9 posts tagged “personal”
Because I have been for weeks and for months. Finally I can breathe a sigh of relief. Sanity won out. Hatred, racism and stupidity can take a back seat. It may take women a little while to recover from the setback and to be taken seriously again, but at least now it won't be four years of mistrust and disbelief we'll have to wade through.
Still, I feel sad, sad that there was such division in the country. Division in my own family even. I've been branded and judged by my own mother as godless because I voted for a black man, because I believe that the government should not be able to tell me (or anyone) what they can or cannot do with their own body, because I believe global warming is happening and we need to fix it, because I believe in gun control and because I believe that we need to have separation of church and state within our government. This is a melting pot of faiths and skin colors and we need to find that middle ground, to find peace with each other, to be able to give and show respect to our neighbors. We have to find ways to help each other, to take care of each other, to rebuild the mess that we're in. You know, all those things that Jesus would probably want for us. Sigh. Hypocrisy and zealotry go far too hand in hand most of the time and this election brought out the worst in America. And finally, the best.
I feel exhausted today. Wiped out from such elation, tears and emotion.
Watching Harry Smith on the Early Show this AM talking about how he grew up in a household where racial epithets were common and how he wept tears of joy last night during Obama's speech.
As so many of us did--and might still be. It feels good to have hope again.
This has been circulating for a few years now but figured I'd resurrect it here. Because I'm a freak for books.
Name Five People To Carry On This Meme:
Greg
Angela
Reese
Suzychapstick
Bookmole
Total number of books owned:
I would say at least a thousand, half of which are probably in boxes in the attic. It's sad actually, how we're really lacking in bookshelves. I need to go through them and get rid of the crappy ones. But I love love love books and owning books. And yes, I do often re-read them.
Last book bought:
Margot Livesey spoke at the Grub Street conference I attended last weekend. The odd thing was, I didn't attend her session, but was drawn to two of her books at the sale table at the end of the day. Now I'm kicking myself that I wasn't able to sit in on her session. I picked up this gem of a book about a woman who grew up with two mysterious ghost "companions." I already sucked this one down and I highly recommend it.
Last book read:
See above. Except that I'm still reading other books, so I suppose it's only partially accurate. I read Catch-22 at lunchtime, Le Chanson de Roland in the bathroom, Fragile Things before I go to sleep (although that may not be the wisest bedtime choice) and Aristophanes is waiting in the wings. Sad, I know.
Five books that mean a lot to you:
Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
This was the first book I read by Carson and it forever introduced me to new possibilities in poetry. Carson is an expert in classical myth and literature and in this book she draws upon the myth of Herakles and the red winged monster, Geryon, that Herakles slayed as part of his numerous labors. Except in this incredible piece of literature, a lot of the slaying going on was that of the heart as Geryon and Herakles were both strange friends and lovers. The piece is at once classical but takes place in contemporary settings. It made me realize the infinite possibilities when it comes to verse, that deep, intricate stories can be buried in poetry and there is immeasurable joy of discovering a story told in such a way. It tears into you in a way that prose pieces cannot. This is a beautiful, haunting, disturbing, creative, imaginative, inspiring book that I think everyone should read.
New and Collected Poems 1931-2000 by Czeslaw Milosz
I felt such genuine sorrow when Milosz passed away a few years ago. He wrote some of the most accessible poetry I have ever come across, drawing upon his unique vision of the world and the people in that world. I actually would recommend reading anything he has written, but if you could only get one book of his, this would be it. I was introduced to Milosz by a co-worker many years ago. He gave me his copy of A Treatise of Poetry, a very long and great poem about pre and post war Europe. But back to his collected poems...here is a snippet-- And Yet the Books.
Split Infinity by Piers Anthony
I haven't read this in years but I have very very fond memories of this book. I read it for the first time when I was probably ten. I used to pick up all my dad's sci-fi and fantasy novels that he would leave lying around (I do remember that he wasn't happy when I ran across his Gor books but other than that he never seemed to notice that I read the leave-behinds even though I was most likely way too young for much of the material). I loved Split Infinity, a story about a man who lives in two separate worlds that are side by side, one of science and one of magic. I remember one summer I explained the story (and its follow up, Blue Adept--don't think Juxtaposition was out yet) to my cousin Rhett. We spent the entire month acting out the books. Silly perhaps but we had a great time. I loved the idea of magic and technology existing in the same book.
East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated in 1859 by Sir George Webbe Dasent
I loved fairy tales when I was growing up and this has always been one of my favorite books. It's a collection of dozens of Norwegian fairy tales, of which the most well known is probably the Three Billy Goats Gruff. I read this book from cover to cover when I was a kid, playing out some of the stories in my room when I was probably supposed to be napping or going to sleep. You can read the complete book here.
The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde
My parents used to subscribe to book clubs way back when that allowed you to get volumes of classic works sent to your house on a monthly basis. I have a nice red volume of Wilde's works that I used to paw through for interesting quotes when I was an early teen. I think I became a hardcore convert in high school, however, when I discovered that he was an inspiration for Morrissey, then with The Smiths. I read everything I could by Wilde, absorbing all the nuances of his poetry and plays and reading as many biographies I could about his life. From Wilde I learned to like drama and I also had my first understanding of homosexual love--not that of physical love--but emotional love between people of the same sex. It helped me to be more understanding when my best guy friend came out to me when I was 15. Knowing about Wilde's life enabled me to understand more about sexual repression, discrimination and hatred. As a teenager, I felt an affinity to Wilde because he was passionate, talkative and full of unrequited or forbidden love (not that I loved girls, just that I loved people I couldn't have and who didn't love me back). Wilde also helped me see that there was a lot of value and interest in works that weren't contemporary or based in fantasy and fairy tales, which were my primary love as a kid. It was late in high school that I found that he also wrote fairy tales (which are wonderful!) and that only endeared me to him further.
writing. me. getting my mind off of personal crap. obsessing about things that are good for me instead. not twittering my life away on things that I shouldn't be.
the reincarnation of my other blog.
and no, vox, I love you too much to go from here!
All day today I've felt like there is a thorn or something prickly in my sock, rubbing against my ankle. But there isn't. I have changed socks, changed shoes...no difference. I've tried rubbing my ankle, lotioning it up, etc. No change. If I am barefoot and walking around I feel it. It's not completely persistent. I feel it here and there, quite literally as though there is something stickery in my sock. I just don't get it.
Ideas?
My latest PDAStreet column was just published, in case you are interested. I noticed a few typos...they aren't my fault, really!
I've admired this funky clock above my acupuncturist's mantle since I've been there. Snapped a quick picture before I left today. I realize it's a bit fuzzy but well, I felt pretty relaxed when I finally took this picture.
Day 005 Project 365
~ my arms and shoulders don't bother me as much from too much computer use.
~ I sleep at night without waking up because of allergies or postnasal drip.
~ my lungs are stronger when it's cold out (I have cold-induced asthma...extreme temperature shifts send my lungs into shock and I cough until I see stars).
~ I'm no longer taking the Allegra, Flonese, Sudafed cocktail that my doctor prescribed.
Pretty damn awesome, IMHO.
Forgot to mention that my latest article was published recently...on the viability of advertising in the mobile video medium.
And for the first time, Joe and I are going out to a nice restaurant to eat rather than going to family or friends. We're rather excited about it--the menu looks delish and since we're such huge foodies I think it will be a real treat.
It's strange to think that I won't be spending Thanksgiving with friends or family. Growing up we had a pretty basic Thanksgiving meal. Turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stovetop stuffing, fruit salad and rolls. It was pretty much always that meal, with pumpkin pie for dessert. Oh, and my father always had to have the cranberry gel goo from a can. He was the only one who ever ate that.
One year my mom got tired of my brother and sister complaining that we only ever have the same thing for Thanksgiving. My brother never ate any of it besides the rolls and fruit salad. He was always a notoriously picky eater. So she decided to let us make our own dinners. She picked up some Boboli pizza crusts and laid out an assortment of toppings for us all to make our own pizzas. My sister and brother were excited but I felt sad. I remember my dad being quite ticked off. He wouldn't talk to her for a day or two and so finally, a couple days later we had our regular Thanksgiving meal. I'll have to ask her about that. We never talk about it--it's not a funny family story we still relate to each other. Just seems strangely forgotten.
We're hooking up with some friends for dinner tomorrow night--friends we've met through gaming. It's great how many people we've met online and then met in RL. 99% of those people are darn cool. Hell, I even met Joe online. I'm always amazed at the gaps that being wired and connected closes.
I doubt I will post again until next week (but who knows I may surprise you) so if you are in the states and reading this, best wishes for an excellent Thanksgiving!
What's the strongest association you have between a scent and a memory?
When I was a child, my grandparents lived in Burley, ID on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Snake River.
Out back, right along the ridge, was a beautiful Russian Olive tree that helped frame the incredible view from their backyard. It had the most wonderful scent in the spring and summer and whenever I have the good fortune to drive by a field with one of these pretty silvery trees, I think of Papa and Grandma, their big house, Penelope the St. Bernard, Little Paw the kitty and hundreds of summer images that come to mind.
I don't smell those trees much since I moved to the East...but every once in a long while, on the way back from the beach, we'll pass a farm and I'll smell that tree and immediately I'm transported to a very happy time and very happy place.
- riding on the lawn mower with my grandpa
- popsicles
- avoiding the sticker weeds that sometimes came up in the lawn--thousands of tiny little stickers
- rhubarb growing in the garden
- the long rugged path down the canyon to the boat dock
- running through the sprinkler
- popsicles
- beautiful gorgeous sunsets every single night
- equally incredible thunderstorms that would sweep through in the space of a half-hour then be gone
- playing statues, hide & seek, jarts, badminton, tag and more
- splashing in the wading pool (when we were really young)
- performing elaborate musicals and "plays" for our relatives
- BBQ, corn on the cob...watermelon
- watermelon seed spitting contests
