Geechie Wiley was a fictional character to me.
Or at least I didn’t know she was real.
I had heard her mentioned in a story. It was about finding a rare Geechie Wiley album. I’m never sure about the line between fact and fiction... and in this case I thought maybe she wasn’t real.
That is until I bought an album from a subway musician named “Erin Harpe” who sang a song based off of Geechie Wiley. A name I couldn’t help but remember. And suddenly fiction came to life and I had the inside track on a story. I could hear a Geechie Wiley song. “Pick Poor Robin Clean”
Wait, let me explain something about that street musician. As far as subway musicians go she is my favorite, she’s the best I’ve ever heard. She sings the blues, but not just the blues, I’m talking old time depression era blues.
Every time I saw her I would search my pockets for cash and try to buy an album and every time I’d come up short. Until finally one day I had $10 and I bought an album. But I bought the wrong one. This one is great, it’s her band and they do a great job. But I wanted that soulful depression era blues that I heard on the subway.
So weeks later I scrounged up my crumpled ones, and $4 in quarters to by her original album. And there it was. “Pick Poor Robin Clean” - Geechie Wiley.
I felt my heart skip.
She’s real.
In that second I fell in love.
I fell in love with the idea of her. And then I heard Erin Harpe sing Pick Poor Robin Clean, and I knew what I had to do. The internet is a wonderful thing. I tracked down the faded, crackling Geechie Wiley and had a listen.
They are both brilliant.
I’m still in love with Erin Harpe, the greatest street musician I’ve had the privilege to listen to. And I’m still in love with Geechie Wiley who remains a mystery; she leaves a spotty trail of recording, but is real. Now I have the privilege of beginning to understand just how rare that album in the story was.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Monday, June 12, 2006
An Inconvenient Truth
So I have a favor to ask everyone I know. And it may sound left wing liberal crazy. And to some of you that was a ringing endorsement of my favor. And to others it was quite the opposite. But I promise either way this is worth your while.
Go see Al Gore’s new documentary An Inconvenient Truth.
It’s science, and though I’d heard it all before… it was devastating. And hopeful. Seeing it all together the graphs, the charts, the photos, the brilliant Matt Groening animation... I felt a bit like Pandora when she opened that damn box. All hell and destruction burst loose. But remember small and shining at the bottom of the box was hope. We need that when we take on these insurmountable odds.
And Al Gore.
I’m as shocked as the next person. I didn’t like his political platform that he for president with. I didn’t like his choice of running mates. I didn’t like his views of school vouchers and censorship. I did like his views on the environment but I’m not sure he would have been a good president. Better than the one we have, absolutely. I don’t know about you but sometimes I feel that isn’t enough.
But Al Gore environmental crusader… well I’ve finally seen what he cares about. I’ve finally seen where his passion is. I’ve finally seen him reach people. And friends, I like what I see. I see a man raising alarms, not color levels. I see someone with a plan, who is ringing alarm bells not pushing panic buttons. I see a person who’s trying to make a difference against the odds. And he’s not asking for much. He’s out there trying to make things better.
I’d heard the facts before; I knew about the weather phenomenons, the ice caps melting the carbon dioxide levels rising, I’ve heard more than this movie covers. This is just a surprisingly powerful, funny, telling of it. It’s not perfect, it has flaws. I read a review that this is a 3 star movie about a 5 star PowerPoint presentation. That’s not far off. But it’s worth seeing.
So go see his movie and tell your friends about it. Talk about it. Do something about it.
Go see Al Gore’s new documentary An Inconvenient Truth.
It’s science, and though I’d heard it all before… it was devastating. And hopeful. Seeing it all together the graphs, the charts, the photos, the brilliant Matt Groening animation... I felt a bit like Pandora when she opened that damn box. All hell and destruction burst loose. But remember small and shining at the bottom of the box was hope. We need that when we take on these insurmountable odds.
And Al Gore.
I’m as shocked as the next person. I didn’t like his political platform that he for president with. I didn’t like his choice of running mates. I didn’t like his views of school vouchers and censorship. I did like his views on the environment but I’m not sure he would have been a good president. Better than the one we have, absolutely. I don’t know about you but sometimes I feel that isn’t enough.
But Al Gore environmental crusader… well I’ve finally seen what he cares about. I’ve finally seen where his passion is. I’ve finally seen him reach people. And friends, I like what I see. I see a man raising alarms, not color levels. I see someone with a plan, who is ringing alarm bells not pushing panic buttons. I see a person who’s trying to make a difference against the odds. And he’s not asking for much. He’s out there trying to make things better.
I’d heard the facts before; I knew about the weather phenomenons, the ice caps melting the carbon dioxide levels rising, I’ve heard more than this movie covers. This is just a surprisingly powerful, funny, telling of it. It’s not perfect, it has flaws. I read a review that this is a 3 star movie about a 5 star PowerPoint presentation. That’s not far off. But it’s worth seeing.
So go see his movie and tell your friends about it. Talk about it. Do something about it.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Happy Birthday Dad
It’s dad’s birthday today. I wrote my annual letter to my dad.
Dear Dad,
Well I tried to give your birthday away this year. I thought you’d like that. I thought you would appreciate the gesture. It keeps it close to us, the day, you, everything. Tried... I didn’t quite succeed but then again, switching Connor’s Birthday to June 6th on 6/6/06 might nor have been the best idea. Maybe next year. I’ll still take him to NYC as a birthday present in June.
Another reason to call it D-Day… Devil’s Day, Dad’s Day.
It was tougher than I thought this year as the anniversary rolled around. It’s been ten years. And I still miss things about you. And I’ve forgotten so much about you. I feel like now I remember the way you look more from photographs instead of memories. Chardy helps. He’s our last link to you. I guess we’re his last link you too. But enough of that. We both know that I love and miss you.
I hope you’re not too mad at us for the Day of the Dad. I know you would rather we were more supportive of mom about this but… I vowed that I would never let your death ruin my birthday again. I know she wants me to be there for her but… I’m not the one to do it. She should find someone else. One of her sisters because I’m not going to do it. I can’t. It’s been ten years, she should find someone else to hold her hand that day. I fought too hard to keep that mine, to keep it happy.
Plus that zombie movie kind of got to me. I wonder what you’d think of it. Forgive me not wanting you to come back that day. It’s just those zombies, they acted like you do in my dreams. It must be a common dream… shared by many who grieve. But it was scary to see it fleshed out in film. Disturbing and fascinating. Like all the best things right?
So what have I been up too? Oh the usual dead end career, art on the side although I’ve started calling myself an artist again. I’m an artist I’m just doing a little freelance reception on the side. Yeah I thought that was pretty funny.
I know, I’ll figure it out. It’s just a struggle. In the mean time I fight with myself about art and what I should be doing right now. I should be working on the book. I should be planning the trip to New York, I should be working on a large watercolor or finishing the pictures for Mom’s Mother’s Day present. I should be making a new picture for Louis’s birthday and Laura’s Birthday. I should be making a plan for me life.
Yet I’m happy. I’ve been pleased with my last projects, gifts for weddings and birthdays. Shadow boxes, with cut paper. The space one really made me pretty happy Zelda Zap Galactic Space Girl. Emily Hogan now owns that one. Sarah’s was a little more personal. Matt’s was a work of art. But I’m a little nervous about that one.
I don’t know why I’m telling you this. It will either amuse or appall you. Matt’s shadowbox, it’s a Hawaiian theme, things they will do on their honeymoon in Hawaii. It’s broken into 4 boxes, one of them hiking, one in a beach bar, one snorkeling (Did you ever snorkel? That’s good fun) and the last is a Luau with two hula girls dancing. So… when I drew the hula girls I was having trouble with their proportions so I drew them naked first, and anatomically correct and all and pasted on the hula skirts and tops and all of that but the glue I used wasn’t so great. So I’m convinced in time it will get brittle and break and all of their clothes with fall off leaving the naked girls! You know I only gave it to them because I didn’t think they’d like it in the first place. But I worked very hard to make it wonderful enough that they might fall in love with it. I could have used better glue but I didn’t… I know it’s wrong but I just think that’s funny.
I was at the Greek Festival this weekend. It was the same as it ever was. It was exactly the same. I smiled and ate and watched the dancing with a mix of nostalgia and resentment. I scanned the crowd for people I knew and hid my eyes when I thought I’d recognize them. I hid in plane sight and soaked in the ambience. I thought I should get a drink to really enjoy this. I thought of you.
Sarah has her masters now, Library Science; Emily’s a doctor like Pam. Jimmy is the same, good natured, yuppie, liberal. He’s still smart and sharp, loves kids and seems genuinely happy to see us. Pam has two boys, they are cute and she’s happy, her husband is sweet. Kathy is the same, exactly the same.
As for Beth, she has plans, is going to Chile, is finishing school, applying to graduate school. She’ll be an English Professor someday or she’ll be something else. You’ll be proud of her though.
Brian’s still searching for someone to complete him. He should try looking inside himself. I love my brother but he’s still just soul sick. I guess we all are. He just has it worse than the rest of us.
We saw Alison. Or rather Beth and Mom did. She’s doing well two kids and all that. She misses us as much as we miss her.
The Shea kids are huge. Connor is a reader, smart, goofy, sweet, wonderful. Erin is athletic, kind, saucy and fresh. Ryan is little miss sassafras. She is all attitude and charm. You’d love them. And Chardy sails on the same sea of confusion as Beth and me. Ships in search of something else. We’ve vowed to take care of each other when any of us make it big. And I don’t doubt it.
And I’m starting to think you are lucky you missed the series. It really isn’t same now that they won. The Yankee rivalry doesn’t even feel the same to me. I wouldn’t trade those seven games for the world… that’s how you should fight against the Yankees. That will be the pinnacle of that rivalry for me. But I now recognize that it was the end of an era and nothing will be the same after that. And that’s good and bad. Long suffering led to poetry in our writing, sorrow let to dark humor, my favorite kind.
I love you.
I never believed it would be ten years since I’ve seen your smile, heard your voice, felt your touch. I know it would come I knew things would be okay. I knew I would be okay but I never believed 10 years would pass so quickly. You are so much a part of me. You’ll always be such a part of me. Thank goodness for that.
I’ll make you proud. I promise.
Love,
Kate
Dear Dad,
Well I tried to give your birthday away this year. I thought you’d like that. I thought you would appreciate the gesture. It keeps it close to us, the day, you, everything. Tried... I didn’t quite succeed but then again, switching Connor’s Birthday to June 6th on 6/6/06 might nor have been the best idea. Maybe next year. I’ll still take him to NYC as a birthday present in June.
Another reason to call it D-Day… Devil’s Day, Dad’s Day.
It was tougher than I thought this year as the anniversary rolled around. It’s been ten years. And I still miss things about you. And I’ve forgotten so much about you. I feel like now I remember the way you look more from photographs instead of memories. Chardy helps. He’s our last link to you. I guess we’re his last link you too. But enough of that. We both know that I love and miss you.
I hope you’re not too mad at us for the Day of the Dad. I know you would rather we were more supportive of mom about this but… I vowed that I would never let your death ruin my birthday again. I know she wants me to be there for her but… I’m not the one to do it. She should find someone else. One of her sisters because I’m not going to do it. I can’t. It’s been ten years, she should find someone else to hold her hand that day. I fought too hard to keep that mine, to keep it happy.
Plus that zombie movie kind of got to me. I wonder what you’d think of it. Forgive me not wanting you to come back that day. It’s just those zombies, they acted like you do in my dreams. It must be a common dream… shared by many who grieve. But it was scary to see it fleshed out in film. Disturbing and fascinating. Like all the best things right?
So what have I been up too? Oh the usual dead end career, art on the side although I’ve started calling myself an artist again. I’m an artist I’m just doing a little freelance reception on the side. Yeah I thought that was pretty funny.
I know, I’ll figure it out. It’s just a struggle. In the mean time I fight with myself about art and what I should be doing right now. I should be working on the book. I should be planning the trip to New York, I should be working on a large watercolor or finishing the pictures for Mom’s Mother’s Day present. I should be making a new picture for Louis’s birthday and Laura’s Birthday. I should be making a plan for me life.
Yet I’m happy. I’ve been pleased with my last projects, gifts for weddings and birthdays. Shadow boxes, with cut paper. The space one really made me pretty happy Zelda Zap Galactic Space Girl. Emily Hogan now owns that one. Sarah’s was a little more personal. Matt’s was a work of art. But I’m a little nervous about that one.
I don’t know why I’m telling you this. It will either amuse or appall you. Matt’s shadowbox, it’s a Hawaiian theme, things they will do on their honeymoon in Hawaii. It’s broken into 4 boxes, one of them hiking, one in a beach bar, one snorkeling (Did you ever snorkel? That’s good fun) and the last is a Luau with two hula girls dancing. So… when I drew the hula girls I was having trouble with their proportions so I drew them naked first, and anatomically correct and all and pasted on the hula skirts and tops and all of that but the glue I used wasn’t so great. So I’m convinced in time it will get brittle and break and all of their clothes with fall off leaving the naked girls! You know I only gave it to them because I didn’t think they’d like it in the first place. But I worked very hard to make it wonderful enough that they might fall in love with it. I could have used better glue but I didn’t… I know it’s wrong but I just think that’s funny.
I was at the Greek Festival this weekend. It was the same as it ever was. It was exactly the same. I smiled and ate and watched the dancing with a mix of nostalgia and resentment. I scanned the crowd for people I knew and hid my eyes when I thought I’d recognize them. I hid in plane sight and soaked in the ambience. I thought I should get a drink to really enjoy this. I thought of you.
Sarah has her masters now, Library Science; Emily’s a doctor like Pam. Jimmy is the same, good natured, yuppie, liberal. He’s still smart and sharp, loves kids and seems genuinely happy to see us. Pam has two boys, they are cute and she’s happy, her husband is sweet. Kathy is the same, exactly the same.
As for Beth, she has plans, is going to Chile, is finishing school, applying to graduate school. She’ll be an English Professor someday or she’ll be something else. You’ll be proud of her though.
Brian’s still searching for someone to complete him. He should try looking inside himself. I love my brother but he’s still just soul sick. I guess we all are. He just has it worse than the rest of us.
We saw Alison. Or rather Beth and Mom did. She’s doing well two kids and all that. She misses us as much as we miss her.
The Shea kids are huge. Connor is a reader, smart, goofy, sweet, wonderful. Erin is athletic, kind, saucy and fresh. Ryan is little miss sassafras. She is all attitude and charm. You’d love them. And Chardy sails on the same sea of confusion as Beth and me. Ships in search of something else. We’ve vowed to take care of each other when any of us make it big. And I don’t doubt it.
And I’m starting to think you are lucky you missed the series. It really isn’t same now that they won. The Yankee rivalry doesn’t even feel the same to me. I wouldn’t trade those seven games for the world… that’s how you should fight against the Yankees. That will be the pinnacle of that rivalry for me. But I now recognize that it was the end of an era and nothing will be the same after that. And that’s good and bad. Long suffering led to poetry in our writing, sorrow let to dark humor, my favorite kind.
I love you.
I never believed it would be ten years since I’ve seen your smile, heard your voice, felt your touch. I know it would come I knew things would be okay. I knew I would be okay but I never believed 10 years would pass so quickly. You are so much a part of me. You’ll always be such a part of me. Thank goodness for that.
I’ll make you proud. I promise.
Love,
Kate
Saturday, May 06, 2006
They Came Back
Well dad didn’t come back. And I’m a little relieved.
Zombie films are one of my favorite genres of films because they scare me. Zombies scare me. Zombies and the church. But “They Came Back” a film that was eerie, without gore... that got me. And I was only half kidding when I talked about being on Zombie watch. Part of me expected him to come back and in a way someone did come back.
It was Allison. Brian’s ex-girlfriend, the one he should have married, the one he was going to marry, the one who slipped away. I haven’t seen her in maybe 8 or 9 or years. But I didn’t see her; I didn’t hear about her voice, I didn’t hear about her new life, her kids. Mom and Beth did. And I am a little sad that I didn’t see her. They tell me she was the same. When she and Brian broke up, that was it. I never saw her again. I never spoke to her again. She was just gone. Beth was the one who got in contact with her. And Brian got upset. But he doesn’t get as great as his hurt is, it was his choice, he said goodbye and we never did. She was just gone. And though he loves her more, we love her too. So on the day of Zombie watch, someone did come back... it just wasn’t who we were expecting.
Memories flooded me and I remembered Allison.
Allison who taught me so much, the older sister I always wanted. She taught me the tone of voice to use with when arguing for what you want with a smile. It’s especially useful when arguing with customer service. She was so different than us and so wonderful. I remember the summer of Jane. I remember going to get treats. When I would visit Brian in San Diego he would work and be tired, and Allison would hang out and do things with me. She showed me that you didn’t have to play by the rules. Rules are meant to be stretched, pushed and broken. She taught me that feminism is feminine, that girl power comes in many forms and that as different as people are admiration can be mutual. She brought an element into our lives that we never had. And I hope we did the same. She was special and from what I hear she still is.
Enough love letters to my former sister. It’s bringing me down.
Today is the day of my former youngest cousin’s college graduation. He used to me my youngest cousin. For years he was my youngest cousin. Until about 11 years ago. Since my 30th birthday Beth and I have reconnected with Steve. We went out on Christmas together, we plan on hanging out at our cousin Matt’s wedding. It’s nice. Steve and his brother Chris were like little brothers to me growing up. And of all of my cousins who I’ve lost touch with, they are the ones that I felt the loss strongest. But the reconnection has been great. And Steve is such a nice person, he’s a good egg.
So I’m looking forward to seeing him.
Zombie films are one of my favorite genres of films because they scare me. Zombies scare me. Zombies and the church. But “They Came Back” a film that was eerie, without gore... that got me. And I was only half kidding when I talked about being on Zombie watch. Part of me expected him to come back and in a way someone did come back.
It was Allison. Brian’s ex-girlfriend, the one he should have married, the one he was going to marry, the one who slipped away. I haven’t seen her in maybe 8 or 9 or years. But I didn’t see her; I didn’t hear about her voice, I didn’t hear about her new life, her kids. Mom and Beth did. And I am a little sad that I didn’t see her. They tell me she was the same. When she and Brian broke up, that was it. I never saw her again. I never spoke to her again. She was just gone. Beth was the one who got in contact with her. And Brian got upset. But he doesn’t get as great as his hurt is, it was his choice, he said goodbye and we never did. She was just gone. And though he loves her more, we love her too. So on the day of Zombie watch, someone did come back... it just wasn’t who we were expecting.
Memories flooded me and I remembered Allison.
Allison who taught me so much, the older sister I always wanted. She taught me the tone of voice to use with when arguing for what you want with a smile. It’s especially useful when arguing with customer service. She was so different than us and so wonderful. I remember the summer of Jane. I remember going to get treats. When I would visit Brian in San Diego he would work and be tired, and Allison would hang out and do things with me. She showed me that you didn’t have to play by the rules. Rules are meant to be stretched, pushed and broken. She taught me that feminism is feminine, that girl power comes in many forms and that as different as people are admiration can be mutual. She brought an element into our lives that we never had. And I hope we did the same. She was special and from what I hear she still is.
Enough love letters to my former sister. It’s bringing me down.
Today is the day of my former youngest cousin’s college graduation. He used to me my youngest cousin. For years he was my youngest cousin. Until about 11 years ago. Since my 30th birthday Beth and I have reconnected with Steve. We went out on Christmas together, we plan on hanging out at our cousin Matt’s wedding. It’s nice. Steve and his brother Chris were like little brothers to me growing up. And of all of my cousins who I’ve lost touch with, they are the ones that I felt the loss strongest. But the reconnection has been great. And Steve is such a nice person, he’s a good egg.
So I’m looking forward to seeing him.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
DAY OF THE DAD!
I found my new favorite genre of Zombie Movies. For a while it was fast moving light fearing Zombies ala Rage Monkeys of 28 Days Later. But now its non flesh eating French eerie zombies of doom!
Okay on a whim Beth and I rented “They Came Back”. A 2004 French movie about the undead. And it crept us out big time. We both liked the some what silly English title of the film and the premise that one day for about 2 hours the recent dead (within 10 years) came back to life clean and in good health. The people tried to reintegrate them into society but something was wrong.
The thing was, and this was the big creep factor for me. I’ve had a lot of dreams about my dad since he died (ten years ago this Friday) and he’s always been Dad in my dreams but a little off. I always know he’s dead, and he’s always strangely still, quiet and just off. And by off I mean in the exact way the people in this film are off. The dead, the undead. Beth also plagued by these dreams of my father made the same remark. In our dreams he acts like they did. And it scared us, it felt too true. We loved it.
So put it on your list if you haven’t seen it. It’s a slow pace and in French but worth it.
Now all I can do is sit here thinking about how my dad died ten years ago tomorrow morning. I just have to make it through tomorrow morning and I’ll be safe. I don’t want to here about my dad coming back from the dead tomorrow. I’ve had too many of those dreams. Beth and I dub tomorrow:
DAY OF THE DAD!!!
Or D- Day
D-Day, June 6th, the Allied invasion of Normandy
D-Day, June 6th my dad’s birthday
D-Day, Dad’s Day, Father’s Day, second Sunday in June
D-Day, Death Day, April 28, the day my dad died
Day of the Dead, November 1st. Celebration of those who have died.
Day of the Dad = Any and all of these days.
If I can make it through tomorrow I’ll be safe. If not, well have you met my dad? He’s a zombie but… I still love him, even if he creeps me out a little. Don’t worry he won't eat your flesh… we think.
Okay on a whim Beth and I rented “They Came Back”. A 2004 French movie about the undead. And it crept us out big time. We both liked the some what silly English title of the film and the premise that one day for about 2 hours the recent dead (within 10 years) came back to life clean and in good health. The people tried to reintegrate them into society but something was wrong.
The thing was, and this was the big creep factor for me. I’ve had a lot of dreams about my dad since he died (ten years ago this Friday) and he’s always been Dad in my dreams but a little off. I always know he’s dead, and he’s always strangely still, quiet and just off. And by off I mean in the exact way the people in this film are off. The dead, the undead. Beth also plagued by these dreams of my father made the same remark. In our dreams he acts like they did. And it scared us, it felt too true. We loved it.
So put it on your list if you haven’t seen it. It’s a slow pace and in French but worth it.
Now all I can do is sit here thinking about how my dad died ten years ago tomorrow morning. I just have to make it through tomorrow morning and I’ll be safe. I don’t want to here about my dad coming back from the dead tomorrow. I’ve had too many of those dreams. Beth and I dub tomorrow:
DAY OF THE DAD!!!
Or D- Day
D-Day, June 6th, the Allied invasion of Normandy
D-Day, June 6th my dad’s birthday
D-Day, Dad’s Day, Father’s Day, second Sunday in June
D-Day, Death Day, April 28, the day my dad died
Day of the Dead, November 1st. Celebration of those who have died.
Day of the Dad = Any and all of these days.
If I can make it through tomorrow I’ll be safe. If not, well have you met my dad? He’s a zombie but… I still love him, even if he creeps me out a little. Don’t worry he won't eat your flesh… we think.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Fran made me do it.
Fran tagged me for this meme:
4 Jobs in my Life
1. Popcorn Monkey
2. Bead clerk/artist/instructor
3. Field Manager for a global marketing research company.
3. Admin.
4 Films I could see a million times
1. Jaws
2. A Room with a View
3. Joe Versus the Volcano
4. Any Wes Anderson or Whit Stilman film
4 Places I lived at
1. Massachuesetts
2. No where else
3. Still no where else
4. My imagination?
4 TV Series I really like to watch
1. The Simpsons
2. LOST
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. The Office
Those are my current favorites, but past series off the air include
1. Northern Exposure
2. Freaks and Geeks
3. My So Called Life
4. Spaced
4 Places I've spent my Holidays
1. Mexico
2. Nevada
3. California
4. Hawaii
4 Favourite Foods
1. Cheese
2. Apple pie
3. Fried clams
4. Hawaii Burgers from Islands
4 Websites I visit every day
1. http://www.google.com
2. http://www.yahoo.com
3. http://www.bostonworks.com
4. http:www.craigslist.com
4 Places I’d love to be right now (instead of *here*)
1. Anywhere (I'm at work)
2. Hawaii
3. Thailand
4. Rio
People who should do this
1. Whoever would like to
4 Jobs in my Life
1. Popcorn Monkey
2. Bead clerk/artist/instructor
3. Field Manager for a global marketing research company.
3. Admin.
4 Films I could see a million times
1. Jaws
2. A Room with a View
3. Joe Versus the Volcano
4. Any Wes Anderson or Whit Stilman film
4 Places I lived at
1. Massachuesetts
2. No where else
3. Still no where else
4. My imagination?
4 TV Series I really like to watch
1. The Simpsons
2. LOST
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. The Office
Those are my current favorites, but past series off the air include
1. Northern Exposure
2. Freaks and Geeks
3. My So Called Life
4. Spaced
4 Places I've spent my Holidays
1. Mexico
2. Nevada
3. California
4. Hawaii
4 Favourite Foods
1. Cheese
2. Apple pie
3. Fried clams
4. Hawaii Burgers from Islands
4 Websites I visit every day
1. http://www.google.com
2. http://www.yahoo.com
3. http://www.bostonworks.com
4. http:www.craigslist.com
4 Places I’d love to be right now (instead of *here*)
1. Anywhere (I'm at work)
2. Hawaii
3. Thailand
4. Rio
People who should do this
1. Whoever would like to
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas to you...
It's my favorite moment of the year. A moment so sweet, so simple so filled with potential. About to be interrupted. But the moment is even better when shared.
I love to wake up early Christmas morning, when all the word is asleep, turn on the lights of the tree and sit contemplating Christmas thoughts like peace on earth and good will towards man. I like to think about the people I know and love all snug in their beds, dreaming of sugarplums. I like to thing of people whose dreams my come true today when gifts of unbridled generosity may thrill them.
I like to think about Christmas morning and look at the piles of presents and wonder if any of my carefully wrapped presents will thrill my family. I think about my brother in California and hope he has merry Christmas. And I like to think about you too.
There is such sweet serenity at this moment.
Somewhere children are prowling in the dark, waiting for moment when Christmas begins. Somewhere weary parents rest, exhausted but happy with their haul of gifts. Somewhere someone sits thinking about Christmas watching the light of tree in the darkness.
One upon a time my sister and I both did this. We would sit and quietly contemplate how very lucky we were. Thinking to ourselves indeed it is a wonderful life. But sleep and good sense gradually pulled her away form this early morning ritual. And every year that same good sense tightens the covers around me on Christmas morning. But somehow I drag myself up and soon am basking in glorious tranquility of the morning while the rest of the world slumbers. But the world is my oyster right now, and it's easy for me to believe in the spirit of Christmas.
Wishing you all the best this Christmas.
I love to wake up early Christmas morning, when all the word is asleep, turn on the lights of the tree and sit contemplating Christmas thoughts like peace on earth and good will towards man. I like to think about the people I know and love all snug in their beds, dreaming of sugarplums. I like to thing of people whose dreams my come true today when gifts of unbridled generosity may thrill them.
I like to think about Christmas morning and look at the piles of presents and wonder if any of my carefully wrapped presents will thrill my family. I think about my brother in California and hope he has merry Christmas. And I like to think about you too.
There is such sweet serenity at this moment.
Somewhere children are prowling in the dark, waiting for moment when Christmas begins. Somewhere weary parents rest, exhausted but happy with their haul of gifts. Somewhere someone sits thinking about Christmas watching the light of tree in the darkness.
One upon a time my sister and I both did this. We would sit and quietly contemplate how very lucky we were. Thinking to ourselves indeed it is a wonderful life. But sleep and good sense gradually pulled her away form this early morning ritual. And every year that same good sense tightens the covers around me on Christmas morning. But somehow I drag myself up and soon am basking in glorious tranquility of the morning while the rest of the world slumbers. But the world is my oyster right now, and it's easy for me to believe in the spirit of Christmas.
Wishing you all the best this Christmas.
Monday, November 28, 2005
I'm thankful it's over...
I might have lost my temper over Thanksgiving. I shouldn’t say “might have” as if there is a possibility that I didn’t lose my temper. I did lose my temper over Thanksgiving. I lost it in that screaming and swearing at my grandfather kind of way. Politics at the dinner table… never a good idea yet a family tradition.
And that’s fine. Everybody speaks and it’s a political round table. Except this table wasn’t round. And some how out numbered 3 to 2 the men at the table decided their opinions were more valuable than ours. To the point that anytime we would start to speak they would talk over us. Will would talk Grandpa would talk, and we would listen and when they stopped talking I would start to speak and one of them would start talking right over me, as if I wasn’t speaking, as if I wasn’t there.
And it started the moment I came into the room to greet Grandpa. I started to say how he would be proud I was a good daughter today, I shoveled out Mom’s driveway, making it the first driveway to be cleared on her block. I started to tell him this, I was a sentence and a half in when he turned and started talking to Will as if I wasn’t there.
It had actually been a cute anecdote about while I was shoveling a neighbor came out and wished me a happy Thanksgiving. He told me it was nice weather for shoveling. To which I responded “It’s perfect weather for shoveling, I tried it in the summer but it didn’t work nearly as well”.
But my grandfather wasn’t interested in hearing from me, he wanted to talk to will. I took his coat and walked away a little irritated.
Dinner was good. I was helping in the kitchen leading up to dinner and that suited me fine. But afterward is when the political talks began. Will and Grandpa formed their own little “boys club” and would not let anyone get a word in edgewise. Mom and Beth would yell breaking into the fray but I would wait for the pauses to ad my two cents. And every time Grandpa or Will would talk right over me. I was getting frustrated and punctuate my anger by getting up and stomping off to get something or to say “Forget it I’m done”. It went on for about 40 minutes or so like this.
By now the topic was protecting the environment. Beth was saying that the government needs to be ones leading the incentives for going green. But they argued it had to be an individual effort. When Beth was through speaking I offered the example of the Worcester Trash Recycling Program. While most people in Worcester wouldn’t recycle on their own, once they had no choice but to try it, they fell into the habit of separating cans, bottles, and paper form their trash. While the individual efforts hadn’t produced great results, when given a program, they became one of the leaders of recycling in the state.
However I couldn’t that out. At least not in a civil tone. Because once I started speaking they started talking over me. And I blew up. I pushed away form the table and said I was done that it was fucking rude to talk over me and I wasn’t going to take it any more. I screamed it, I swore at my 90 year old grandfather, who I love. I yelled that “maybe if I yell loud enough you can hear me”. I howled my anger.
Bad enough that they were being rude, but that is was so damn sexist. The two of them wouldn’t listen to a damn word any of us females had to say. We females, the founders of the feast, the ones who make this event happen every year. Intelligent women, who have real, valid points being ignored, talked over and talked down to. Why because we don’t have that small faulty Y chromosome. Well thank you very much but no.
I stormed into the kitchen and started violently cleaning up the leftovers. I was angry with myself for losing my temper like that but never in my life has anyone treated my opinions so poorly, so rudely. And I’m not in the habit of lying down and taking that from anyone. let alone my family. That’s not how I was raised. It took me about a half hour to calm down to join the table again. For about 15 minutes they would pause when I spoke. I threw in a few jabs “apologizing” for speaking, interrupting their “boys club”. But eventually they ignored all three of us women, even if we yelled. It was very frustrating.
I thought Mum would be mad, after all I did swear at her father but she and Beth both expressed sympathy. Although neither one of them felt that they could get into the fight, I thrown myself into, they both felt I was in my rights to do what I did. Mum said they were acting like assholes. Beth said they were sexist jerks who hate women.
The rest of thanksgiving was uneventful. Thank goodness.
And that’s fine. Everybody speaks and it’s a political round table. Except this table wasn’t round. And some how out numbered 3 to 2 the men at the table decided their opinions were more valuable than ours. To the point that anytime we would start to speak they would talk over us. Will would talk Grandpa would talk, and we would listen and when they stopped talking I would start to speak and one of them would start talking right over me, as if I wasn’t speaking, as if I wasn’t there.
And it started the moment I came into the room to greet Grandpa. I started to say how he would be proud I was a good daughter today, I shoveled out Mom’s driveway, making it the first driveway to be cleared on her block. I started to tell him this, I was a sentence and a half in when he turned and started talking to Will as if I wasn’t there.
It had actually been a cute anecdote about while I was shoveling a neighbor came out and wished me a happy Thanksgiving. He told me it was nice weather for shoveling. To which I responded “It’s perfect weather for shoveling, I tried it in the summer but it didn’t work nearly as well”.
But my grandfather wasn’t interested in hearing from me, he wanted to talk to will. I took his coat and walked away a little irritated.
Dinner was good. I was helping in the kitchen leading up to dinner and that suited me fine. But afterward is when the political talks began. Will and Grandpa formed their own little “boys club” and would not let anyone get a word in edgewise. Mom and Beth would yell breaking into the fray but I would wait for the pauses to ad my two cents. And every time Grandpa or Will would talk right over me. I was getting frustrated and punctuate my anger by getting up and stomping off to get something or to say “Forget it I’m done”. It went on for about 40 minutes or so like this.
By now the topic was protecting the environment. Beth was saying that the government needs to be ones leading the incentives for going green. But they argued it had to be an individual effort. When Beth was through speaking I offered the example of the Worcester Trash Recycling Program. While most people in Worcester wouldn’t recycle on their own, once they had no choice but to try it, they fell into the habit of separating cans, bottles, and paper form their trash. While the individual efforts hadn’t produced great results, when given a program, they became one of the leaders of recycling in the state.
However I couldn’t that out. At least not in a civil tone. Because once I started speaking they started talking over me. And I blew up. I pushed away form the table and said I was done that it was fucking rude to talk over me and I wasn’t going to take it any more. I screamed it, I swore at my 90 year old grandfather, who I love. I yelled that “maybe if I yell loud enough you can hear me”. I howled my anger.
Bad enough that they were being rude, but that is was so damn sexist. The two of them wouldn’t listen to a damn word any of us females had to say. We females, the founders of the feast, the ones who make this event happen every year. Intelligent women, who have real, valid points being ignored, talked over and talked down to. Why because we don’t have that small faulty Y chromosome. Well thank you very much but no.
I stormed into the kitchen and started violently cleaning up the leftovers. I was angry with myself for losing my temper like that but never in my life has anyone treated my opinions so poorly, so rudely. And I’m not in the habit of lying down and taking that from anyone. let alone my family. That’s not how I was raised. It took me about a half hour to calm down to join the table again. For about 15 minutes they would pause when I spoke. I threw in a few jabs “apologizing” for speaking, interrupting their “boys club”. But eventually they ignored all three of us women, even if we yelled. It was very frustrating.
I thought Mum would be mad, after all I did swear at her father but she and Beth both expressed sympathy. Although neither one of them felt that they could get into the fight, I thrown myself into, they both felt I was in my rights to do what I did. Mum said they were acting like assholes. Beth said they were sexist jerks who hate women.
The rest of thanksgiving was uneventful. Thank goodness.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Hadley made me do it...
Hadley, being the sweet wonderful, fabulous person she is asked me to write a little something to let you know I'm alive.
I'm alive and kicking just not kicking to hard for fear of breaking something.
Brian, Beth and I are dressing as members of Team Zissou for Halloween. We have these great warm up suits, Beth made us fabulous hats. I've made patches, buiness cards and all sorts of stuff. I'm working on some critters, a blowpop fish, a sunset sea pony... It's all exciting,
I have a party to go to and all sorts of things planned.
I randomly called my old pal Lee last night which was odd of me to do. And I relay the nuances of that exchange another time.
Still no modem.
Still miss you all.
Still looking for excuses to buuy wigs.
I love HALLOWEEN!!!
I'm alive and kicking just not kicking to hard for fear of breaking something.
Brian, Beth and I are dressing as members of Team Zissou for Halloween. We have these great warm up suits, Beth made us fabulous hats. I've made patches, buiness cards and all sorts of stuff. I'm working on some critters, a blowpop fish, a sunset sea pony... It's all exciting,
I have a party to go to and all sorts of things planned.
I randomly called my old pal Lee last night which was odd of me to do. And I relay the nuances of that exchange another time.
Still no modem.
Still miss you all.
Still looking for excuses to buuy wigs.
I love HALLOWEEN!!!
Friday, August 19, 2005
Oh hell!
So I finally get a chance to blog and the sever goes down.
Que sera, sera!
I think my modem or phone line is having issues at home. I can’t connect.
I can’t connect. Yup I think that just about sums it up for me lately I can’t connect. Not at work or anywhere else... I won’t bore you with the details about work. Suffice to say, I’m not happy there. Every minute of every day is spent counting down when I can leave. Seconds become an eternity, and thoughts of purgatory fill me. Have I died? Is this the blank unholy torture of the limbo between heaven and hell?
The up side is when I leave work I don’t really think about it. I block it out most of the time.
I miss blogging. I miss reading about you.
I want to know how Marcie’s party went. I went to a party that night too but it wasn’t much fun. I was thinking about her party and how I’d rather be there.
I miss Fran and Hillary with their insightful humor and charm.
And Hadley I should just call because I care and I want to wish well. We both live in Boston!
I’ll start calling people to check on them. It’s old fashioned. But so am I. Purgatory went the way of the dinosaur after Vatican II. And you can thank Vatican II for the Catholic ideas of birthcontrol, sex, and bunch of other things that I think they screwed up on. Why can’t I just drop it?
Que sera, sera!
I think my modem or phone line is having issues at home. I can’t connect.
I can’t connect. Yup I think that just about sums it up for me lately I can’t connect. Not at work or anywhere else... I won’t bore you with the details about work. Suffice to say, I’m not happy there. Every minute of every day is spent counting down when I can leave. Seconds become an eternity, and thoughts of purgatory fill me. Have I died? Is this the blank unholy torture of the limbo between heaven and hell?
The up side is when I leave work I don’t really think about it. I block it out most of the time.
I miss blogging. I miss reading about you.
I want to know how Marcie’s party went. I went to a party that night too but it wasn’t much fun. I was thinking about her party and how I’d rather be there.
I miss Fran and Hillary with their insightful humor and charm.
And Hadley I should just call because I care and I want to wish well. We both live in Boston!
I’ll start calling people to check on them. It’s old fashioned. But so am I. Purgatory went the way of the dinosaur after Vatican II. And you can thank Vatican II for the Catholic ideas of birthcontrol, sex, and bunch of other things that I think they screwed up on. Why can’t I just drop it?
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Djinn...
I feel like I’ve been working on this stupid picture for ages. It still doesn’t feel complete. I’ll keep touching it up but for now I’m calling it done. Because it’s weighing me down. I have new project to start. New projects to weigh me down. And I have another painting I’m about half way through.
The hats and carpet are strait out of Zissou. The uniforms that the girls are wearing are based on the outfit my sister was wearing as I drew this. And yes those are Red Sox.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
I know I haven’t blogged in ages and I have no excuses. It’s not that I don’t to blog it’s just… I’m tired I’m reached a breaking point at work and I’m trying to divide my time between friends, family, art, work and everything in between. Blogging falls to the wayside.
I’ve gone and seen movies, read the new Harry Potter. Which is frustrating in it’s own way because I’m determined to not spoil it for everyone else who has yet to read it. But I’m dying to talk about it.
I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which I hated. And I read reviews of it shaking my head and wondering if I’ve missed the boat on this. Like Batman Begins which I also hated. Beth and I are the ones who didn’t like it. It makes me think I might wondering off the path into the darkness.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was very Tim Burton, but not his best work. And I love Tim Burton. And I love Johnny Depp. Which it way it hurts me to say that Tim Burton’s vision was not true to the book, and his vision lacked the enchantment, the scope and the charm of either the original story or film. I felt betrayed by his warped view of Wonka. Willy Wonka should never have his background explained to use further than what glimpses Dahl gives us. His mystery is half of his charm. It’ no small thing… Where is the wonder in the inventing? You never get the idea that Wonka actually makes his candy. You don’t see his innovations and you lose the delectable descriptions the fantasies of these candies. Plus this one hates kids and families. Which begs the question why would he want to give his factory to a kid if he hates them?
He missed the point. He missed his own vision, and capabilities.
Oh and the candy room… the room that was the base of so many fantasies as a child. A wondrous room made of candy was very Burton but very bland. Candy apples grew on trees, the melon like fruits were filled with a similar goo as the original films. It wasn’t innovative it wasn’t more exciting and the oompa loompas still sang. Narrowing my eyes at this. The biggest complaints about the original film were that, there was too much singing, and it didn’t follow the original. The same could be said for this. Plus the back story and all of the contrived back story… Grampa Joe working for Wonka, Charlie’s dad working at a toothpaste factory, Wonka’s dad being a dentist… sigh. Yes the squirrels are great but I hardly think this movie stick to the original anymore than the old one did.
Gene Wilder walked the line of creepy and kind, in an energetic, engaging, fantastic performance that stay true to the story. Johnny Depp the most wonderful, talented Johnny Depp gets swept away in his performance… but fails to capture the spirit of the original story.
I hate thinking this way. I hate not liking a Tim Burton film staring Johnny Depp no less.
Oh well.
Have some art after that.
This was a birthday card for my friend Laura.
I’ve gone and seen movies, read the new Harry Potter. Which is frustrating in it’s own way because I’m determined to not spoil it for everyone else who has yet to read it. But I’m dying to talk about it.
I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which I hated. And I read reviews of it shaking my head and wondering if I’ve missed the boat on this. Like Batman Begins which I also hated. Beth and I are the ones who didn’t like it. It makes me think I might wondering off the path into the darkness.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was very Tim Burton, but not his best work. And I love Tim Burton. And I love Johnny Depp. Which it way it hurts me to say that Tim Burton’s vision was not true to the book, and his vision lacked the enchantment, the scope and the charm of either the original story or film. I felt betrayed by his warped view of Wonka. Willy Wonka should never have his background explained to use further than what glimpses Dahl gives us. His mystery is half of his charm. It’ no small thing… Where is the wonder in the inventing? You never get the idea that Wonka actually makes his candy. You don’t see his innovations and you lose the delectable descriptions the fantasies of these candies. Plus this one hates kids and families. Which begs the question why would he want to give his factory to a kid if he hates them?
He missed the point. He missed his own vision, and capabilities.
Oh and the candy room… the room that was the base of so many fantasies as a child. A wondrous room made of candy was very Burton but very bland. Candy apples grew on trees, the melon like fruits were filled with a similar goo as the original films. It wasn’t innovative it wasn’t more exciting and the oompa loompas still sang. Narrowing my eyes at this. The biggest complaints about the original film were that, there was too much singing, and it didn’t follow the original. The same could be said for this. Plus the back story and all of the contrived back story… Grampa Joe working for Wonka, Charlie’s dad working at a toothpaste factory, Wonka’s dad being a dentist… sigh. Yes the squirrels are great but I hardly think this movie stick to the original anymore than the old one did.
Gene Wilder walked the line of creepy and kind, in an energetic, engaging, fantastic performance that stay true to the story. Johnny Depp the most wonderful, talented Johnny Depp gets swept away in his performance… but fails to capture the spirit of the original story.
I hate thinking this way. I hate not liking a Tim Burton film staring Johnny Depp no less.
Oh well.
Have some art after that.
This was a birthday card for my friend Laura.
Beth mentioned the other day as I complained that my work is very "white bread" or "American Cheese" that she thought my work retained a certain innocence to it. And that's what I was seeing. In college I cherished that innocence of my work and now... I 'm not sure. Maybe it is a good thing...
Friday, June 24, 2005
Getting hot in here...
So I haven’t blogged in a while but I haven’t been slacking. Really…
I’ve been working on a project with Marcie and I’ve struggled with it a bit so it’s managed to take up a good portion of my time. It’s been nice to have a project that I can be so enthusiastic about. I look forward to working on it. Of course it’s so easy with Marcie because she gives me complete artistic control over it. I should have the clean up done tonight… so watch you email Marcie!
Work has been… frustrating. I’m frustrated with it. I’m frustrated with me in it. The mind numbing tedium of it all. It’s busy but I’m bored. I’m not happy there. My unhappiness grows every day… but I feel trapped. I just want to make it through the summer. Sigh… it kind of hurts.
Summer is finally here. I was reading something this morning about the different personalities of the New Englander. We have our dark, cynical, political, serious winter personalities, and our happy go lucky, let’s put politics aside for 3 months and enjoy life summer personalities. Right now when people are so grateful for the warmth of the sun and long days… it almost makes the brutal winters all right. Because you love the summer that much more.
It’s going to be 90 degrees and humid tomorrow… I can’t wait!
In other news I did a new painting the other day. Words. Cheerleader, tree, kicking, hotel, Chinese. Beth did the same. Naturally we both despise our own pictures and admire the other’s. I have to do more art.
I’ve been working on a project with Marcie and I’ve struggled with it a bit so it’s managed to take up a good portion of my time. It’s been nice to have a project that I can be so enthusiastic about. I look forward to working on it. Of course it’s so easy with Marcie because she gives me complete artistic control over it. I should have the clean up done tonight… so watch you email Marcie!
Work has been… frustrating. I’m frustrated with it. I’m frustrated with me in it. The mind numbing tedium of it all. It’s busy but I’m bored. I’m not happy there. My unhappiness grows every day… but I feel trapped. I just want to make it through the summer. Sigh… it kind of hurts.
Summer is finally here. I was reading something this morning about the different personalities of the New Englander. We have our dark, cynical, political, serious winter personalities, and our happy go lucky, let’s put politics aside for 3 months and enjoy life summer personalities. Right now when people are so grateful for the warmth of the sun and long days… it almost makes the brutal winters all right. Because you love the summer that much more.
It’s going to be 90 degrees and humid tomorrow… I can’t wait!
In other news I did a new painting the other day. Words. Cheerleader, tree, kicking, hotel, Chinese. Beth did the same. Naturally we both despise our own pictures and admire the other’s. I have to do more art.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Welcome to the Caribbean, luv
Okay you all might have noticed things have perked up on my site! Thanks to Hadley who designed my site as a birthday present to me… And I have to say it’s beyond perfect! Hibiscus and Captain Jack Sparrow just make my day.
Hadley you’ve gone beyond the call of duty with this! I am endlessly impressed… and I think I become your indentured servant any minute now because of it! Thank you!!!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!
Now everyone tell Hadley how wonderful it is!!
Commandeer. We're going to commandeer that ship. Nautical term.
Hadley you’ve gone beyond the call of duty with this! I am endlessly impressed… and I think I become your indentured servant any minute now because of it! Thank you!!!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!
Now everyone tell Hadley how wonderful it is!!
Commandeer. We're going to commandeer that ship. Nautical term.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Without a train...
So it’s funny how I mentioned my fiancé on the train yesterday.
Today I was walking to the train and as I crossed the street I heard someone yell Hey! I thought What the fuck, I didn’t even do anything. Pedestrian mentality to being yelled at by cars. I turned saw no cars near me, no people me and I started to walk again. Another Hey! Louder this time with a tinge of amusement, familiarity. He’s done this to me before… I turned and saw his car. My fiancé on the train finally got his car. He would no longer be on the train. A big smile, You want a ride?
He didn’t have ask me twice.
So he gave me a ride to Boston. Which was sweet and he offered to give rides whenever he gets out it 4. Which I don’t know will happen but… we’ll see. I like the ride. I like that he offered. I think he must really want Red Sox Tickets. And we still haven’t used each other’s name. When I got out of the car and thanked him he said see you tomorrow. Smile. Maybe.
Today I was walking to the train and as I crossed the street I heard someone yell Hey! I thought What the fuck, I didn’t even do anything. Pedestrian mentality to being yelled at by cars. I turned saw no cars near me, no people me and I started to walk again. Another Hey! Louder this time with a tinge of amusement, familiarity. He’s done this to me before… I turned and saw his car. My fiancé on the train finally got his car. He would no longer be on the train. A big smile, You want a ride?
He didn’t have ask me twice.
So he gave me a ride to Boston. Which was sweet and he offered to give rides whenever he gets out it 4. Which I don’t know will happen but… we’ll see. I like the ride. I like that he offered. I think he must really want Red Sox Tickets. And we still haven’t used each other’s name. When I got out of the car and thanked him he said see you tomorrow. Smile. Maybe.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
June is busting out all over...
The June leaves are finally turning to jade… and heat, real heat has brought it’s summer embrace to New England. And I for one am glad.
Oh and I might have mentioned in my last post my boyfriend on the train, has now become my fiancé on the train. As I finally learned his name… Jeff. I had promised him Red Sox tickets once and he had been thrilled beyond belief. Because really what kind of stranger does that. Unfortunately the day I had tickets he wasn’t at the train. I know where he works. But I very couldn’t go up there and ask someone If there’s a guy who rides train her? Because I have Sox tickets for him. No unfortunately I don’t know his name… How do I know him? Uhm by sight??? I explained this to him when I saw him a few days later. He was disappointed to say the least and we exchanged names and numbers. Although we’ve yet to use either of them. But the intimacy of this knowledge, the fact that I can call him whenever I like has upgraded his status to fiancé in my imaginary world. It’s fun.
Other than that things have settled in to slow hot pace of the start of summer in the city. I hope this lead to drinking of rooftops, walking on beaches, laying in parks, hiding in movie theaters, laughing, dancing, ballgames, thunderstorms, ice cream and hot restless dreams. I started the summer on the right foot. While in LA in Venice I talked the night through with my pal Linda. We strolled to the beach at about 6am and stood in the water for an hour or so before stripping down and running in to the cold Pacific Ocean in our underwear and frolicking like seals until we were exhausted. As we climbed out of the water Linder whispered “Just act normal” as people passed us by. As we climbed back into our clothes some nice old ladies giggled and asked if it was cold in there. They had a twinkle to their eyes and when turned to walk away we saw them standing in the water looking like they might take the plunge themselves.
And that’s the way you start a summer.
Oh and I might have mentioned in my last post my boyfriend on the train, has now become my fiancé on the train. As I finally learned his name… Jeff. I had promised him Red Sox tickets once and he had been thrilled beyond belief. Because really what kind of stranger does that. Unfortunately the day I had tickets he wasn’t at the train. I know where he works. But I very couldn’t go up there and ask someone If there’s a guy who rides train her? Because I have Sox tickets for him. No unfortunately I don’t know his name… How do I know him? Uhm by sight??? I explained this to him when I saw him a few days later. He was disappointed to say the least and we exchanged names and numbers. Although we’ve yet to use either of them. But the intimacy of this knowledge, the fact that I can call him whenever I like has upgraded his status to fiancé in my imaginary world. It’s fun.
Other than that things have settled in to slow hot pace of the start of summer in the city. I hope this lead to drinking of rooftops, walking on beaches, laying in parks, hiding in movie theaters, laughing, dancing, ballgames, thunderstorms, ice cream and hot restless dreams. I started the summer on the right foot. While in LA in Venice I talked the night through with my pal Linda. We strolled to the beach at about 6am and stood in the water for an hour or so before stripping down and running in to the cold Pacific Ocean in our underwear and frolicking like seals until we were exhausted. As we climbed out of the water Linder whispered “Just act normal” as people passed us by. As we climbed back into our clothes some nice old ladies giggled and asked if it was cold in there. They had a twinkle to their eyes and when turned to walk away we saw them standing in the water looking like they might take the plunge themselves.
And that’s the way you start a summer.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Happy Birthday Dad!
Me and Dad
Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!
Another year’s gone by… hard to believe I turned thirty this year. I wish you could have attended. A good time was guaranteed for all. Thing have been good this year as a whole. It’s been exciting and less productive than I would like but still productive enough. I have to really start to focus on my art again.
Beth was saying people still say I’m just like you… that I could push your button more than anyone. And they say Brian looks like you and that leaves her out. Funny she’s so very much like you. I seem to be known for the less pleasant traits. I’m like you when I’m slightly irrational, stubborn or argumentative. But she’s got the twinkle just like you. And I’m glad she does, because the world needs more of it.
Well, what’s happened this year? The Lee fiasco, the endless search for a job, a trip to LA? Peanuts, nothing compared to one thing I would have given anything to have shared with you.
I’ve had girlish thoughts of things you might miss in my life. If I get married, you won’t walk down the isle. If I have kids they will never know their grandfather. . But I had never really thought that I would see the RED SOX WIN THE WORLD SERIES! And you wouldn’t. I wish you had been her to watch it with us. To witness the greatest comeback in sports history… I know somewhere you were smiling over that.
I’ll try to be nicer to mom. I’ll try to call Brian more often. He’s my brother and that last visit was too short. We try and I think it gets easier in the summer. I like that we all say I love you before we hang up the phone now. It wasn’t always like that… and it was never because didn’t love one another. I’ve had people comment on that when they hear me say goodbye. It makes me appreciate that we do love each other enough to say it every time we hang up.
The weather has finally turned nice and I finally asked my boyfriend on the train what his name is. Jeff. We exchanged cell phone numbers because sometime I get Red Sox tickets from work and I told him if I had extra he could have a ticket or two. Sometimes I get 2 sometimes, 4. But he’s not always on the train so we exchange names in numbers just in case. I’m now referring to him as my fiancé on the train. You’d like him in a casual sense, a bit thuggish but nice enough. Probably not too bright but quick to laugh. Who knows maybe we’ll go to a game together.
I style my hair now which is shocking and no doubt a phase. You needn’t worry about it I’ll go back to being wash and dry soon. We went down the cape this weekend and stayed at Joan’s. It was nice but not the same. I miss our house. I miss you. I miss Jane. Remember standing on bluff watching the storms roll in? Or waking up at night and sitting living room during lightning storms? Watching the room light up in flashes? Remember the friendly skunk?
Oh I miss you Dad! I miss the irrational moments, the complete confidence in other people, in me… I miss your smile the way you called me “The Kate” or “Jellybean”. I want to know more about you. I want you to know about me. I want you see what wonderful and exciting things have happened. Mostly I miss your voice, the twinkle in your eyes, and sound of your laugh. I miss your stories and the way you separated family and work.
In some traitorous ways I suppose I’m glad things have worked out as they have. You’re absence has afforded me certain opportunities that I’m glad I’ve taken advantage of. Getting to know Chard, seeing Mom blossom into her independence. Watching Beth become the amazing strong woman she is. Watching Brian turn his life around. They’d make you proud. We’d make you proud.
I guess that’s it.
Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!
Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!
Another year’s gone by… hard to believe I turned thirty this year. I wish you could have attended. A good time was guaranteed for all. Thing have been good this year as a whole. It’s been exciting and less productive than I would like but still productive enough. I have to really start to focus on my art again.
Beth was saying people still say I’m just like you… that I could push your button more than anyone. And they say Brian looks like you and that leaves her out. Funny she’s so very much like you. I seem to be known for the less pleasant traits. I’m like you when I’m slightly irrational, stubborn or argumentative. But she’s got the twinkle just like you. And I’m glad she does, because the world needs more of it.
Well, what’s happened this year? The Lee fiasco, the endless search for a job, a trip to LA? Peanuts, nothing compared to one thing I would have given anything to have shared with you.
I’ve had girlish thoughts of things you might miss in my life. If I get married, you won’t walk down the isle. If I have kids they will never know their grandfather. . But I had never really thought that I would see the RED SOX WIN THE WORLD SERIES! And you wouldn’t. I wish you had been her to watch it with us. To witness the greatest comeback in sports history… I know somewhere you were smiling over that.
I’ll try to be nicer to mom. I’ll try to call Brian more often. He’s my brother and that last visit was too short. We try and I think it gets easier in the summer. I like that we all say I love you before we hang up the phone now. It wasn’t always like that… and it was never because didn’t love one another. I’ve had people comment on that when they hear me say goodbye. It makes me appreciate that we do love each other enough to say it every time we hang up.
The weather has finally turned nice and I finally asked my boyfriend on the train what his name is. Jeff. We exchanged cell phone numbers because sometime I get Red Sox tickets from work and I told him if I had extra he could have a ticket or two. Sometimes I get 2 sometimes, 4. But he’s not always on the train so we exchange names in numbers just in case. I’m now referring to him as my fiancé on the train. You’d like him in a casual sense, a bit thuggish but nice enough. Probably not too bright but quick to laugh. Who knows maybe we’ll go to a game together.
I style my hair now which is shocking and no doubt a phase. You needn’t worry about it I’ll go back to being wash and dry soon. We went down the cape this weekend and stayed at Joan’s. It was nice but not the same. I miss our house. I miss you. I miss Jane. Remember standing on bluff watching the storms roll in? Or waking up at night and sitting living room during lightning storms? Watching the room light up in flashes? Remember the friendly skunk?
Oh I miss you Dad! I miss the irrational moments, the complete confidence in other people, in me… I miss your smile the way you called me “The Kate” or “Jellybean”. I want to know more about you. I want you to know about me. I want you see what wonderful and exciting things have happened. Mostly I miss your voice, the twinkle in your eyes, and sound of your laugh. I miss your stories and the way you separated family and work.
In some traitorous ways I suppose I’m glad things have worked out as they have. You’re absence has afforded me certain opportunities that I’m glad I’ve taken advantage of. Getting to know Chard, seeing Mom blossom into her independence. Watching Beth become the amazing strong woman she is. Watching Brian turn his life around. They’d make you proud. We’d make you proud.
I guess that’s it.
Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
I survived Kate's 30th Birthday!
At my party I handed out magnets that said I survived Kate's 30th Birthday! Or if you weren't feeling up to the task... I did not survive Kate's 30th Birthday! It was a good and ruckus time for all. I know I should have stories to tell about it but it was just so damn pleasant so much what I wanted it to be, so much what I needed it to be... Nothing really stands out.
Oh sure we had a kind of bitchy waitress who wanted us to order more food than drinks... Who kicked us out of some "Reserved seats" that had been abandoned. And certain folk were sulky at the good table.
I've got to say if you want to take up room at the head table... Then put on your game face. This table isn't for the slackers. It's the folks have fun not just sitting and sulking. Being quite is one thing but trying to rain on other people's parades... Well that just isn't cool.
But despite that it was great. The best birthday I've ever had.
Wow. I just typed that and suddenly realized it was true. This was the best birthday I've ever had. Friends and family came out of the woodwork, my cousin's Chris and Steve came. My freshman roommate Dana, my beautiful and fun Aunt Caryn, my old roommate Josh... Louis out from New York... And Kay. It was fantastic. I couldn't have asked for more.
I came away poor. But damn it was good times, good drinks, good food, good friends. I was surprised by how many people came. It was overwhelming at points. It was great. I am so happy I did it.
I'll write more later but for now... I survived Kate's 30th Birthday!
Oh sure we had a kind of bitchy waitress who wanted us to order more food than drinks... Who kicked us out of some "Reserved seats" that had been abandoned. And certain folk were sulky at the good table.
I've got to say if you want to take up room at the head table... Then put on your game face. This table isn't for the slackers. It's the folks have fun not just sitting and sulking. Being quite is one thing but trying to rain on other people's parades... Well that just isn't cool.
But despite that it was great. The best birthday I've ever had.
Wow. I just typed that and suddenly realized it was true. This was the best birthday I've ever had. Friends and family came out of the woodwork, my cousin's Chris and Steve came. My freshman roommate Dana, my beautiful and fun Aunt Caryn, my old roommate Josh... Louis out from New York... And Kay. It was fantastic. I couldn't have asked for more.
I came away poor. But damn it was good times, good drinks, good food, good friends. I was surprised by how many people came. It was overwhelming at points. It was great. I am so happy I did it.
I'll write more later but for now... I survived Kate's 30th Birthday!
Friday, April 29, 2005
Bus blues...
This has been a hell of a week on the bus... If it isn't my arch enemy the pushy the woman in the front of the bus, it's the crazy person screaming about the revolution doing gymnastics on the poles. Today we sat for 20 minutes watching the traffic jam and unjam around a truck that was blocking the street.
The crazy guy was the worst. He came on the bug screaming how the white people wouldn't answer his questions. I didn't see to many people of any color, trying to answer his questions. When you scream at people they get nervous and avoid you. While we were on the highway he started doing some crazy gymnastic on the poles screaming about the revolution that was coming and how the non Christians were are going to die. Obviously the guy needed help... But it was nervewracking. He was right by the driver and you just had that sinking feeling that he might try for the wheel or distract the driver enough to have an accident.
People sat quietly while those in the back of the the bus made discreet phone calls to the police. Everything was quiet everyone acted painfully normal. The blond guy in front of me asked if I had a cell phone. I handed it over and he looked at me like I should make the call. But I said go ahead make the call and he sat there contemplating for a while before handing it back. I don't blame him, we were both close to the guy. Who knows what he would do if her heard us calling and explaining. He had tied this mesh scarf around his face at this point and was yelling about how the white women wouldn't answer his questions. I had passed him on the way onto the bus when he was yelling and I did ignore him. From my experience, you court trouble when you try to answer those questions.
But the bus finally stopped and the police came to escort him off the bus. It was handled very smoothly, and nobody was hurt or offended. The guy got off the bus quietly. I always thank the bus driver as I get off the bus but that day everyone did. He did a good job. I hope more people thank him regularly.
The crazy guy was the worst. He came on the bug screaming how the white people wouldn't answer his questions. I didn't see to many people of any color, trying to answer his questions. When you scream at people they get nervous and avoid you. While we were on the highway he started doing some crazy gymnastic on the poles screaming about the revolution that was coming and how the non Christians were are going to die. Obviously the guy needed help... But it was nervewracking. He was right by the driver and you just had that sinking feeling that he might try for the wheel or distract the driver enough to have an accident.
People sat quietly while those in the back of the the bus made discreet phone calls to the police. Everything was quiet everyone acted painfully normal. The blond guy in front of me asked if I had a cell phone. I handed it over and he looked at me like I should make the call. But I said go ahead make the call and he sat there contemplating for a while before handing it back. I don't blame him, we were both close to the guy. Who knows what he would do if her heard us calling and explaining. He had tied this mesh scarf around his face at this point and was yelling about how the white women wouldn't answer his questions. I had passed him on the way onto the bus when he was yelling and I did ignore him. From my experience, you court trouble when you try to answer those questions.
But the bus finally stopped and the police came to escort him off the bus. It was handled very smoothly, and nobody was hurt or offended. The guy got off the bus quietly. I always thank the bus driver as I get off the bus but that day everyone did. He did a good job. I hope more people thank him regularly.
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