1. Coraline - Loki, Monkey and I saw this Saturday morning. Possibly the best use of 3D I've seen - they didn't use it just to hurl things into your faces, but to flesh out this stop-motion animated world. It was excellent, and everytime I see a promo for the movie, I want to go see it again.
2. Joe Strummer - The Future Is Unwritten - I watched this yesterday while I was cleaning my living room. They did not shy away from showing Joe Strummer, warts and all. I feel inspired right now, just thinking about this movie - that DIY punk ethos is sitting with me.
3. Positive pressure nasal irrigation - okay, this is not something anyone really wants to talk or hear about, but if you suffer from chronic sinus problems or allergies, you might be interested anyway. I just couldn't make myself get a neti pot, but this is a squeeze bottle version of the same thing, and honest to pete, my head felt lighter and I could breathe with ease immediately after using.
Ambition this shall tempt to rise, And moody Madness laughing wild Amid severest woe. -from Thomas Gray's "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College"
2/09/2009
2/01/2009
Full Circle
Saturday night, Loki and I got together with my friend, my psychotic sister G., and her friend S.
So how do you begin a conversation with someone you love dearly, but haven't seen in years? Naturally we started with quantum physics, what we called the eight minute conversation, about what would happen if the sun went out, and we had eight minutes left before the earth would be bereft of light and energy. Would we even be here for those eight minutes? And what would happen to the planet we live on? Does the universe jiggle like jello?
We moved from there onto the nature of reality itself. Are we here? Are we all experiencing the same reality? Do we only exist when others experience and realize us?
Then we moved onto food, and things we tried to remember about our past lives together, and what was the name of that coffeehouse in Middletown? And we talked about our families, and drew my family tree out so no one could get confused by all the Maureens and Kathleens and Bernadettes.
We talked about the movie we had seen earlier that evening, and about music (BTW: G, if you're reading this, remember when I was miming "playing the piano" and you interpreted that as "typing on the keyboard"? The phrase I was trying to think of was "tin-pan alley" - it came to me just before my exploding head syndrom kicked in as I fell asleep last night...nothing yet on the coffeehouse, but the information is in my brain somewhere and I will retrieve it.)
And we talked about white supremacists and how some towns have more flavor than others and how weird it is that Wallingford doesn't have the internet in their town hall, but how excellent Napoli's Pizza is. (S., if I had the presence of mind last night, I would have shown you that I have their number programmed into my cell phone, even though I live 35 miles away from it).
And then we talked about how we remain connected, even when apart, and Loki started talking about how it's the same for particles, and possibly even objects, and then we were back to the beginning of the circle.
So how do you begin a conversation with someone you love dearly, but haven't seen in years? Naturally we started with quantum physics, what we called the eight minute conversation, about what would happen if the sun went out, and we had eight minutes left before the earth would be bereft of light and energy. Would we even be here for those eight minutes? And what would happen to the planet we live on? Does the universe jiggle like jello?
We moved from there onto the nature of reality itself. Are we here? Are we all experiencing the same reality? Do we only exist when others experience and realize us?
Then we moved onto food, and things we tried to remember about our past lives together, and what was the name of that coffeehouse in Middletown? And we talked about our families, and drew my family tree out so no one could get confused by all the Maureens and Kathleens and Bernadettes.
We talked about the movie we had seen earlier that evening, and about music (BTW: G, if you're reading this, remember when I was miming "playing the piano" and you interpreted that as "typing on the keyboard"? The phrase I was trying to think of was "tin-pan alley" - it came to me just before my exploding head syndrom kicked in as I fell asleep last night...nothing yet on the coffeehouse, but the information is in my brain somewhere and I will retrieve it.)
And we talked about white supremacists and how some towns have more flavor than others and how weird it is that Wallingford doesn't have the internet in their town hall, but how excellent Napoli's Pizza is. (S., if I had the presence of mind last night, I would have shown you that I have their number programmed into my cell phone, even though I live 35 miles away from it).
And then we talked about how we remain connected, even when apart, and Loki started talking about how it's the same for particles, and possibly even objects, and then we were back to the beginning of the circle.
1/27/2009
48 Questions
via konagod
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
my Aunt Maureen
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
earlier today, when I was reading this blog post.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I have beautiful penmanship when I make the effort.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes, 2 of them.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I think so, but I guess it would depend on which other person I was.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
What do you think?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Only if I were on The Amazing Race
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I don't think I have one. I like cereal in general, but only eat it occasionally.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
I'm not picky about ice cream, but I think you know an ice cream brand/maker is great when the vanilla is great.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
height
15. RED OR PINK?
red
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
my damn deformed hip
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
I have been lucky to not have lost many people in my life up to this point, but I miss my friend Al sometimes. And also, Phil Hartman.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
It doesn't matter to me.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
gray pants and white/gray sneakers
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The sounds of the office.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
forest green
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
coffee, garlic, freshly baked bread, lilac blooms, new baby
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My husband
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
No one sent it to me
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
hurling and hockey, but only in person
27. HAIR COLOR?
Used to be V-8 orange, now it's more like a penny that has been around for a while
28. EYE COLOR?
Blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No, my body has betrayed me in many ways, but I am lucky enough to have 20/20 vision for now
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
cheese
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Not a big scary movie fan, and sometimes I like happy endings, but I am also comfortable with ambiguity
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Hamlet 2
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
purple
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer.
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Kisses & hugs.. All good.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
??Leslie maybe?
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
my husband
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
I'm not in a reading phase right now
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
don't have one
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
House
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
interesting music, certain babies laughing....at the church where I used to sing, when they had Communion, everyone got a little tiny plastic cup of grape juice, and when we were done drinking, everyone would pass their cups down, and the sound of the little cups being stacked was very pleasing.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Paris
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I sing, I can juggle, I can act, I can levitate (or at least make other people think I can levitate), and I have a great capacity for remembering useless pieces of information, like what someone was wearing when I first met them.
46 WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Hartford, CT
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Anyone who bothers.
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
At college
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
my Aunt Maureen
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
earlier today, when I was reading this blog post.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I have beautiful penmanship when I make the effort.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes, 2 of them.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I think so, but I guess it would depend on which other person I was.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
What do you think?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Only if I were on The Amazing Race
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I don't think I have one. I like cereal in general, but only eat it occasionally.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
I'm not picky about ice cream, but I think you know an ice cream brand/maker is great when the vanilla is great.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
height
15. RED OR PINK?
red
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
my damn deformed hip
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
I have been lucky to not have lost many people in my life up to this point, but I miss my friend Al sometimes. And also, Phil Hartman.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
It doesn't matter to me.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
gray pants and white/gray sneakers
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The sounds of the office.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
forest green
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
coffee, garlic, freshly baked bread, lilac blooms, new baby
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My husband
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
No one sent it to me
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
hurling and hockey, but only in person
27. HAIR COLOR?
Used to be V-8 orange, now it's more like a penny that has been around for a while
28. EYE COLOR?
Blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No, my body has betrayed me in many ways, but I am lucky enough to have 20/20 vision for now
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
cheese
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Not a big scary movie fan, and sometimes I like happy endings, but I am also comfortable with ambiguity
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Hamlet 2
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
purple
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer.
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Kisses & hugs.. All good.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
??Leslie maybe?
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
my husband
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
I'm not in a reading phase right now
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
don't have one
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
House
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
interesting music, certain babies laughing....at the church where I used to sing, when they had Communion, everyone got a little tiny plastic cup of grape juice, and when we were done drinking, everyone would pass their cups down, and the sound of the little cups being stacked was very pleasing.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Paris
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I sing, I can juggle, I can act, I can levitate (or at least make other people think I can levitate), and I have a great capacity for remembering useless pieces of information, like what someone was wearing when I first met them.
46 WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Hartford, CT
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Anyone who bothers.
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
At college
1/25/2009
Did I ever tell you about my friend Leslie?
14 or so years ago, I auditioned for the female version of the Odd Couple at a community theater in Middletown. I had a good audition, and I was one of 4 people called back for the role of Olive Madison (obviously, the female version of Oscar Madison). I ended up getting the part that night, and I had a great time doing the show.
A year or so later, I auditioned for the play I Hate Hamlet, put on by the same community theater group, and I got the part of Gary Peter Lefkowitz*, the protagonists agent. Also cast in the play was Leslie, who played Real Estate agent Felicia Dantine.
So we were a week or two into rehearsal, and after one rehearsal we went out for coffee. I was sitting with Karen (who directed the Odd Couple) and Leslie, and we were having fun, talking and making each other laugh, and then Leslie told me, very seriously, that she had a confession to make.
She told me that for the past year, she had wanted me dead.** You see, she was one of the other people who got called back for the part of Olive Madison, and since Karen, the director, was her best friend, she assumed she was a shue-in for the part. But I got it instead.
Karen told me that then she began receiving a series of phone calls from Leslie:
"Karen, when Maureen breaks her leg, make sure to give me plenty of notice so I have all my lines memorized."
"Karen, does the rehearsal space have a sprinkler system, in case there's a fire?"
Karen explained to Leslie that I got the part because I had a certain vulnerability.
Leslie sniffed, "vunnerability" she said. "I can do vunnerability!"
I said "you can't even pronounce vulnerabilty!"
And thus a friendship was born. And I'm writing this tonight because Leslie and Karen and I got together today for lunch, then a little shopping and then hanging out at the bookstore. And she reads my blog, so I have to write about her, because she likes reading about herself. And because, okay, I love Leslie, and I'm glad she's my friend.
And did I mention that she has developed a game to help kids learn how to clean and organize their space? Because she has, and you can buy it here.
*I maintain that I must have a certain quality that reads as male, because this was not the first time I got cast in a male part, and it wasn't the last time, either.
**Leslie said that when she found out I had a child, she decided it would be okay with her if I were merely maimed.
A year or so later, I auditioned for the play I Hate Hamlet, put on by the same community theater group, and I got the part of Gary Peter Lefkowitz*, the protagonists agent. Also cast in the play was Leslie, who played Real Estate agent Felicia Dantine.
So we were a week or two into rehearsal, and after one rehearsal we went out for coffee. I was sitting with Karen (who directed the Odd Couple) and Leslie, and we were having fun, talking and making each other laugh, and then Leslie told me, very seriously, that she had a confession to make.
She told me that for the past year, she had wanted me dead.** You see, she was one of the other people who got called back for the part of Olive Madison, and since Karen, the director, was her best friend, she assumed she was a shue-in for the part. But I got it instead.
Karen told me that then she began receiving a series of phone calls from Leslie:
"Karen, when Maureen breaks her leg, make sure to give me plenty of notice so I have all my lines memorized."
"Karen, does the rehearsal space have a sprinkler system, in case there's a fire?"
Karen explained to Leslie that I got the part because I had a certain vulnerability.
Leslie sniffed, "vunnerability" she said. "I can do vunnerability!"
I said "you can't even pronounce vulnerabilty!"
And thus a friendship was born. And I'm writing this tonight because Leslie and Karen and I got together today for lunch, then a little shopping and then hanging out at the bookstore. And she reads my blog, so I have to write about her, because she likes reading about herself. And because, okay, I love Leslie, and I'm glad she's my friend.
And did I mention that she has developed a game to help kids learn how to clean and organize their space? Because she has, and you can buy it here.
*I maintain that I must have a certain quality that reads as male, because this was not the first time I got cast in a male part, and it wasn't the last time, either.
**Leslie said that when she found out I had a child, she decided it would be okay with her if I were merely maimed.
1/23/2009
Maybe President Obama *is* magic
Since President Obama was inaugurated:
I've lost 4 lbs.
I can open a newspaper without feeling ill
I can read the news online without my blood pressure rising
I can read blogs and feel happy instead of angry
I no longer clench my fists when I'm listening to NPR on the way home from work
Now if he could only clear up the lingering pain in my lower back...
I've lost 4 lbs.
I can open a newspaper without feeling ill
I can read the news online without my blood pressure rising
I can read blogs and feel happy instead of angry
I no longer clench my fists when I'm listening to NPR on the way home from work
Now if he could only clear up the lingering pain in my lower back...
1/22/2009
My kingdom for a Vicodin!
Pain sucks.
My hip is always hurting, but I am experiencing some exquisite pain in my lower back. In that little dimple on the left-hand side, it is hot to the touch and hurts however I move.
On top of that, yesterday, my own husband told me I walked like Quasimodo. I feel like I'm just declining, physically, with each passing day.
I just don't know how much more of this I can take. I'm at my desk, on the verge of crying from the pain. And occasionally over the verge.
My hip is always hurting, but I am experiencing some exquisite pain in my lower back. In that little dimple on the left-hand side, it is hot to the touch and hurts however I move.
On top of that, yesterday, my own husband told me I walked like Quasimodo. I feel like I'm just declining, physically, with each passing day.
I just don't know how much more of this I can take. I'm at my desk, on the verge of crying from the pain. And occasionally over the verge.
1/20/2009
I feel that I should post something on this historic day...
So I'll share that I got a text from Sio as she was on her way to D.C. in the wee hours of the morning. We have not heard from her since, I hope she was able to feel part of the historic events today.
I can't tell if I'm more happy that a responsible adult with a brain is in charge, or that the old incompetent moron is gone.
I can't tell if I'm more happy that a responsible adult with a brain is in charge, or that the old incompetent moron is gone.
1/13/2009
Harmonious Soul (and Friends) in Concert
We have finally rescheduled our concert!
Come see a fabulous six member women's a cappella group perform a wide variety of music. We sing traditional as well as contemporary music including songs by James Taylor, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Etta James, Guns N Roses, and many more!
A few other performers will lend their talents to the night as well!
Tickets are $8/$5 for seniors and 12 and under
Friday, February 27, 2009
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
60 Church Street
Manchester, CT 06040
View Larger Map
If you would like more information, please e-mail me at maurinsky@yahoo.com.
Come see a fabulous six member women's a cappella group perform a wide variety of music. We sing traditional as well as contemporary music including songs by James Taylor, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Etta James, Guns N Roses, and many more!
A few other performers will lend their talents to the night as well!
Tickets are $8/$5 for seniors and 12 and under
Friday, February 27, 2009
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
60 Church Street
Manchester, CT 06040
View Larger Map
If you would like more information, please e-mail me at maurinsky@yahoo.com.
1/09/2009
Celebrity cameos in my dreams
Lately, I've been having dreams with celebrity cameos in them. First, Jason Segal showed up in a couple of them - I assume this was due to seeing Jason and Little Jason in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Though these dreams were not sexual in nature, they did have a romantic sort of quality to them.
Last night, Daniel Letterle, who played Vlad in the movie Camp, showed up. Pretty obscure celebrity cameo, I grant you, but it gets better. In my dream, the kids from the movie Camp were having a press conference, and Daniel Letterle was in costume for his next project - he had a fake moustache and his hair was grayed at the temples, and he was wearing a 3 piece suit and a bowler hat. He and I wandered away from the press conference, and he confessed that he was terrified because a man named Culpepper was after him.
I pulled a book out of my jacket, and said "Do you mean this Culpepper?", and on the cover of the book was a man wearing the same 3 piece suit and bowler hat, who looked like he was crossing Abbey Road. Letterle was clearly terrified. We decided to find a place to hide. We were in a building that might have been a convention center or a hotel - there were a lot of big meeting rooms, and escalators, plus some balconies and wide open halls.
Letterle and I started climbing the stairs, and we got to a conference hall that was still messy from whatever event had just been held there. While we were there, a phone rang, and Letterle answered it and went pale. "Culpepper is here!" he said, and he ran off.
I went out onto the balcony and looked down into the big open hallway, and saw a man in a 3 piece suit and bowler hat. He paused and looked up in my direction (although he didn't see me). It was Culpepper, but Culpepper was played by Malcolm McDowell in my dream. And he was scary! So I ran away, and then I segued into another dream that did not feature any celebrities.
My subconscious, ladies and gentlemen! Let me know if you can make any sense of it!
Last night, Daniel Letterle, who played Vlad in the movie Camp, showed up. Pretty obscure celebrity cameo, I grant you, but it gets better. In my dream, the kids from the movie Camp were having a press conference, and Daniel Letterle was in costume for his next project - he had a fake moustache and his hair was grayed at the temples, and he was wearing a 3 piece suit and a bowler hat. He and I wandered away from the press conference, and he confessed that he was terrified because a man named Culpepper was after him.
I pulled a book out of my jacket, and said "Do you mean this Culpepper?", and on the cover of the book was a man wearing the same 3 piece suit and bowler hat, who looked like he was crossing Abbey Road. Letterle was clearly terrified. We decided to find a place to hide. We were in a building that might have been a convention center or a hotel - there were a lot of big meeting rooms, and escalators, plus some balconies and wide open halls.
Letterle and I started climbing the stairs, and we got to a conference hall that was still messy from whatever event had just been held there. While we were there, a phone rang, and Letterle answered it and went pale. "Culpepper is here!" he said, and he ran off.
I went out onto the balcony and looked down into the big open hallway, and saw a man in a 3 piece suit and bowler hat. He paused and looked up in my direction (although he didn't see me). It was Culpepper, but Culpepper was played by Malcolm McDowell in my dream. And he was scary! So I ran away, and then I segued into another dream that did not feature any celebrities.
My subconscious, ladies and gentlemen! Let me know if you can make any sense of it!
1/05/2009
A Day At The Beach
Yesterday morning, my alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. Those of you who notice the hours when I am online might take note that when I'm up at 4:30 a.m., that's at the end of a long day, not the beginning. But yesterday, it was the beginning of the day. Because my sister and husband made plans to go to the beach.
Yes, the beach. Yes, in January. It's not the place I would think of going, either. But I got up at 4:30 a.m., and we were headed out the door by 5:30 a.m. We were hoping to experience sunrise at the beach, but we had to make do with watching the sunrise from the car on our way to the beach. Once the sun was up, I realized I left my sunglasses in our car, at home.
The beach was a very different experience in winter. The sand was frozen, and it was a delightful experience to walk on it - I imagined I was standing on a distant planet where the frozen ground had a little give, a little spring in it. It was a lot less crowded, although we were never the only people there - at the Narragansett Public Beach, there was a clearly insane man who was surfing. It was also, of course, cold. I have been unable to find my awesome winter earflap hat, so I had to make do with wrapping a scarf over my head, babushka style, to keep my delicate ears warm.
My sister was on a quest for seaglass, and she found plenty of it, as did Sio. We also found: frozen starfish, huge clamshells, a plastic turtle, an earring painted to look like a pineapple (Loki: "I found Spongebob's house!"), a moldy English muffin, a peanut (me: started singing the Found A Peanut song), peach pits, cigarette butts aplenty, and some pretty shells.
After we finished at the beach, it was about 11am. We decided we were ready for lunch, and we drove to downtown Wakefield, RI, where we stopped in at this excellent breakfast place called Phil's. It was a perfect little greasy spoon, I don't think any of us had a meal that cost more than $5.00, and I didn't feel hungry for the rest of the day. Loki asked for detailed instructions on how to make the homefries, because he deemed them the best homefries he ever had. My sister had a strawberry pancake that was bigger than my head (and my head is huge), and there were whole slices of strawberry in it - it was gorgeous.
Then we walked down to a bookstore that sold both used and new books. I almost bought a music book that was published in the 1860s - it was only $7.50, and it had some pro-Union songs in it, but it also made me sneeze with each turned page, so I left it there. I did flip through a book called Songs of Man that featured folk songs, showing how regardless of culture, certain types of songs developed from nearly every part of the globe. Including a whole chapter on folk songs about Cuckoos. What a world.
On the way home, we stopped to see our younger sister and her new(ish) baby, Clara, who is darling - all smiles and giggles. Clara and I played peekaboo for a while, she jumped every time I said "boo!", and then would giggle and smile. Babies are cute, and they are even better when you don't have to change their diapers.
All in all, it was a great day, although the last two thirds of it were kind of fuzzy for me, since I was all punchy and silly because of the early wake-up.
Yes, the beach. Yes, in January. It's not the place I would think of going, either. But I got up at 4:30 a.m., and we were headed out the door by 5:30 a.m. We were hoping to experience sunrise at the beach, but we had to make do with watching the sunrise from the car on our way to the beach. Once the sun was up, I realized I left my sunglasses in our car, at home.
The beach was a very different experience in winter. The sand was frozen, and it was a delightful experience to walk on it - I imagined I was standing on a distant planet where the frozen ground had a little give, a little spring in it. It was a lot less crowded, although we were never the only people there - at the Narragansett Public Beach, there was a clearly insane man who was surfing. It was also, of course, cold. I have been unable to find my awesome winter earflap hat, so I had to make do with wrapping a scarf over my head, babushka style, to keep my delicate ears warm.
My sister was on a quest for seaglass, and she found plenty of it, as did Sio. We also found: frozen starfish, huge clamshells, a plastic turtle, an earring painted to look like a pineapple (Loki: "I found Spongebob's house!"), a moldy English muffin, a peanut (me: started singing the Found A Peanut song), peach pits, cigarette butts aplenty, and some pretty shells.
After we finished at the beach, it was about 11am. We decided we were ready for lunch, and we drove to downtown Wakefield, RI, where we stopped in at this excellent breakfast place called Phil's. It was a perfect little greasy spoon, I don't think any of us had a meal that cost more than $5.00, and I didn't feel hungry for the rest of the day. Loki asked for detailed instructions on how to make the homefries, because he deemed them the best homefries he ever had. My sister had a strawberry pancake that was bigger than my head (and my head is huge), and there were whole slices of strawberry in it - it was gorgeous.
Then we walked down to a bookstore that sold both used and new books. I almost bought a music book that was published in the 1860s - it was only $7.50, and it had some pro-Union songs in it, but it also made me sneeze with each turned page, so I left it there. I did flip through a book called Songs of Man that featured folk songs, showing how regardless of culture, certain types of songs developed from nearly every part of the globe. Including a whole chapter on folk songs about Cuckoos. What a world.
On the way home, we stopped to see our younger sister and her new(ish) baby, Clara, who is darling - all smiles and giggles. Clara and I played peekaboo for a while, she jumped every time I said "boo!", and then would giggle and smile. Babies are cute, and they are even better when you don't have to change their diapers.
All in all, it was a great day, although the last two thirds of it were kind of fuzzy for me, since I was all punchy and silly because of the early wake-up.
1/03/2009
Longer term goals
1. Perform a stand-up routine.
There have been moments in my life where I've made a large group of people laugh, not by speaking lines written by a playwright, but by coming up with something on my own. Those moments are some of the greatest moments of my life. The idea of doing stand-up is something that terrifies me, which makes me think it might be worth doing.
2. Publish a novel or short-story.
I've been wanting to do this my whole life. I have loads of material that could be brushed off and polished. I will do this.
3. Write a song.
Okay, I've filked plenty, but I've never come up with my own tune. The problem with having a good ear is that everytime I start humming a tune, it may start off as something new, but eventually it veers off into something I've heard before. Also, lyrically, I tend to be more along the lines of Weird Al than, say, the Indigo Girls. I would like to do something meaningful on this front sometime before I die.
There have been moments in my life where I've made a large group of people laugh, not by speaking lines written by a playwright, but by coming up with something on my own. Those moments are some of the greatest moments of my life. The idea of doing stand-up is something that terrifies me, which makes me think it might be worth doing.
2. Publish a novel or short-story.
I've been wanting to do this my whole life. I have loads of material that could be brushed off and polished. I will do this.
3. Write a song.
Okay, I've filked plenty, but I've never come up with my own tune. The problem with having a good ear is that everytime I start humming a tune, it may start off as something new, but eventually it veers off into something I've heard before. Also, lyrically, I tend to be more along the lines of Weird Al than, say, the Indigo Girls. I would like to do something meaningful on this front sometime before I die.
1/01/2009
Goals for 2009
1.Get my hip replaced - this one is more involved than just getting surgery, I also have to lose weight to make this happen.
2. Clean my house - I'm tired of my house being so messy and chaotic. I have to make order out of the chaos. I would like my home to be a sanctuary, and right now, it is someplace that I have to get out of to keep my sanity.
3. Figure out whether I should continue taking 1 class per semester towards getting a music degree, or whether I should cut my losses, stick with my current public sector job and take online classes towards getting a degree in Public Policy or something similar. I'm leaning towards the first option, still.
2. Clean my house - I'm tired of my house being so messy and chaotic. I have to make order out of the chaos. I would like my home to be a sanctuary, and right now, it is someplace that I have to get out of to keep my sanity.
3. Figure out whether I should continue taking 1 class per semester towards getting a music degree, or whether I should cut my losses, stick with my current public sector job and take online classes towards getting a degree in Public Policy or something similar. I'm leaning towards the first option, still.
12/31/2008
End of year assessment meme
Via Toast
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Cantored at a Mass. Got paid $50 per hour at my part-time fun job. Went on vacation with in-laws. Started dealing with some problems in my life. Finished a DIY project.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, I did not keep my NY resolution, which was to write more letters. I don't think I wrote even one letter, except to the editor. I will make one for this coming year, though - I've stuck to them in previous years, I know I can do it again.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
3 of my co-workers had baby boys this year; one of my friends from Harmonious Soul had a baby boy in February; my sister had a baby girl in August.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My friend Al and my friend and co-worker Linda.
5. What places did you visit?
New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Worcester, Northampton, North Carolina
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More energy, more money, my own car.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4th, 2008. Obama walking out on stage to make his victory speech. The emotions of that moment. First and foremost the overwhelming sense of relief that... we... won. Eight psychologically-punishing years had left me pretty traumatized and it wasn't until that moment that I finally started to unclench my political sphincter. And then the realization that we weren't just finally seeing the end of the Winger Era, we were in fact witnessing an incredible moment in our nation's history. We had a elected a black man president. It was, shall we say, heady. I just copied Toast's answer, and I'll add: November 4, 2008, because it was my birthday.
8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
Taking over for my boss while she was on maternity leave and by all accounts, doing a smashing job of it.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I continued to not lose weight, and I was very bad about keeping in touch with people. I love you, Leslie, even though I don't call!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just a few colds that were hard to shake.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Nothing that I can think of...maybe the 20 lbs of honeycrisp apples. They were fantastic.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Obama, Maeve, my SIL
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
John McCain, for treating the presidency with such contempt that he was willing to put a clownish simpleton like Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from it.
Harry Reid, for being a toothless, gutless punk.
Joe Lieberman, for being Joe Lieberman.
The douchebag who dressed up as Santa and gunned down eight of his in-laws.
Every one of those fucking asshats who trampled that WalMart employee to death. Get your consumerism under control, you sick fucks.
John Edwards for cheating on his wife.
Someone else who I do not want to mention.
(Mostly copied from Toast's answer)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Housing, followed by Siobhan's college, then utilities, food, etc.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Harmonious Soul rehearsals; going to North Carolina.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Everything on the Dr. Horrible soundtrack.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder?
a little of both
b) thinner or fatter?
fatter
c) richer or poorer?
Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Swimming; gone to the beach more; purging of stuff.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Watching TV; eating junk food; gotten cranky with the people I live with.
20. How did you spend Christmas this year?
In church : P; driving home from church; trying to make a Christmas tree of light; at my sister's for breakfast; at my SIL's for the rest of the day. I can tell you that I spent very little time sleeping on Christmas, and damn, it takes longer to recover now than it used to!
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No
22. How was work?
Mostly good
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Pushing Daisies
24. What did you do for your birthday in 2008?
Voted for Obama, celebrated his win. By myself, in my living room.
25. What was the best book you read?
In The Woods by Tana French
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I mostly rediscovered stuff this year: David Bowie, Talking Heads, and ended the year by not being able to stop listening to the Robert Plant/Alison Kraus collaboration.
27. What did you want and get?
A Dutch oven
28. What did you want and not get?
Someone to come and clean my house.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't really see many movies this year. I did enjoy All About Eve for the 6th or so time.
30. Did you make some new friends this year?
Yes
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Same as last year: Impeachment proceedings. Again, copied from Toast.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Stuff that looks good on me.
33. What kept you sane?
My responsibilities
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nathan Fillion
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Electing a Democrat to the White House
35a. What political issue stirred you the least?
I don't know
36. Who did you miss?
Leslie, my sister who I hardly ever see
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Someone I met in North Carolina - one of those people with whom you have instant rapport, you know?
38. Burn any bridges?
Never
39. Best new restaurant you went to?
I didn't go to any new restaurants.
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
That you can only control your own actions. I'm slow, though, I have a feeling I'll have to continue learning this before it really sinks in.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Cantored at a Mass. Got paid $50 per hour at my part-time fun job. Went on vacation with in-laws. Started dealing with some problems in my life. Finished a DIY project.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, I did not keep my NY resolution, which was to write more letters. I don't think I wrote even one letter, except to the editor. I will make one for this coming year, though - I've stuck to them in previous years, I know I can do it again.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
3 of my co-workers had baby boys this year; one of my friends from Harmonious Soul had a baby boy in February; my sister had a baby girl in August.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My friend Al and my friend and co-worker Linda.
5. What places did you visit?
New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Worcester, Northampton, North Carolina
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More energy, more money, my own car.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4th, 2008. Obama walking out on stage to make his victory speech. The emotions of that moment. First and foremost the overwhelming sense of relief that... we... won. Eight psychologically-punishing years had left me pretty traumatized and it wasn't until that moment that I finally started to unclench my political sphincter. And then the realization that we weren't just finally seeing the end of the Winger Era, we were in fact witnessing an incredible moment in our nation's history. We had a elected a black man president. It was, shall we say, heady. I just copied Toast's answer, and I'll add: November 4, 2008, because it was my birthday.
8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
Taking over for my boss while she was on maternity leave and by all accounts, doing a smashing job of it.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I continued to not lose weight, and I was very bad about keeping in touch with people. I love you, Leslie, even though I don't call!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just a few colds that were hard to shake.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Nothing that I can think of...maybe the 20 lbs of honeycrisp apples. They were fantastic.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Obama, Maeve, my SIL
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
John McCain, for treating the presidency with such contempt that he was willing to put a clownish simpleton like Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from it.
Harry Reid, for being a toothless, gutless punk.
Joe Lieberman, for being Joe Lieberman.
The douchebag who dressed up as Santa and gunned down eight of his in-laws.
Every one of those fucking asshats who trampled that WalMart employee to death. Get your consumerism under control, you sick fucks.
John Edwards for cheating on his wife.
Someone else who I do not want to mention.
(Mostly copied from Toast's answer)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Housing, followed by Siobhan's college, then utilities, food, etc.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Harmonious Soul rehearsals; going to North Carolina.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Everything on the Dr. Horrible soundtrack.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder?
a little of both
b) thinner or fatter?
fatter
c) richer or poorer?
Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Swimming; gone to the beach more; purging of stuff.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Watching TV; eating junk food; gotten cranky with the people I live with.
20. How did you spend Christmas this year?
In church : P; driving home from church; trying to make a Christmas tree of light; at my sister's for breakfast; at my SIL's for the rest of the day. I can tell you that I spent very little time sleeping on Christmas, and damn, it takes longer to recover now than it used to!
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No
22. How was work?
Mostly good
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Pushing Daisies
24. What did you do for your birthday in 2008?
Voted for Obama, celebrated his win. By myself, in my living room.
25. What was the best book you read?
In The Woods by Tana French
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I mostly rediscovered stuff this year: David Bowie, Talking Heads, and ended the year by not being able to stop listening to the Robert Plant/Alison Kraus collaboration.
27. What did you want and get?
A Dutch oven
28. What did you want and not get?
Someone to come and clean my house.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't really see many movies this year. I did enjoy All About Eve for the 6th or so time.
30. Did you make some new friends this year?
Yes
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Same as last year: Impeachment proceedings. Again, copied from Toast.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Stuff that looks good on me.
33. What kept you sane?
My responsibilities
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nathan Fillion
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Electing a Democrat to the White House
35a. What political issue stirred you the least?
I don't know
36. Who did you miss?
Leslie, my sister who I hardly ever see
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Someone I met in North Carolina - one of those people with whom you have instant rapport, you know?
38. Burn any bridges?
Never
39. Best new restaurant you went to?
I didn't go to any new restaurants.
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
That you can only control your own actions. I'm slow, though, I have a feeling I'll have to continue learning this before it really sinks in.
12/29/2008
12/28/2008
Esprit d'escalier
Now that we're packing up the remains of another War on Christmas, I finally thought of the perfect response to make to someone who gets in your face when you say "Happy Holidays". I've written a short play to illustrate:
*You could, of course, substitute another non-Christian religion.
Cashier: Okay, and $2.53 is your change.
Me: Thank you, and Happy Holidays!
Cashier: It's Merry Christmas, how dare you take the Christ out of Christmas!
Me: Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were Jewish*.
*You could, of course, substitute another non-Christian religion.
12/26/2008
In Which I Fail At Christmas
So, in all the hubbub of present buying and wrapping and singing at
various gigs and masses and trying to clean my house and keep up
with all my regular grocery shopping/cooking responsibilities, I*
neglected to get a Christmas tree.
I was feeling pretty bad about this, but while getting ready for my
3rd mass of the day (just before midnight), I had a creative
epiphany, and devised a plan.
I would take the Christmas lights, create a tree-like shape with
them by taping part of the strand to the ceiling and part to the
floor, and we would have a tree of Christmas lights! I could
visualize it in my mind, and it was beautiful.
When I got home from mass (at 2:00 a.m.), I went down to the
basement and got the lights. I started building my beautiful Tree of
Lights. I had to use duct tape, which interfered with my creative
vision, and it kind of sagged inward more than I had anticipated,
but it evoked the idea of a Christmas tree, and that's what I was
hoping for. And there it was, more or less the tree I envisioned!
And it was only 3:00 a.m., it was still possible to get 5 hours of
sleep!
I plugged the Tree of Lights in, so I could get the full visual
effect. The lights came on and they were good. And then, there was a
smoky *pop*, and every single light went out.
There was nothing to do but to just go to sleep. And as Loki said
the next morning, we spend 80% of our Christmas at other people's
houses anyway.
various gigs and masses and trying to clean my house and keep up
with all my regular grocery shopping/cooking responsibilities, I*
neglected to get a Christmas tree.
I was feeling pretty bad about this, but while getting ready for my
3rd mass of the day (just before midnight), I had a creative
epiphany, and devised a plan.
I would take the Christmas lights, create a tree-like shape with
them by taping part of the strand to the ceiling and part to the
floor, and we would have a tree of Christmas lights! I could
visualize it in my mind, and it was beautiful.
When I got home from mass (at 2:00 a.m.), I went down to the
basement and got the lights. I started building my beautiful Tree of
Lights. I had to use duct tape, which interfered with my creative
vision, and it kind of sagged inward more than I had anticipated,
but it evoked the idea of a Christmas tree, and that's what I was
hoping for. And there it was, more or less the tree I envisioned!
And it was only 3:00 a.m., it was still possible to get 5 hours of
sleep!
I plugged the Tree of Lights in, so I could get the full visual
effect. The lights came on and they were good. And then, there was a
smoky *pop*, and every single light went out.
There was nothing to do but to just go to sleep. And as Loki said
the next morning, we spend 80% of our Christmas at other people's
houses anyway.
12/21/2008
Snow and cold
But I'm inside and totally digging Raising Sand, the Robert Plant/Allison Kraus collaboration. It gets my recommendation.
12/18/2008
Congratulations, Minstrel Boy!
Congratulations to Stevie Benson, aka The Minstrel Boy, on becoming the new Jeopardy champion last night. We were cheering for you!
My daughter wanted you to know that she guessed leopard seal about 5 seconds before you did. Also, she would like to order some truffles. How do we do that?
My daughter wanted you to know that she guessed leopard seal about 5 seconds before you did. Also, she would like to order some truffles. How do we do that?
12/15/2008
Favo(u)rite Actresses
I've been tagged by Hazel at Let's Fold Scarves. The meme is Twenty Favorite Actresses, and the rules are stated by Hazel as follows:
I am amending rule three slightly by listing either any old nonsense or something I would not have watched if the actress in question was not in the cast. For example, I know The Mummy was a blockbuster movie. I didn't watch it until I had seen Rachel Weisz in The Constant Gardener, and then wanted to see more of her.
Hazel is organized and orderly and put hers in alphabetical order; I'm not, so they are just in the order I think of them.
Meryl Streep (Death Becomes Her)
Kathy Bates (Rat Race)
Rachel MacAdams (Wedding Crashers)
Bette Davis (Burnt Offerings)
Jane Fonda (Barbarella)
Betty Garrett (Words and Music)
Rosalind Russell (My Sister Eileen)
Kate Winslet (The Holiday)
Judy Garland (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
Emma Thompson (Impromptu)
Rachel Weisz (The Mummy)
Madeleine Kahn (City Heat)
Julie Walters (Personal Services)
Sissy Spacek ('night, Mother)
Eve Arden (Hit Parade of 1943)
Frances MacDormand (Somthing's Gotta Give)
Holly Hunter (Copycat)
Sigourney Weaver (Heartbreakers)
Shirley MacLaine (The Evening Star)
Juliette Binoche (Chocolate)
If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged.
My first criterion is that the majority of the films made by the actresses are in English since I am not likely to have seen more than two or three of their films if they mainly star(red) in foreign language films. My second criterion follows from this and is that I must have seen more than four or more films with the actress in question. My third criterion is that I have to have watched any old nonsense in order to follow these actresses (examples of these in brackets)
I am amending rule three slightly by listing either any old nonsense or something I would not have watched if the actress in question was not in the cast. For example, I know The Mummy was a blockbuster movie. I didn't watch it until I had seen Rachel Weisz in The Constant Gardener, and then wanted to see more of her.
Hazel is organized and orderly and put hers in alphabetical order; I'm not, so they are just in the order I think of them.
Meryl Streep (Death Becomes Her)
Kathy Bates (Rat Race)
Rachel MacAdams (Wedding Crashers)
Bette Davis (Burnt Offerings)
Jane Fonda (Barbarella)
Betty Garrett (Words and Music)
Rosalind Russell (My Sister Eileen)
Kate Winslet (The Holiday)
Judy Garland (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
Emma Thompson (Impromptu)
Rachel Weisz (The Mummy)
Madeleine Kahn (City Heat)
Julie Walters (Personal Services)
Sissy Spacek ('night, Mother)
Eve Arden (Hit Parade of 1943)
Frances MacDormand (Somthing's Gotta Give)
Holly Hunter (Copycat)
Sigourney Weaver (Heartbreakers)
Shirley MacLaine (The Evening Star)
Juliette Binoche (Chocolate)
If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged.
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