I'm thinking that pro-choice women should take heed of our Greek sistren, and start denying men our bodies until our right to have autonomy over them is written in diamond. Of course, it wouldn't work, because the right-wing assholes would still be getting their biannual procreative ejaculation with their submissive wives, or maybe they would just buy Kass's theory that some women are meant to be wives and mothers, others are meant to be playthings for men, who are apparently able to be both fathers and sluts.
Gah, I'm really pissed off tonight.
10/31/2005
10/28/2005
Just like Christmas
You may have noticed that I have not been posting anything about what some bloggers are calling "Fitzmas", i.e., the possible indictments of one or more members of the Bush administration for their role in outing Valerie Plame.
I'm actually surprised by how excited many bloggers are about this story. I mean, I get the excitement about someone from the administration finally being made accountable for something. But the level of anticipation is so high, the denouement can only and inevitably be disappointment. Just like real Christmas.
I'm actually surprised by how excited many bloggers are about this story. I mean, I get the excitement about someone from the administration finally being made accountable for something. But the level of anticipation is so high, the denouement can only and inevitably be disappointment. Just like real Christmas.
10/27/2005
She works hard for the money
I was reading a post over at Half Changed World that was in response to this post at Bumblebee Sweet Potato regarding waitressing.
This got me thinking about all the jobs I've held over the years. Here's the list:
Babysitter - from the time I was 11 until I was 16, and occasionally beyond that.
Meat Wrapper - my first real job. This was at Stop & Shop, in the room behind the meat cases. The meat cutters would place the cuts of meat on the styrofoam trays, I would wrap them in cellophane. I got paid slightly more than the average starting employee because I was in a dangerous environment (all those saws). I loved the job during the summer - the room was about 35 degrees all year.
Sales Associate - at a factory outlet store. I arranged clothes in size order, buttoned coats in the coat room, helped people with shoes...truly, the most boring job I've ever had. The boss loved me, though, and was really pissed when I quit just before Christmas.
Video Store Clerk - I confess, I loved this job even though there were several negative things about it. The store had 4 owners - 2 silent partners who I never even met, one guy who did not have the risk taking temperament that one needs when one owns a small business; and one who put his money up just so he could preview the porn movies. The nervous nellie boss hired his nephew, who stole money and accused me of being the thief, so I got fired...but I made a big scene first, which felt great.
Camp Counselor - I always wanted to go to camp when I was a kid, so when my friend Julie asked me if I wanted to work at her camp, I jumped at the chance. This was really a life changing job for me, since I was away from my family and for the first time ever, living with some structure. I loved working there.
Waitress/Sandwich Maker - In a little deli/restaurant. The guy who hired me was fun to work with - during slow times, we would sit and do crossword puzzles together. But he sold the business to a bitch on wheels, who fired me after I told her I was pregnant.
Certified Nurse's Aide - I kind of regret this one. I loved the job, and the residents at the nursing home loved me, but I was so sick when I was pregnant with Sio that I couldn't take the smells of the place - as soon as I walked in the door I would start puking. And after I worked so hard to get the certification, it was a disappointment.
Silk Screener - for a printing company. I lasted about a month at this job. A combination of morning sickness (aka progesterone poisoning) and sexual harassment drove me from this job. The bosses younger brother was looking for a green card, and he was constantly pushing me to go out with him - even though I was already married. Jerk.
Cashier - I did this for the remainder of my pregnancy with Sio. I worked during the day, with a bunch of nice older women. The job was easy, and everyone was nice, so I liked it.
Classified Ad Rep - my first job after Sio was born, which I started when she was about a year old. I learned how to type in high school, so when I saw an ad looking for someone with typing skills, I brushed up on them and applied. I got the job and I did great there. I almost immediately became the top salesperson, I got along great with all the people working there, and I enjoyed the work. I did it at one paper for two years, then I moved to a much bigger paper (and much bigger paycheck) doing the same thing. The second paper sucked - I had a horrible boss, and I ended up losing the job after two years there because I had to take a bunch of time off for Sio - she kept having asthma attacks and I kept getting called to pick her up from school.
I was then out of work for about a year, utterly depressed. I did take a few small jobs - stocking shelves at night at a pharmacy, waitressing, delivering the paper - but I quit all of them in short order.
Then a friend of mine from the second paper called and said they were hiring Customer Service Reps at her company. I got a job and started working for the cable company. After working there two months, I won a skills challenge and they sent me to Disneyworld for the semi-finals. The following year, I won the semi-finals and went to Las Vegas. I was promoted to a supervisory position. I got pregnant with Monkey. I stayed home with Monkey for 4 months, then went back. I got promoted again, to a new position (Broadband Coordinator) in a new department. It was stressful, and I worked my ass off, but so rewarding. Got the greatest boss in the history of the world, who I love more than I love my own father. Got my second job, as alto section leader for a church choir somewhere during this time. Of course, life working the way that it does, my job was relocated out of state, and despite the {sarcasm} generous {/sarcasm} relocation allowance of $300, I didn't follow the job.
Because our wonderful boss insisted upon it, we were given a year's notice that our jobs were going out of state, which is why I had time to find another job as a secretary, which is where I am now. I don't love my job, but I have a better attitude now than I did the first two years I worked here. It helps that my perfect boss and I had a confrontation over the fact that she was holding me to impossible standards that no one else in the office had to meet (essentially, she expected me to always be perfect) and since then, she's been mindful that I am a mere human being and cannot always do everything perfectly.
So how about you? What jobs have you held?
This got me thinking about all the jobs I've held over the years. Here's the list:
Babysitter - from the time I was 11 until I was 16, and occasionally beyond that.
Meat Wrapper - my first real job. This was at Stop & Shop, in the room behind the meat cases. The meat cutters would place the cuts of meat on the styrofoam trays, I would wrap them in cellophane. I got paid slightly more than the average starting employee because I was in a dangerous environment (all those saws). I loved the job during the summer - the room was about 35 degrees all year.
Sales Associate - at a factory outlet store. I arranged clothes in size order, buttoned coats in the coat room, helped people with shoes...truly, the most boring job I've ever had. The boss loved me, though, and was really pissed when I quit just before Christmas.
Video Store Clerk - I confess, I loved this job even though there were several negative things about it. The store had 4 owners - 2 silent partners who I never even met, one guy who did not have the risk taking temperament that one needs when one owns a small business; and one who put his money up just so he could preview the porn movies. The nervous nellie boss hired his nephew, who stole money and accused me of being the thief, so I got fired...but I made a big scene first, which felt great.
Camp Counselor - I always wanted to go to camp when I was a kid, so when my friend Julie asked me if I wanted to work at her camp, I jumped at the chance. This was really a life changing job for me, since I was away from my family and for the first time ever, living with some structure. I loved working there.
Waitress/Sandwich Maker - In a little deli/restaurant. The guy who hired me was fun to work with - during slow times, we would sit and do crossword puzzles together. But he sold the business to a bitch on wheels, who fired me after I told her I was pregnant.
Certified Nurse's Aide - I kind of regret this one. I loved the job, and the residents at the nursing home loved me, but I was so sick when I was pregnant with Sio that I couldn't take the smells of the place - as soon as I walked in the door I would start puking. And after I worked so hard to get the certification, it was a disappointment.
Silk Screener - for a printing company. I lasted about a month at this job. A combination of morning sickness (aka progesterone poisoning) and sexual harassment drove me from this job. The bosses younger brother was looking for a green card, and he was constantly pushing me to go out with him - even though I was already married. Jerk.
Cashier - I did this for the remainder of my pregnancy with Sio. I worked during the day, with a bunch of nice older women. The job was easy, and everyone was nice, so I liked it.
Classified Ad Rep - my first job after Sio was born, which I started when she was about a year old. I learned how to type in high school, so when I saw an ad looking for someone with typing skills, I brushed up on them and applied. I got the job and I did great there. I almost immediately became the top salesperson, I got along great with all the people working there, and I enjoyed the work. I did it at one paper for two years, then I moved to a much bigger paper (and much bigger paycheck) doing the same thing. The second paper sucked - I had a horrible boss, and I ended up losing the job after two years there because I had to take a bunch of time off for Sio - she kept having asthma attacks and I kept getting called to pick her up from school.
I was then out of work for about a year, utterly depressed. I did take a few small jobs - stocking shelves at night at a pharmacy, waitressing, delivering the paper - but I quit all of them in short order.
Then a friend of mine from the second paper called and said they were hiring Customer Service Reps at her company. I got a job and started working for the cable company. After working there two months, I won a skills challenge and they sent me to Disneyworld for the semi-finals. The following year, I won the semi-finals and went to Las Vegas. I was promoted to a supervisory position. I got pregnant with Monkey. I stayed home with Monkey for 4 months, then went back. I got promoted again, to a new position (Broadband Coordinator) in a new department. It was stressful, and I worked my ass off, but so rewarding. Got the greatest boss in the history of the world, who I love more than I love my own father. Got my second job, as alto section leader for a church choir somewhere during this time. Of course, life working the way that it does, my job was relocated out of state, and despite the {sarcasm} generous {/sarcasm} relocation allowance of $300, I didn't follow the job.
Because our wonderful boss insisted upon it, we were given a year's notice that our jobs were going out of state, which is why I had time to find another job as a secretary, which is where I am now. I don't love my job, but I have a better attitude now than I did the first two years I worked here. It helps that my perfect boss and I had a confrontation over the fact that she was holding me to impossible standards that no one else in the office had to meet (essentially, she expected me to always be perfect) and since then, she's been mindful that I am a mere human being and cannot always do everything perfectly.
So how about you? What jobs have you held?
If they can't be Red, at least they're Sox
Congratulations to the Chicago White Sox for beating the Astros in the World Series. I love any team that beats the crap out of any team from Texas.
10/26/2005
Watch it jiggle
I just can't help but wonder how Jello San Francisco would survive a major earthquake. I bet the jiggling would be hypnotic.
That takes some of the edge off my worries for the future
A young environmentalist is on a mission to make sure people's tires are at the correct pressure, for maximum fuel efficiency.
10/25/2005
I think he's moved beyond disgruntled
The Chemist has a post that borders on revolutionary this morning. Lots of food for thought there.
10/24/2005
The joys of parenting
Up until Sio was born, I was pretty sure I didn't want to ever have children. I have a younger brother and two younger sisters, and I remembered their infancies as being an uninterrupted stretch of screaming, puking, and stinky diapers. I remembered their toddler years as those years where I had to make sure the little buggers didn't fall down the stairs, and couldn't leave anything I owned out in the open or within 4 feet of the floor, and even stinkier diapers. The rest of the years blended together into whining, uncompensated babysitting, not being allowed to do things that would cause the next one down the line to have a temper tantrum, having to give things to the "baby", etc. I just didn't really like kids that much.
Then I got knocked up, and luckily, I discovered that when a child comes from my uterus, they are inherently superior to all other children, at least from my perspective. Parenting can be hard - I hate punishing my kids, for example, because my parents were always so harsh, and I don't know if my natural punishment inclinations are recalibrated at a harsher level because of that.
But there are some special joys in being a parent. I experienced two of them this weekend.
1. Sio discovered Edgar Allen Poe. Poe and I had a mad love affair when I was 12 years old. I read every word the man published, including all his literary criticism. When your kids find something on their own that you love...you know how you feel an instant camaraderie towards someone who likes the same band as you? You know your kid is cool when they fall in love with something that you fell in love with, without any intervention or introduction from you.
She keeps reading me sections aloud, entranced by the poetic perfection of Poe's language.
2. Monkey sent some Republican candidates packing. Some of the local Dumbos who are running for the Board of Directors were canvassing in our neighborhood. Monkey answered the door, and told them that we don't vote for Republicans because Republicans care more about money than they care about people. Then she told them she doesn't like George Bush, and she doesn't trust people who support George Bush. That might be something she heard from me.
Then I got knocked up, and luckily, I discovered that when a child comes from my uterus, they are inherently superior to all other children, at least from my perspective. Parenting can be hard - I hate punishing my kids, for example, because my parents were always so harsh, and I don't know if my natural punishment inclinations are recalibrated at a harsher level because of that.
But there are some special joys in being a parent. I experienced two of them this weekend.
1. Sio discovered Edgar Allen Poe. Poe and I had a mad love affair when I was 12 years old. I read every word the man published, including all his literary criticism. When your kids find something on their own that you love...you know how you feel an instant camaraderie towards someone who likes the same band as you? You know your kid is cool when they fall in love with something that you fell in love with, without any intervention or introduction from you.
She keeps reading me sections aloud, entranced by the poetic perfection of Poe's language.
2. Monkey sent some Republican candidates packing. Some of the local Dumbos who are running for the Board of Directors were canvassing in our neighborhood. Monkey answered the door, and told them that we don't vote for Republicans because Republicans care more about money than they care about people. Then she told them she doesn't like George Bush, and she doesn't trust people who support George Bush. That might be something she heard from me.
Sadly, this is more than I make in real life
My blog is worth $39,517.80.
How much is your blog worth?
10/21/2005
randomania
I went for a long walk at lunch today. As I was walking near the Hartford Civic Center (or, more accurately, what remains of the Hartford Civic Center), a guy made an attempt to pick me up. He was several steps up the ladder from the last guy who tried to pick me up, who was a heroin addict - this guy was a construction worker on his lunch, and he made no effort to hide his wedding ring as he chatted me up. Still, it was almost flattering to have a man who appeared to have his own teeth make the attempt.
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I have tickets to see the Coast Guard Band Masters of Swing tonight. I kind of don't want to go, though. I think I'm just feeling generally anti-social.
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I have nearly enough credits to get an Associate's Degree, so I was invited to a Transfer Meeting for students with GPAs of 3.5 and above. The meeting was with the President of my community college and several faculty members, and they were pushing us to reach for the stars when it comes to transferring. One young woman in the meeting was skeptical that any community college students ever transfer into Ivy League schools, but the Pres and the faculty insisted that it happens every year. I made an appointment with an advisor to talk about what I should do next. I may end up changing my major to just a general Liberal Arts, because some of the required classes for music majors are only offered during the day, and I have to work so I can pay for school (and the house, and the car, and food, and for healthcare, etc.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I have tickets to see the Coast Guard Band Masters of Swing tonight. I kind of don't want to go, though. I think I'm just feeling generally anti-social.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I have nearly enough credits to get an Associate's Degree, so I was invited to a Transfer Meeting for students with GPAs of 3.5 and above. The meeting was with the President of my community college and several faculty members, and they were pushing us to reach for the stars when it comes to transferring. One young woman in the meeting was skeptical that any community college students ever transfer into Ivy League schools, but the Pres and the faculty insisted that it happens every year. I made an appointment with an advisor to talk about what I should do next. I may end up changing my major to just a general Liberal Arts, because some of the required classes for music majors are only offered during the day, and I have to work so I can pay for school (and the house, and the car, and food, and for healthcare, etc.)
10/19/2005
Damn, I'm a great parent
I just got a call from Sio's gym teacher. Sio is no athlete - in addition to having asthma, she is sort of generally undercoordinated. She's not a klutz or anything, but she doesn't pick up physical activities easily, and she's not inherently physically graceful. She's your classic bookworm, albeit without the glasses. (She's more an ultra-feminine, hourglass figured, stunningly beautiful bookworm.)
Anyway, her gym teacher called for the express purpose of telling me what a delightful child Sio is. Mrs. M. said even though Sio has asthma, she never uses that as an excuse to get out of class, that she always works as hard as she can in class, and that she is just a lovely human being. Mrs. M. said she doesn't get to make these calls very often, and she wanted to thank me for raising such a lovely child.
This wouldn't surprise anyone who knows Sio. I know she is special to me, she's my firstborn child. But she is special to lots of people. She walks down the hallway at school and smiles and says hello to everyone. She is kind to everyone. She is generous with her time, always offering to help people. And she never brags about it, or does it for self-aggrandizement - it's just how she's always been.
So even though I feel chest-burstingly proud of her, I can't really claim the full credit. Sio was born a sparkling ray of sunshine, and I don't think she'll ever change.
Anyway, her gym teacher called for the express purpose of telling me what a delightful child Sio is. Mrs. M. said even though Sio has asthma, she never uses that as an excuse to get out of class, that she always works as hard as she can in class, and that she is just a lovely human being. Mrs. M. said she doesn't get to make these calls very often, and she wanted to thank me for raising such a lovely child.
This wouldn't surprise anyone who knows Sio. I know she is special to me, she's my firstborn child. But she is special to lots of people. She walks down the hallway at school and smiles and says hello to everyone. She is kind to everyone. She is generous with her time, always offering to help people. And she never brags about it, or does it for self-aggrandizement - it's just how she's always been.
So even though I feel chest-burstingly proud of her, I can't really claim the full credit. Sio was born a sparkling ray of sunshine, and I don't think she'll ever change.
10/18/2005
Separated at birth part deux
Larry C. Johnson at No Quarter has reported the following:
emphasis mine.
Whenever I see Stephen Hadley, I can't help but think of his twin, Nathan Thurm:
Indicted? I knew that. Did you think I didn't know that?
Had lunch today with a person who has a direct tie to one of the folks facing indictment in the Plame affair. There are 22 files that Fitzgerald is looking at for potential indictment . These include Stephen Hadley, Karl Rove, Lewis Libby, Dick Cheney, and Mary Matalin (there are others of course). Hadley has told friends he expects to be indicted. No wonder folks are nervous at the White House.
emphasis mine.
Whenever I see Stephen Hadley, I can't help but think of his twin, Nathan Thurm:
Indicted? I knew that. Did you think I didn't know that?
I aim to misbehave
 | You scored as Capt. Mal Reynolds. The Captain. You are the captain of the ship, so the crew are your responsibility. You just want to do the job, get paid and keep flying. Why is that always so hard?
Which Serenity character are you? created with QuizFarm.com |
Hat tip to The Green Knight
10/17/2005
Real Life gives me a time out
I've been reading so many great things that I want to comment on, like this and this.
Unfortunately, after 9 straight days of rain, we discovered a few inches of water in our basement, so I've been busy with cleaning up from that. And I have a few other things going on, like school and my two jobs, and figuring out exactly how much in debt I am so I can try to get out of it, and working on a few other painful things that I would much rather avoid, but can't. So I'm going to be quiet for a while, and then I may take November off while I work on my National Novel Writing Month novel, although I may not. I'll probably still comment on other blogs from time to time, but LW will be pretty quiet. I think. Oftentimes as soon as I announce things are going to be quiet around here, all hell breaks loose (hopefully, this time it will involve the words "Rove indicted".)
I gotta go now or I'll miss my bus.
Unfortunately, after 9 straight days of rain, we discovered a few inches of water in our basement, so I've been busy with cleaning up from that. And I have a few other things going on, like school and my two jobs, and figuring out exactly how much in debt I am so I can try to get out of it, and working on a few other painful things that I would much rather avoid, but can't. So I'm going to be quiet for a while, and then I may take November off while I work on my National Novel Writing Month novel, although I may not. I'll probably still comment on other blogs from time to time, but LW will be pretty quiet. I think. Oftentimes as soon as I announce things are going to be quiet around here, all hell breaks loose (hopefully, this time it will involve the words "Rove indicted".)
I gotta go now or I'll miss my bus.
10/14/2005
Battered and Bruised
Upper right arm. Lower left arm. Left shoulder. Right thigh. Left wrist. On my back, at the bottom of my ribcase. I've got huge bruises in each of these locations, and I cannot remember doing anything to get them. Maybe I've been sleepwalking.
10/13/2005
Margaret Thatcher hates freedom
A friend of mine pointed me to Tina Brown's column about Harriet Miers in the Washington Post, which contained this gem about Margaret Thatcher's opinion of the Iraq debacle (Iraqle?):
She must be a pinko commie or sumpin.
The former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain, Lord Palumbo, who lunched with Mrs. T six months ago, told me recently what she said when he asked her if, given the intelligence at the time, she would have made the decision to invade Iraq. "I was a scientist before I was a politician, Peter," she told him carefully. "And as a scientist I know you need facts, evidence and proof -- and then you check, recheck and check again. The fact was that there were no facts, there was no evidence, and there was no proof. As a politician the most serious decision you can take is to commit your armed services to war from which they may not return."
She must be a pinko commie or sumpin.
10/11/2005
Coming Out Day
Today is National Coming Out Day, and since I read about it at Pam's House Blend, I assumed that the guy standing behind me in line for bus passes was celebrating. He was wearing blue jeans and a jean jacket with gay pride buttons and patches all over it.
The credit card machine wasn't moving, so I turned and asked him if he was celebrating Coming Out day. He said, "what?", so I asked him again. He said "I didn't know it was coming out day, I dress like this all the time! Honey," he said, "I've been out since I was 13, and my mom knew long before that."
We chatted for a while longer, and I said something about how I believe in equality for all people, so I hoped that our Civil Union law would become a gay marriage law at some point, except it sounded all pompous and serious, and quite frankly, I'm not happy with how my end of the conversation went, although he was delightful.
The credit card machine wasn't moving, so I turned and asked him if he was celebrating Coming Out day. He said, "what?", so I asked him again. He said "I didn't know it was coming out day, I dress like this all the time! Honey," he said, "I've been out since I was 13, and my mom knew long before that."
We chatted for a while longer, and I said something about how I believe in equality for all people, so I hoped that our Civil Union law would become a gay marriage law at some point, except it sounded all pompous and serious, and quite frankly, I'm not happy with how my end of the conversation went, although he was delightful.
10/10/2005
I'm a fucking bitch
I was at my SIL's house yesterday, and my brother-in-law, who was also raised Irish Catholic, with a brutal father and a neglectful mother, and he even had to sell crap (did I tell my sock story yet?) - we have a lot in common, my BIL and I - and anyway, he was telling us how it takes a lot of effort to light his fuse, but once lit, it explodes in no time. That is my temper exactly. It takes a lot for me to get angry, but when I do, I am a raging psycho.
Well, today was one of those days. I can't even get into everything that set me off, because I feel slightly foolish about getting so ridiculously pissed off over something that, in retrospect, seems like such a small deal. But I lost my shit today, and I ended up having to apologize to every single person who lives in this house. I am my father's daughter, and I'm not too proud of that.
Well, today was one of those days. I can't even get into everything that set me off, because I feel slightly foolish about getting so ridiculously pissed off over something that, in retrospect, seems like such a small deal. But I lost my shit today, and I ended up having to apologize to every single person who lives in this house. I am my father's daughter, and I'm not too proud of that.
10/06/2005
Better than Big Box Office
You know, I love Serenity, and I hope it does better at the Box Office this weekend, but this is almost the bestest gift I ever could have gotten, and if he actually gets indicted, or {tremble} goes to the pokey, I will not even care if Serenity never comes out on DVD*.
*Not entirely true, but still - Rove going down would be sweet.
*Not entirely true, but still - Rove going down would be sweet.
Stop reading the comics and this is what happens
I was a devoted reader of the comics page when I was a child. We would get the paper early in the morning, and while we were eating breakfast, I would pull out the designated "entertainment" section of the paper (sometimes known as Entertainment; also seen as Life, Living, and now they've run out of all ideas and just call it by the date), fold open the last two pages, and read every single comic. Even Gil Thorpe and Mary Worth and Apartment 3-G. I even would read the comics that were listed in the Classified section (in my youth, those were Marmaduke, The Family Circus and Ziggy.)
The golden years for me were when the paper ran Bloom County, The Far Side, and Calvin and Hobbes. Even when Berkeley Breathed ended Bloom County, we still got Outland every Sunday.
I stopped reading the comics regularly after Watterson stopped drawing Calvin and Hobbes and Larson stopped drawing The Far Side. I'd pick them up every now and then, but the love was gone.
Yesterday afternoon, I noticed Monkey reading the comics, and she said "Mom, I don't get this one." I went over to see which one she didn't get, and horror of horrors, it was Mallard Fillmore. Mallard Fucking Fillmore, in my paper. I am outraged, and I immediately sent a letter of protest* to the paper. I haven't received any reply yet.
OTOH, Sio got a letter from Senator Bill Frist yesterday. She wrote to complain about those who are trying to get intelligent design added to the science curriculum. I'll have to share his letter with you guys later, because Sio brought it to school to share with her Bio teacher. Oh, the bullshittery!
*My complaint was not directed toward the political slant of the strip (although clearly I disagree emphatically with that slant), but over the fact that it isn't funny.
The golden years for me were when the paper ran Bloom County, The Far Side, and Calvin and Hobbes. Even when Berkeley Breathed ended Bloom County, we still got Outland every Sunday.
I stopped reading the comics regularly after Watterson stopped drawing Calvin and Hobbes and Larson stopped drawing The Far Side. I'd pick them up every now and then, but the love was gone.
Yesterday afternoon, I noticed Monkey reading the comics, and she said "Mom, I don't get this one." I went over to see which one she didn't get, and horror of horrors, it was Mallard Fillmore. Mallard Fucking Fillmore, in my paper. I am outraged, and I immediately sent a letter of protest* to the paper. I haven't received any reply yet.
OTOH, Sio got a letter from Senator Bill Frist yesterday. She wrote to complain about those who are trying to get intelligent design added to the science curriculum. I'll have to share his letter with you guys later, because Sio brought it to school to share with her Bio teacher. Oh, the bullshittery!
*My complaint was not directed toward the political slant of the strip (although clearly I disagree emphatically with that slant), but over the fact that it isn't funny.
10/05/2005
If you were wondering
You're probably asking yourself, "Why isn't maurinsky opining on the great topics of the day? Where are her observations on Tom DeLay's indictments? How does she feel about Harriet Miers? When will we know what maurinsky thinks about Judith Miller? Will she ever stop talking about that damn movie?"
I'm here to answer your questions, oh dear reader(s).
Maurinsky is tired, oh so tired. The only night of the work week that isn't booked through December is Friday. She is also burnt out on politics, and does not feel that she has anything to contribute that isn't already being said, and more eloquently, elsewhere.
In addition, Maurinsky's oldest is in college search mode, and we're going to visit several schools over the next few weekends.
And Maurinsky's going to make a promise to you, dear reader(s): this will be the last time she uses third person in a blog post about herself on Laughing Wild.
I'm here to answer your questions, oh dear reader(s).
Maurinsky is tired, oh so tired. The only night of the work week that isn't booked through December is Friday. She is also burnt out on politics, and does not feel that she has anything to contribute that isn't already being said, and more eloquently, elsewhere.
In addition, Maurinsky's oldest is in college search mode, and we're going to visit several schools over the next few weekends.
And Maurinsky's going to make a promise to you, dear reader(s): this will be the last time she uses third person in a blog post about herself on Laughing Wild.
Congrats, L & L!
Yesterday, my co-worker L took advantage of the new Civil Union law in CT and got herself hitched to her partner of many years. Or, as L my co-worker says, they got "civilized".
10/03/2005
Big Damn Movie Review
I've been mulling over Serenity for several days now. I saw the movie at a preview screening in June, and I'm afraid I was still feeling a little too "squee!" at seeing the Big Damn Heroes together on the big screen to analyze the movie at all. I saw it Friday night, and I was so emotional over several of the events that happen in the movie that I couldn't really cast a critical eye. The third time I saw it, I was pulling an Amelie and turning around to see how everyone else in the theater was reacting to the story.
I think I actually need to see the movie a few more times before I can distill my thoughts into a review. It's hard for me to be objective, because I love the characters, I love the ship, I love the whole Firefly 'verse, and while I know they aren't perfect, I'm not ready to criticize yet.
There was a moment towards the end of the movie, where things seemed hopeless. I didn't see actors who might have to play dead - I saw the vulnerable genius/psychic River, terrified when her brother is hit, but finding the strength to take care of him; I saw the mercenary Jayne, a man who, motivated by fear, has made himself tougher and stronger, but realizing that he might be at his Waterloo, resolves to keep fighting; I saw a young doctor suddenly lost without his medical bag, realizing there is no way to retrieve it.
Here we were, watching a movie where the captain of a space ship dresses like an extra on Bonanza. It's a 'verse where there are shotguns, horses, and guns that shoot out a pulse beam that knocks you out without killing you. And it felt so real to me because Joss Whedon knows how to pull me in, and he lucked out and got a bunch of actors together who were perfect, so I wasn't thinking how cute that Sean Maher is, or how hot Nathan Fillion looks when he wakes up (well, maybe for a moment...); I was looking at Captain Malcolm Reynolds, who lost his faith when he was on the losing side of a war that he hasn't really finished fighting yet; I see Dr. Simon Tam, who gave up his life to save his sister's.
Yeah, I think it's safe to say that I'm not ready to be critical yet. I won't promise that this movie is the next Star Wars, because I've never seen Star Wars and I don't want to lie to you. I can't tell you that this is the greatest movie ever made, because there are movies that surpass it artistically, plotwise, actingwise, etc. But I will tell you that the movie is damn good, that it provides tons of action, some very scary moments, some big laughs at just the right times, and if you see the movie, I might even get a sequel, which will let me spend more time with this crew that I love.
Loki's review is here.
I think I actually need to see the movie a few more times before I can distill my thoughts into a review. It's hard for me to be objective, because I love the characters, I love the ship, I love the whole Firefly 'verse, and while I know they aren't perfect, I'm not ready to criticize yet.
There was a moment towards the end of the movie, where things seemed hopeless. I didn't see actors who might have to play dead - I saw the vulnerable genius/psychic River, terrified when her brother is hit, but finding the strength to take care of him; I saw the mercenary Jayne, a man who, motivated by fear, has made himself tougher and stronger, but realizing that he might be at his Waterloo, resolves to keep fighting; I saw a young doctor suddenly lost without his medical bag, realizing there is no way to retrieve it.
Here we were, watching a movie where the captain of a space ship dresses like an extra on Bonanza. It's a 'verse where there are shotguns, horses, and guns that shoot out a pulse beam that knocks you out without killing you. And it felt so real to me because Joss Whedon knows how to pull me in, and he lucked out and got a bunch of actors together who were perfect, so I wasn't thinking how cute that Sean Maher is, or how hot Nathan Fillion looks when he wakes up (well, maybe for a moment...); I was looking at Captain Malcolm Reynolds, who lost his faith when he was on the losing side of a war that he hasn't really finished fighting yet; I see Dr. Simon Tam, who gave up his life to save his sister's.
Yeah, I think it's safe to say that I'm not ready to be critical yet. I won't promise that this movie is the next Star Wars, because I've never seen Star Wars and I don't want to lie to you. I can't tell you that this is the greatest movie ever made, because there are movies that surpass it artistically, plotwise, actingwise, etc. But I will tell you that the movie is damn good, that it provides tons of action, some very scary moments, some big laughs at just the right times, and if you see the movie, I might even get a sequel, which will let me spend more time with this crew that I love.
Loki's review is here.
10/01/2005
A beautiful day
Early fall days in Connecticut don't get much nicer than it was today. 60's, sunny and to top it all off, today was the first day of the Civil Union law. I hope that this will end up being just a first step on the road to full equality for gay couples.
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