My room tends to be a mess. I'll clean it, and with the best of intentions one day I'll be in a rush, and I'll leave something on the floor, leave a glass on a shelf or my dresser and the slide down the slope is begun. Clutter will take over and the next thing you know, I'm up to my eyes. Despite the mess, I tend to be organized, but that's slipping more and more now. When I was in seventh grade, it was so bad that literally, I only had a clear path from my door to my closet and bed. The rest was piles of papers and books up to my waist. My mother told me to clean my room (big surprise) but she said that I couldn't find anything in there. I told her I knew where everything was and asked her what she wanted- she chose my third English test of the year. So, I began moving the piles maybe four of them, and dug two thirds of the way down one and within three pages, I had the test. Unsurprisingly, my mother was not amused, and reiterated her demand.
I'm an adult now, and my room has never been that stacked up again, but it's been plenty messy. I cleaned it in January, completely finished on the 12th, and drumroll, please... IT'S STILL CLEAN!!!!! I don't remember the last time my room stayed clean for this long. I even made my bed this morning and opened the window blinds. My room is a much nicer place to be now. It feels so good to walk into my room, it's a place to hang out in comfort, it makes me happy. I sleep better and have a better outlook on my life when my room is clean- that's always been true, and it's so nice to be in this place!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Hillary, John, Rudy and Mike
I'm currently suffering from Electile Dysfunction- none of the Presidential candidates excite me. Maybe its because all the candidates have the same thing.
Hillary Clinton has them. John Edwards has them. Rudy Giuliani has them. Mike Huckabee has them. John McCain, Barak Obama, Ron Paul and Mitt Romney have them. All the candidates have them- ISSUES. Go to any candidate's website and you'll find a page (usually on a tab with a drop down menu) called ISSUES.
I read the ISSUES pages of three candidates last Wednesday, and it got me thinking. Once upon a time, political candidates had things called PLATFORMS.
I like PLATFORMS. They're useful. PLATFORMS can be built upon. They elevate, they can be expanded- a PLATFORM over a body of water or a gap is called a BRIDGE. They can be crossed and they can be joined. A PLATFORM can be defended. People can come together on a PLATFORM. People can come together to build a PLATFORM.
ISSUES, on the other hand, are problems, controversies, arguments. They're baggage, they weigh you down. An ISSUE over a body of water or a gap is still an ISSUE.
I just realized why candidates prefer ISSUES to PLATFORMS: PLATFORMS are made of PLANKS, and bad politicians don't want to be treated like bad pirates and be made to walk the PLANK!
Hillary Clinton has them. John Edwards has them. Rudy Giuliani has them. Mike Huckabee has them. John McCain, Barak Obama, Ron Paul and Mitt Romney have them. All the candidates have them- ISSUES. Go to any candidate's website and you'll find a page (usually on a tab with a drop down menu) called ISSUES.
I read the ISSUES pages of three candidates last Wednesday, and it got me thinking. Once upon a time, political candidates had things called PLATFORMS.
I like PLATFORMS. They're useful. PLATFORMS can be built upon. They elevate, they can be expanded- a PLATFORM over a body of water or a gap is called a BRIDGE. They can be crossed and they can be joined. A PLATFORM can be defended. People can come together on a PLATFORM. People can come together to build a PLATFORM.
ISSUES, on the other hand, are problems, controversies, arguments. They're baggage, they weigh you down. An ISSUE over a body of water or a gap is still an ISSUE.
I just realized why candidates prefer ISSUES to PLATFORMS: PLATFORMS are made of PLANKS, and bad politicians don't want to be treated like bad pirates and be made to walk the PLANK!
Monday, January 21, 2008
New Year, New Me
Happy New Year!!!!
I'm all excited because I have lost 3 pounds since I started going back to the gym. I had a job interview today (it went well!), I finished watching Babylon 5, all 5 seasons (cried like a baby all through 'Sleeping in Light'), I had my first job interview in almost 10 years today and it went well!
I started back regularly at the gym last month, and if I'd watched my eating habits- well, #1 it wouldn't be the holidays, and #2 I'd have more to show for it. But, my dietary habits are improving (yes, that means that all my holiday munchies are gone) and my exercise is continuing - I do water aerobics at the gym- form counts for SO much. I used to just do the exercises and not worry about form, and I could do an hour class without a problem. Now, I worry about form, and all of the sudden these exercises are HARD! But, that's a good thing.
My job interview was with a temp agency I used to work for, and I really loved temping. I just hadn't had to try for a job in a long time, and so I was nervous. I had worked out with Erin (Kangaroo Regina) what to say for the hard questions (I've never been so prepared for an interview, she's great!) and they never came up. The good news about that is that if they come up from a posting, I know what to say, so they can't trip me up!
My Christmas present from my parents this year was all five seasons of 'Babylon 5.' Oh, I could rhapsodize for hours about B5. I was surprised at how many episodes I missed while it was airing regularly. I liked Sinclair and Talia for the first time, loathed Mr. Bester and Byron as usual, and loved everyone else (well, Lyta falls from my good graces when she takes up with Byron, but I still love her), Marcus, Oh, my Marcus- I do adore my Marcus. *sniff* Anyhoo- I cried so hard during the very last episode of the series that I had to pause and rewind three or four times to get it all. Wah, it ended. Even the gag reel couldn't cheer me up properly (and there was some funny stuff on it.)
So, I plan to post about once a week this year- keep me honest!
I'm all excited because I have lost 3 pounds since I started going back to the gym. I had a job interview today (it went well!), I finished watching Babylon 5, all 5 seasons (cried like a baby all through 'Sleeping in Light'), I had my first job interview in almost 10 years today and it went well!
I started back regularly at the gym last month, and if I'd watched my eating habits- well, #1 it wouldn't be the holidays, and #2 I'd have more to show for it. But, my dietary habits are improving (yes, that means that all my holiday munchies are gone) and my exercise is continuing - I do water aerobics at the gym- form counts for SO much. I used to just do the exercises and not worry about form, and I could do an hour class without a problem. Now, I worry about form, and all of the sudden these exercises are HARD! But, that's a good thing.
My job interview was with a temp agency I used to work for, and I really loved temping. I just hadn't had to try for a job in a long time, and so I was nervous. I had worked out with Erin (Kangaroo Regina) what to say for the hard questions (I've never been so prepared for an interview, she's great!) and they never came up. The good news about that is that if they come up from a posting, I know what to say, so they can't trip me up!
My Christmas present from my parents this year was all five seasons of 'Babylon 5.' Oh, I could rhapsodize for hours about B5. I was surprised at how many episodes I missed while it was airing regularly. I liked Sinclair and Talia for the first time, loathed Mr. Bester and Byron as usual, and loved everyone else (well, Lyta falls from my good graces when she takes up with Byron, but I still love her), Marcus, Oh, my Marcus- I do adore my Marcus. *sniff* Anyhoo- I cried so hard during the very last episode of the series that I had to pause and rewind three or four times to get it all. Wah, it ended. Even the gag reel couldn't cheer me up properly (and there was some funny stuff on it.)
So, I plan to post about once a week this year- keep me honest!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Annoyances
Don't you hate it when you do something that you really hate doing, and then you find out that it's good for you, and you don't hate it as much as you thought you did? I do. I was challenged to do "Morning Pages," an exercise from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way and I hate doing them. It takes me about an hour to do 3 8.5 x 11 pages longhand. I am entirely unwilling to get up early to do them, so that means that I have to find time to fit them in. Or, just back up my day an hour, which has other repercussions... So, I've been doing this dreaded task for a while and I just whine, but it feels good. I'm getting more work done after the daily gripe. It's too bad I don't gripe less after the exercise, but that's so unlikely as to be ridiculous. I do get some insights about a page and a half into it, so it works. So I do them. Annoying, huh?
Sunday, September 16, 2007
A Civic Education
Yesterday I attended my first political rally and protest in Washington, DC; despite having lived in the general area for all but three years of my life. I was at the Gathering of Eagles rally and their counter-protest. I heard a lot of rhetoric, many moving stories of parents who had lost children in Iraq and Afghanistan, and many times over the message that victory is the only acceptable answer to the war on terror.
I'm a very sentimental person. I cried through almost the entire rally. For the inspiring stories of personal courage, and the tragic stories of loss of life. I cried as the crowd chanted U-S-A. Then, I moved to the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, and took up a spot by the barricade and waited for the anti-war protesters to pass. I had been given an American flag by one of the Eagles, and I was there to show my support to the troops and their leaders, my leaders. I admit, that I was swayed by some of the rhetoric- I had an opportunity to hold a sign that read "Welcome Bin Laden Fan Club" and took it. No one asked me why, I'm not sure how many on my side cared why, but none of the people with the anti-war protest asked why. I had an answer to the unasked "Why?"
"If you aren't a fan of Bin Laden and al-Qaida, why do you do things that support that cause and undermine America's cause?"
I was flipped the bird, I was called names, yes, it's unpleasant but I'm a big girl. I didn't call names back. I didn't flip anyone off. One of the protesters defaced my sign with a sticker. It was a postal address label that said, "I AM A HOMO RIGHT WING PIECE OF SHIT". On one hand, I was delighted. I'd obviously struck a nerve. On the other hand, I am not fecal matter. I am Homo sapiens sapiens, but I am not a lesbian. I have friends who are lesbians, I have friends who are bisexual and I have a friend who is transgender. The longer I have to think about the I AM A HOMO part of that sticker, the angrier I become. Not at the accusation that I may be homosexual. But that someone marching with the liberals, who are "supposed" to be friendly to homosexuals, and are frequently heard speaking out against and defining "hate speech," using it.
Another thing that struck me was this: many of the male anti-war protesters wore bandannas over their faces, and I had to wonder why. I have since wondered if that was strictly legal, but that's beside the point. Why show up if you don't believe in your cause? This is the United States of America, you have the right to assemble peaceably, you may express your opinion openly- without fear of reprisal by the government. If you fear to be associated with a particular cause, there's a simple solution: don't join it.
I would like to exhort EVERYONE with an opinion, no matter what it may be: when you are out in public, protesting, counter-protesting, whatever: mind your manners. There's no reason to call names, there's no reason to use foul language, and everyone keep your hands to yourself and on your own property. Oh, and do please express your opinion. That's a big part of what makes the United States of America the greatest country in the world.
I'm a very sentimental person. I cried through almost the entire rally. For the inspiring stories of personal courage, and the tragic stories of loss of life. I cried as the crowd chanted U-S-A. Then, I moved to the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, and took up a spot by the barricade and waited for the anti-war protesters to pass. I had been given an American flag by one of the Eagles, and I was there to show my support to the troops and their leaders, my leaders. I admit, that I was swayed by some of the rhetoric- I had an opportunity to hold a sign that read "Welcome Bin Laden Fan Club" and took it. No one asked me why, I'm not sure how many on my side cared why, but none of the people with the anti-war protest asked why. I had an answer to the unasked "Why?"
"If you aren't a fan of Bin Laden and al-Qaida, why do you do things that support that cause and undermine America's cause?"
I was flipped the bird, I was called names, yes, it's unpleasant but I'm a big girl. I didn't call names back. I didn't flip anyone off. One of the protesters defaced my sign with a sticker. It was a postal address label that said, "I AM A HOMO RIGHT WING PIECE OF SHIT". On one hand, I was delighted. I'd obviously struck a nerve. On the other hand, I am not fecal matter. I am Homo sapiens sapiens, but I am not a lesbian. I have friends who are lesbians, I have friends who are bisexual and I have a friend who is transgender. The longer I have to think about the I AM A HOMO part of that sticker, the angrier I become. Not at the accusation that I may be homosexual. But that someone marching with the liberals, who are "supposed" to be friendly to homosexuals, and are frequently heard speaking out against and defining "hate speech," using it.
Another thing that struck me was this: many of the male anti-war protesters wore bandannas over their faces, and I had to wonder why. I have since wondered if that was strictly legal, but that's beside the point. Why show up if you don't believe in your cause? This is the United States of America, you have the right to assemble peaceably, you may express your opinion openly- without fear of reprisal by the government. If you fear to be associated with a particular cause, there's a simple solution: don't join it.
I would like to exhort EVERYONE with an opinion, no matter what it may be: when you are out in public, protesting, counter-protesting, whatever: mind your manners. There's no reason to call names, there's no reason to use foul language, and everyone keep your hands to yourself and on your own property. Oh, and do please express your opinion. That's a big part of what makes the United States of America the greatest country in the world.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Is it July, yet?
So, I just finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and my faith in Snape- waivers.
I have complete faith in Dumbledore. I believed with every fibre of my being that Snape was on the side of the angels right up until chapter 27.
I can come up with reasons that almost completely convince me that Snape is a good guy, even now. But he Stupify-ed Flitwick. Or did he? That was obvious to Hermione and Luna in hindsight; however, we never read a verification from our favourite charms teacher... so, maybe, Snape is on the side of the angels.
But Dumbledore was pleading. Didn't he have to press Harry to remember his oath all through the last couple of chapters? If Snape is on the side of the angels, he's got a wandless Dumbledore to back him on the roof, and a bunch of Death Eaters around him who think he's on their side. Snape is the Order's best source of information on the doings of Voldemort and the Death Eaters, not compromising his cover is of extreme importance. If he's on the side of the angels, is he going to want to keep Draco Malfoy innocent more than provide the help he vowed to give? I have no difficulty believing that Draco's innocence is more important to Dumbledore than his own life- Dumbledore is a hero. Dumbledore may have been pleading with Snape to preserve Draco's innocence, asking him to take on another measure of guilt upon himself. And that expression of loathing and hatred on Snape's face? I'd loathe that action, and I might even spare a touch of hatred for someone asking me to do that.
The only two characters I can think of who Rowling has misled us with (I do not count Barty Crouch posing as Moody, that is the entire point of the Polyjuice Potion) are Gilderoy Lockhart, but his artificiality is apparent from the get go; and Percy Weasley, who is rules-bound from the beginning and shown to be two-faced as early as the fourth book. Otherwise, good guys are good, bad guys are bad and people are people. Snape would be the third, either way. Either he's a real jerk who is on the side of the angels, or he's a bad guy who's able to fool the good guys (including the REAL Mad Eye Moody).
My mind is not made up, but I'll learn the truth this July. I'm hoping that there will be another party at my bookstore. My best friend, Erin, and I went to the one for the release of book six and we had a great time (we were in the first or second group to get books).
I have complete faith in Dumbledore. I believed with every fibre of my being that Snape was on the side of the angels right up until chapter 27.
I can come up with reasons that almost completely convince me that Snape is a good guy, even now. But he Stupify-ed Flitwick. Or did he? That was obvious to Hermione and Luna in hindsight; however, we never read a verification from our favourite charms teacher... so, maybe, Snape is on the side of the angels.
But Dumbledore was pleading. Didn't he have to press Harry to remember his oath all through the last couple of chapters? If Snape is on the side of the angels, he's got a wandless Dumbledore to back him on the roof, and a bunch of Death Eaters around him who think he's on their side. Snape is the Order's best source of information on the doings of Voldemort and the Death Eaters, not compromising his cover is of extreme importance. If he's on the side of the angels, is he going to want to keep Draco Malfoy innocent more than provide the help he vowed to give? I have no difficulty believing that Draco's innocence is more important to Dumbledore than his own life- Dumbledore is a hero. Dumbledore may have been pleading with Snape to preserve Draco's innocence, asking him to take on another measure of guilt upon himself. And that expression of loathing and hatred on Snape's face? I'd loathe that action, and I might even spare a touch of hatred for someone asking me to do that.
The only two characters I can think of who Rowling has misled us with (I do not count Barty Crouch posing as Moody, that is the entire point of the Polyjuice Potion) are Gilderoy Lockhart, but his artificiality is apparent from the get go; and Percy Weasley, who is rules-bound from the beginning and shown to be two-faced as early as the fourth book. Otherwise, good guys are good, bad guys are bad and people are people. Snape would be the third, either way. Either he's a real jerk who is on the side of the angels, or he's a bad guy who's able to fool the good guys (including the REAL Mad Eye Moody).
My mind is not made up, but I'll learn the truth this July. I'm hoping that there will be another party at my bookstore. My best friend, Erin, and I went to the one for the release of book six and we had a great time (we were in the first or second group to get books).
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Three remarkable kids
I was introduced to three remarkable kids several years back, by my best friend, Erin. Their names are Harry, Ron and Hermione, and anyone who has read J.K. Rowling's Hogwarts series knows these kids.
Erin received book three, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, from another friend for her birthday. She had an hour and a half commute to work, so she read it and then she passed it along to me with the comment, "These kids rule the world!" I had a bit of a commute myself, so I read the book and was immediately enchanted. I went off and got books one and two, to fill myself in on the doings of these children, got the 1-4 box set and books five and six when they came out.
I really enjoyed the books, I love the characters I'm supposed to love, I hate the characters I'm supposed to hate (I have to remind myself that I am morally opposed to relieving someone of their soul and that Dolores Umbridge is a fictional character, because if anyone deserves a Dementor's kiss, it's that 817c#), and until book six I was pretty fond of Snape. I trusted him unquestioningly. Then, book six came out, and - my faith wavered. I didn't want him to do it. I didn't want Draco to do it either, I didn't want anyone to. I know I'll learn the truth this July.
I've never reread book six. It was too painful. But to get ready for July, I'm rereading the series. I've read the first five, I'm starting book six tomorrow, and I'm confident that Snape is on the side of the angels. I'll revisit this after I've reread book six.
Erin received book three, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, from another friend for her birthday. She had an hour and a half commute to work, so she read it and then she passed it along to me with the comment, "These kids rule the world!" I had a bit of a commute myself, so I read the book and was immediately enchanted. I went off and got books one and two, to fill myself in on the doings of these children, got the 1-4 box set and books five and six when they came out.
I really enjoyed the books, I love the characters I'm supposed to love, I hate the characters I'm supposed to hate (I have to remind myself that I am morally opposed to relieving someone of their soul and that Dolores Umbridge is a fictional character, because if anyone deserves a Dementor's kiss, it's that 817c#), and until book six I was pretty fond of Snape. I trusted him unquestioningly. Then, book six came out, and - my faith wavered. I didn't want him to do it. I didn't want Draco to do it either, I didn't want anyone to. I know I'll learn the truth this July.
I've never reread book six. It was too painful. But to get ready for July, I'm rereading the series. I've read the first five, I'm starting book six tomorrow, and I'm confident that Snape is on the side of the angels. I'll revisit this after I've reread book six.
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