Okay so I checked already, and my article isn't up yet. I can't wait! I hope everybody procrastinates long enough that it's there when they check. (I wish I had.)
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Friday, August 06, 2004
M. Night Shyamalan is my age, and he's made at least four movies.
Now I know I'm kind of a procrastinator, but did they put this guy on that huge budget for The Sixth Sense before he was legal to buy beer? I guess I'm more over the hill than I thought.
Now I know I'm kind of a procrastinator, but did they put this guy on that huge budget for The Sixth Sense before he was legal to buy beer? I guess I'm more over the hill than I thought.
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Md. Woman Crowned Ms. Wheelchair America
Associated Press Online - Top News
August 1, 2004Juliette Rizzo of Maryland was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America 2005 on Saturday, beating out contestants from 24 other states and the nation's capital for the right to represent...was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America 2005 on Saturday,... "
Associated Press Online - Top News
August 1, 2004Juliette Rizzo of Maryland was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America 2005 on Saturday, beating out contestants from 24 other states and the nation's capital for the right to represent...was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America 2005 on Saturday,... "
Don't Block MY vote
Local elections are today-- we have a senior citizens' Service millage and a library millage on our ballot. I'll be going over to cast my vote today, but I dread it-- the very sweet volunteers in my small town always make a loud production of finding me a private place to complete my ballot, because we don't have a wheelchair-accessible voting machine. I will grit my teeth and abide it, because I refuse to let frustration and embarrassment disenfranchise me. But looking over Don'tBlockMyVote.org and learning about the Help America Vote Act has me thinking I could be Changing it instead....
Monday, August 02, 2004
Wardrobe adventures
Lots of shopping this weekend-- My clothes had gone completely ragged, so I took the opportunity of a good check at work to buy some new things. I found a lot of jeans and bottoms, but I only found a couple of tops I really liked, which ended up with me wearing an ancient sweater shell and jacket with new pants today.
The most difficult purchase of all, though, was cologne. I'm completely enamored of fragrance lately, and would have been perfectly happy with Shalimar or Givenchy Organza. But it turns out that M. is very picky about perfume and didn't like any of at least ten old and new scents I tried on for him, everything from the aforementioned Shalimar, which I love, to Deci Dela by Nina Ricci, which I didn't care for either, even if it does have hazelnut in the base. The one perfume that we both loved was L'Instant by Guerlain, but the department store price was worse than the attitude of Elder Beerman's counter girl.
The happy ending is that I used DealTime to find it at a much more realistic price, even with shipping. It isn't here yet, but I can't wait!
The most difficult purchase of all, though, was cologne. I'm completely enamored of fragrance lately, and would have been perfectly happy with Shalimar or Givenchy Organza. But it turns out that M. is very picky about perfume and didn't like any of at least ten old and new scents I tried on for him, everything from the aforementioned Shalimar, which I love, to Deci Dela by Nina Ricci, which I didn't care for either, even if it does have hazelnut in the base. The one perfume that we both loved was L'Instant by Guerlain, but the department store price was worse than the attitude of Elder Beerman's counter girl.
The happy ending is that I used DealTime to find it at a much more realistic price, even with shipping. It isn't here yet, but I can't wait!
Thursday, July 29, 2004
The Forest House
I finished Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Forest House last night. It's the first time I've read her, and the book is engrossing. Her rich characterizations make me understand why so many fantasy writers are fans and emulators. I enjoyed it and am waiting impatiently for The Mists of Avalon via InterLibrary Loan. Still, some things about it disappointed me.
1.) I didn't buy Arganos' inability to tell Eilan and Deida apart all their lives. He's was Deida's father. It felt like a "God in the box" trick. I bought it when Deida was mistakenly chosen for the Forest House by Lhiannon, since she didn't know either of them well at that point.
2.) If the whole of Eilan's "work" for the Goddess was in giving birth to Gawen and founding the house of priestesses on the Isle of Apples, why didn't she send Gawen with Caillean? I know she loved him and wanted him with her, but Bradley makes the point that his safety is the Druids' power over her-- she would surely have ended the threat and the leverage when Caillen left.
3.) IMHO, it felt like a book without an ending. Despite the logical points that can be made about the survival of Gawen, the second House of priestesses, etc-- it took half a day's digestion for me to concede that she'd actually ended it, rather than just stopping. This would be OK for a writer known to pick up the next book with practically the next breath of the same character, i.e. Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. But my understanding is that Bradley's novels are commonly as much as a generation apart.
In spite of all that, don't let my nitpicks keep you from reading Marion Zimmer Bradley-- She is gifted worldbuilder and storyteller. If you read The Forest House, and can make cases against my complaints, I'd love to hear them!
1.) I didn't buy Arganos' inability to tell Eilan and Deida apart all their lives. He's was Deida's father. It felt like a "God in the box" trick. I bought it when Deida was mistakenly chosen for the Forest House by Lhiannon, since she didn't know either of them well at that point.
2.) If the whole of Eilan's "work" for the Goddess was in giving birth to Gawen and founding the house of priestesses on the Isle of Apples, why didn't she send Gawen with Caillean? I know she loved him and wanted him with her, but Bradley makes the point that his safety is the Druids' power over her-- she would surely have ended the threat and the leverage when Caillen left.
3.) IMHO, it felt like a book without an ending. Despite the logical points that can be made about the survival of Gawen, the second House of priestesses, etc-- it took half a day's digestion for me to concede that she'd actually ended it, rather than just stopping. This would be OK for a writer known to pick up the next book with practically the next breath of the same character, i.e. Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. But my understanding is that Bradley's novels are commonly as much as a generation apart.
In spite of all that, don't let my nitpicks keep you from reading Marion Zimmer Bradley-- She is gifted worldbuilder and storyteller. If you read The Forest House, and can make cases against my complaints, I'd love to hear them!
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
July Gatherings
This Month's Gatherings
BOOKS
Fiction:
Great expectations / Charles Dickens
The pillow boy of the Lady Onogo /Allison Fell
A shadow on summer / Christy Brown
The art of mending : a novel / Elizabeth Berg
'Ware hawk / Andre Norton.
The forest house / Marion Zimmer Bradley
Non-fiction:
How to See : Visual Adventures in a World God Never Made / George Nelson
Collage discovery workshop / Claire Hellmut
The South Beach diet cookbook / Dr. Arthur Agatson
MUSIC
Van Halen II / Van Halen
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones / The Monkees
90125 / Yes
Friday, July 23, 2004
Yahoo!
I did actually manage to write something, and get it published!
It's an article based on my post from last year, about my sister-in-law and my daughter and trying to get straight what I believe about tough stuff (In the finished article, birth control) so I can actually present an organized opinion and/or policy.
It will appear in the online writing journal Long Story Short beginning August 7.
Yippee!!
It's an article based on my post from last year, about my sister-in-law and my daughter and trying to get straight what I believe about tough stuff (In the finished article, birth control) so I can actually present an organized opinion and/or policy.
It will appear in the online writing journal Long Story Short beginning August 7.
Yippee!!
Sunday, November 16, 2003
um... your panic is showing.
Sorry... I told some people I know about this blog in late August, and haven't written anything since. Stupid psychology trick #1.
This is my toe in the water... (its impossible to drown in a teacup, silly.) We'll see who wins: me, or my toddler-minded ego.
This is my toe in the water... (its impossible to drown in a teacup, silly.) We'll see who wins: me, or my toddler-minded ego.
Monday, September 01, 2003
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Loud Equals Right
If you challenge something I say, you can probably expect me to yell. I first equated “loud” with “right” when I was about ten years old. I was with riding with my Dad in the car, discussing what we’d seen on our trip to a marine animal park the summer before.
"Dolphins don't have teeth," said my Dad, "they have kind of a beak."
"Nuh Uh! They do so have teeth," I said from the back seat of the car. "I read it in a book somewhere. They’re not fish, they’re mammals like us. They breathe air." I gave a little nod, then. I could see the page from the book in my head.
Dad got a little louder. "I know they breathe air. I’m not stupid," he said, looking quickly at me in the rear-view mirror. "But I’ve seen them, and they don’t have teeth. They just grab a fish with their jaws and swallow—"
"You’re wrong!" I said, louder yet this time and leaning toward him.
There was a pause then. I watched the neighbors' yards go by, waiting to feel the car turn and stop under the droopy willow next to the garage. My dad drove past our house! He sucked in a big breath, red in the face, and I figured I had gone too far.
"Listen to you!" he finally bellowed. "What book did you see it in?"
I looked down, my face hot. "I don’t remember, Dad." I wondered if he knew the house was back there.
"Hah!" he said, "you don’t know."
"Yes I do!" I yelled, even louder than him. "I don’t know what book it was but it was a picture of a dolphin smiling and there was a little circle at the edge of the dolphin’s mouth. The little circle was connected to a bigger circle over to the side and the bigger circle had a close up in it with a bunch of LITTLE POINTY TEETH!" I yelled that last part so loud that the seat in front of me had spit dots on it.
Yelling at my dad usually meant he would yell at me a lot more. I didn’t care. I was right!
"Well," said my dad after a minute, "I guess I’m not really sure they don’t have teeth." He pulled into a driveway and backed out, going home. He didn't say anything else. I was stunned. He wasn’t mad anymore. I didn’t get grounded or anything. I won.
I really did know dolphins had teeth, but I won because I was loud. So, I end up wanting to yell whenever somebody challenges my ideas. Thirty-Something me knows this is silly. But ten-year-old me sneaks onto the controls once in a while, and boy, when that happens, look out!
"Dolphins don't have teeth," said my Dad, "they have kind of a beak."
"Nuh Uh! They do so have teeth," I said from the back seat of the car. "I read it in a book somewhere. They’re not fish, they’re mammals like us. They breathe air." I gave a little nod, then. I could see the page from the book in my head.
Dad got a little louder. "I know they breathe air. I’m not stupid," he said, looking quickly at me in the rear-view mirror. "But I’ve seen them, and they don’t have teeth. They just grab a fish with their jaws and swallow—"
"You’re wrong!" I said, louder yet this time and leaning toward him.
There was a pause then. I watched the neighbors' yards go by, waiting to feel the car turn and stop under the droopy willow next to the garage. My dad drove past our house! He sucked in a big breath, red in the face, and I figured I had gone too far.
"Listen to you!" he finally bellowed. "What book did you see it in?"
I looked down, my face hot. "I don’t remember, Dad." I wondered if he knew the house was back there.
"Hah!" he said, "you don’t know."
"Yes I do!" I yelled, even louder than him. "I don’t know what book it was but it was a picture of a dolphin smiling and there was a little circle at the edge of the dolphin’s mouth. The little circle was connected to a bigger circle over to the side and the bigger circle had a close up in it with a bunch of LITTLE POINTY TEETH!" I yelled that last part so loud that the seat in front of me had spit dots on it.
Yelling at my dad usually meant he would yell at me a lot more. I didn’t care. I was right!
"Well," said my dad after a minute, "I guess I’m not really sure they don’t have teeth." He pulled into a driveway and backed out, going home. He didn't say anything else. I was stunned. He wasn’t mad anymore. I didn’t get grounded or anything. I won.
I really did know dolphins had teeth, but I won because I was loud. So, I end up wanting to yell whenever somebody challenges my ideas. Thirty-Something me knows this is silly. But ten-year-old me sneaks onto the controls once in a while, and boy, when that happens, look out!
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
My sister-in-law belongs to the local peace group. She met other members of the group while she was protesting the recent war in Iraq, and is an active participant. She called yesterday to give me a heads-up on what's going on with them. At a recent gathering, nearly everyone expressed support for abortion on demand. "Its so funny," she said, "All these people who are against killing can be pro-abortion." Later she said, "Sometimes they make good points." I could tell it bothered her a little.
We ended up discussing the difficulties she has, being both Catholic and Liberal. I wear different political labels than she and her friends do, but during our talk I realized that regardless of labels, being politically and socially aware means there is no list somewhere of all the "right" things to believe. We are confronted with an issue, and we each make up our minds about it. What I think is probably hardest is confronting the same issue over and over again as we get older and learn more. My sister-in-law is struggling with women's rights to abortion, and I've been struggling with the issue of contraception.
I made up my mind to side with the Catholic Church against artificial contraception several years ago, based on an understanding of what I believe marriage is designed to be: a union between two people who submit themselves to God. I believe that God is the Creator, and that a Christian couple is most correct when he gets to decide the size of their family. But that's where it stops being simple. When two people are having sex and they are not a married, Christian couple, they aren't leaving their reproductive decisions to God. Someone needs to make the decisions. Despite my convictions about artificial contraception, I can tell you from experience that the same rules don't easily apply to every situation.
Over fifteen years ago, as a high-school senior, I entered my first sexual relationship. I believed it was the wrong thing to do, but did it anyway. I didn't use artificial contraception, though: at some point, my boyfriend asked if he should "get something." My mother belatedly tried to get me on the pill. I would not hear it. I got embarrassed, told myself "It doesn't matter because I'm never going to do it again." Of course, I did. And of course, I got pregnant. I grew up; I learned to made practical decisions for myself for my daughter's sake. I know what it costs to become a mom at eighteen.
My talented, beautiful, and now teenaged daughter is _going places_. I want her to wait until she's married to have sex. I'd like to teach her what I believe about artificial contraception. However, I do not want her to get pregnant and then grow up! Thinking about that, I catch myself coming up with desperate schemes to gain control of the situation. But the truth is, I am unlikely to be nearby, let alone in control, when she faces an opportunity to have sex. What she does then is her choice. So, when we talk about chastity, I tell her what I want for her and why. I also tell her that whether I like her decision or not, I am on her side: if she does have sex before she is married, she needs to use protection and birth control-- and she can come to me to get it.
There's no simplifying this one. I have to live with making two choices on this issue, because my first responsibility is not to my principles, but to my family.
We ended up discussing the difficulties she has, being both Catholic and Liberal. I wear different political labels than she and her friends do, but during our talk I realized that regardless of labels, being politically and socially aware means there is no list somewhere of all the "right" things to believe. We are confronted with an issue, and we each make up our minds about it. What I think is probably hardest is confronting the same issue over and over again as we get older and learn more. My sister-in-law is struggling with women's rights to abortion, and I've been struggling with the issue of contraception.
I made up my mind to side with the Catholic Church against artificial contraception several years ago, based on an understanding of what I believe marriage is designed to be: a union between two people who submit themselves to God. I believe that God is the Creator, and that a Christian couple is most correct when he gets to decide the size of their family. But that's where it stops being simple. When two people are having sex and they are not a married, Christian couple, they aren't leaving their reproductive decisions to God. Someone needs to make the decisions. Despite my convictions about artificial contraception, I can tell you from experience that the same rules don't easily apply to every situation.
Over fifteen years ago, as a high-school senior, I entered my first sexual relationship. I believed it was the wrong thing to do, but did it anyway. I didn't use artificial contraception, though: at some point, my boyfriend asked if he should "get something." My mother belatedly tried to get me on the pill. I would not hear it. I got embarrassed, told myself "It doesn't matter because I'm never going to do it again." Of course, I did. And of course, I got pregnant. I grew up; I learned to made practical decisions for myself for my daughter's sake. I know what it costs to become a mom at eighteen.
My talented, beautiful, and now teenaged daughter is _going places_. I want her to wait until she's married to have sex. I'd like to teach her what I believe about artificial contraception. However, I do not want her to get pregnant and then grow up! Thinking about that, I catch myself coming up with desperate schemes to gain control of the situation. But the truth is, I am unlikely to be nearby, let alone in control, when she faces an opportunity to have sex. What she does then is her choice. So, when we talk about chastity, I tell her what I want for her and why. I also tell her that whether I like her decision or not, I am on her side: if she does have sex before she is married, she needs to use protection and birth control-- and she can come to me to get it.
There's no simplifying this one. I have to live with making two choices on this issue, because my first responsibility is not to my principles, but to my family.
This weekend has been feature-heavy, light on content
Thursday, August 07, 2003
Iron Maiden won't suck!
In today's update at Melodic Rock Bruce Dickenson of Iron Maiden has eloquently distilled a true musician's take on the file sharing debate.
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Stryper on tour in October 2003!
MelodicRock.com -STRYPER is Back! Yes, the fathers of Christian metal are officially reuniting to tour. Talk of this has been buzzing around since Cornerstone 2001; the spirit and enthusiasm shown by fans and insiders over that reunion set was a testament to God's use of their ministry. What is especially exciting to me is remembering the cautious optimism I heard from Tim standing next to the stage that blistering July day as he told me about it. I will never again see STRYPER simply as God's gift to me and their other fans-- STRYPER is God's ministry through Robert, Tim, Oz, and Michael, their crew, their families. When the band is successful, the people in and around the band prosper and are blessed. I'll be thrilled to see STRYPER live again-- but I'm also thrilled to see the opportunity arise for the ministry and its people to be blessed.
Monday, August 04, 2003
Wheelz Life Notes Is Grey today!!!
1greeneye
doesn't seem to be healthy today-- that's my template etc. If it doesn't heal up by tomorrow, I will have to dig into this and colorize things. Meantime.... sorry for the mess!
doesn't seem to be healthy today-- that's my template etc. If it doesn't heal up by tomorrow, I will have to dig into this and colorize things. Meantime.... sorry for the mess!
Char's in her room alone, listening to Michael Sweet's eponymous solo album-- a Cd I introduced her to, an artist she associates with me and my life. I won't deny it-- I feel like the music is a hug from her to me. It's surprizing how much that reflection of my own influence means-- I feel like a baloon floating on it.
Friday, August 01, 2003
New Cool.
I've been analyzing cool lately. Regardless of what the TV-Land types think, it's always been a relative concept to me. I never wanted to be popular; I like nerds and geeks best. But I have my own definition of cool, and can decide whether you've got it in seconds. Lately, though, I find myself getting caught between my cool and my brain sometimes.
For example, I'm starting to like uncool music. eminem rates uncool for violence and profanity, but he tagged me with "Lose Yourself." And Given the number of verbal bile-rockets I've launched at Britney for being more product than prodigy, Avril Lavigne should rate uncool for glibly professing to know nothing much about music; but 'Complicated' and 'Losing Grip' stopped me.
By itself, this isn't too disturbing-- I didn't get into Motley Crue and Ozzy until after the rest of the world forgot them. (Pre-reality TV.) It does bother me when I find myself deciding whether to admit that I like these new songs. I've been saying since junior high that I like being different from the crowd-- but it's hard to be comfortable being different from myself.
For example, I'm starting to like uncool music. eminem rates uncool for violence and profanity, but he tagged me with "Lose Yourself." And Given the number of verbal bile-rockets I've launched at Britney for being more product than prodigy, Avril Lavigne should rate uncool for glibly professing to know nothing much about music; but 'Complicated' and 'Losing Grip' stopped me.
By itself, this isn't too disturbing-- I didn't get into Motley Crue and Ozzy until after the rest of the world forgot them. (Pre-reality TV.) It does bother me when I find myself deciding whether to admit that I like these new songs. I've been saying since junior high that I like being different from the crowd-- but it's hard to be comfortable being different from myself.
Thursday, July 31, 2003
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
OK so I've been a pathetically unreliable blogger. Ah!! Now that that's been said, i think I'll just jump right back in and pretend nothing ever happened. (Rather like the whole intelligence/WMD/president debacle, I'm afraid. I do love and appreciate Pres. Bush, but, erm... well-- its embarrassing!)
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