So, it's been a while, eh? Not that anyone is out there. Oh well, it matters not because writing should be an exercise that one does for one's own enjoyment. Ha!
I had a procedure done on Wednesday (10/7). It was the second attempt at correcting the problems I've been having for almost a year and a half now. I felt pretty much like shit on Wednesday. Mostly, I slept, thankfully. I managed to make it to class Wednesday night. My doctor said that it would be okay to go, but she would sign a note for me if I wanted her to. I really wanted to go to class. What does that say about me?
Thursday was even worse, I think. I was cramping something fierce. I do not like that feeling. Not at all. I was eating ibuprofen like candy for most of the day. The best thing I can say is that I made it through. Eating something warm was ever so helpful.
Today, well....today I have hope. I had energy for the first time in a long time. My insides feel much better. I don't hurt and I haven't taken anything all day. Most amazingly, I chased my cat around the house today. Running. I want to believe that it's all better. I really do.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Joe Popularity
It seems that I have some kind of sign on my forehead that suggests that the reader invite me out to coffee or something today. It's weird. I can go weeks without talking to another human being outside of Dave or maybe one of my nephews, online, but today I got three invitations.
#1- a chick from school. She's a grad student and a TA. I'm not sure why she wants to get coffee, but she asked. Seriously, this one really befuddles me. We have not had any classes together, we aren't scheduled to TA for the same professor next semester...I have no idea what this is about.
#2- my smokin-hot, belly dancer friend invited me to grab some supper with her tonight. I think this was just an opportunity to ask about my vacation and how stuff was going. It was good to talk to her. She's a smart girl and fun to talk to.
#3- another online girl. This time, it's from plentyoffish.com. I can't even remember the last time I signed on to that, but this woman messaged me, asking me to meet for coffee. What the hell, right? I mean, C threw no sparks, so I'm still looking for that sort of thing.
The really funny part about all of these invitations? I don't drink coffee.
#1- a chick from school. She's a grad student and a TA. I'm not sure why she wants to get coffee, but she asked. Seriously, this one really befuddles me. We have not had any classes together, we aren't scheduled to TA for the same professor next semester...I have no idea what this is about.
#2- my smokin-hot, belly dancer friend invited me to grab some supper with her tonight. I think this was just an opportunity to ask about my vacation and how stuff was going. It was good to talk to her. She's a smart girl and fun to talk to.
#3- another online girl. This time, it's from plentyoffish.com. I can't even remember the last time I signed on to that, but this woman messaged me, asking me to meet for coffee. What the hell, right? I mean, C threw no sparks, so I'm still looking for that sort of thing.
The really funny part about all of these invitations? I don't drink coffee.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
"coffee"
I had a coffee date with a girl today. We could call it a blind date because I had never met her before, but it wasn't a set-up. My therapist, Bob, recommended about a year ago that I give Chemistry.com a whirl. I've met people via the internet before...my friend, Carla, and I met in an AOL chatroom more than ten years ago. But, I've never had a love connection online before. So, this coffee date was kind of an unknown. A new frontier.
She was a lovely girl. I'll call her C. We met at Mimi's Cafe in Lewisville. I'd been there once with my roommate, Dave. It's not a bad place, they have food for anyone's tastes, really. It's like La Madeline's without a) the French atmosphere and 2) the emotional baggage that I now associate with that place. So, I suggested it because it was someplace that I knew where it was and that was not too formal and stiff.
I guess it went well. She wants to get together again. We just sat and talked for almost two hours. But, there were no sparks. I don't know if I was expecting any. I just know that the last "first date" that I went on ended with an invitation to go home with her (I didn't go. I had Spanish homework.). This was not that kind of date. Oh well, back to the drawing board, I guess.
She was a lovely girl. I'll call her C. We met at Mimi's Cafe in Lewisville. I'd been there once with my roommate, Dave. It's not a bad place, they have food for anyone's tastes, really. It's like La Madeline's without a) the French atmosphere and 2) the emotional baggage that I now associate with that place. So, I suggested it because it was someplace that I knew where it was and that was not too formal and stiff.
I guess it went well. She wants to get together again. We just sat and talked for almost two hours. But, there were no sparks. I don't know if I was expecting any. I just know that the last "first date" that I went on ended with an invitation to go home with her (I didn't go. I had Spanish homework.). This was not that kind of date. Oh well, back to the drawing board, I guess.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Book 6
I just finished reading the sixth book of the Harry Potter series, The Half-Blood Prince, and I cried maybe even harder when Dumbledore died this time around than I did the first time I read it. Weird. But, I'd guess it just reflects some of the things I've been struggling with in my own life. I dearly wish I had a Ron and/or Hermione to talk these things over with...I'd probably even listen to my versions.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
One Week Post-Spring-Break
We're back in class now. It's been one week. It was hardly a break for a lot of reasons that I will try to come back and blog about at another time. For this post, I only wanted to make an announcement of an epiphany that I've had...
The nerds that I work with in the History Help Center? And the dorks who share my office? They're my friends. And I missed them while I was on break. And I enjoy sitting and talking to them more than I enjoy sitting with a whole group at Jack's Backyard. I laugh harder, I learn...it's wonderful fun.
The week before Spring Break? P and T were writing Pig-Latin Latin on the whiteboard. That's where you take Latin words and do the Pig-Latin thing to them. That's freaking hilarious! This week? We had several arguments about Americanists vs. Europeanists. Completely nerdy, but OH, so enjoyable.
I think, finally, I have become a grad student.
The nerds that I work with in the History Help Center? And the dorks who share my office? They're my friends. And I missed them while I was on break. And I enjoy sitting and talking to them more than I enjoy sitting with a whole group at Jack's Backyard. I laugh harder, I learn...it's wonderful fun.
The week before Spring Break? P and T were writing Pig-Latin Latin on the whiteboard. That's where you take Latin words and do the Pig-Latin thing to them. That's freaking hilarious! This week? We had several arguments about Americanists vs. Europeanists. Completely nerdy, but OH, so enjoyable.
I think, finally, I have become a grad student.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sometimes, when you need it...
Wow. It's been quite an interesting few weeks since I last updated. Let's see...
I went to a symposium on Southern/Texas Women's History the one weekend. That really kind of messed with my world. I mean...everywhere I turned, there was some amazingly brilliant woman whose book I have read. And I was so intimidated that I could hardly form words. And, of course, a couple of them were kinda good-looking on top of that.
At the end of the second day of this thing, after listening to all these incredible women speaking about the historiographical gaps that need to be filled in, we were asked to split up into various groups and make a list of some of the most important research that needed to be done in the different topics that they provided for us. There is a lot of room out there to make a mark. That's a good sign, but...overall, the whole experience left me-- Well, let me put it this way: at one point, a woman sitting at my table said, "I love coming to these things because I leave and I'm so motivated that I want to go home and just write and write and write." For me, it was the opposite: I wanted to go home and curl up in a little ball and give away all my books and just quit. Because in my mind there is no way that I'll ever be able to measure up to those women. My God! Some of them (the two hot ones) are only a couple of years older than I am. I might as well give up.
So, there you have my mindset for the last couple of weeks. And a large reason why I made a regular service appointment with Bob. It didn't do much good. I still felt useless. Then, came this week:
Tuesday, I closed the Help Center. The idiot who opened it in the morning unlocked the door wrong so that it wasn't locked when we closed it. So, I had to stay an extra 20 minutes waiting for Dr. Morris to finish her class and lock the door for me. Fine, whatever. But, then she asks to talk to me for a minute...and proceeds to go on and on about how well I write and how she was just amazed at it. Surely I must know that. Naturally, I told her that I didn't really see it that way, but I appreciated her opinion. She was incredulous--but, my god, they give you all A's, that must mean something. I just stood there, 15 different shades of red, looking at my feet.
Thursday, I was running the whole day. Just crazy and frenzied. At one point, I was running through the office and Dr. Turner sees me and tells me that I absolutely made her day, Wednesday. Well, I didn't see her at all on Wednesday, so I was curious. It seems that in grading the "seminar paper design" assignment, I was the only one in our class to have done it correctly. She had been very frustrated looking at the others and when she saw mine (99 out of 100, by the way), it had made her day. Seems as though she loved my short historiography.
Finally, at midnight...so Friday: Dr. Chet. Every week, we have to do a book review for his class. Initially, he said he'd like them emailed to everyone in the class by noon Thursday but midnight at the absolute latest. A lot of us (there are 8 of us, total) choose to aim closer for that midnight. Last week, a couple of us--and I was one because I didn't get it sent in before I went out to have some fun--missed the midnight deadline too. So, last Friday, he said....NOON, or I'll deduct two points from your final grade. I sent mine in at 9:30 this morning with a smartassed comment. At midnight, he sent me a response: One extra point for great timing, and another for a great review.
That's three profs in 4 days telling me that I can write. When will I believe it? See RHKR for the rest of the story.
I went to a symposium on Southern/Texas Women's History the one weekend. That really kind of messed with my world. I mean...everywhere I turned, there was some amazingly brilliant woman whose book I have read. And I was so intimidated that I could hardly form words. And, of course, a couple of them were kinda good-looking on top of that.
At the end of the second day of this thing, after listening to all these incredible women speaking about the historiographical gaps that need to be filled in, we were asked to split up into various groups and make a list of some of the most important research that needed to be done in the different topics that they provided for us. There is a lot of room out there to make a mark. That's a good sign, but...overall, the whole experience left me-- Well, let me put it this way: at one point, a woman sitting at my table said, "I love coming to these things because I leave and I'm so motivated that I want to go home and just write and write and write." For me, it was the opposite: I wanted to go home and curl up in a little ball and give away all my books and just quit. Because in my mind there is no way that I'll ever be able to measure up to those women. My God! Some of them (the two hot ones) are only a couple of years older than I am. I might as well give up.
So, there you have my mindset for the last couple of weeks. And a large reason why I made a regular service appointment with Bob. It didn't do much good. I still felt useless. Then, came this week:
Tuesday, I closed the Help Center. The idiot who opened it in the morning unlocked the door wrong so that it wasn't locked when we closed it. So, I had to stay an extra 20 minutes waiting for Dr. Morris to finish her class and lock the door for me. Fine, whatever. But, then she asks to talk to me for a minute...and proceeds to go on and on about how well I write and how she was just amazed at it. Surely I must know that. Naturally, I told her that I didn't really see it that way, but I appreciated her opinion. She was incredulous--but, my god, they give you all A's, that must mean something. I just stood there, 15 different shades of red, looking at my feet.
Thursday, I was running the whole day. Just crazy and frenzied. At one point, I was running through the office and Dr. Turner sees me and tells me that I absolutely made her day, Wednesday. Well, I didn't see her at all on Wednesday, so I was curious. It seems that in grading the "seminar paper design" assignment, I was the only one in our class to have done it correctly. She had been very frustrated looking at the others and when she saw mine (99 out of 100, by the way), it had made her day. Seems as though she loved my short historiography.
Finally, at midnight...so Friday: Dr. Chet. Every week, we have to do a book review for his class. Initially, he said he'd like them emailed to everyone in the class by noon Thursday but midnight at the absolute latest. A lot of us (there are 8 of us, total) choose to aim closer for that midnight. Last week, a couple of us--and I was one because I didn't get it sent in before I went out to have some fun--missed the midnight deadline too. So, last Friday, he said....NOON, or I'll deduct two points from your final grade. I sent mine in at 9:30 this morning with a smartassed comment. At midnight, he sent me a response: One extra point for great timing, and another for a great review.
That's three profs in 4 days telling me that I can write. When will I believe it? See RHKR for the rest of the story.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A new week...
I guess it seems funny that I would be writing about a new week on a Wednesday night/Thursday morning, doesn't it? To be honest, this is the first chance I've really had to breathe all week. It's been kind of crazy.
For starters, I'm taking an individual study class this semester to do some background stuff for my thesis. And, I was allowed pretty much free rein on which books to read. I had to come up with a bibliography and a schedule on my own. So, I did...and I assigned myself approximately one 400+ page book every week on which I have to write a short 2-5 page book review, as well as take copious notes as to how the book will help me in my own research. In short, I am horribly mean professor...even to myself.
The second of my classes this semester is a seminar, which means I must come up with a reasonably sized topic and research the hell out of it. Well, I did. But, as I may have mentioned before, it had nothing to do with my thesis topic, so the professor talked me into "killing two birds with one stone" type of thing. To this end on Monday, I went to the Resource Center of Dallas to dig into my research. They have a tremendous amount of documents and just great stuff in an "archive" there. I used quotes for the term "archive" because none of the stuff has actually been "archived" yet, so for the moment.....they pretty much have giant piles of crap. Valuable crap, but crap nonetheless. Great, so...in order to research my new topic, I have to become an archivist, as well.
The third class that I'm taking is another "reading class". That, basically, means a book a week with a book review and then a 15+ page historiography at the end. Except that this guy wants a 5 page preliminary historiography in a week or so to be able to help us out and give guidance before it gets too late. On the one hand, great idea and I'm all for it. On the other hand....GAH! I guess the good news about this class is that the books are all around 200-250 pages, not 400+. Of course, they aren't all about topics that I care about, so that makes it challenging.
On top of that, we have the TA gigs. Right this very minute, I have 50 blue books sitting on my kitchen table waiting for me to grade them. I've looked at them...they aren't good, this won't be fun. I need to have them graded by Friday...and I'm just severely unmotivated. Besides, I have had a lot of other stuff to do.
And my two nights in the Help Center, where I used to be able to get some work done? Well, the boys have gotten a little chatty this semester. I can't shut them the hell up to save my life. On the plus (?) side, I guess I learn new things. Like Tuesday night, for example: I learned the evolution of the airplane from about 1929 through WWII--with pictures included. Oh, and this dude, Kittinger, who parachuted from a balloon at 102,000 feet? He was in freefall for 4 1/2 minutes before pulling his chute, going at speeds up to 614 mph. Insane! And all the while, all I wanted to do was write a stupid paper.
This morning, I took my roommate to the airport at the asscrack of dawn. Seriously, we left the house at 6am. His flight was at 8:20. I know, I know...that's insanely early. But, he's a nervous traveler, so I just go along with whatever time he wants to go. I still have to go inside the terminal with him, too...just in case there's something that needs calm and clear thinking. I've learned to accept him for all his idiosyncracies. And he's gone for a couple of days, which would be great if we didn't have a whiny, clingy, needy cat. See, the cat likes Dave a lot, so she leaves me alone a lot. When he's not here...GAH!
So...THAT, all of that, is why I am just now writing a post that says it's a new week. I feel like this is the first opportunity that I've had to look at the week. I need a nap.
For starters, I'm taking an individual study class this semester to do some background stuff for my thesis. And, I was allowed pretty much free rein on which books to read. I had to come up with a bibliography and a schedule on my own. So, I did...and I assigned myself approximately one 400+ page book every week on which I have to write a short 2-5 page book review, as well as take copious notes as to how the book will help me in my own research. In short, I am horribly mean professor...even to myself.
The second of my classes this semester is a seminar, which means I must come up with a reasonably sized topic and research the hell out of it. Well, I did. But, as I may have mentioned before, it had nothing to do with my thesis topic, so the professor talked me into "killing two birds with one stone" type of thing. To this end on Monday, I went to the Resource Center of Dallas to dig into my research. They have a tremendous amount of documents and just great stuff in an "archive" there. I used quotes for the term "archive" because none of the stuff has actually been "archived" yet, so for the moment.....they pretty much have giant piles of crap. Valuable crap, but crap nonetheless. Great, so...in order to research my new topic, I have to become an archivist, as well.
The third class that I'm taking is another "reading class". That, basically, means a book a week with a book review and then a 15+ page historiography at the end. Except that this guy wants a 5 page preliminary historiography in a week or so to be able to help us out and give guidance before it gets too late. On the one hand, great idea and I'm all for it. On the other hand....GAH! I guess the good news about this class is that the books are all around 200-250 pages, not 400+. Of course, they aren't all about topics that I care about, so that makes it challenging.
On top of that, we have the TA gigs. Right this very minute, I have 50 blue books sitting on my kitchen table waiting for me to grade them. I've looked at them...they aren't good, this won't be fun. I need to have them graded by Friday...and I'm just severely unmotivated. Besides, I have had a lot of other stuff to do.
And my two nights in the Help Center, where I used to be able to get some work done? Well, the boys have gotten a little chatty this semester. I can't shut them the hell up to save my life. On the plus (?) side, I guess I learn new things. Like Tuesday night, for example: I learned the evolution of the airplane from about 1929 through WWII--with pictures included. Oh, and this dude, Kittinger, who parachuted from a balloon at 102,000 feet? He was in freefall for 4 1/2 minutes before pulling his chute, going at speeds up to 614 mph. Insane! And all the while, all I wanted to do was write a stupid paper.
This morning, I took my roommate to the airport at the asscrack of dawn. Seriously, we left the house at 6am. His flight was at 8:20. I know, I know...that's insanely early. But, he's a nervous traveler, so I just go along with whatever time he wants to go. I still have to go inside the terminal with him, too...just in case there's something that needs calm and clear thinking. I've learned to accept him for all his idiosyncracies. And he's gone for a couple of days, which would be great if we didn't have a whiny, clingy, needy cat. See, the cat likes Dave a lot, so she leaves me alone a lot. When he's not here...GAH!
So...THAT, all of that, is why I am just now writing a post that says it's a new week. I feel like this is the first opportunity that I've had to look at the week. I need a nap.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Janet Louise “Lou” Gibson
Today would have been my sister's 55th birthday. When my oldest sister turned 40, Lou sent me money to put a photo of Martha in the paper. Being who and what I am, I chose a particularly flattering shot of Martha at about age 3 in the middle of a sneeze. It was hilarious. Or at least Lou and I thought so. Let's be honest, so did everyone else, with the possible exception of the birthday girl. Martha huffed and puffed and promised to get us back. "You just wait until you two turn 40. I'll put a picture of you in the paper and see how you like it."
Lou never turned 40. She missed it by fifteen months. Since then, I've turned 30 and then 40, but nothing happened. The joy had left our family. I liked to think that I kept our family together....since I got along with everyone, including Dee and Greg. The reality, though, was that Janet was our glue. Maybe we didn't all have the same opinion about her, but we all had strong feelings about her, either way. She was the fun one, the one who danced like no one was watching, even when she knew that someone was. I just miss her so damn much.
Especially this year...when we could have put a picture in the paper and wished her a happy 55th. And, because it's been kind of a tough year for me. And I would have liked my big sister around to hang out with, see movies with, plan crazy pranks with.... someone to just talk to. Someone I don't have to be "on" with.
Happy Birthday, Lou! I miss you.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Happy Birthday, Abraham Lincoln
So, I thought for a while about which movie I would use to facilitate a discussion about Abe Lincoln. My first thought was "Amistad" but I vetoed it for two reasons: A) that was the last movie I went to see with Maria and, honestly, that is all I can think about as far as that movie is concerned, and 2) Abraham Lincoln didn't really care about freeing the slaves. I guess that's what gets me about his legacy as President. He's the "Great Emancipator" but he was on record as saying: "If I can save the Union without freeing a single slave, I'd do it." Not that he was a bad guy, he was a product of his time. Sorry for that geeky interlude.
My next possible choice was something like "National Treasure 2" because the whole movie begins with the conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln. But that movie just pisses me off. I mean...even if I didn't study history, that timeline would make my head explode.
"Gettysburg" or "Gods and Generals"? No, I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but Lincoln didn't actually fight at Gettysburg, just gave a reallly super short speech well after the fact.
I guess that leaves me with just the memories of his house in Springfield, his law offices, the Old Capitol Building that has stovepipe hats lying all over the place.
I don't know how many of those things he owned, but there was one on his desk and one hanging in his living room
...the man left them all over. Okay, probably not, but that's the way they make it sound when you're there. And...he was a big shot lawyer in Springfield, which we know because he had a three-hole outhouse. I have photos. Hey! I should put some of them on here, huh?
Anyhow, it's Abe Lincoln's birthday--a holiday for students in Illinois. We never celebrated stupid "President's Day"...we honored the one that counted. Wonder what they'll do now that we can lay claim on Obama, too. I think his birthday is in early August, though. Have a good day and remember: "with malice toward none".
Q: Who is your favorite president?
My next possible choice was something like "National Treasure 2" because the whole movie begins with the conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln. But that movie just pisses me off. I mean...even if I didn't study history, that timeline would make my head explode.
"Gettysburg" or "Gods and Generals"? No, I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but Lincoln didn't actually fight at Gettysburg, just gave a reallly super short speech well after the fact.
I guess that leaves me with just the memories of his house in Springfield, his law offices, the Old Capitol Building that has stovepipe hats lying all over the place.
I don't know how many of those things he owned, but there was one on his desk and one hanging in his living room
...the man left them all over. Okay, probably not, but that's the way they make it sound when you're there. And...he was a big shot lawyer in Springfield, which we know because he had a three-hole outhouse. I have photos. Hey! I should put some of them on here, huh?
Anyhow, it's Abe Lincoln's birthday--a holiday for students in Illinois. We never celebrated stupid "President's Day"...we honored the one that counted. Wonder what they'll do now that we can lay claim on Obama, too. I think his birthday is in early August, though. Have a good day and remember: "with malice toward none".
Q: Who is your favorite president?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Meeting with a Prof.
I had a meeting today with a professor. Ostensibly, it was to discuss a topic choice for the seminar paper. And we talked about that. She talked me down from a paper about DFW-area women's response to WWII. It's a little sad because that is kind of an interesting subject. I mean, you have the WAACs and WAVEs and WASPs and the Rosie the Riveter type women and the Red Cross nurses and, my personal favorite, the patriotutes. But, it really doesn't have anything to do with my thesis topic and, well, why not use these classes to work on my thesis? I don't really have an answer to that...I hope it was rhetorical.
I told her that I always kind of kept the thesis stuff separate from my regular school work, but I didn't know why. Then, I made some sort of crack about how "inside my head was a dark and scary place" like I normally do....she disagreed with me. Said that she had seen my work and, therefore, believes that she knows a little something about what goes on inside my head.
She told me a story about turning down a scholarship when she was young--like 21--and just getting her bachelor's degree because she thought that she couldn't do it. And she wanted me to know that story because she wanted me to know that I have what it takes.
Wow. So, I have another professor that has faith in me. I hope like hell I don't disappoint her.
Then, the part where I proved my idiocy: I volunteered to lead discussion on the book we were supposed to read this week so that she could step out and attend a faculty meeting. Yea! Extra work! Woohoo!
P.S.--a short quiz: Does the fact that I find this hysterically, laugh-out-loud funny every time I hear it make me a 12 year old boy? One of my colleagues in the Help Center is TA-ing for two instructors this semester.....Hathcock and Ball.
I told her that I always kind of kept the thesis stuff separate from my regular school work, but I didn't know why. Then, I made some sort of crack about how "inside my head was a dark and scary place" like I normally do....she disagreed with me. Said that she had seen my work and, therefore, believes that she knows a little something about what goes on inside my head.
She told me a story about turning down a scholarship when she was young--like 21--and just getting her bachelor's degree because she thought that she couldn't do it. And she wanted me to know that story because she wanted me to know that I have what it takes.
Wow. So, I have another professor that has faith in me. I hope like hell I don't disappoint her.
Then, the part where I proved my idiocy: I volunteered to lead discussion on the book we were supposed to read this week so that she could step out and attend a faculty meeting. Yea! Extra work! Woohoo!
P.S.--a short quiz: Does the fact that I find this hysterically, laugh-out-loud funny every time I hear it make me a 12 year old boy? One of my colleagues in the Help Center is TA-ing for two instructors this semester.....Hathcock and Ball.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Groundhog Day
When I was a kid, Groundhog Day meant that a stupid rodent would crawl out of its hole and tell us if we were going to have an early spring or more (six weeks more) winter.
Nowadays, it doesn't mean the same things to me. First of all, (A) I live in Texas. That means, if we have six more weeks of "winter" the way it was this last weekend....sign me up! Sunny and 70s. It doesn't get any better than that. Also, (2) there was that movie. You know the movie. Bill Murray and Andie McDowell. He's the curmudgeonly reporter for some cheesy morning program who has to go collect all those "human interest" stories that are just so much crap. He winds up in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania for the stupid rodent fest and is doomed to repeat his day until he gets it right and he and Andie McDowell hook up. Which started me thinking: what day in my life would I repeat in the hopes of changing the outcome and making things better?
Nowadays, it doesn't mean the same things to me. First of all, (A) I live in Texas. That means, if we have six more weeks of "winter" the way it was this last weekend....sign me up! Sunny and 70s. It doesn't get any better than that. Also, (2) there was that movie. You know the movie. Bill Murray and Andie McDowell. He's the curmudgeonly reporter for some cheesy morning program who has to go collect all those "human interest" stories that are just so much crap. He winds up in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania for the stupid rodent fest and is doomed to repeat his day until he gets it right and he and Andie McDowell hook up. Which started me thinking: what day in my life would I repeat in the hopes of changing the outcome and making things better?
The obvious answers jump right out at you:
- February 13, 1971 (the day my dad died)--but I was three and didn't really do anything that I could change that day.
- November 13, 1992 (the day my sister died)--again, didn't really make any glaring errors that day. I handled things pretty well. I kept my mom sane and managed to get us all notified and booked for flights. Hell, I think my part of the day was pretty smooth.
- December 12, 1988 (the day of the farm accident)--good call, if I had not leaned over that PTO shaft...And it would have been nice to not have gone through all that pain and not having all the scars would be a huge boost to my self-confidence. But, I'm going to have to say no on that one. Because so much of who I am today took shape from that experience. And, while the scars have made me very self-conscious, living through that has given me a pretty good measure of my strength. I know that I can handle any pain because I survived that...with my sense of humor intact.
- November 22, 1997 (something to do with Maria)--no. There was no one day that I screwed up with Maria. It was an every day thing. I was such an idiot. God, no wonder she hates me.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Cleansing the mind palate
I like movies. To the one person who reads this and knows me, that will come as no great surprise. Ordinarily, I like movies that make you think, that make you feel, that make you laugh. Today, I went to see a movie that was pure action, lots of violence and not a whole lot of thinking. It was fantastic. I feel kind of refreshed. Like I'm ready to work on all these things I need to do for school.
Or...maybe just ready to chill out and watch what Dave has dubbed my "Mick Movie of the Week". I joined Netflix and my queue is full of movies from and about Ireland and really old movies. Why? Well, because I have never seen them and would like to. And, I've decided that--while there is no football--I will watch at least one movie every weekend. I like movies.
Or...maybe just ready to chill out and watch what Dave has dubbed my "Mick Movie of the Week". I joined Netflix and my queue is full of movies from and about Ireland and really old movies. Why? Well, because I have never seen them and would like to. And, I've decided that--while there is no football--I will watch at least one movie every weekend. I like movies.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Helpful Advice
Here's the helpful hint of the day:
No matter how tired you are, do NOT attempt to take a "short nap" at 9pm. It will never be a short nap. You'll find yourself waking up at like 2am, not knowing what happened and not being able to get back to sleep until 4-4:30-5. Then, when that alarm clock rings at 6:30, you're going to be angry. Well, you would be angry if you had the energy. Since you aren't awake enough to do "angry", you'll probably just be grumpy. And everyone hates that guy.
Not that I would know from experience or anything.
Carry on.
No matter how tired you are, do NOT attempt to take a "short nap" at 9pm. It will never be a short nap. You'll find yourself waking up at like 2am, not knowing what happened and not being able to get back to sleep until 4-4:30-5. Then, when that alarm clock rings at 6:30, you're going to be angry. Well, you would be angry if you had the energy. Since you aren't awake enough to do "angry", you'll probably just be grumpy. And everyone hates that guy.
Not that I would know from experience or anything.
Carry on.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
25 random things
So, I've been tagged on this one a couple of times, and "not tagged" at least once, as well (that's you, Kim). I guess it's a sign. Or probably not, but let's give it a shot anyhow.
- I am the youngest (by seven years) of eight children. 4 boys, 4 girls
- For large chunks of my youth, I was left in the care of my brothers, which is very similar to saying, "I was raised by wolves."
- I like to know the ending of a movie before I see it. Historical adaptations (or Disney productions) are perfect for me.
- When reading fiction, I read about a quarter to a third of the book, then flip to the back and read the last chapter or so.
- I hate surprises. As you could probably tell from the past two little tidbits.
- When I was in the 4th grade, I punched a boy, who was tormenting a girl I liked, in the face and made his nose bleed.
- I was in a farm accident when I was 20 years old (6 days before my 21st birthday) which led to 3 different surgeries, kept me in a hospital for a total of 10 weeks (much of it in isolation due to a nasty staph infection) and on crutches for over 3 months.
- In spite of #7, I have never had a broken bone.
- In large part because of #7, I have an unquestioned belief--not even a belief, really, a certainty--in the existence of God.
- Unfortunately, I don't have any other firm convictions as far as religion and spirituality goes.
- I have a memory for dates that borders on the creepy.
- If given the choice, I would much rather stay up all night and sleep all day.
- I do not understand the appeal of flip-flops.
- I have the rare ability to get sunburned even when standing in the shade.
- I wrote a play about Paul Revere when I was in the 2nd grade. Yes, my class produced it--it was 1976--and on the day of the performance, I threw up and had to go home.
- In 3rd grade, my teacher put tape on my mouth...and I've never gotten over it.
- I have been deemed mentally and emotionally healthy and released 4 different times by my therapist in the last 10 years.
- I have fallen in love twice in my life and both times have had my heart broken in a million pieces that took years to recover from...yet, I really want to be in love again. (kinda makes you wonder about #17, doesn't it?)
- Approximately 95% of my friends are artists.
- I'm right-handed but most of the things I learned to do as an adult, I learned left-handed.
- My favorite place is the west coast of Ireland
- My mom is my hero, but I don't want to be just like her.
- I have seen all five movies nominated for the Best Picture Oscar this year.
- My favorite drink is Pepsi, but I'm afraid that living in the South for so long has destroyed my ability to tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi.
- I have a list of movies that I show to the people closest to me so I can see how they react. It's like a personality test with movies. And it's very important to me.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Going out
It's kind of weird for me that just a couple of years ago, I went out a LOT. I mean, I don't like to drink much and I hate large crowds of people, so it doesn't really make any sense that, for a long time, I was a regular at a bar. But, I had a core group of really good friends who liked to hang out, listen to some live music (or in some cases, perform live music), smoke, drink and have a good time. So, I adjusted.
Then, came graduate school. I scoffed when someone told me that being in grad school meant that you had no social life, but now I think she was right. I have to read so damn much and read with enough comprehension to write papers about what I've read...I have almost no spare time at all. This semester, I'm taking two readings classes and one seminar. The readings classes require a book a week, with a book review as the deliverable product. The book review only has to be a page or two, but you still have to read the book. That's 14 books per class. The seminar is a little more difficult to reduce to numbers, so I'll just say--the deliverable is a 30 page seminar paper, so whatever amount of reading one has to do to research that. In short, I'm going to have my nose in a book even more than last semester.
Last night, my good friend, Gloria Cortez--bad-ass guitar player--had a first gig with a brand new band that she's playing with. As usual, when you're friends with musicians, the call goes out to attend the first gig--first for the band, first time at a venue, whatever. So, I went out to Jack's Backyard last night. It was fun for about 45 minutes, maybe an hour. After that, I just wanted to go home...or pull the book out of my bag and start reading. Whichever.
By the way, the band was pretty okay. Gloria rocked, of course. The drummer was decent, the bass player was okay, the singer even did a pretty good job--although her voice was giving out a little at the end. I could see them playing again. I just missed my singer friend. Oh, she was there...and I got to talk to her and hug her and stuff, I just miss listening to her.
Then, came graduate school. I scoffed when someone told me that being in grad school meant that you had no social life, but now I think she was right. I have to read so damn much and read with enough comprehension to write papers about what I've read...I have almost no spare time at all. This semester, I'm taking two readings classes and one seminar. The readings classes require a book a week, with a book review as the deliverable product. The book review only has to be a page or two, but you still have to read the book. That's 14 books per class. The seminar is a little more difficult to reduce to numbers, so I'll just say--the deliverable is a 30 page seminar paper, so whatever amount of reading one has to do to research that. In short, I'm going to have my nose in a book even more than last semester.
Last night, my good friend, Gloria Cortez--bad-ass guitar player--had a first gig with a brand new band that she's playing with. As usual, when you're friends with musicians, the call goes out to attend the first gig--first for the band, first time at a venue, whatever. So, I went out to Jack's Backyard last night. It was fun for about 45 minutes, maybe an hour. After that, I just wanted to go home...or pull the book out of my bag and start reading. Whichever.
By the way, the band was pretty okay. Gloria rocked, of course. The drummer was decent, the bass player was okay, the singer even did a pretty good job--although her voice was giving out a little at the end. I could see them playing again. I just missed my singer friend. Oh, she was there...and I got to talk to her and hug her and stuff, I just miss listening to her.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Superbowl XLIII
Well, the teams are set for the Superbowl; we've got the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. I'm pretty sure that no one picked these two teams before the season, but here they are. I, honestly, don't think I could possibly be more ambivalent.
I think that my interest in football ebbs and flows, depending on how I feel about life in general. It's weird. It seems that the more "into" football I am in a given season, the more fucked up my life outside of football is. Football is like my "safe zone." When things are going okay, I don't have the time to devote to changing my fantasy lineup every week or to read enough to be able to make some educated guesses on picking the games. In that case, I guess it's a good thing that I don't really give a rip about who wins the Superbowl.
I'll still watch it, though. I mean...I'm still an American after all. I think it's important that I watch the Superbowl...for the commercials, if nothing else. And I know that you can just look at the commercials online the next day, but... Okay, here's the thing: I remember seeing in movies and reading in books about how, during World War I and World War II, the GIs would use the question--who won the World Series in ___whatever year to determine whether someone was on their side or a spy. So, I'm thinking to myself--what the fuck would they do to determine that now? Because most of the people that I know, outside of my nephews and myself, did not watch and would not know that the Phillies won the World Series last year, beating the Tampa Rays in 5 games. Nor would they know that the Giants won the last Superbowl over the Patriots in one hell of a good game. Or the Celtics winning the NBA title against the Lakers.
I know it used to be much more important because there weren't as many other things available to entertain them. But, I can't help but feel nostalgic for those days. Actually, I think that my nephews and I are throwbacks. During the Olympics last summer, Adam and I sat and watched water polo and badminton and table tennis for hours and hours. Maybe we belong to a different era. I guess it's lucky that we have each other.
I think that my interest in football ebbs and flows, depending on how I feel about life in general. It's weird. It seems that the more "into" football I am in a given season, the more fucked up my life outside of football is. Football is like my "safe zone." When things are going okay, I don't have the time to devote to changing my fantasy lineup every week or to read enough to be able to make some educated guesses on picking the games. In that case, I guess it's a good thing that I don't really give a rip about who wins the Superbowl.
I'll still watch it, though. I mean...I'm still an American after all. I think it's important that I watch the Superbowl...for the commercials, if nothing else. And I know that you can just look at the commercials online the next day, but... Okay, here's the thing: I remember seeing in movies and reading in books about how, during World War I and World War II, the GIs would use the question--who won the World Series in ___whatever year to determine whether someone was on their side or a spy. So, I'm thinking to myself--what the fuck would they do to determine that now? Because most of the people that I know, outside of my nephews and myself, did not watch and would not know that the Phillies won the World Series last year, beating the Tampa Rays in 5 games. Nor would they know that the Giants won the last Superbowl over the Patriots in one hell of a good game. Or the Celtics winning the NBA title against the Lakers.
I know it used to be much more important because there weren't as many other things available to entertain them. But, I can't help but feel nostalgic for those days. Actually, I think that my nephews and I are throwbacks. During the Olympics last summer, Adam and I sat and watched water polo and badminton and table tennis for hours and hours. Maybe we belong to a different era. I guess it's lucky that we have each other.
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