Last Saturday, I blogged about a story I heard on Weekend Edition Saturday. Something painful to merely hear over the radio, so I can't imagine what it is like to live it.
I wasn't alone in wanting to know what I can do to help bring attention to these attrocities in an effort to end them
Please go to:
http://newsite.vday.org/drcongo
On a sweeter note, one of the things you can do to help is buy a purse. I'm down. I think I'll get this one, in blue. I'm on a "Blue Purse" kick.
http://www.healingartsafrica.com/c6.php
Some Super Bowl Things
1. Though the Cardinals won't win, I would like to take a moment to share this article about strong safety Adrian Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals. 
He took over for Pat Tillman, when Tillman left the NFL to join the military after September 11. Tillman was later killed while fighting in Afghanistan in 2004. -- The details of his death and the cover up of the friendly fire incident make for yet another black mark on the Defense Dept/ Bush Administration, but this does not at all diminsh the extraordinary sacrifice Tillman made. -- Wilson has been thinking quite often about Tillman over the years and quite a bit in the lead up to tomorrow's Super Bowl.
He took over for Pat Tillman, when Tillman left the NFL to join the military after September 11. Tillman was later killed while fighting in Afghanistan in 2004. -- The details of his death and the cover up of the friendly fire incident make for yet another black mark on the Defense Dept/ Bush Administration, but this does not at all diminsh the extraordinary sacrifice Tillman made. -- Wilson has been thinking quite often about Tillman over the years and quite a bit in the lead up to tomorrow's Super Bowl. 2. Mike Tomlin, who I blogged about last week, was on Smarmy Man Who I Live Anyway Keith Olberman's show the other day. 
Tomlin is younger than the Cardinals' quarterback. Isn't that weird? Anyway, Boy Genius Head Coach can go ahead and put himself on my always open, always growing list of Phantom Husbands. He's real real cute and brainy, a super plus. Oh, and accomplished. Obv.
Tomlin is younger than the Cardinals' quarterback. Isn't that weird? Anyway, Boy Genius Head Coach can go ahead and put himself on my always open, always growing list of Phantom Husbands. He's real real cute and brainy, a super plus. Oh, and accomplished. Obv.3. Only a Game has an annual tradition of Superbowl Haiku and this year was no exception. My favorite was this one:
Kurt Warner recalls
His first Super Bowl. Recalls,
Too, the Civil War.
God Bless America - We Heart the Inauguration Hat
Dear heavens, I fricken love this country. Only in America could something like Facebook exist and only in America would someone start a Facebook Fan Group for Aretha Franklin's Inauguration Hat.
As of this morning, there are 87,159 fans. And counting. People are writing letters to the hat. People are posting poems - ballads, haiku, etc. - to the hat. People LOVE this hat. I am among these people, of course. How could I not?
With the answer to all these question a definitive, resounding "YES", then I clearly worship this hat.
Do you know there's a request for it to go to the Smithsonian? Not kidding. Look.
God Bless America.
As of this morning, there are 87,159 fans. And counting. People are writing letters to the hat. People are posting poems - ballads, haiku, etc. - to the hat. People LOVE this hat. I am among these people, of course. How could I not?
- Is it an accessory? Yup.
- Is it flamboyant? Yup.
- Is it one of those "only you could pull that off" type things? Yup.
- Would other, more boring, sticklerish people perhaps call it "tacky"? Yup.
- Do I instead consider to be 'fierce'? Yup.
- Is it sparkly? Oooooh, yup yup yup.
With the answer to all these question a definitive, resounding "YES", then I clearly worship this hat.
Do you know there's a request for it to go to the Smithsonian? Not kidding. Look.
God Bless America.
More on the Traffic Zombies
Here's the Austin area news report. Feels like it's from the Onion or The Daily Show, but, no, it's real.
Republicans Are Copycats
Whatever, Republicans, what-ev-er. Way to ride the Democrats' coattails and be all lemming like with your copying our moves. I'll tell you what, though: it's not gonna work.
Just because we Democrats had a balck candidate who then became our first black president and will subsequently save our country from your dumb Texas hick white guy legacy president's mess, doesn't mean you will begin to turn your crappy, losing party around because you elect an African American as your Republican National Committee chairman. What. Ev.
This attempt to be like us is soooooo ridiculously transparent. No, you cannot sit at our lunch table. (No, you will not magically win our voters.)
Anyway, congratulations and lotsa luck to Michael Steele, the first black chairman of the Repubican National Committee.
I guess the Republican believe that saying, "Once you go..." etc., etc., etc.
Just because we Democrats had a balck candidate who then became our first black president and will subsequently save our country from your dumb Texas hick white guy legacy president's mess, doesn't mean you will begin to turn your crappy, losing party around because you elect an African American as your Republican National Committee chairman. What. Ev.
This attempt to be like us is soooooo ridiculously transparent. No, you cannot sit at our lunch table. (No, you will not magically win our voters.)
Anyway, congratulations and lotsa luck to Michael Steele, the first black chairman of the Repubican National Committee.
I guess the Republican believe that saying, "Once you go..." etc., etc., etc.
This Week in WTF - Zombies Don't Like the Cold
According to a department of transporation sign in Austin, Texas, there was an outbreak of zombies today.
Hackers busted into the electronic road sign and posted messages saying, "CAUTION! ZOMBIES! AHEAD!!!" The sign went on to blink warning signs to run to colder climates. Since I've never seen a zombie here during the winter*, I'll have to believe this advice.
View the sign and the article here:
* As far as I know, Rob Zombie has never been on tour here in the winter. He's usually at Hampton Beach in the summer. Though don't quote me on this, because I'm far from being a big fan or anything like that.
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act Signed Today (update from previous post)
Today was a great day for the long and winding road of equality -- for women, but also for the disabled, for those of different races, creeds or ages. Today President Barack Obama (when will that stop making me a little tingly-happy?) signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act.
Here is part of what Mrs Ledbetter had to say at the reception held for her after the bill was signed into law:
Goodyear will never have to pay me what it cheated me out of. In fact, I will never see a cent from my case. But with the passage and President's signature today, I have an even richer reward. (Applause.) I know that my daughter and granddaughters, and your daughters and your granddaughters, will have a better deal. That's what makes this fight worth fighting. That's what made this fight one we had to win. And now with this win we will make a big difference in the real world.
And here is an excerpt of Obama's signing statement:
So signing this bill today is to send a clear message: that making our economy work means making sure it works for everybody; that there are no second-class citizens in our workplaces; and that it's not just unfair and illegal, it's bad for business to pay somebody less because of their gender or their age or their race or their ethnicity, religion or disability; and that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory, or footnote in a casebook. It's about how our laws affect the daily lives and the daily realities of people: their ability to make a living and care for their families and achieve their goals.
Ultimately, equal pay isn't just an economic issue for millions of Americans and their families, it's a question of who we are -- and whether we're truly living up to our fundamental ideals; whether we'll do our part, as generations before us, to ensure those words put on paper some 200 years ago really mean something -- to breathe new life into them with a more enlightened understanding that is appropriate for our time.
Full coverage, video and bill available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/AWonderfulDay/
A wonderful day! Boston native Donna Summer sings her song with less of an imploring tone, and with rather more of a demanding command. FYI, "She Works Hard for the Money" came out in 1981, so it's only 28 years for this bill to come about and get signed. Eieiei, three decades! Better late than never, I say.
(Please click play and listen to this music video as you read the rest of this entry.)
Here is part of what Mrs Ledbetter had to say at the reception held for her after the bill was signed into law:
Goodyear will never have to pay me what it cheated me out of. In fact, I will never see a cent from my case. But with the passage and President's signature today, I have an even richer reward. (Applause.) I know that my daughter and granddaughters, and your daughters and your granddaughters, will have a better deal. That's what makes this fight worth fighting. That's what made this fight one we had to win. And now with this win we will make a big difference in the real world.
And here is an excerpt of Obama's signing statement:
So signing this bill today is to send a clear message: that making our economy work means making sure it works for everybody; that there are no second-class citizens in our workplaces; and that it's not just unfair and illegal, it's bad for business to pay somebody less because of their gender or their age or their race or their ethnicity, religion or disability; and that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory, or footnote in a casebook. It's about how our laws affect the daily lives and the daily realities of people: their ability to make a living and care for their families and achieve their goals.
Ultimately, equal pay isn't just an economic issue for millions of Americans and their families, it's a question of who we are -- and whether we're truly living up to our fundamental ideals; whether we'll do our part, as generations before us, to ensure those words put on paper some 200 years ago really mean something -- to breathe new life into them with a more enlightened understanding that is appropriate for our time.
Full coverage, video and bill available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/AWonderfulDay/
A wonderful day! Boston native Donna Summer sings her song with less of an imploring tone, and with rather more of a demanding command. FYI, "She Works Hard for the Money" came out in 1981, so it's only 28 years for this bill to come about and get signed. Eieiei, three decades! Better late than never, I say.
This Week in WTF - 14 year old gets away with playing cop for 5 hours in Chicago
Here's the latest from the AP. I heard it on NPR's All Things Considered.
14-year-old fools Chicago cops and goes on patrol
6 hours ago
CHICAGO (AFP) — A 14-year-old boy who fooled Chicago police and spent five hours in a squad car alongside another police officer who was on traffic patrol has tried impersonating a cop before, local media said Monday.
Police acknowledged it was a serious security breach and said they are investigating how the boy managed to check out a radio and ticket book and how he managed to spend five hours on patrol while escaping suspicion.
They said the boy "looks older than 14" and was wearing a complete Chicago police uniform except for the badge and gun.
He was discovered when he returned to the station to fill out paperwork and a sergeant noticed the missing star-shaped badge.
14-year-old fools Chicago cops and goes on patrol6 hours ago
CHICAGO (AFP) — A 14-year-old boy who fooled Chicago police and spent five hours in a squad car alongside another police officer who was on traffic patrol has tried impersonating a cop before, local media said Monday.
Police acknowledged it was a serious security breach and said they are investigating how the boy managed to check out a radio and ticket book and how he managed to spend five hours on patrol while escaping suspicion.
They said the boy "looks older than 14" and was wearing a complete Chicago police uniform except for the badge and gun.
He was discovered when he returned to the station to fill out paperwork and a sergeant noticed the missing star-shaped badge.
24 guest appearances drawn from ABC Soap Stars
I'm watching "24" right now and every couple seconds going to IMDB to find out why so-and-so looks so familiar.
It turns out 24 has been drawing from the, as Rene put it, "raw talent" of the ABC Soaps.
Amelia Joffe of General Hospital, who was an FBI agent, is -- guess what? -- an FBI agent on 24 called Renee Walker. The actor's name is Annie Wersching.
Dr Livvia Frye of All My Children is now playing an African wife of a politician -- about to risk her life for "what is right for her country" right now -- named Alama Matobo. Tonya Pirkins is the actress and, from what I can tell, she's doing a good fake African accent.
The fake chick prez is about to cry because they've bombed Viriginia (is that's what's Southwest of the Whitehouse) and Rene and I are reappropriating that "League of Their Own" quote by saying, "There's no crying in Presidencies."Holy Crap!!! Now it's Dr Ben Davidson, Vikki's deceased 107th husband on "One Life to Live." He is, or was, because he just resigned, Secretary of State Joe Stevens. The actor is Mark Derwin.
Well, that's the ABC Daytime Trifecta completed. I wonder why - is this just a weird coincidence or is their some production/ casting personnel that calls for the recycling of actors?
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to Pass Soon - Glory Glory!
More good news from the Obama Adminstration! No longer is unequal pay for equal work going to be permitted by law. Womyn Rool. Read this update about the Lily Leadbetter Fair Pay Act from the whitehouse.gov blog:
A bill to amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and to modify the operation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to clarify that a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice that is unlawful under such Acts occurs each time compensation is paid pursuant to the discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, and for other purposes.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will restore the law to where it was before the Supreme Court's decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Justice Ginsberg's dissent summarizes the facts of Ledbetter's complaint:
Lilly Ledbetter was a supervisor at Goodyear Tire and Rubber’s plant in Gadsden, Alabama, from 1979 until her retirement in 1998. For most of those years, she worked as an area manager, a position largely occupied by men. Initially, Ledbetter’s salary was in line with the salaries of men performing substantially similar work. Over time, however, her pay slipped in comparison to the pay of male area managers with equal or less seniority. By the end of 1997, Ledbetter was the only woman working as an area manager and the pay discrepancy between Ledbetter and her 15 male counterparts was stark: Ledbetter was paid $3,727 per month; the lowest paid male area manager received $4,286 per month, the highest paid, $5,236.
The Court ruled that employees subject to pay discrimination like Lilly Ledbetter must file a claim within 180 days of the employer's original decision to pay them less -- even if the employee continued to receive reduced paychecks and even if the employee did not discover the discriminatory reduction in pay until much later (check out Justice Alito's arguments in the Court's opinion). Restoring these rules means that complaints can be filed 180 days after any discriminatory paycheck.
A bill to amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and to modify the operation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to clarify that a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice that is unlawful under such Acts occurs each time compensation is paid pursuant to the discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, and for other purposes.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will restore the law to where it was before the Supreme Court's decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Justice Ginsberg's dissent summarizes the facts of Ledbetter's complaint:
Lilly Ledbetter was a supervisor at Goodyear Tire and Rubber’s plant in Gadsden, Alabama, from 1979 until her retirement in 1998. For most of those years, she worked as an area manager, a position largely occupied by men. Initially, Ledbetter’s salary was in line with the salaries of men performing substantially similar work. Over time, however, her pay slipped in comparison to the pay of male area managers with equal or less seniority. By the end of 1997, Ledbetter was the only woman working as an area manager and the pay discrepancy between Ledbetter and her 15 male counterparts was stark: Ledbetter was paid $3,727 per month; the lowest paid male area manager received $4,286 per month, the highest paid, $5,236.
The Court ruled that employees subject to pay discrimination like Lilly Ledbetter must file a claim within 180 days of the employer's original decision to pay them less -- even if the employee continued to receive reduced paychecks and even if the employee did not discover the discriminatory reduction in pay until much later (check out Justice Alito's arguments in the Court's opinion). Restoring these rules means that complaints can be filed 180 days after any discriminatory paycheck.
Recipe: Sweet Carrots
Recipe: Sweet Carrots
3 peeled and coin cut carrots
1 tsp butter
1 tsp parsley
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Boil carrots to desired tenderness. Strain but keep the water. Reurn to pot, add butter, parsley, 1 tsp of carrot-water and cinnamon. Stir and serve.
3 peeled and coin cut carrots
1 tsp butter
1 tsp parsley
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Boil carrots to desired tenderness. Strain but keep the water. Reurn to pot, add butter, parsley, 1 tsp of carrot-water and cinnamon. Stir and serve.
Recipe: Corn Chowder
Recipe: Corn Chowder
1 can of cream of celery soup
1 package frozen corn
1 pint of whole milk
1 cup veggie broth
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 tsp parsley
1 tsp butter
1 tbs evoo
sprinkle of garlic powder
salt and pepper
Turn oven onto 450. Spread about 1/2 cup of corn kernels on a cookie sheet or a frying pan. Roast until about a quarter of the kernels brown. Set aside. In a large stock pot, sautee chopped onion over med high heat until some begin to brown, add roasted corn, garlic, salt and pepper and stir, let cook together for a minute. Add rest of corn, broth, and cream of celery. Stir well, cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally for a few minutes until you can smell that the ingredients are mixing well together. Reduce heat to medium low and let sit for a minute to cool down. Then, slowly add milk, stirring constantly as you pour milk in. If you want a thicker chowder, use less milk. Thinner, use more. Add the parsley. Cover and simmer for 15. Stir and uncover then simmer about 10 more minutes.
1 can of cream of celery soup
1 package frozen corn
1 pint of whole milk
1 cup veggie broth
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 tsp parsley
1 tsp butter
1 tbs evoo
sprinkle of garlic powder
salt and pepper
Turn oven onto 450. Spread about 1/2 cup of corn kernels on a cookie sheet or a frying pan. Roast until about a quarter of the kernels brown. Set aside. In a large stock pot, sautee chopped onion over med high heat until some begin to brown, add roasted corn, garlic, salt and pepper and stir, let cook together for a minute. Add rest of corn, broth, and cream of celery. Stir well, cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally for a few minutes until you can smell that the ingredients are mixing well together. Reduce heat to medium low and let sit for a minute to cool down. Then, slowly add milk, stirring constantly as you pour milk in. If you want a thicker chowder, use less milk. Thinner, use more. Add the parsley. Cover and simmer for 15. Stir and uncover then simmer about 10 more minutes.
Recipe: Egg Scramble - Gorgonzola & Green Onion
Recipe: Gorgonzola & Green Onion Egg Scramble
I like egg scrambles more than omelettes because all the ingredients get more perfectly spread out through the dish.
3 medium eggs
4 stalks of green onion
1-2 tbs gorgonzola cheese
1 tsp water
Beat three medium eggs then add four stalks of chopped green onion and 1-2 tbs of crumbled gorgonzola and water then whisk together. Over medium high heat in evoo and 1 tsp of butter, pour egg mixture and continue to heat, stir and scramble in pan until no longer liquid.
It's good.
I like egg scrambles more than omelettes because all the ingredients get more perfectly spread out through the dish.
3 medium eggs
4 stalks of green onion
1-2 tbs gorgonzola cheese
1 tsp water
Beat three medium eggs then add four stalks of chopped green onion and 1-2 tbs of crumbled gorgonzola and water then whisk together. Over medium high heat in evoo and 1 tsp of butter, pour egg mixture and continue to heat, stir and scramble in pan until no longer liquid.
It's good.
Report: Rape in the Congo
I'm doing a 180 from the last couple of posts and bringing up some excruciatingly serious and difficult to hear, and comprehend, news.
I was listening to Weekend Edition Saturday with Scott Simon. He interviewed Eve Ensler, author of "The Vagina Monologues". Her new mission is to call attention to the devasting atrocities beign committed in the Congo, where rape is used as a weapon of warfare. Soldiers will take over a village. One known to have HIV will rape all the women in the village to infect them. Wives are raped in front of their husbands. Women are shot in their vaginas or rectums. I am not kidding. This is a real, horrid thing that is happening.
Full story here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99838343
As soon as I know of concrete ways you can act to help these women and the hospital that serves them, I will post it here.
I was listening to Weekend Edition Saturday with Scott Simon. He interviewed Eve Ensler, author of "The Vagina Monologues". Her new mission is to call attention to the devasting atrocities beign committed in the Congo, where rape is used as a weapon of warfare. Soldiers will take over a village. One known to have HIV will rape all the women in the village to infect them. Wives are raped in front of their husbands. Women are shot in their vaginas or rectums. I am not kidding. This is a real, horrid thing that is happening.
Full story here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99838343
As soon as I know of concrete ways you can act to help these women and the hospital that serves them, I will post it here.
This Week in WTF - Steelers House
Check out this house in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. Click on the photo to get to the Pittsburgh news station's report, complete with an awesome video that shows the amazingly tacky amount of Steelers-themed chotchke that the family has accumulated. Tom Santucci has had the Terrible House with a Terrible Truck, all in honor of the Terrible Team, the Steelers since last year.
I think they're going to win it all this year. Their head coach is an African American, and this is the year of the Triumphant African American Man Who Combats Stereotypes By Performing Well in Leadership Positions. It's true! I read it on my placemat at the Chinese Food restaurant. It's written in the heavens. And while Mike Tomlin isn't the first African-American Head Coach to got ot the Super Bowl, or even the first to win it, there's only been 2 others to get there, so there you go.
I-Pod Personality Test - Autumn Leaves
I got this note from Sara h K. from Stonecaost via Facebook.
What Does Your Music Library Say About You??
--------------------------
1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag at least 10 friends
--------------------------
What do your friends think of you?
All the Girls Hate Her - Tori Amos (OUCH!!!)
If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
Row - Jon Brion (As in a Scooby Doo kinda "I don't know" I guess)
How would you describe yourself?
U Got the Look - Prince (This would explain #1.)
What do you like in a guy/girl?
Xmas Song - Jill Sobule (non-sensical…)
How do you feel today?
Soloman Sang (I feel like pretending to split babies in half to find the real mum, apparently.)
What is your life’s purpose?
Chocolate Genius - Julia - from I Am Sam (This would be more apt for Rene's dad, actually. I'm just the gluttonous roommate who, along with her boyfriend, eats a pound of chocolate in one night.)
What is your motto?
Where Is My Mind? - Pixies (freakishly accurate)
What do you think about very often?
Road - Nick Drake (okay, this is creeping me out, since I think about place/geography ALL THE TIME)
What is 2 + 2?
Paperback Writer - Beatles (Since I'm a writer, I guess it would make sense that I don't know math and thus answered this question stupidly)
What do you think of your best friend?
Honey - Tori Amos (sweet)
What do you think of the person you like?
Oh! Darling - Beatles (cute)
What is your life story?
You Will Never Know - Stevie Wonder (I guess I'll never publish a memoir.)
What do you want to be when you grow up?
St Jimmy - Green Day (I don't get it)
What do you think of when you see the person you like?
The Love Below - Ida (Stop freaking me out iPod.)
What will you dance to at your wedding?
How Blue Can You Get? - B. B. King (That would be a funny one.)
What will they play at your funeral?
Changes I've Been Going Through - Mary J. Blige (Death certainly is a big change to go through.)
What is your hobby/interest?
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - Sam & Dave (This would be apt for Re ne the Roommate, who has a degree in psychology, or, more literally, for Jo hn the BF, who is a paramedic...unless we are talking about the carthartic healing powers of poetry...I can't finish writng that without laughing)
What is your biggest fear?
Don't Stop - Rolling Stones (I'm afraid of stopping.)
What is your biggest secret?
Spread - Outkast (“I don't want to move to fast/ but can't resist your sexy ass/ just spread, spread for me.” I am a librarian. You know what they say about us.)
What do you think of your friends?
Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood (I think the iPod is being ironic, since my friends are all quite straight laced, and I'm the one who's on the bad side - see above.)
What will you post this as?
Autumn Leaves - Eva Cassidy
What Does Your Music Library Say About You??
--------------------------
1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag at least 10 friends
--------------------------
What do your friends think of you?
All the Girls Hate Her - Tori Amos (OUCH!!!)
If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
Row - Jon Brion (As in a Scooby Doo kinda "I don't know" I guess)
How would you describe yourself?
U Got the Look - Prince (This would explain #1.)
What do you like in a guy/girl?
Xmas Song - Jill Sobule (non-sensical…)
How do you feel today?
Soloman Sang (I feel like pretending to split babies in half to find the real mum, apparently.)
What is your life’s purpose?
Chocolate Genius - Julia - from I Am Sam (This would be more apt for Rene's dad, actually. I'm just the gluttonous roommate who, along with her boyfriend, eats a pound of chocolate in one night.)
What is your motto?
Where Is My Mind? - Pixies (freakishly accurate)
What do you think about very often?
Road - Nick Drake (okay, this is creeping me out, since I think about place/geography ALL THE TIME)
What is 2 + 2?
Paperback Writer - Beatles (Since I'm a writer, I guess it would make sense that I don't know math and thus answered this question stupidly)
What do you think of your best friend?
Honey - Tori Amos (sweet)
What do you think of the person you like?
Oh! Darling - Beatles (cute)
What is your life story?
You Will Never Know - Stevie Wonder (I guess I'll never publish a memoir.)
What do you want to be when you grow up?
St Jimmy - Green Day (I don't get it)
What do you think of when you see the person you like?
The Love Below - Ida (Stop freaking me out iPod.)
What will you dance to at your wedding?
How Blue Can You Get? - B. B. King (That would be a funny one.)
What will they play at your funeral?
Changes I've Been Going Through - Mary J. Blige (Death certainly is a big change to go through.)
What is your hobby/interest?
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - Sam & Dave (This would be apt for Re ne the Roommate, who has a degree in psychology, or, more literally, for Jo hn the BF, who is a paramedic...unless we are talking about the carthartic healing powers of poetry...I can't finish writng that without laughing)
What is your biggest fear?
Don't Stop - Rolling Stones (I'm afraid of stopping.)
What is your biggest secret?
Spread - Outkast (“I don't want to move to fast/ but can't resist your sexy ass/ just spread, spread for me.” I am a librarian. You know what they say about us.)
What do you think of your friends?
Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood (I think the iPod is being ironic, since my friends are all quite straight laced, and I'm the one who's on the bad side - see above.)
What will you post this as?
Autumn Leaves - Eva Cassidy
Recipe: Fig Vinaigrette
I've been making dressings with a tinge heavier taste than your standard vinaigrette, which is nice for winter. Here's another one:
1 tbs evoo
2 tbs fig vinegar
2 tsp water
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp dill weed
sprinkle of garlic pwder
salt and pepper to taste
Whisk in the bottom of the salad bowl until well blended, then add salad ingredients and toss well.
N I E S
N I E S - do you belong to this club? I think I invented it. But if you have kids, or pets, or an old house or car, or you travel a lot or have a busy schedule, then you know this club.
N I E S
Nothing
Is
Ever
Simple
Today, I went to go get a copy of the house key made, since my copy mysteriously disappeared. I got down the stairs, locked the door and went to my pockets to get out my gloves. No gloves. So, I decided to start the car first, finish taking out the full trash bag, then I'd go back in and get my gloves. Then I realized I'd have to get the house key off the keychain. Not too big of a deal, since I have one of those rock climber clippy things. I can't remember the name. But the porch light is out, so I had a hard time seeing what I was doing. I got it off, put it in my pocket, left the garbage at the end of the driveway and continued to my car, whcih was parked on the street. I started my car, got out and went back to the garbage. Right after I walked down the driveway and put it in the barrel, I realized I should probably take the barrel out to the street to do that Boston resident thing where you leave an object - trash barrel, old chairs, traffic cone, etc - to stake out the street parking spot that you so ruggedly shoveled out for yourself. So then I dragged the barrel to the end of the driveway and right next to the parking spot on the sidewalk. Then I went back in the house but couldn't find any of my four pairs of gloves in my room. Not in my other coat pockets, not in the drawer of hats, scarves and supposed to be gloves. So I went out to the corner of the dining room to forage through the makeshift mudroom and the bin of "just in case" gloves, hats, scarves and found another pair of gloves, as well as a bunch of unpaired gloves and mittens, which I've held onto for some reason, and put on the gloves. Then I went back out to the car. Another car had pulled up to the house across the street, blocking my way out of the even narrower because of snow narrow street I live on. They pulled into someone else's reserved with old kitchen chairs spot. I pulled out of my spot, then parked the car and hopped out to put the barrel in the middle of my spot. Then I got back in the car and drove down the street, unable to go in the direction I wanted to because of the car in front of me and the narrowness of everything, so I had to wait at the long long light which you can't turn red on, then take another right to get back on the street I meant to go down and finally, finally, finally was on my way to Home Depot to get my new house key (Red Sox themed!) and come back, hide Re ne's key in our secret spot so she could get in, then drove to Chelsea to have dinner with John and his roommates. He made the eggplant parm. My fav.
So, yeah, Nothing Is Ever Simple. Especially not in my world.
THE END
N I E S
Nothing
Is
Ever
Simple
Today, I went to go get a copy of the house key made, since my copy mysteriously disappeared. I got down the stairs, locked the door and went to my pockets to get out my gloves. No gloves. So, I decided to start the car first, finish taking out the full trash bag, then I'd go back in and get my gloves. Then I realized I'd have to get the house key off the keychain. Not too big of a deal, since I have one of those rock climber clippy things. I can't remember the name. But the porch light is out, so I had a hard time seeing what I was doing. I got it off, put it in my pocket, left the garbage at the end of the driveway and continued to my car, whcih was parked on the street. I started my car, got out and went back to the garbage. Right after I walked down the driveway and put it in the barrel, I realized I should probably take the barrel out to the street to do that Boston resident thing where you leave an object - trash barrel, old chairs, traffic cone, etc - to stake out the street parking spot that you so ruggedly shoveled out for yourself. So then I dragged the barrel to the end of the driveway and right next to the parking spot on the sidewalk. Then I went back in the house but couldn't find any of my four pairs of gloves in my room. Not in my other coat pockets, not in the drawer of hats, scarves and supposed to be gloves. So I went out to the corner of the dining room to forage through the makeshift mudroom and the bin of "just in case" gloves, hats, scarves and found another pair of gloves, as well as a bunch of unpaired gloves and mittens, which I've held onto for some reason, and put on the gloves. Then I went back out to the car. Another car had pulled up to the house across the street, blocking my way out of the even narrower because of snow narrow street I live on. They pulled into someone else's reserved with old kitchen chairs spot. I pulled out of my spot, then parked the car and hopped out to put the barrel in the middle of my spot. Then I got back in the car and drove down the street, unable to go in the direction I wanted to because of the car in front of me and the narrowness of everything, so I had to wait at the long long light which you can't turn red on, then take another right to get back on the street I meant to go down and finally, finally, finally was on my way to Home Depot to get my new house key (Red Sox themed!) and come back, hide Re ne's key in our secret spot so she could get in, then drove to Chelsea to have dinner with John and his roommates. He made the eggplant parm. My fav.
So, yeah, Nothing Is Ever Simple. Especially not in my world.
THE END
I Need a Room of Requirement
Recently, after living out of a suitcase for two weeks, I have lost the following:- purse
- license
- cell phone
- favorite lipstick (not that big a deal, but still)
- student ID card
and more recently
- house key
I wish we were at Hogwarts and I could go to the Room of Requirement and find all my lost sh1t.
Grrrrr... This is so annoying.
Celebration Ale, The Daily Show & The Colbert Report
Sa ndy left behind some Celebration Ale and I think today is an appropriate day to kick back, watch the Daily Show/ Colbert Report Hour and drink Celebration, for there is much to celebrate.
THIS IS THE LAST NIGHT OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION!!!
Can you believe it's finally over? It feels like just yesterday I was glued to my radio in the basement apartment on Summer St in Orono hoping upon all hope that the Supreme Court would allow all the votes to be counted in Florida. Instead they opted to decide the election for the people and the rest is a very dark period of history in America.
And tonight, finally, thankfully, I can say:
THE END
Let's hope we're able to all live happily ever after with our magical unicorn Jesus-like rockstar president, Prince Obama and his fair Maiden Michelle.
Oh, how I love them so dearly. I want a picture of them in my livingroom -- oh wait, I DO have a photo of them with Bidens in the string of Christmas cards. I'll be sure to keep it and frame it and put it on the mantle.
Glory Glory Hallelujah!!!
THIS IS THE LAST NIGHT OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION!!!
Can you believe it's finally over? It feels like just yesterday I was glued to my radio in the basement apartment on Summer St in Orono hoping upon all hope that the Supreme Court would allow all the votes to be counted in Florida. Instead they opted to decide the election for the people and the rest is a very dark period of history in America.
And tonight, finally, thankfully, I can say:
THE END
Let's hope we're able to all live happily ever after with our magical unicorn Jesus-like rockstar president, Prince Obama and his fair Maiden Michelle.
Oh, how I love them so dearly. I want a picture of them in my livingroom -- oh wait, I DO have a photo of them with Bidens in the string of Christmas cards. I'll be sure to keep it and frame it and put it on the mantle.
Glory Glory Hallelujah!!!
Edgar Allan Poe - Birthday
Today is the birthday of Edgar Allan Poe, a poet worshipped by Parisian poets and not so revered amongst American ones. Here is a tribute to Poe from the poet Stephan Mallarme, one of my favorite poets, a French Symbolist poet. This translation is by Daisy Aldan from the book "To Purify the Words of the Tribe."
The Tomb of Edgar Allan Poe
Just as eternity transforms him at last unto Himself,
The Poet rouses with a naked sword
His age terrified at not having discerned
That death was triumphant in that strange voice!
They, like a Hydra's vile spasm on hearing the angel
Once give a purer meaning to the words of the tribe
Loudly proclaimed the sorcery drunk
In the dishonored flow of some foul brew.
From hostile soil and cloud, O lament!
If our thought fails to carve a bas-relief
With which to adorn the shining tomb of Poe.
Mute block fallen here below from some dim disaster
Let this granite at least forever be a barrier
To the foul flights of Blasphemy scattered in the future.
The Tomb of Edgar Allan Poe
Just as eternity transforms him at last unto Himself,
The Poet rouses with a naked sword
His age terrified at not having discerned
That death was triumphant in that strange voice!
They, like a Hydra's vile spasm on hearing the angel
Once give a purer meaning to the words of the tribe
Loudly proclaimed the sorcery drunk
In the dishonored flow of some foul brew.
From hostile soil and cloud, O lament!
If our thought fails to carve a bas-relief
With which to adorn the shining tomb of Poe.
Mute block fallen here below from some dim disaster
Let this granite at least forever be a barrier
To the foul flights of Blasphemy scattered in the future.
Recipe: White Salad
Salad (mostly white or off-white colored ingredients, except lettuce):
2 heads Boston Lettuce, washed, drained and torn
1 cuke, peeled, halved and sliced
1 Anjou pear, quartered and slices
1 c. garlic seasoned almond slices
1/2 chick peas
optional white onion slices
Dressing:
1 tbs raspberry infused vinegar
1 tbs red wine vinegar
1 tbs olive oil
1 tsp dill weed
dash cinnamon
salt and pepper
In a large bowl, add all the dressing ingredients and whisk together. When well blended, add salad ingredients and toss until everything is goodly mixed and whatnot.
Serve and enjoy. Tasty, healthy, fresh and different.
2 heads Boston Lettuce, washed, drained and torn
1 cuke, peeled, halved and sliced
1 Anjou pear, quartered and slices
1 c. garlic seasoned almond slices
1/2 chick peas
optional white onion slices
Dressing:
1 tbs raspberry infused vinegar
1 tbs red wine vinegar
1 tbs olive oil
1 tsp dill weed
dash cinnamon
salt and pepper
In a large bowl, add all the dressing ingredients and whisk together. When well blended, add salad ingredients and toss until everything is goodly mixed and whatnot.
Serve and enjoy. Tasty, healthy, fresh and different.
25 Random Things about Me (as requested to know by Linda S)
Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged . You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.
___________________________________________________
1. I once got dumped on Valentine's Day.
2. Maddie's breath almost makes me vomit.
3. I like to drink champagne for no particular reason
4. I don't know how to share a bedroom.
5. I can't wait for Tuesday. It will be magical.
6. Rene is sleeping on my right arm right now. We're on the couch and she's snoring.
7. I love spiders because I think spider webs are the most fascinating things.
8. Don't you worry, my friend. You will get that gift back. You will indeed.
9. I'm very happy with the twist and turns of my life, however treacherous they seemed at the time.
10. I played trombone in three high school bands
11. I want to be in a play again; I miss acting and directing.
12. Doesn't have a crush on that guy from college anymore. I'm really over it.
13. Got a little jealous when I saw romantic photos of my crush from high school and his wife on their wedding day.
14. Got an F in the 4th term of chemistry.
15. This lowered my class rank to 34.
16. 33 was Rene, my roommate.
17. Is fascinated with the abstract expressionists.
18. I wonder about soulmates, the term "in love" and being made for each other.
19. Throwing parties is fun.
20. I wish went to more parties like that one last week in my hotel room, or the one back in September, or the one from March, or those Thursday night back in college...
21. Could really go for a peanutbutter and fluff.
22. I feel guilty sometimes that I'm not still teaching.
23. I love playing tetris on my phone.
24. Loves putting the kids to bed - bed times stories, pajamas, kisses goodnight. Then I drive back home to my apartment...
25. I love my new carousel magnets! Who wouldn't???
___________________________________________________
1. I once got dumped on Valentine's Day.
2. Maddie's breath almost makes me vomit.
3. I like to drink champagne for no particular reason
4. I don't know how to share a bedroom.
5. I can't wait for Tuesday. It will be magical.
6. Rene is sleeping on my right arm right now. We're on the couch and she's snoring.
7. I love spiders because I think spider webs are the most fascinating things.
8. Don't you worry, my friend. You will get that gift back. You will indeed.
9. I'm very happy with the twist and turns of my life, however treacherous they seemed at the time.
10. I played trombone in three high school bands
11. I want to be in a play again; I miss acting and directing.
12. Doesn't have a crush on that guy from college anymore. I'm really over it.
13. Got a little jealous when I saw romantic photos of my crush from high school and his wife on their wedding day.
14. Got an F in the 4th term of chemistry.
15. This lowered my class rank to 34.
16. 33 was Rene, my roommate.
17. Is fascinated with the abstract expressionists.
18. I wonder about soulmates, the term "in love" and being made for each other.
19. Throwing parties is fun.
20. I wish went to more parties like that one last week in my hotel room, or the one back in September, or the one from March, or those Thursday night back in college...
21. Could really go for a peanutbutter and fluff.
22. I feel guilty sometimes that I'm not still teaching.
23. I love playing tetris on my phone.
24. Loves putting the kids to bed - bed times stories, pajamas, kisses goodnight. Then I drive back home to my apartment...
25. I love my new carousel magnets! Who wouldn't???
Andrew Wyeth, the Portland Museum of Art and Lynne Drexler
Andrew Wyeth died today. He has a lot of work at the Portland Museum of Art, where I happened to be this past Tuesday. He's one of the featured artists there, actually. There's a significant N. C. Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth collection on the third floor. I am someone who quite loves those "huh?" inducing paintings -- the abstract expressionists. However, I love Andrew Wyeth because he captured the quiet, the beauty, the sometimes grotesqueness, the harsh but still comforting aspects of my beloved Maine in his work.
On the other end of the spectrum, 
the museum had an exhibit about the artist Lynne Drexler, one of the Monhegan artists. Her, I loved. She is an abstract expressionist but also, as someone in the feature DVD about her that was playing as part of the exhibit put it, she was a colorist (not the hair care kind!). Her play, her invention and her "juxtaposition" to use one of those AWESOME words that always sound so pretentiously silly, however apt they may be, of color I loved a lot.
the museum had an exhibit about the artist Lynne Drexler, one of the Monhegan artists. Her, I loved. She is an abstract expressionist but also, as someone in the feature DVD about her that was playing as part of the exhibit put it, she was a colorist (not the hair care kind!). Her play, her invention and her "juxtaposition" to use one of those AWESOME words that always sound so pretentiously silly, however apt they may be, of color I loved a lot. NYT Andrew Wyeth obit:
United States of Tara
I watched the premiere of this episode tonight, On Demand. It officially premieres on Showtime this Sunday.
On New Year's Eve this guy I went to high school with, Nate Corddry, sent me a short, puzzling little email over Facebook -- completely out of the blue. I haven't talked to him since he graduated back in 1995, though I have seen him on the TV and movies from time to time. That made me see what he was up to lately, since the show he was on back in 2006 (Studio 60) got canceled. The newest thing, according to IMDB, is this TV show. Though, he wasn't in the premiere, as far as I can tell.
Aside from the personal aspect, what did I think? The first half was too over the top at trying to set the story up. This tends to happen in pilots. The second half seems to rest easily in its premise (Toni Collette is a mother of two teenagers, married to John Corbett and has multiple personality disorder) and just incorporates it more naturally. I quite liked it by the end.
The show is written and produced by the same woman who wrote "Juno," Diablo Cody.
I will be watching, and not just to see what Nate's role is but because I like it.
On New Year's Eve this guy I went to high school with, Nate Corddry, sent me a short, puzzling little email over Facebook -- completely out of the blue. I haven't talked to him since he graduated back in 1995, though I have seen him on the TV and movies from time to time. That made me see what he was up to lately, since the show he was on back in 2006 (Studio 60) got canceled. The newest thing, according to IMDB, is this TV show. Though, he wasn't in the premiere, as far as I can tell.
Aside from the personal aspect, what did I think? The first half was too over the top at trying to set the story up. This tends to happen in pilots. The second half seems to rest easily in its premise (Toni Collette is a mother of two teenagers, married to John Corbett and has multiple personality disorder) and just incorporates it more naturally. I quite liked it by the end.
The show is written and produced by the same woman who wrote "Juno," Diablo Cody.
I will be watching, and not just to see what Nate's role is but because I like it.
Recipe: Filling Salty Snack complete with heat, salt and fat
Bagel chip spread with hummus and a little bit of bleu cheese crumbles, topped as a little snack sandwich with three pepper pita chip.
I'm not even high on marijuana or anything like that. Just New Year's Day night hungry (so a smidge hungover hungry.)
Enjoy!
I'm not even high on marijuana or anything like that. Just New Year's Day night hungry (so a smidge hungover hungry.)
Enjoy!
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