miller was more overbearing, less lithe, than Uma Thurman is. At least, that’s how I picture her by the description in the diary. I should Google search images...okay, nothing in the public domain, so click here for photos and some background.

Anyway, Nin writes about June creating "mystery" about her self to Henry. Nin thinks June does this not to make Henry angry, as he tends to think she does, but to shield herself. From what, Nin does not know.

I understand this idea. I think we all know someone, or several people who make "mysteries" about him- or herself in order to be protected from what’s really there. Anyway, as I read about June and tried to think if I know anyone like her.

Another part that stuck in my head was when Nin talked about how June lives, while Henry writes. June said, “Henry is literary.” He turns everything to caricature. (How many writers are guilty of that, I wonder?) 'June sits in a cafe and talks to an Abyssinian, a Greek, a Hindu and he tells her the news from home and shows a picture of his family and so she knows the story before it is reported in the news.'

That part really struck me. “How about me?” I thought. “What do I do? Do I live or do I write?”...... I think both. One for a while and then the other, depending on geography and desires and opportunity and mood. But I think I understand what June Miller is so annoyed with. As a writer while I'm experiencing something, I sometimes end up taking myself out of the experience in the regular way to think about how I 'd write about it. I would consider that as just another way to be in the moment, but I could see how a non-writer, watching the "writing" cogs wind in the person they're with, could be annoyed or offended or just look disdainfully at the writer.

…More later…

For Posterity's Sake

Photo Posting, for Posterity's Sake

I just wanted to post this photo of me that pops up when you search my name - cause, yeah, I search my name to see what happens. Don't you?


This one only pops up every once in a while, though. Since it's so old, I"m afraid it's going to go away, so I am reposting it here. It's Steph Hayward on the right and my face on the left, reading at Bumstock in 2001, when UMaine still had Bumstock and opted to do a poetry reading in the second tent. We knew it was going to be tricky to get drunkass Bumstock goers to pay attention to us, so we read some funny sexpoems by e e cummings and then threw candy out into the crowd but only if they clapped. That captivated people and got more people in the tent. And that's when read our own stuff. Tee hee. Ah, college.

The Tolerable Blue Monday

The Tolerable Blue Monday

Have you all heard of Nouvelle Vague? They're a French pop/folk band that cover 80s rockpop poop type songs.

Example: "Blue Monday", originally by New Order:

Normally I would (unthinkingly blurt out that I) hate the original version of this song. I think it's the synthesizers that turn me off so much - it reminds me of being forced to listen to music I didn't like in the car. And without those distinctively 80s icky synths, down at the core, Nouvelle Vague shows us what good potential those 80s songs have.

Hope you enjoyed it. More available on you tube here.

Happy 5th

Happy 5th

Well, folks, here it is again: time for the annual playing of The Most Irreverent Song to Play on This Day:

Happy G*ddamn Motherf#cking 5th Anniversary

Google News Results from search of "5th anniversary" (super duper effed up result centered, bolded and in lime green - the color of delusion):

The Associated Press

Protests on 5th Anniversary of Iraq War The Associated Press - 2 hours ago Despite his aches, Barron planned to risk arrest Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, which has claimed the lives of nearly 4000 US ...

The Southern Ledger

Protests planned across US on 5th anniversary of Iraq war Xinhua, China - 5 hours ago WASHINGTON, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Anti-war activists will carry out a series of protests across the United States on Wednesday to mark the fifth anniversary ... Congressman Hare statement on 5th Anniversary of War in Iraq Quad-Cities Online Newspapers Offer 5th Year Anniversary Coverage of Iraq Invasion Editor & Publisher World Writers Slam Iraqi Holocaust MWC News Burlington Hawk Eye all 549 news articles »

Protesters mark 5th anniversary of Iraq war
WLOS, NC - 4 hours ago
... dead: protesters dressed in black and wearing skull-like masks will stop at war memorials to read the names of the dead to mark the fifth anniversary. ...

Bush to mark Iraq war 5th anniversary with speech WVLT, TN - 37 minutes ago WHITE HOUSE (AP) -- Five years he gave the fateful orders, President Bush will tell an audience of military chiefs and other officials he's confident ...

Protests Mark Iraq War's 5th Anniversary MyFox Washington DC, DC - 10 hours ago WASHINGTON (AP) -- Antiwar protesters have kicked off a series of demonstrations in Washington to mark the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq . ...

Acknowledging the Fifth Anniversary of Iraq Invasion
Hawaii Reporter, HI - 10 hours ago
On this 5th anniversary of President Bush’s invasion of Iraq, we are reminded of the sacrifices of the brave members of our Armed Forces and their families. ...

Readable Post Notification- Hocquard and Valery at UMaine

Doh! I hadn't realized that one of my old reposts was impossible to read because it was highlighted in yellow. I have since fixed it and now it is of the standard color:

http://bridge-inthepines.blogspot.com/2007/09/
juliette-valery-and-emmanuel-hocquard.html

Repost-I'm Not Carmen Sandiego

Preface: I'm listening to this Tori Amos song on repeat right now:

I just got it a few weeks ago and I totally love it. It's from teh Mona Lisa Smile Soundtrack, so it's a cover that's been out for a while. Okay, done with sharing.

I'm Not Carmen Sandiego, or A miniature existential crisis


July 10, 2006

So I’m thinking about adventurers (see the crushes blog entry) and it's got me thinking. Sure, I’ve lived all over Maine, which was cool, but compared to others, I feel inadequate.

I am becoming definitively late 20s this week. So I have to either become one of the the adventurers I so envy or resign to the fact that I'm too much of a homegirl to move very far away from family and friends.


PS It's 2 years later, I'm still in Weymouth, but I haven't a clue what I'm doing after grad school, so still no decisions made. And I ain't gettin' any younger...

Juxtaposition

Dude, I just wrote a blog entry about New Kids on the Block then one about Tori Amos. Oh my lordy. I didn't even do it on purpose. But it really makes me think...


What a difference three years can make.

1990 - favorite singer: New Kids on the Block (6th grade elementary student at Fulton)


1993 - favorite singer: Tori Amos (freshman at Weymouth [Junior] High School)


Hilarious.

Non-working Cure for Insomnia #124- the Digital Mix Tape

Non-working Cure for Insomnia #124- the Digital Mix Tape

Hello, 2 AM. How not nice it is to see you yet again. What has your presence brought about this time?

click to enlarge

Oh, well this looks kinda fun. What is it?


Huh?


Still not sure...



Oh, I get it. It's all the Tori songs that are "bouncy" rather than the more usual mellow ones. What a fun idea. That's what 2 AM is good for, I suppose. Random, yet fun, ideas that would not have come from someone who was having a normal night's sleep.

Well, I hope that's all the playing you'll be doing. You have work tomorrow, or rather, later on today.

Repost - World Playing with Homonyms

Homonyms/ Homophones

July 7, 2006

Po-tay-to, po-tah-to

I keep messing up allowed and aloud. Silly really, but that’s the thing I’ve been doing.

Other common homonym confusions:

their/there/they’re

two/to/too

effect/affect

except/accept

T. Heywood from Kara’s office/ they would

Your call/ York Hall, my freshman year dorm

would/wood

Yankees Suck/ I love the Sox

PBR/ NPR

pin/ pen/ pan

Only in Boston: our/ are (ow-ah)

our/hour

here/hear

Only in Boston: khakis/ car keys

Only in Boston: laud/ Lord (lawhd heyah ow-ah prayah)

tin/ten

pitcher/picture

Repost - Recipe Red Beans and Avocado Quesadilla

I think this was good, but I haven't made it since I wrote this post back in July 2006...

Red Bean Quesadillas

July 7, 2006

Okay, so I caved the other night and made dinner after proclaiming I would only eat ice cream from dinner. This is what I made:

1 can of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 avocado cut into tiny pieces while still in skin (for easy mashing) then scooped out with spoon

3 med tomatoes, diced

1 tbs buffalo wing sauce or Louisiana Hot Sauce

1/2 package of Mexican cheese blend

6 whole wheat tortillas from Trader Joe’s

Heat over to 425

Mix all ingredients together in big bowl until avacado coats all other ingredients. Place quesidilla on cookie sheet. Scoop 1/6 of mixture onto half quesadilla then fold over to make half moon shape. Repeat five times. You’ll probably need two cookie sheets, unless you have some magic way of fitting 6 quesdillas nicely onto a cookie sheet.

Bake until top of quesidilla is brown. Serve with sour cream, chopped lettuce, tomato and onion and/ or salsa, or just plain.

Repost - Stepping Stones to True Love

I'm tapped out on the blogging front, what with the 22 posted in the last 3 days, or close to that. So, it's time to just repost from the old blog. This one's funny. To be honest, I think I was a little tipsy when I wrote it...

Stepping Stone to Just What I Want, or The Use of Old Relationships and Crushes

July 8, 2006

The Long and Winding Road

So, after my trollop out to the Abington Ale House tonight, I’ve come to realize that each single person is enamored with unobtainables as a mere stepping stone to realizing what he or she truly wants out of a forever type mate.

I could listen to little ol' Ry an Mee han talk about merchant-marining for a decade and never be bored and never stop grinning like a school girl. Ryan was at the Ale House tonight, back from another adventure at sea. He's so very Walter Raleigh that way. Anyway, even though it was Joh nny I worshipped in high school, I sitll liked hanging out with his little brother. This is because the entire Mee han clan fascinates me. But if say, tomorrow, Joh nny Mee han, and all other boys from high year, like poor old Josh and F-List celeb ol’ Nate came to my door and said, “I’ve been an outrageous fool, and I realize how much I am in love with you,” I’d be like, “Oh, hey, nice…um…great…well, I got a… um… thing so good to see you,” and then I’d run away, half pissing myself from the fear of an enamoring unobtainable suddenly becoming obtainable.

The point is, I realized tonight that I’m decidedly single. So, I may recycle interesting fellas from the past but the truth is, if any of those failed relationships came back to say, “You’re my one and only true love,” I’d become an ostrich and bury my head so far in the sand I wouldn’t come up until they’d made a place for me in the attic replete with 2 dozen cats. None of those very compelling personalities are what I want, but all of them are stepping stones to help me discern what I do want when I’m ready to want forever.

This sort of realization helps a single women sleep more easily at night. Especially after being at my cousin’s 4th birthday party and having the following happening:

Drunkard, who we’ll call Sturg Ass– for anonymity– who is a younger friend of my younger uncle (who has the 4 and 2 year old) is leaving the party. He’s saying the following type statements to the other adults as he rounds the patio to leave: “Nice to see you,” “Have a good night, “Bye-bye deary,” “I’ll see you later.” He gets to me and says–and this is no effing lie– “Are you married?” in a rather accusatory and (horrifyingly) interested manner.

Helen Fielding couldn’t have written more effed up, humiliating scenario. Boldly, I looked right at him and said, “Oh fuck no." Everyone else laughed. I continued, “I can’t wait ’til I’m old enough to get married, though. I’m thinking some cool date, like 11/11/11. I always hate November, so why not plan something to look forward to?”

The comedian always successfully incorporates feelings of inadequacy with blunt truth and dagger-like acerb in a harmonious, congenial blend.

I’m nothing if not funny.

Ha ha, I forgot about that Sturgis, oops, I mean Sturg Ass thing. That was so weird. I still can't fathom why someone would do that. Well, I know it was because he was drunk and probably high, but still, so weird.

Book Recommendation - Elizabeth the Queen

Elizabeth the Queen by Alison Weir

A while back, just because she's a good friend, Kara sent me a bunch of Alison Weir history-of-the-Tudors books. I was watching the BBC 70s miniseries on Elizabeth I incessantly - I had borrowed it from the beautiful Old Town Public Library. (Thanks again, Steven and Tabitha King Foundation, for such giving something the Orono people could be jealous of, which is my favorite thing about Old Town. That and the significantly cheaper rent from Orono (for those who can deal with the smell of cabbage...)

Well, I have been reading Elizabeth the Queen on and off for about a year now, and just finished it. I thought it would help me get to bed. Yeah right. (Like, 15 people I know are insomniacs right now. Do you suppose that we're all a little messed up from the DLST? Or is it just life?)

Elizabeth is quite the historical figure. She was complicated. I can't say I was happy when, at the end of the book, the last "success" of her reign was defeating the Irish. But, Ireland is currently kicking everyone's ass, economically speaking, in Europe and the world at large, so karma and stuff.

Despite all the complications, the decidedly non-democratic ruling, and the oppression of the Irish - to name a few tyrannical ickies about QEI- I still think she was one of the best world rulers ever. I mean, it's been over 400 years and they're still writing books and movies about her and her family. That in itself is something.

As to Alison Weir, I think she does a fantastic job of weaving story, time, facts and details. I marvel at the daunting task of putting a compelling, cohesive book like that together. Good times. Good times.

Now, on to some other book to read 4 pages of before going to bed every night...But which one?

night night

URGENT: For All the Truly "True Americans" (the ones who actually believe in the first amendment)

URGENT: For All the Truly "True Americans" (the ones who actually believe in the first amendment)

Please read. From Nomadics, Pierre Joris's blog. All back story leading to this post can be fond here:

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Troy's Heavy Hand of Censorship

In two previous posts I reported on RPI banning an art installation by Iraqi-born, US-citizen Waafa Bilal and its re-opening under the aegis of The Sanctuary for Independent Media. I was there on Monday night, and there was indeed a counter demontrarion (under that old slogan of "Freedom is not Free") by some 25 people. Bilal's presentation & talk went ahead without any trouble, however, in front of a large audience that filled the space to capacity. It was an exhilarating occasion, living proof, it seemed, that freedom of speech & First Amendment rights were not completely extinguished in Bush-land. But then, this morning, The Sanctuary sent out the message below – extremely disheartening & shocking. Please help The Sanctuary survive by making a contribution to its fund.

Perhaps you've heard the news that the City of Troy, citing code violations, has shut down The Sanctuary for Independent Media effective immediately.

This happened the day after a top Troy official, who is also a Rensselaer County legislator and a constituent liaison for Senator Joseph Bruno, organized a protest condemning Wafaa Bilal's work and our decision to present it on Monday night.

We have been working on our building since we first occupied it and throughout have been in close communication with the city about our plans, so this sudden closure- following the censorship of Wafaa's work by RPI last week-came as quite a shock.

You can hear the phone call from the City of Troy here, along with a clip from Wafaa Bilal's talk, and make up your own mind about the motivation behind the City's action.

We have contacted the Center for Constitutional Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, and private practice attorneys for assistance on the First Amendment aspects of this situation.

This crisis has created an urgent need to raise funds for building improvements: if you can manage it, it would be greatly appreciated if you could make a secure online financial contribution at here, or send a check payable to The Sanctuary for Independent Media to PO Box 35, Troy NY 12181.

Under the circumstances, the remaining three programs in our "Art, Freedom, Democracy" series are in jeopardy as is the rest of the Sanctuary season. We will let you know shortly whether our presentation of The Yes Men next Tuesday, March 18 will proceed as planned, and if so, where.

Many thanks for your support in the past; if you can offer further help in this moment of need, please reply to this message (or email). We're creating a separate email list for Sanctuary activists to avoid burdening this one, so let us know if you'd like to be on it.

Hope to see you soon!

--Your Friends at The Sanctuary
for Independent Media

-----------------------------

Support The Sanctuary for Independent Media!

You can make a secure, tax-deductible online donation
(or a gift in someone else's name) at:

https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=10330

Visit our website at:

www.MediaSanctuary.org

G*ddammit Geraldine! What the hell were you thinking?

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is what I have to say about Geraldine Ferraro saying that Obama is only a strong candidate because he's black. Do you know something? THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT ANN COULTER SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I love Geraldine Ferraro. I think I had to pledge undying love for her in order to received my Women's Studies minor. It's, like, a requirement, along with not shaving your legs and listening to either Tori or Ani or both (I'm Tori only, BTW).

But what. the. f*ck. ????????????

You can't go around saying the same outrageously asinine things as Ann Coulter and expect me to say nothing. I know one of Ferraro's strong suits is her strident, confident, spitfire, tell-it-like it is nature, but this is too far. I'm pissed. Pissed.

To her credit, Hillary rejected that statement. This is from the AP:

Clinton has said she disagrees with Ferraro's remarks. In an interview with The Associated Press, she said, "It's regrettable that any of our supporters — on both sides, because we both have this experience — say things that kind of veer off into the personal."

But they're so calculated, those Clintons. I feel like the make sacrificial lambs sometimes.

Anyway, I will not get over this any time soon. I am sad and angry and appalled. And if you think I'm overreacting, check out this juxtaposition of footage:

First, watch the first 27 seconds of this clip - the evil one speaks...



And then jump to 3:57 on this clip and HEAR THE SAME THING from Geraldine Ferraro. (And hear my heart breaking over it, too)...





Lordy, lordy. What is the world coming to?

Yep, Survey Time Again

(It's been a while! This is from Rene's MySpace Blog, hich she got from Sandy)

45 of the most random things you probably never needed to know about someone

whats your name spelt backwards?: Tegdirb

What did you do last night?: Very routine: ate dinner, worked at computer, watched GH, TDS and CR - but also started this crazy poetry writing thing - I won't get into the details but it involves tissue paper, crayola markers, writing backwards like daVinci and The Rubaiyat of Mar Khayyam...

The last thing you downloaded onto your computer?: IfranView

Have you ever licked a 9 volt battery?: I'm a thrill seeker What can I say?

Last time you swam in a pool?: August?

What are you wearing?: My cute dress-shirt thing from target with the art deco scene on it.

How many cars have you owned?: Hmm. easier to list: blue caravan, Kara's Grand Am, grey caravan, Sable, Crown Vic, Buick - 6

Type of music you dislike most?: Pop Country, just the melodramatic cheesy ones - not Bluegrass or Dolly Parton or some of the funny ones, like Brad Paisley's Check You for Ticks & Carrie Underwood's Before He Cheats, or Willie Nelson

Are you registered to vote?: Yes. I voted for Hillary in the primary but love both her and Obama. I just love her more right now.

Do you have cable?: No and yes. I actually don't have cable, but my parents do.

What kind of computer do you use?: Dell

Ever made a prank phone call?: Poor Romeigs - how many times did we call them from Sandy's house?

You like anyone right now?: Yes. Definitely.

Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?: Sky diving.

Furthest place you ever traveled?: Ireland.

What's your favorite comic strip?: Rhymes with Orange

Do u know all the words to the national anthem?: Yes

Shower, morning or night?: Night, but sometimes morning

Best movie you've seen in the past month?: Juno!!

Favorite pizza toppings?: Mushroom.

Chips or popcorn?: Depends on my mood - if I want something light, I'll eat the fat free popcorn. If I'm craving salt and fat - Lays Sour Cream and Onion

What cell phone provider do you have?: Can you hear me now? Good. Cause I'm not telling you the answer to that question.

Have you ever smoked peanut shells?: Uh, no.

Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?: No

Orange Juice or apple?: OJ, definitely

Who were the last people you sat at lunch with?: Company Luncheon today, so Jess, Heather, Margie, Michael and Beth

Favorite chocolate bar?: Cadbury Dairy Milk

Who is your longest friend and how long?: Coleen and Melissa - since I was born

Last time you ate a homegrown tomato?: Late fall wen everyone as giving them away

Have you ever won a trophy?: Yes! Weymouth Youth Soocer, Weymouth Girls Soccer, The National Choral award and - my proudest accomplishments in the trophies category - The Maine Drama Festival Regional Competition Winners and State Runners-Up (or did we win? I can't remember!!!) Anyway, when my drama geeks won those trophies - that was the best.

Favorite arcade game?: Tetris. I'm addicted.

Ever ordered from an infomercial?: No

Sprite or 7-UP?: Icky.

Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work?: No

Last thing you bought at Walgreens?: Q Tips, I Pod player -on sale real cheap-and something else...

Ever thrown up in public?: I don't remember.

Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love?: Love

Do you believe in love at first sight?: Not at first sight, but I think people just know, almost right away, if they could like someone - you know, really truly like someone.

SPONGEBOB OR JIMMY NEUTRON?: Who the eff picks Jimmy Neutron?

Did you have long hair as a young kid?: Yes

What message is on your voicemail machine?: Standard

Where would you like to go right now?: Always - France. I need to just suck it up and do it.

Whats the name of your pet?: Daisy and Oliver

What kind of back pack do you have, and what's in it?: I have an LL Bean soccer backpack and then a Swiss "school/work" back pack with books, snacks, water bottle, first aid, pencil case, ipod, wallet, make up bag and daily vitamins. Basically my life.

What do you think about most? Green products, since that's my job, and writing, since thats my, er, thing.

Briton Warrior Queen

Boudica, Briton Warrior Queen


So, I was working from home today (to make up for Monday's sick day) and had the History Channel on to keep me focused (whether it's NPR, music, or historical documentaries, I work better with "intelligent" distraction).

The History Channel was broadcasting a two hour documentary on Boudica, a Queen from 60 AD England, who ruled over Iceni, on the East coast of the island. After her husband died, power went to her. Back then for the Britons, power passed from man to woman, father to daughter, etc. without any hullabaloo. Like the titles do now. But not like they did from 800-1563 and most of 1603 to the Windsors. If you don't know what I'm talking about take a look at this monstrosity of a Royal British family tree and notice that from 1563 to 1603, England was ruled first by Bloody Mary then by Queen Elizabeth I.

Anyway, the Romans thought that a woman ruler was absurd (much like the assinine Democratic voters who don't/didn't vote for Hillary just because she's a woman - I heard a few on NPR and it made my fists ball) and seized all of Boudica's kingdom for Rome, tied her up when she was defiant and flogged her in front of her people while Roman soldiers took her daughters away and raped them.

This, as you can imagine, did not sit well with the Queen, so she became a Warrior Queen and launched an attack with 50,000 Britons - men, women, teens, elderly - on Roman settlements throughout England. They decimated one village then headed to Londinium - which is now modern day...you guessed it, London. However, hearing of the formidible Warrior Queen, most of London had been evacuated. Those that left behind met the same ill fate (to use words those documentaries always like to use) as the people at the previous Roman settlement.

Anyway, eventually this Roman army leader a-hole guy Minipenisium, or something like that, faced her on the road from London to west Britain and defeated her fighters. She disappeared - but probably died by poisoning herself, as did her daughters.

Interesting story though.

Read more at the perhaps factual wikipedia entry.

The wiki entry also had this juicy nugget : "There is also a long-lived urban myth that she is buried under Platform 8, 9 or 10 of King's Cross railway station in London." Maybe she buried between 9 and 10 at PLATFORM 9 AND THREE-QUARTERS. (I wonder who else knows this little tidbit?)

Purdy

Okay, this is very very bad. I know. I took it. And I didn't delete it. Here's the thing though: I wanted to put it on my blog for posterity's sake. Because it makes me laugh at myself. I think everyone needs a purdy picture like this of themselves in public view on the internet to take themselves down a few notches when they're feeling mighty fhine.

You hear that, Anderson Cooper?

In "The County"

View from "The County"

This is a record year for snowfall statewide in Maine, so you can only imagine the affects in Aroostook AKA "The County" AKA the northern-most county. If you can't imagine, here's a picture.



This is the back door to my friend's house in Aroostook County. In Maine, the geographically largest county - Aroostook - is also two other things: 1) the smallest in population and 2) the most "way the hell up there"[pronounced "they-uh"], that is, Northern-most. As a result, they tend to get more snow. Obviously.

This pic certainly tells you 1000 words about life "way they hell up they-uh."

How Do I Love the Rock of Love

Brett Michaels and his awesome stupid obvious wig

How Do I Love the Rock of Love

This very bad bad bad show is getting even better at being the best worst show on TV. I thought for sure that nothing would top the delicious horrible-ness of the first season, but no. I was mistaken.

(I'm catching up on my television in the last two days while recovering from this thing that is kicking my ass.)

And so, I am currently watching Rock of Love. The girls did a mini USO type show.

Rock of Love Girls in USO type performance thing

It was terribly awesome. Two girls stripped like tacky strippers. That was horriblydistasteful, even for Brett Michaels. Meanwhile two others stripped in a cute way then did the hula hoop while reciting the Preamble. That was kinda clever.

Rock of Love Girls in USO type performance thing

Then a very stupid girl, who I think is foreign effed up the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. At that point, I had to mute the TV. I can't stand embarrassing moments on television.

Then there was this huge fight at dinner because all the girls were together at the meal. Swearing, tears, pointed fingers, and swiveling necks ensued.

Rock of Love girls fighting at dinner

Anyway, it was awesomely bad. If one has to be ill and in bed, one should be happy that such drivel, indulgent hilarity of horrors is available.

New Favorite Jason Castro

=sigh=

American Idol is back, and I'm in love. Is anyone surprised that I am in love with the hippie? Anyone? No? I didn't think so.

I'm in love with Jason Castro and am texting 5707 as many times as I can now.

Visit Jason's American Idol page here and check out his dreadlockiliciousness.

I Still Love Hillary, but...

I Still Love Hillary But I Had to Share This Video

Hillary was just on The Daily Show and did a pretty good job. Jon Stewart made reference to a SNL skip so I dragged myself out of my sickbed to see if I could find it. I did find it and it was entertaining but, I found this as well. I don't know why it makes me chuckle. I guess I like seeing her - or any politician - being unscripted.



Can anyone say, "Ricola"?

That's about all I can take as far as sitting and typing. Back to lying down with the heating pad.