In response to Heather's blog.
1) Where did you graduate from and what year?
Muskogee High School (Muskogee, OK) 1991
2) Did you have school pride?
Ehh...sure. I was in the BAND, so I had to wear school stuff and get excited during football games etc.
3) Was your Prom a night to remember?
Well, I went to four - 9th grade through 12th. The last three were all with the same guy! I guess the first one was the most memorable because it was our first date. The last prom I had decided to be cliche' and give up my virginity, but he fell asleep. *oh,well*
4) What was your favorite song you danced to the night of Prom?
I blocked out all the late 80's/early 90's music, sorry.
5) Do you own all 4 yearbooks?
Oh yes.
6) Do you remember the First CD you ever bought?
No! I wish I could.
7)What was your favorite Movie in High School?
Anything I could find on Skinamax late at night.
8.)What was your number one choice of College in HS?
Washington and Lee in Virginia. I ended up at Penn State - Erie, and I loved it. Well, except for the snow.
9) What radio station(s) did you jam out to in highschool?
K107. Which, interestingly enough, is owned by a friend I met several years later in Pittsburgh.
10) Were you involved in any organizations or clubs?
Yes. As I mentioned earlier, I was in BAND. I was even the leader - the Drum Major - my Senior year. I was also in the Kiwanis Club, whatever the hell that was, and maybe a couple language clubs.
11)What were your favorite classes in High School?
Math. Accounting. Typing. BAND. :)
12) Who was your big crush in Highschool?
Besides my math teacher? I crushed on my brother's friend Bob.
13) Would you say you've changed a lot since high school?
Absolutely. I was a huge control freak in high school, and borderline anorexic. I also didn't drink, have sex or use cuss words. I was deeply offended by cuss words!
14) What do you miss the most about it?
Nothing.
15) Your worst memory of HS?
Have to agree with Heather..too deep for this blog.
16) Did you have a car?
Haha, yes! The first one was a Chevy I think - the two door kind where the doors are so big, they run half the length of the car. I was so little then, it took me both legs to open the door. And when I stomped on the gas, the car would slowly rev to 45 miles an hour and stay there.
My next car was a Pontiac Bonneville. I loved that car. It died a very sad death in Erie. It just couldn't handle the winters. :(
17) What were your school colors?
Green and white.
18) Who were your favorite teachers?
Oh, how I loved my math teacher! He could do the square root of anything in his head. And he had these bright blue eyes, and a HUGE brain. *sigh* I also loved my accounting teacher.
19) Did you own a cell phone in highschool?
In the 80s? hahahaha
20) Did you leave campus for lunch?
Nope, we weren't allowed to.
21) If so, where was your favorite place to go eat?
I think I ate salads. I really don't remember eating much.
22) Were you always late to class?
No.
23) Did you ever have to stay for Saturday School?
Nope! Like Heather, I was a goody-goody and never did anything wrong.
24) Did you ever Ditch?
Only with parental approval (and a note).
25) When it comes time for the reunion will you be there?
I went to my 10 year. It sucked for the most part. The most awesome moment was when my formerly-geeky-turned-beautiful-swan friend told off a boy who tortured her in high school. Beautiful!
I think they are planning a 15 year reunion, but I doubt I will go.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Selected
I logged into my account on the New Zealand Immigration web-site today, and was greeted by the following message:
Congratulations.
We are very pleased to confirm that your Expression of Interest has been selected from the Pool for further consideration.
We will conduct some preliminary checks of the information you have provided to determine whether your claim is accurate. Following this checking, you may be invited to apply for residence in New Zealand.
We wish you all the best with your Expression of Interest.
I understand this step could take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks. In the meantime, we will work on our resumes in case we are invited to apply for residence.
Congratulations.
We are very pleased to confirm that your Expression of Interest has been selected from the Pool for further consideration.
We will conduct some preliminary checks of the information you have provided to determine whether your claim is accurate. Following this checking, you may be invited to apply for residence in New Zealand.
We wish you all the best with your Expression of Interest.
I understand this step could take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks. In the meantime, we will work on our resumes in case we are invited to apply for residence.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
The Nutsacker Suite
Yes, that's right - Darren and I attempted to see The Nutcracker Suite over the weekend. We were lured by the words "Russian ballet" in the title, and his College offered really good seats at a fair price. However, we were not prepared for what we were about to see up close and very personal...
First of all, the production was just a bit nicer than what a grade-school would put on. Maybe High School quality. All the sets were painted curtains, and the many of the costumes look like they have been around since the '80s. And then the Nutsacker made an appearance. I thought "hey, good for you!" but also "there are children present!!" I was under the impression that male ballet performers did something with their general groin areas to make them more even..or smooth-like. This man had the biggest nutsack I had ever seen! Maybe because he was wearing very tight white leggings? I could also see his religion quite clearly. I couldn't look away! Every time he was on stage, he was simply the dancing twig and berries.
Once we got past the dancing nutsack, we could focus on the story. Except that they changed the story, and I had no idea what the hell was going on. Not to mention that none of the dancers were actually dancing with the piped-in music - or each other, for that matter. The Rat King only had one head, and it was a poorly made Halloween mask consisting of brown cloth and red blinking eyes. The Prince (different, less visable nutsack) "fought" the Rat King from across the stage! Of course he didn't win, but Clara didn't throw her shoe and save the Prince. Which meant that the Rat King followed them in all the scenes after that. And not only was she running around with the Prince, but with her 20-something "Uncle" as well. Their relationship bordered on child molestation more than once.
At some point, the Prince finally killed the Rat King, and he and Clara continued their journey. But what happened next, I had just never seen before and hope to never see again. In fact, I need to rent the original staging so I can forget what I've seen. Instead of the Winter Wonderland Fairy-people rewarding Clara with dances and goods from around the world, Clara and the Prince visited the different (and highly offensive) parts of the world. This prodcution decided to add in 'animals' for each country - which were dancers in huge cartoon-like costumes resembling: camels, elephants, and a bear that wouldn't leave the stage. There were no sugar plum fairies during "The Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairies". Afterwards, Clara and the Prince danced 2 or 3 songs by themselves, and then went to the front of the stage and bowed! I actually wondered at one time if the ballet had finished, and they had moved on to something else?
Then came the flower people. Oy vey! The men wore sailor-cut shirts with giant fake pink roses adorning the v-neck and other parts of the shirts. The women were also decked out in fake pink roses from head to toe. These people danced forever . Every time we thought they were done, they came back (kinda like that turd that just won't flush). I think I went into shock at some point, because I barely remember the ending. Did Clara make it back home and wake up? I don't know. I can't remember. It was seriously the most jacked up version of the Nutcraker I'd ever seen.
First of all, the production was just a bit nicer than what a grade-school would put on. Maybe High School quality. All the sets were painted curtains, and the many of the costumes look like they have been around since the '80s. And then the Nutsacker made an appearance. I thought "hey, good for you!" but also "there are children present!!" I was under the impression that male ballet performers did something with their general groin areas to make them more even..or smooth-like. This man had the biggest nutsack I had ever seen! Maybe because he was wearing very tight white leggings? I could also see his religion quite clearly. I couldn't look away! Every time he was on stage, he was simply the dancing twig and berries.
Once we got past the dancing nutsack, we could focus on the story. Except that they changed the story, and I had no idea what the hell was going on. Not to mention that none of the dancers were actually dancing with the piped-in music - or each other, for that matter. The Rat King only had one head, and it was a poorly made Halloween mask consisting of brown cloth and red blinking eyes. The Prince (different, less visable nutsack) "fought" the Rat King from across the stage! Of course he didn't win, but Clara didn't throw her shoe and save the Prince. Which meant that the Rat King followed them in all the scenes after that. And not only was she running around with the Prince, but with her 20-something "Uncle" as well. Their relationship bordered on child molestation more than once.
At some point, the Prince finally killed the Rat King, and he and Clara continued their journey. But what happened next, I had just never seen before and hope to never see again. In fact, I need to rent the original staging so I can forget what I've seen. Instead of the Winter Wonderland Fairy-people rewarding Clara with dances and goods from around the world, Clara and the Prince visited the different (and highly offensive) parts of the world. This prodcution decided to add in 'animals' for each country - which were dancers in huge cartoon-like costumes resembling: camels, elephants, and a bear that wouldn't leave the stage. There were no sugar plum fairies during "The Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairies". Afterwards, Clara and the Prince danced 2 or 3 songs by themselves, and then went to the front of the stage and bowed! I actually wondered at one time if the ballet had finished, and they had moved on to something else?
Then came the flower people. Oy vey! The men wore sailor-cut shirts with giant fake pink roses adorning the v-neck and other parts of the shirts. The women were also decked out in fake pink roses from head to toe. These people danced forever . Every time we thought they were done, they came back (kinda like that turd that just won't flush). I think I went into shock at some point, because I barely remember the ending. Did Clara make it back home and wake up? I don't know. I can't remember. It was seriously the most jacked up version of the Nutcraker I'd ever seen.
Friday, December 16, 2005
We did it
We have taken the first step to residency in New Zealand - we submitted our "Expression of Interest" last night. While it's a big step in some ways, it could all fizzle quickly. Our EOI was put into the "Pool", as we had more than 100 points (which is the minimum to be able to submit anyway). The NZ Immigration Authority selects from this pool every two weeks. The next selection date is Wednesday, December 21st. If we are not selected then, our EOI will stay in the Pool for 3 months. If it is never selected, we can resubmit at that time.
If we are selected from the Pool, the NZIS will look over our application and verify some of the claims we have made (work experience etc). Hopefully, within two to four weeks, NZIS will ask us to apply for residency. However, they may decide not to extend an invitation based on their initial take of our application.
So, it's all up in the air, really. And so we wait...
If we are selected from the Pool, the NZIS will look over our application and verify some of the claims we have made (work experience etc). Hopefully, within two to four weeks, NZIS will ask us to apply for residency. However, they may decide not to extend an invitation based on their initial take of our application.
So, it's all up in the air, really. And so we wait...
Friday, December 09, 2005
Song Lines That Make Me Giggle
I was listening to a mixed CD the other day that I haven't listened to in quite some time. I had forgotten about a couple songs that make me giggle every time I listen to them:
1) BareNaked Ladies, "If I Had a Million Dollars" - "...but not a real green dress (that's cruel)"
2) "Afternoon Delight" as sung in the movie Anchorman - at the beginning, Will Ferrell states "If you don't think this song is the greatest song ever, I will fight you."
Darren and I now add "I will fight you" to the most random, ridiculous statements. Try it, it's fun!
Do you have a song line that makes you giggle?
d
1) BareNaked Ladies, "If I Had a Million Dollars" - "...but not a real green dress (that's cruel)"
2) "Afternoon Delight" as sung in the movie Anchorman - at the beginning, Will Ferrell states "If you don't think this song is the greatest song ever, I will fight you."
Darren and I now add "I will fight you" to the most random, ridiculous statements. Try it, it's fun!
Do you have a song line that makes you giggle?
d
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain is a great new movie is coming to theaters next Friday, December 9th. While I'm typically not a fan of romantic movies, and almost never go to a theater to see one, Darren and I are making a point to see this one in the theater on opening weekend. Why?
1) The short story this movie is based on won a Pulitzer Prize
2) It has won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival
3) Movies are valued on their opening-weekend box office proceeds
4) This is a touching story of love - between two men
I have excerpted part of a Newsweek article about this movie. The full article can be found here. I encourage you all to read about it and help support Brokeback Mountain next weekend. Narnia also comes to theaters next weekend, so it will be a tough battle! Narnia is sure to be around for at least 3 weeks - why not see it when the theater is less crowded? :)
"Based on the short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx ("The Shipping News"), "Brokeback" is the tale of Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), two ranch hands who, in the summer of 1963, are hired to herd sheep on Wyoming's Brokeback Mountain. There, separated from the rest of the world, their laconic friendship develops, almost by accident, into a sexual relationship. As the summer ends, the two men are forced to separate, and they discover that their feelings for each other are stronger than they imagined. Jack dreams of buying a ranch together. Ennis thinks they'll be killed if anyone suspects their relationship. And so they marry women and have children, and for 20 years live apart, seeing each other only on rare camping trips, trying to hold on to the innocence and beauty of that first summer on the mountain. Inevitably, the longing and frustration, the years of repression, lead to a devastating conclusion.
Its raw masculinity, spare dialogue and lonely imagery subverted the myth of the American cowboy and obliterated gay stereotypes. It has already earned the top prize at the Venice Film Festival and is almost certain to be an Oscar contender. More than that, though, "Brokeback" feels like a landmark film. No American film before has portrayed love between two men as something this pure and sacred. As such, it has the potential to change the national conversation and to challenge people's ideas about the value and validity of same-sex relationships.
The day Jake Gyllenhaal was cast in "Brokeback," the chatter around the industry was not about what a wise choice he'd made. "It's the most stupid move he could make," said one top producer over lunch that afternoon. "It'll alienate his teen-girl fan base and could kill his career. What a waste." Gyllenhaal and Ledger don't dodge it. The kissing and the sex scenes are fierce and full-blooded.
After seeing the movie, Gyllenhaal says, male reporters will enter a room to interview him and almost always follow the same routine. "They come in and they're all, like, 'I just want you to know I'm straight'," he says, and laughs. If they've been moved by the film, he says, they often rationalize it by saying things like "Well, it's really more of a friendship." No, it isn't. "It's a love story," Gyllenhaal says. "They're two men having sex. There's nothing hidden there." Ledger has a theory about why the movie makes some men uncomfortable. "I suspect it's a fear that they are going to enjoy it," he says. "They don't understand that you are not going to become sexually attracted to men by recognizing the beauty of a love story between two men."
1) The short story this movie is based on won a Pulitzer Prize
2) It has won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival
3) Movies are valued on their opening-weekend box office proceeds
4) This is a touching story of love - between two men
I have excerpted part of a Newsweek article about this movie. The full article can be found here. I encourage you all to read about it and help support Brokeback Mountain next weekend. Narnia also comes to theaters next weekend, so it will be a tough battle! Narnia is sure to be around for at least 3 weeks - why not see it when the theater is less crowded? :)
"Based on the short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx ("The Shipping News"), "Brokeback" is the tale of Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), two ranch hands who, in the summer of 1963, are hired to herd sheep on Wyoming's Brokeback Mountain. There, separated from the rest of the world, their laconic friendship develops, almost by accident, into a sexual relationship. As the summer ends, the two men are forced to separate, and they discover that their feelings for each other are stronger than they imagined. Jack dreams of buying a ranch together. Ennis thinks they'll be killed if anyone suspects their relationship. And so they marry women and have children, and for 20 years live apart, seeing each other only on rare camping trips, trying to hold on to the innocence and beauty of that first summer on the mountain. Inevitably, the longing and frustration, the years of repression, lead to a devastating conclusion.
Its raw masculinity, spare dialogue and lonely imagery subverted the myth of the American cowboy and obliterated gay stereotypes. It has already earned the top prize at the Venice Film Festival and is almost certain to be an Oscar contender. More than that, though, "Brokeback" feels like a landmark film. No American film before has portrayed love between two men as something this pure and sacred. As such, it has the potential to change the national conversation and to challenge people's ideas about the value and validity of same-sex relationships.
The day Jake Gyllenhaal was cast in "Brokeback," the chatter around the industry was not about what a wise choice he'd made. "It's the most stupid move he could make," said one top producer over lunch that afternoon. "It'll alienate his teen-girl fan base and could kill his career. What a waste." Gyllenhaal and Ledger don't dodge it. The kissing and the sex scenes are fierce and full-blooded.
After seeing the movie, Gyllenhaal says, male reporters will enter a room to interview him and almost always follow the same routine. "They come in and they're all, like, 'I just want you to know I'm straight'," he says, and laughs. If they've been moved by the film, he says, they often rationalize it by saying things like "Well, it's really more of a friendship." No, it isn't. "It's a love story," Gyllenhaal says. "They're two men having sex. There's nothing hidden there." Ledger has a theory about why the movie makes some men uncomfortable. "I suspect it's a fear that they are going to enjoy it," he says. "They don't understand that you are not going to become sexually attracted to men by recognizing the beauty of a love story between two men."
Random Thoughts
Over the past week, I've had a lot of random thoughts, but none that would be able to carry their own post. Or maybe they would, but would be irritating. Instead I have compiled them and hopefully together they make for a less-irritating full post:
1) 'Bird people' are weird. I don't understand the fascination, really. Yes, birds are interesting, but I am not going to get out of bed early to sit in a forest to watch them and try to interpret what they are saying. I also don't care what they eat. And? Birds in the house are annoyingly loud. It's also cruel - let them go.
2) Speaking of weird people: 'Anime people'. I was listening to the radio on my commute this morning, and a DJ was describing a really wacked out Japanese show (which really doesn't narrow it down, does it? ) that his daughter had recorded on TiVO (I refuse to use TiVO as a verb!). I was just getting over the description - a man who is a psuedo superhero whose power is that his NOSEHAIR can fight people (and the different nosehairs have personalities or something) - when a 40-something year-old man called in and stated quite forcefully that the show described is not REAL Anime, and that the real Anime is well done and amazing and...I turned the station. Dude, get a grip!
3) Dream Catchers. Ok, I get the basic premise. Native Americans believed bad dreams would be caught up in these thingys. Fine. So why do I see dream catchers hanging from the rear view mirrors of white hippies' cars? Do they live in their cars? Fall asleep at the wheel frequently? I most recently saw one hanging from the mirror in a pizza delivery car. Ehhhh....
4) Thanksgiving. I am for the most part against this particular holiday. I grew up with the white-washed version of kind British settlers who came to this country unprepared for winter etc. and were helped out by the Native Americans. Awww...*blech* They always leave out how we turned around and wiped out most of said Native Americans with either chicken pox, or firearms. Ok, maybe not all on the same day, but you know the history. For me, they are linked. In any case, I am still grateful for many things and people. I did have a nice dinner with the family members I actually like to spend time with as well as Darren (who I'm always grateful for, esp when he chases the cat with a water gun so I can sleep).
5) This weather is killing me. I finally got used to the colder weather and resigned myself to only having warmth in the sauna at the gym. Then a front came in, and it was 60 degrees again! What a cruel tease. Pick one season or the other! Why does Mother Nature hate me so?
6) I *heart* New Zealand. This is not news, but it was a (frequent) random thought all the same.
d
1) 'Bird people' are weird. I don't understand the fascination, really. Yes, birds are interesting, but I am not going to get out of bed early to sit in a forest to watch them and try to interpret what they are saying. I also don't care what they eat. And? Birds in the house are annoyingly loud. It's also cruel - let them go.
2) Speaking of weird people: 'Anime people'. I was listening to the radio on my commute this morning, and a DJ was describing a really wacked out Japanese show (which really doesn't narrow it down, does it? ) that his daughter had recorded on TiVO (I refuse to use TiVO as a verb!). I was just getting over the description - a man who is a psuedo superhero whose power is that his NOSEHAIR can fight people (and the different nosehairs have personalities or something) - when a 40-something year-old man called in and stated quite forcefully that the show described is not REAL Anime, and that the real Anime is well done and amazing and...I turned the station. Dude, get a grip!
3) Dream Catchers. Ok, I get the basic premise. Native Americans believed bad dreams would be caught up in these thingys. Fine. So why do I see dream catchers hanging from the rear view mirrors of white hippies' cars? Do they live in their cars? Fall asleep at the wheel frequently? I most recently saw one hanging from the mirror in a pizza delivery car. Ehhhh....
4) Thanksgiving. I am for the most part against this particular holiday. I grew up with the white-washed version of kind British settlers who came to this country unprepared for winter etc. and were helped out by the Native Americans. Awww...*blech* They always leave out how we turned around and wiped out most of said Native Americans with either chicken pox, or firearms. Ok, maybe not all on the same day, but you know the history. For me, they are linked. In any case, I am still grateful for many things and people. I did have a nice dinner with the family members I actually like to spend time with as well as Darren (who I'm always grateful for, esp when he chases the cat with a water gun so I can sleep).
5) This weather is killing me. I finally got used to the colder weather and resigned myself to only having warmth in the sauna at the gym. Then a front came in, and it was 60 degrees again! What a cruel tease. Pick one season or the other! Why does Mother Nature hate me so?
6) I *heart* New Zealand. This is not news, but it was a (frequent) random thought all the same.
d
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
The Martian Chronicles
I recently took a look at the books in my two bookcases and realized I have been moving books I have never read from place to place over the years. A couple weeks ago I picked up The Martian Chronicles - still brand new - and started reading. First, I love Ray Bradbury, and am quite fond of other books of his. However, when I started reading this book, I had a hard time forgetting what I knew about Mars from the recent NASA explorations. I almost gave up on the book. I'm really glad I didn't.
What a beautiful and poingnant piece of work, even after 60 years. So difficult to believe (and amazing to see) that Ray Bradbury was concerned about the same issues back then that I am concerned about now - humans wrecking the Earth then moving on to other planets only to wreck them too; American's disregard and disdain for anything different and unfamiliar. Ray packs a lot of story and meaning into a little book. Once I was able to suspend disbelief and accept his version of Mars, I could focus on his message. I guess I had no idea anyone was worried about the Earth to this extent back in the 40s. I understand concern about atomic war, but to hear the characters complain about humans chopping down trees and overpopulating and mining the hell out of the land was interesting.
When I read the ending, I interepreted in a way I don't think many other people do. It ended with a family from Earth arriving on Mars in a private rocket. Everyone on Mars had gone back to Earth to fight in the last great war. The father of the family promised his sons that he would show them "real live Martians", and in the end he did - he took them to the canal and had them peer into the water. He told them the Martians were there in the reflections. Based on the earlier parts of the book that had several examples of Martians outsmarting humans, my initial thought was that Martian had gone down to Earth when humans started populating Mars, created a family and bade his time until it was safe to come back and take his planet back.
While that may be the case, it could also be that the man meant that as his family moved to Mars, they are now Martians and should let go of the ideals of Earth. This would be a better message and more idealistic, but I like my initial thought as it is more clever (and I wanted the Martians to 'win'.)
Awesome book. I must read more!
What a beautiful and poingnant piece of work, even after 60 years. So difficult to believe (and amazing to see) that Ray Bradbury was concerned about the same issues back then that I am concerned about now - humans wrecking the Earth then moving on to other planets only to wreck them too; American's disregard and disdain for anything different and unfamiliar. Ray packs a lot of story and meaning into a little book. Once I was able to suspend disbelief and accept his version of Mars, I could focus on his message. I guess I had no idea anyone was worried about the Earth to this extent back in the 40s. I understand concern about atomic war, but to hear the characters complain about humans chopping down trees and overpopulating and mining the hell out of the land was interesting.
When I read the ending, I interepreted in a way I don't think many other people do. It ended with a family from Earth arriving on Mars in a private rocket. Everyone on Mars had gone back to Earth to fight in the last great war. The father of the family promised his sons that he would show them "real live Martians", and in the end he did - he took them to the canal and had them peer into the water. He told them the Martians were there in the reflections. Based on the earlier parts of the book that had several examples of Martians outsmarting humans, my initial thought was that Martian had gone down to Earth when humans started populating Mars, created a family and bade his time until it was safe to come back and take his planet back.
While that may be the case, it could also be that the man meant that as his family moved to Mars, they are now Martians and should let go of the ideals of Earth. This would be a better message and more idealistic, but I like my initial thought as it is more clever (and I wanted the Martians to 'win'.)
Awesome book. I must read more!
Monday, November 14, 2005
Skinny pregnant women are evil
Poor Darren had his work cut out for him this weekend after we attended a birthday party for a friend of mine. Now, I'm not a BIG girl...but neither am I a skinny girl. I am reasonably fit and curvy.
We were the first to arrive at the party on Saturday night - unusual for us to be right on time (esp to a party), but we knew that we didn't plan on attending the second half of the festivities out on the town. Also, it was the host's birthday, and she cooked! The least we could do is show up on time.
Her house was beautiful, and it was fun looking around and catching up with her before her other guests started coming in. The first was a painfully skinny girl with her fiance'. Like, one step away from needing hospitalization skinny. Still pretty, but I wondered how she supported the weight of her head.
I watched in horror as each woman who walked through the door was no larger than a size 4. I believe there were at least 5 or 6 other couples there. I felt larger and larger as they walked in. Nevermind I was sitting RIGHT next to the table with all the food. No way was I going to be the first to start eating! Thankfully, some of the men started dishing up their food, and Darren and I followed suit.
As I started to relax, we had a lot of fun meeting new couples - all in their 30s, which was nice - and talking about how we knew the birthday girl, our occupations etc. We even met a couple we'd like to hang out with again.
Then.
At the end of the dinner portion of the partying, everyone was getting set to go into town to the cigar bar. One very pretty woman seemed hesitant and then explained by saying that she was pregnant. Four and a half months pregnant. And she was STILL thinner than I am by a couple sizes!
*sigh*
Darren got that look on his face like "oh, shit. I won't see d naked for at least another month now. Damn skinny pregnant woman!" To his credit, he was very generous with compliments for the rest of the weekend and told again and again me just how attractive he finds me.
Back to the gym tonight!
We were the first to arrive at the party on Saturday night - unusual for us to be right on time (esp to a party), but we knew that we didn't plan on attending the second half of the festivities out on the town. Also, it was the host's birthday, and she cooked! The least we could do is show up on time.
Her house was beautiful, and it was fun looking around and catching up with her before her other guests started coming in. The first was a painfully skinny girl with her fiance'. Like, one step away from needing hospitalization skinny. Still pretty, but I wondered how she supported the weight of her head.
I watched in horror as each woman who walked through the door was no larger than a size 4. I believe there were at least 5 or 6 other couples there. I felt larger and larger as they walked in. Nevermind I was sitting RIGHT next to the table with all the food. No way was I going to be the first to start eating! Thankfully, some of the men started dishing up their food, and Darren and I followed suit.
As I started to relax, we had a lot of fun meeting new couples - all in their 30s, which was nice - and talking about how we knew the birthday girl, our occupations etc. We even met a couple we'd like to hang out with again.
Then.
At the end of the dinner portion of the partying, everyone was getting set to go into town to the cigar bar. One very pretty woman seemed hesitant and then explained by saying that she was pregnant. Four and a half months pregnant. And she was STILL thinner than I am by a couple sizes!
*sigh*
Darren got that look on his face like "oh, shit. I won't see d naked for at least another month now. Damn skinny pregnant woman!" To his credit, he was very generous with compliments for the rest of the weekend and told again and again me just how attractive he finds me.
Back to the gym tonight!
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Kiwiland
Today I am obsessing over New Zealand. I really want to live there, and for some reason, this urge has become stronger in the past week. I think it might be partly due to the fact that the anniversary of my trip there last year is coming up in a week or two. I also started looking at houses to see what we could afford, and I found a beautiful one in a village where my kiwi-friend lives. *sigh*
So, today I am searching the immigration website, assessing my and Darren's chances of getting accepted for residency. The chances are actually pretty good - they work on the points system, and we are at the prime age and education level for the points.
There are other steps, though, such as a full blood/xray workup and a letter from the FBI saying I'm not a criminal etc. Oh, and there is a small matter of getting a job. Luckily, the fields we work in are in need of applicants there. In the town where we want to live.
I have to remember, though, that once I'm there it is a long flight to ANYWHERE. Also? The NZ Dollar is lower than almost all currencies with the exception of Asia and perhaps Canada. Wait, no, just checked..the NZ$ is lower than even the CD$.
They don't have Target or big department stores or the gourmet kitchen store that is in the Columbia Mall. No peanut butter or Reeses cups. Umm..I think there are other negatives, but I can't remember them right now. I'm obsessed, what can I say? It's a beautiful country with a government I am more comfortable with that isn't controlled by the religious right. And? No smoking in restaurants etc in the WHOLE country. Also? No tipping. Ever. For anything. Best of all? Lots and lots of cuddly sheep.
d
So, today I am searching the immigration website, assessing my and Darren's chances of getting accepted for residency. The chances are actually pretty good - they work on the points system, and we are at the prime age and education level for the points.
There are other steps, though, such as a full blood/xray workup and a letter from the FBI saying I'm not a criminal etc. Oh, and there is a small matter of getting a job. Luckily, the fields we work in are in need of applicants there. In the town where we want to live.
I have to remember, though, that once I'm there it is a long flight to ANYWHERE. Also? The NZ Dollar is lower than almost all currencies with the exception of Asia and perhaps Canada. Wait, no, just checked..the NZ$ is lower than even the CD$.
They don't have Target or big department stores or the gourmet kitchen store that is in the Columbia Mall. No peanut butter or Reeses cups. Umm..I think there are other negatives, but I can't remember them right now. I'm obsessed, what can I say? It's a beautiful country with a government I am more comfortable with that isn't controlled by the religious right. And? No smoking in restaurants etc in the WHOLE country. Also? No tipping. Ever. For anything. Best of all? Lots and lots of cuddly sheep.
d
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Cult vs. Religion
I was recently reading an article about Mormanism - I think some sort of anniversary just passed. It got me to thinking about cults and religions. Why isn't Mormanism considered a cult? Or Scientology? They are both fairly young 'religions'. How are the Heaven's Gate people different from established religions?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines cult as:
Main Entry: cult
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
And religion:
Main Entry: re·li·gion
Etymology: Middle English religioun, from Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back
1 a : the state of a religious
b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
They are both described as a "system of religious attitudes, beliefs and practices (rituals)", although a cult is considered unorthodox/false, while the definition of religion mentions God or the supernatural. The etymology is interesting too.
Was Mormanism ever considered a cult? Scientology? And why are cults bad and religions good?
d
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines cult as:
Main Entry: cult
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
And religion:
Main Entry: re·li·gion
Etymology: Middle English religioun, from Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back
1 a : the state of a religious
b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
They are both described as a "system of religious attitudes, beliefs and practices (rituals)", although a cult is considered unorthodox/false, while the definition of religion mentions God or the supernatural. The etymology is interesting too.
Was Mormanism ever considered a cult? Scientology? And why are cults bad and religions good?
d
Friday, October 21, 2005
Friday musings
A week or two ago, so many things were happening each day I decided I should have a blog just to talk/write stuff out. And now I can't remember any of those things, and this week has been fairly uneventful. Today I will just write about a very strange albeit upsetting dream I had last night:
I was dead,and I knew I was dead. I was in a holding room of sorts; one that looked like a stripped down version of my living room. There was a couch and a loveseat, both covered with off-white slipcovers, a coffee table and an (empty) entertainment center. No windows, no doors.
I flashed back to my death, wondering how it happened and simultaneously knowing that it was supposed to happen..that it was "my time". I was chasing someone who had committed a crime, and my job was to shoot that person. I was undercover, though, and I didn't count on a police officer happening on the scene. As I shot my target from my position on the floor (and killed him), a police officer misunderstood the situation and shot me in the neck. I remember thinking "SHIT! Wait, no, I'm not ready!", although, again knowing that I had foreseen this.
I'm back in the holding room and I'm crying. Sobbing. It's all I can do, because I miss living and the people who were in my life. I sob and sleep, wake up and repeat. Some man (God? God's helper?) puts some flyers on the coffee table as suggestions of activities to help me acclimate to my situation. I'm too depressed to consider them, though, and I cry some more.
Then there are people in the room - four adult family members from my childhood. I'm glad to see them because it has been so long. We chat and catch up. I tell them about my life since I had seen them, and then suddenly remembered that I was getting married. I exclaimed "oh, yeah! I'm engaged!" and I held out my hand to show them the ring. In a second, I recall that I'm dead, though, and I say "oh, well, I was, anyway". Then I think of Darren and I get very sad. I wonder what he will do with the ring..will he pay it off? Sell it? Give it to someone else? And how is he anyway? I wish I could talk to him and make sure he isn't taking my death too hard.
There is someone else in the room - a woman who is my sister in the dream (I have no sisters). She has been in the holding room for a while, and is ready to move on. We are saying our goodbyes and I'm wishing her well. Once she is gone, I wonder how long it will take before I'm ready to move on - there is no pressure here, which is nice. I do know that I can't check in on Darren until I move on, though. I begin to wonder if this is where people go who are in comas, and maybe I'm just in a coma and will get to go back and rejoin my family and friends.
That's it. It was quite sad, though, and I couldn't get enough hugs when I woke up.
I do wonder...does this place exist? Is the 'after-life' our expectations or the same for everyone? Is there an after-life?
d
I was dead,and I knew I was dead. I was in a holding room of sorts; one that looked like a stripped down version of my living room. There was a couch and a loveseat, both covered with off-white slipcovers, a coffee table and an (empty) entertainment center. No windows, no doors.
I flashed back to my death, wondering how it happened and simultaneously knowing that it was supposed to happen..that it was "my time". I was chasing someone who had committed a crime, and my job was to shoot that person. I was undercover, though, and I didn't count on a police officer happening on the scene. As I shot my target from my position on the floor (and killed him), a police officer misunderstood the situation and shot me in the neck. I remember thinking "SHIT! Wait, no, I'm not ready!", although, again knowing that I had foreseen this.
I'm back in the holding room and I'm crying. Sobbing. It's all I can do, because I miss living and the people who were in my life. I sob and sleep, wake up and repeat. Some man (God? God's helper?) puts some flyers on the coffee table as suggestions of activities to help me acclimate to my situation. I'm too depressed to consider them, though, and I cry some more.
Then there are people in the room - four adult family members from my childhood. I'm glad to see them because it has been so long. We chat and catch up. I tell them about my life since I had seen them, and then suddenly remembered that I was getting married. I exclaimed "oh, yeah! I'm engaged!" and I held out my hand to show them the ring. In a second, I recall that I'm dead, though, and I say "oh, well, I was, anyway". Then I think of Darren and I get very sad. I wonder what he will do with the ring..will he pay it off? Sell it? Give it to someone else? And how is he anyway? I wish I could talk to him and make sure he isn't taking my death too hard.
There is someone else in the room - a woman who is my sister in the dream (I have no sisters). She has been in the holding room for a while, and is ready to move on. We are saying our goodbyes and I'm wishing her well. Once she is gone, I wonder how long it will take before I'm ready to move on - there is no pressure here, which is nice. I do know that I can't check in on Darren until I move on, though. I begin to wonder if this is where people go who are in comas, and maybe I'm just in a coma and will get to go back and rejoin my family and friends.
That's it. It was quite sad, though, and I couldn't get enough hugs when I woke up.
I do wonder...does this place exist? Is the 'after-life' our expectations or the same for everyone? Is there an after-life?
d
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Rant #1: Homophobia
Today, as I was driving into work, I was listening to my favorite morning show (Big Phat Morning Show on 92Q). Tuesdays are designated as "Tell the Truth Tuesday", and a variety of topics are up for discussion. Today the main topic was a local high school's Gay/Straight Alliance Group. Apparently this group, like any other group, was promoting itself within the school to increase membership and awareness. This was not the news, though. No, the news was the parents and students who were protesting the very existance of this group.
Ok.
So, what's the story? Why are some people so offended or freaked out about homosexuality? I listened as older listener called in to say that students who are 17 can't possibly know they are gay if they can't even figure out what their major will be in college. Wha?! Do you mean to tell me that this man didn't know he was heterosexual until college? Man, I knew WAY before then. To their credit, the DJs made fun of this man (they are open-minded and awesome). Another woman called in to say that when she learned of the Gay/Straight Alliance Group in her child's school, she moved her child to another school.
Why?
Do people think homosexuality is contagious? I'm still not understanding the basic disagreement. Is it that people fear what they don't understand? Do they think they will be forced to be gay one day? Surely they can't all be Christain fundamentalists. Even so, who are these people who use the bible to hate gays? Do you notice they always focus on gay sex? They are fascinated with gay sex, as if that is all homosexual couples do. For example, Rick Santorum - what a tool. He once likened homosexual sex with beastiality and child molestation . This guy is a real piece of work. He believes it's ok to be gay as long as you don't act on it. Luckily, the readers of gay sex advice columnist Dan Savage's column have found a use for Santorum's name. He will be forever linked with butt sex, straight or gay.
Ok, so let's say the issue is sex and the fact it is almost impossible (don't want to count out any anomalies) to procreate from gay sex. Does this mean that all us heteros should only have sex to procreate? I'm sure there are some people out there who believe that - but I don't think that accounts for all of the people who are angry that gay people exist.
I also heard the argument that God created man and woman to be together, not man and man or woman and woman. Hmmm..correct if I am wrong, but didn't God create everyone? In His/Her image? There isn't some random thing out there creating people, is there? And can anyone say for sure what it is that God wants?
I've rambled on for a while now, and still have not found an answer. I just don't understand the issue. I'd ask my homophobic readers to respond, but I don't think I have any. Actually, I don't think I have any readers at all.
*end rant*
d
Ok.
So, what's the story? Why are some people so offended or freaked out about homosexuality? I listened as older listener called in to say that students who are 17 can't possibly know they are gay if they can't even figure out what their major will be in college. Wha?! Do you mean to tell me that this man didn't know he was heterosexual until college? Man, I knew WAY before then. To their credit, the DJs made fun of this man (they are open-minded and awesome). Another woman called in to say that when she learned of the Gay/Straight Alliance Group in her child's school, she moved her child to another school.
Why?
Do people think homosexuality is contagious? I'm still not understanding the basic disagreement. Is it that people fear what they don't understand? Do they think they will be forced to be gay one day? Surely they can't all be Christain fundamentalists. Even so, who are these people who use the bible to hate gays? Do you notice they always focus on gay sex? They are fascinated with gay sex, as if that is all homosexual couples do. For example, Rick Santorum - what a tool. He once likened homosexual sex with beastiality and child molestation . This guy is a real piece of work. He believes it's ok to be gay as long as you don't act on it. Luckily, the readers of gay sex advice columnist Dan Savage's column have found a use for Santorum's name. He will be forever linked with butt sex, straight or gay.
Ok, so let's say the issue is sex and the fact it is almost impossible (don't want to count out any anomalies) to procreate from gay sex. Does this mean that all us heteros should only have sex to procreate? I'm sure there are some people out there who believe that - but I don't think that accounts for all of the people who are angry that gay people exist.
I also heard the argument that God created man and woman to be together, not man and man or woman and woman. Hmmm..correct if I am wrong, but didn't God create everyone? In His/Her image? There isn't some random thing out there creating people, is there? And can anyone say for sure what it is that God wants?
I've rambled on for a while now, and still have not found an answer. I just don't understand the issue. I'd ask my homophobic readers to respond, but I don't think I have any. Actually, I don't think I have any readers at all.
*end rant*
d
Monday, October 17, 2005
Moth Balls
Darren recently wondered why moth balls are so stinky and so effective against moths. Here is my theory:
Moth balls are just that - the balls of very large moths who live in the Amazon (because all insects are larger there). The moths are captured and castrated, and the balls are sold to your local stores. They are stinky because, well, they are BALLS. And it's not the smell that repels our little moths here in the states - it's the fear. They see that giant ball and they think "crap, if a giant moth didn't make it out of here, how will I?" and they make a run for it.
Happy Monday.
d
Moth balls are just that - the balls of very large moths who live in the Amazon (because all insects are larger there). The moths are captured and castrated, and the balls are sold to your local stores. They are stinky because, well, they are BALLS. And it's not the smell that repels our little moths here in the states - it's the fear. They see that giant ball and they think "crap, if a giant moth didn't make it out of here, how will I?" and they make a run for it.
Happy Monday.
d
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Baaaa (hello)
I have an unnatural love for sheep. Ok, not THAT kind of love, mind you. I just think they are adorable and fluffy. During my trip to New Zealand last year, I constantly hounded my poor Kiwi friend into stopping the car on our 7 day tour and letting me hug a sheep. He never did stop that car.
Months later while at Walt Disney World, I got another chance to hug a sheep at a petting zoo of sorts at the Animal Kingdom. I believe my enthusiasm scared the sheep though, because they all ran from me into the "I'm taking a rest" station. I have a picture of me half-hugging a sheep, though, who is less than happy to be near me.
So, then, let me explain the "Baaa". I recently discovered that while "baaa-ing", sheep stick out their tongues. HILARIOUS. So my soon-to-be-husband (Darren) and I now greet each other with "Baaaa" at random times, via text message or in person, in our house or in public. It's quite sad and yet proves that we are meant to be together because no one would else would put up with that shit.
And so I start my blog.
(baaa)
d
Months later while at Walt Disney World, I got another chance to hug a sheep at a petting zoo of sorts at the Animal Kingdom. I believe my enthusiasm scared the sheep though, because they all ran from me into the "I'm taking a rest" station. I have a picture of me half-hugging a sheep, though, who is less than happy to be near me.
So, then, let me explain the "Baaa". I recently discovered that while "baaa-ing", sheep stick out their tongues. HILARIOUS. So my soon-to-be-husband (Darren) and I now greet each other with "Baaaa" at random times, via text message or in person, in our house or in public. It's quite sad and yet proves that we are meant to be together because no one would else would put up with that shit.
And so I start my blog.
(baaa)
d
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