kitty pi

Ready. Set. Move!

Ch-ch-ch-check it out... I've moved HERE. Same Q, different place. Update your bookmark, if you have one. *mwah*

Tell me all of your problems

Not you! (Well, only if you want to. You are welcome to tell me all of your problems - the first hour is free.) I am talking about my car. It is a really great car (it has heated seats!) and it is smarter than most people I know, as well as more communicative. Low washer fluid? It tells me. Brake light out? It tells me that, too. Time for service? Fuhgedaboudit - it's not letting me off the hook until I get that service (which I always do). My car's superawesomemegaintelligent computer will report the most minor issue and it will keep on telling me until I do something to remedy it. It's like the naggy wife I never had.

Last Saturday, as we were driving home from Palm Springs, it started acting a little funny. It was sort of chugging/speeding up/slowing down very subtely but noticeably; it's kind of hard to explain. (I realize now, I should be telling my mechanic and not the internets about this.) Anyway, it happens only intermittently and not everyday. At first, I thought I just got bad gas. But it also seems a little like a shifting thing with the automatic transmission. It's a mystery.

And why is it a mystery? Because my car won't tell me what's wrong!! I've become reliant upon it's exceptional communication skills to let me know what to do. I even told Mr. Q, 'it must be nothing because the console display hasn't indicated anything being wrong'. That really set his eyeballs rolling and he rather diplomatically (not) told me that I was a 'tard for relying on my computer to tell me what to do.

Anyway, it's a problem. Or not. I don't know and since I really hate going to the mechanic, I am not sure when I will find out. It frightens me to go to the garage and I prefer to just ride things out until I can't anymore. I am not what you would call proactive when it comes to car maintenance.

That said, it is still driving (mostly) perfectly. And the heated seats? I love them! When I have cramps, I crank that baby up and it is the most soothing feeling in the world. As if you needed to know that.

Have a happy Friday, y'all. Enjoy your weekend!

I'm a lurker. You're a lurker. We're all lurkers!

I was visiting Feministe (which I often do, 'cause it's good) and discovered that Lauren and some other miscellaneous people have declared today "Delurking Day". There is no official delurking day that I know of so why not make it today?

What is a Lurker, you ask? It is a person, not unlike myself, who reads often but doesn't comment. In my opinion, comments are totally optional ( and lurking is totally acceptable) so I don't want anyone to feel like they are obligated to comment. Ever. In fact, I comment only occassionally elsewhere because I don't always have time to write a thoughtful comment, and/or there is nothing to say, and/or everyone else has already said it.

With that said, I've been in a wee funk this week (not feeling the love at work, if you must know) and it would make my day if you just said hi. I really like knowing who is reading this drivel and what they think. Is this like a trainwreck? I feel like I've really lost my touch lately.

I've noticed, too that I've lost some readers. I don't have that many so I really notice when someone stops visiting! That makes me a little sad (and a little neurotic) since I don't know if they got bored or they got busy or just forgot. Whatever. One of them was in Alabama and I figured they have their hands full with post-Katrina stuff. I hope they are ok. (They had an army.mil IP address.)

That's it. Make my day - tell me something good!

(Please.)

No time like the present

Even though I am slammed at work and covering for other secretaries who are laid up at home, and even though I have to pee really badly, I thought I would take this minute to say "heeelllloooooo". It's been crazy psycho busy at work, and of course I have school and studying at night so blogging is definitely light this week.

Here are some random greetings...

~~Happy Autumnal Equinox to all my friends and loyal subjects in the NorthernHemisphere!~~ Ooops, it's tomorrow. I'll post something eloquent and fitting for fall tomorrow!

Happy Season Premiere of America's Next Top Model! Thank you Tyra for putting it on a night when I don't have class (just buku reading and laundry - I'll have to make ANTM a priority because I have so few guilty pleasures on TV these days).

Happy Humpday!

Happy "I'm moving to a new blog soon" Day. I know I've been saying it for months, but it's almost ready for the unveiling. Stay tuned.

This Spam's for You

I received two hilarious emails today. Normally, I don't get much spam, if I get any at all. Today I got two and they made me giggle. I am quite sure this is the dumbest post I've ever compsed, but for my own future reference I am still going to post it.

Here is Spam #1:

Hello, do you remember me?
I'm John from NY, I have taken new email address.
Remember we spoke about a problem of short penis?
I have found at last a good product which is capable to correct this problem!!!
This the best that i ever tried!!!
My power and pleasure has trippled, my wife can hardly keep
up, my penis has gone from 3.5 inches to just over 6 and is still growing!
This is More-Size, which I found at [blah blah blah dot com]
Try it necessarily!!!
--
The best regards,
John Sims

My boss got the same email but it was from a different person. I don't know what is funnier, the fact that I spoke to someone about my short penis or the last line which imperatively states "Try it necessarily!"

Spam #2

Your paypal account has been suppended

If you are going to try to trick me into giving you my name and password for paypal, at least have the brains to spell correctly! Suppended! Spammers are seriously retarded. But you knew that already, I am sure.

Making Lemonade

Damn that tram! But thank god, too! It was a blessing in disguise most likely.

Me and the Mr. woke our butts up at 5 am Saturday, drank our coffee, showered and dressed our lovely selves in the latest hiking fashion. Actually, we just dug out some old things to wear but it sounds more exciting the other way. We laced up our boots, packed up our bags with plenty of water and power bars. Filled up the gas tank and hit the road just as the sun was rising in the eastern sky.

One hundred miles later, we turned onto the road to drive up the mountain. The plan was to take the Palm Springs aerial tram to the 8,000 foot base station and hike to the peak from there. The peak of Mt. San Jacinto is 10,000 something feet above sea level. Anyway, it is usually quite cold up there (45 to 65 degrees F) so I was wearing two layers of shirts, long pants and a scarf. I was worried about being cold! We knew our friend would be there before us and expected him to be waiting at the top for us.

Needless to say, we were quite surprised to see him at the entrance to the tram road. Waiting there next to his car. Right next to the sign that said "TRAM CLOSED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE".

We laughed and laughed and got out of the car. "Where's the nearest bar?" we asked. More laughs. We've been planning this hiking trip since early August and had checked the park's website as late as that morning. No mention of a closed tram. We all drove 2+ hours only to be denied!

We had a terrific breakfast while we waited for our other friends (who were still stuck in traffic). After they arrived, we decided to find a hike nearby and make a day of it anyway.

The lady at the Visitor's Center told us about a hike called Tahquitz Canyon on Indian tribal lands, so we hit the road again. A short drive later, just past the main strip in downtown Palm Springs, we found it. There was a small admission fee, and it was a short hike (only 2 miles) but it was magnificent. We hiked along a stream for about a mile and wound up at a beautiful waterfall. The water was crystal clear and cold. We were quite hot (remember, I am wearing a long-sleeve shirt and long pants) and the water was like a hidden treasure. Mr. Q smartly wore shorts for this hike so he was able to jump in and swim up to the waterfall. I would have joined him for skinny dip but a park ranger showed up about that time. So, I rolled up my pants and waded around in the extraordinary cool water. We were practically the only people there and it was enchanting. We literally just sat on some rocks with our feet dangling in the water, talking to each other for about an hour.

A short hike back to our car and we were off to the nearest pub for cold beer and a light lunch. We decided to make it an annual tradition.

I still want to climb that mountain, and I probably will one day. I've been up there before, but not to the peak. I know it is beautiful. I also know that I am getting older and lazier so it was probably a big blessing that we did a hike that was more in line with my ability level! I expected to be exhausted today and I'm not. I had a great time and made a great connection with our oldest friends. I'm quite thrilled to have a new (and relatively easy) annual hike!

All in all, I can say I am not at all disappointed. It turned out to be a brilliant and beautiful day. I love the desert (but I'm taking my bikini next time!). I love my husband. I love spending time with good people. You can never go wrong with that!

Hope your weekend was great.

Would you like some cheese with that whine?

::whine alert::

All work and no blog, makes Jane a dull girl.

I've been
a) Busy
b) ~~Tired~~ exhausted
c) Uninspired
d) all of the above

I'll be back tomorrow with fresh insights! That is, if I don't slit my wrists first. Traffic has been horrendous, work has been busy and a total drag (who'd have thunk it?), school is more demanding (demandinger? I like that word!) than I am accustomed to, and for some reason it has just been a hard couple of days.

I would be remiss if I didn't say that the week hasn't been all bad. I had a wonderful lunch with two friends yesterday. I got some great music from one of them (thankyouthankyouthankyou!). I also got a teensy bit of shopping done the day before (no argyle shoes though - they didn't have the color that I wanted). And my hubs has been awesome.

Also, I have something to look forward to this weekend. We're climbing a mountain. Along with our oldest friends, we are hiking Mt. San Jacinto near Palm Springs. I've been looking forward to it for a while now. I know I am pathetically out of shape, but I think just being out in the mountains and the woods and breathing fresh air will be da bomb! I haven't been on a hike in many, many years. I've pretty much forgotten what to wear and what to take. Wish me luck!

No shoes is... good shoes?

I didn't buy shoes this weekend. However, I fully intend to buy some tonight! I have decided on the argyle ones. Why the heck not? I am sure to regret it, but hopefully it will be the only regret in my eulogy:

Ms. Q, lifelong learner, billionaire, philosopher, winner of the Nobel prize for blogging and philanthropist, overcame poverty, abuse, illness and self-pity, to become one of the world's most renowned thinkers.
She lived and loved on her own terms and, accompanied by her beautiful and brilliant partner, Mr. Q, lived a full and adventurous life with no regrets. Except the time she bought argyle sneakers instead of a nice pair of black pumps that she really should have bought for work. She was unfortunately passed over for a promotion at work when the CEO of her company refused to take her seriously wearing argyle sneakers with her suits. [...]

I fully expect it to go something like that. Don't minor purchases sometimes require the most agonizing? It's so silly.

The weekend was awesome (despite the lack of shoe shopping). We celebrated our friend's birthday. We saw a lot of friends that we hadn't seen in months and had stimulating and thought-provoking conversations. I am the proud member of a group of smart and successful 30-somethings (and a 40-year-old non-virgin) that are all going/going back to college. Three of them are going to the same school as me and I am really stoked that we can share this alternative college experience.

Another almost-exciting event was the discovery of an ocean-front apartment for the right price (cheaper than we are paying now). We were practically boxing up our stuff in anticipation of apartment nirvana. When we met the landlord for a tour of the apartment, our dreams of ocean-front living were soon dashed. The landlord was a stepford wife, with a diamond ring that needed a wheelbarrow to transport it, and absolutely zero affect. The woman was a femmbot - there was no inkling of a personality or feelings. She blankly looked at us and nothing we said elicited a response of any kind. She lives on the property and would be aware of our every move so we really wanted to have warm fuzzies or at least a connection of some sort. The apartment was not what we dreamed it would be either. The ocean view was merely okay, but the apartment was tiny, tiny, tiny and had no patio or deck to sit on and listen to the surf. Very claustrophobic. It only had one small closet. And it had crunchy carpet. Plus, no pets were allowed so it was an automatic "no" for us. The list of negatives was long and the list of positives was barely one - ocean front. So, we're staying put for a while. Oh, well.

C'est tout! I have beaucoup studying to do so I have to spend my lunch hour reading books instead of blogs. Damn! Hope you guys are doing well. I'll catch up later!

xxxooo

A quickie

I have about 15 minutes to kill before I blow this popsicle stand, so here are my last (feeble) thoughts of the work day for your reading pleasure:

There is a fly buzzing around me. I knew I should have taken a shower this morning.

I wonder if I spend $50 on shoes this weekend, should I buy work shoes (which I really need) or should I buy fun shoes (you know, like the cute argyle ones)? Maybe I can find a happy medium - cute, comfy shoes that I can wear both to work and out on the weekend.

And, the final thought of the day...

IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

Q&A with Q

The fabulous LJ of MooAlex fame ~~was dying to~~ found it in her heart to interview me as part of the Interview Me Game. This is the trend that is sweeping the nation.

The rules are simple:

The Interview Me Game Rules.
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying, "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is the part where I was the interviewee...

1. Why do you blog?

Considering that the word ‘blog’ is now a verb, but my grammar check thinks it is a noun, I will now embrace the fact that I do something so new that Bill Gates hasn’t even caught on.

The short answer is…
I blog for (my own) entertainment. I blog for therapy. I blog to make new friends. Blogs are like diaries but better because they are interactive and dynamic, and they won’t burn up in a fire.

Never content to give a short answer, here’s more. I love this medium for the simple fact that I can have a circle of friends and acquaintances that come from every walk of life and every continent on earth. I learn so much about myself through writing and I feel connected to others through their writing.

Blogging gives me the perspective I need to take life a little less seriously. Since I am prone to major malcontentedness, this ensures that I will at least laugh at myself once a day, if not more. It is a great creative outlet and a great forum for venting life’s little annoyances that otherwise get bottled up and end with me crumpled up on the couch having a big old crying jag for no real reason.

Another reason I blog–I get to feel like I am a published author somehow, even if only a few dozen people read my writing. For frustrated writers, or writers with little gumption to find a literary agent, it’s a great substitute for taking the risk and being rejected. Also, since I don’t get paid to do this (yet), I have the freedom to write whatever I want, however I want, or nothing at all. In addition to that, I used to read articles and think, “I can do better than that”. Now I know better. It’s harder than it looks!

This is going to sound trite but it is true. I like to think that I blog in order to be a better human being. Anyone can piss and moan; I prefer to piss and moan and then figure out how I am going to make something better.

2. You are shipwrecked on a deserted island. All of your human needs - such as food and water - are available. Name one item/person you want to have with you in each of the following categories: celebrity male, celebrity female, music (assume you have a way to play it), candy bar, and sex toy.

Celebrity Male: Jon Stewart, because I want to think AND laugh.
Celebrity Female: Maggie Gyllenhaal, because she is hot.
Music: Right now, I am going to say Death Cab for Cutie because I just got their new CD and I love it and want to get to know it intimately. But normally, I’d have to say the Beatles or John Lennon.
Candy Bar: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups; they’ve been my favorite since the beginning of time.
Sex Toy: Johnny Depp. Oh, I bet you meant another kind of sex toy. Doesn’t Johnny count? ;)

3. What one person has been the biggest influence on your life thus far and why?

My husband has been the biggest influence on my life thus far. He basically helped me see that I was lovable and brilliant and beautiful. By listening to my incessant whining for 10 years, but always saying, “So? Do something about it” and always giving me the kick in the ass that I needed, I became truly empowered.

He went with me to enroll in college for the first time (many, many years ago). He loaned me money when I couldn’t afford to go register or buy books. He took me out and cheered me up when life was almost too much to bear. He listened to my ramblings. He sent me mix tapes when I lived far away. He visited me in far away places. He was always brutally honest about what a twit I was being. He shared his hopes and dreams with me. He took risks and accepted the consequences. He taught me how to treat myself with dignity, respect, love and a huge dose of humility. He showed me how to put others before self.

I could go on and on. But you get the picture. He is a rock star, movie star, world-class philosopher and a sage, all wrapped up in a really cute package. I would not be where I am today, if not for him.

Also, he always gets me to like songs that I didn’t originally like (such as Beck’s new song “Girl”). All he has to do is say “I like that song” and I’m hooked. He has extreme powers over me!

4. If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Parker Posey is the first person I thought of to play me in the Hollywood film of my life. Why? She’s probably the closest thing to the real me that I’ve seen. I think we have similar sensibilities. She is smart and funny! I love her, so I think she should do it. With my luck though I would get a David Lynchian script instead of Christopher Guest-ian script. I would like to think of my life's screenplay as a cross between Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron, with a little Woody Allen, some David Lynch thrown in just to keep things interesting, and some wacky Christopher Guest for fun.

5. If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have and why?

If I were a salad, I would have honey mustard dressing because that would guarantee that Mr. Q would eat me. *blush* Hmmm. That gives me an idea. Anyway, Honey Mustard dressing is tangy and slightly sweet and not everyone likes Honey Mustard so that is pretty representative of the real me, too! I am definitely an acquired taste.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now that you know more than you ever ~~hoped~~ wished to know about me, who wants to be interviewed? Come on - it's your chance to be really famous, or at least pretend you are!

A, B, C, it's easy as 1, 2, 3...

Stole this one from Dafina Girl, although I saw it many, many moons ago. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I am actually busy working (much to my surprise) so this will have to be a little filler until I can devote some time to real writing. I love these memes anyway, because I always learn something about myself. So, without further delay, I present the ABC Meme...

A - Accent: non-descript. California-ish. I can do a pretty good imitation of just about anywhere in the US and a pretty lame British accent.

B - Bra Size: small-ish.

C - Chore you hate: filing. I don't *heart* filing. When are we going paperless anyway? The only paper I want to save is the love letters that Mr. Q sends me.

D - Dad's name: James Eugene.

E - Essential make-up: moisturizer, mascara and lip balm.

F - Favorite perfume: the way Mr. Q smells.

G. - Gold or silver: White gold.

H - Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas.

I - Insomnia: Never.

J - Job Title: Executive Assistant Extraordinaire. Full-time student. All-around Nice Person.

K - Kids: Josh, 19. Princess Jojo, 16. Quilty, Jr., 6.

L - Living arrangements: Just the two of us and our cat most of the time. Two-bedroom apartment with a view of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.

M - Mom's birthplace: Reading, Pennsylvannia. She moved to Texas when she was 2 or 3 years old, so she claims to be a native Texan. I dont' know why.

N - Favorite Noldo: What's a noldo?

O - Overnight hospital stay: Four.

P - Phobia: Poverty.

Q - Favorite quote: "All is vanity and a chase after the wind". Actually, that's Mr. Q's favorite, or at least oft-quoted, quote and it really sticks in my head. Since I don't really have any original thoughts or ideas of my own, as evidenced by my need to do a meme again, I will have to go with the quote I remember best. I also like the one on my side bar by XTC. And just about any lyric from a Beatles' song would do.

R - Religious affiliation: none at the moment. I was born into a Baptist family, but I am a wannabe Catholic.

S - Siblings: Two living. One dead.

T – Time you wake up: 6:30 a.m. with the assistance of the alarm and my husband telling me to turn off the alarm.

U - Unnatural hair colors: Hmmm? Red. My natural haircolor is reddish-brown with a lot of gray and I haven't colored my hair since January, so it's pretty natural right now.

V - Vegetable you refuse to eat: Brussels sprouts and lima beans. I also don't eat avocado (a fruit) because I am allergic.

W - Worst habit: Smoking. Putting on makeup while driving. Paying bills late.

X - X-rays I've had: lots. Pretty much every part of my body except my skull.

Y - Yummy foods you make: Homemade macaroni and cheese.

Z - Zodiac sign: Scorpio. I always get the last word. And I'm kind of hot. Did I mention, I always get the last word and I am always right?

C'est mardi? C'est impossible!

My weekend went something like this.

Friday night: Me and Mr. Q did sushi, sake and grocery shopping.

Saturday: The Quilty clan arrived for - family. Fun. Filet Mignon.

Sunday: We took Quilty, Jr. bowling in the afternoon followed by dining and movie watching and 'Life' playing. There was a late night de-flea-ing of Pi.

Monday: Death Cab for Cutie made 'Plans' to add themselves to our CD collection. Excellent!! My semi-annual music purchase couldn't be better! Best $16 I've spent all year. The weekend ended with a relaxing lounge by the pool while I caught up on school reading and Mr. Q caught some more rays of ~~death~~ sun .

Through all of the fun and the abundance of goodness, we never stopped thinking about the people who are suffering in the wake of hurricane Katrina. We felt pretty guilty for having it so good. We made plans to help in every way that we can.

Hope your weekend was as good as could be. Hope your week is sublime, too. I'd love to hear how you are doing.

Off the top of my head

I am still aghast at what is happening in New Orleans, "the 'city' of Louisiana", Mississippi and Alabama. I am reading, reading, reading, and I can't get enough. I see that some sort of relief has come to many of the victims. It would appear that we have victims of the hurricane, victims of the subsequent flooding, and victims of the gross mishandling of the rescue and relief effort.

I believe incompetence runs rampant in this country sometimes, but I have no doubt that if a company emergency were handled with as much incompentence and ineptitude (to put it way too mildly), the CEO and upper management would not only be fired by its board of directors, but they may even be tried for criminal neglect, or other offenses.

Let's say the building you work in caught on fire and the CEO knew about it but was too busy playing golf to call the fire department. Oh, and the high-tech, state-of-the-art security system he designed and installed accidentally locked the people inside the building. As a result, a couple of people die. Your CEO blames the bystanders who should have called the fire department. And then he blames the workers for not getting out of the building before it burned down (even though it was technically impossible). Alright, I am oversimplifying again, but you get the picture. In this case, the imaginary CEO might face charges of involuntary manslaughter in addition to negligence and misconduct. Wouldn't he?

(I don't have a law degree or education - this is for illustrative purposes only).

Well, aren't we essentially the stockholders of this company called the United States of America? When are we going to recall the Board of Directors (our legislators) and fire the CEO, VP and the entire Cabinet, including the so-called Director of FEMA? If ever there was a case for filing criminal charges of neglect (at a minimum), it seems to be now.

Anyway. I am more informed than this tirade would indicate. It's simply unbelievable that this could be happening.

Inadequate

I continue to feel completely deficient in adequately expressing how I feel about the devastation and complete lack of response to Hurricane Katrina.

My thoughts today (adapted from an email to a friend this morning):

All I can do is smack my forehead and think 'oh my god, I didn't think [Bush] could reach new levels of insensitivity and stupidity'.

The only "positive" thing from this, and I use that word hesitantly, is that we now have a HUGE number of poor people that he can't ignore. I am sure that he can't wait until this nightmare is over and he can go back to ignoring them. The working poor in this country in large part make it possible for him to live his life of luxury and it makes me sick that he and his cronies have made their millions at the expense of a decent standard of living for others in this country.

AND THIS IS HOW HE REPAYS THEM. By sending military convoys to help out. FIVE DAYS AFTER THE FACT. Motherfucking useless piece of shit.

Not to keep harping on the difference between September 11 and now, but I find it so interesting how well we managed to reopen Wall Street and get things back to normal when the world's largest financial center was attacked but a bunch of mostly poor, undereducated minorities are still in the dark, figuratively and literally, wondering when BASIC help will arrive. This is appalling beyond my wildest imagination.

I still feel that the media has slightly over hyped the violence, that the majority of people there are just trying to survive and are cooperating as best they can and trying desperately to just hang on. For every idiot out there with a gun, wrecking it for others, there are 100 people who are helping each other out. And trying to make a nightmare situation better.

Other people have said it much better than me. There is no shortage of commentary on the “Internets” today and I am glued to my computer reading it all and taking it all in.

Michele at A Small Victory has some excellent stuff. There is so much more, but I like that she is organizing an effort and trying to focus on the positives.

Update: In a totally unexpected turn of events, my co-worker, Katrina just offered half of her ham and cheese croissant to me for lunch. I didn't know what I was going to eat for lunch today. Ham and cheese croissants are one of my favoritest things in the world. How nice!

Hope is a Four-letter Word

I am going to try to articulate what I am feeling about the situation in the South. This will not be the most profound essay out there, but it’s my attempt to try to put into words what we are witness to at this moment in regards to the Katrina aftermath. It may be oversimplified but, in my head, I am trying to deconstruct what I see and start at the simplest place for me.

One of the most striking aspects to me is that we are supposedly the most affluent, refined, super power in the world and yet we are looking at extreme chaos and despair personified. In one of the most magnificent cities in America, we see utter and complete devastation. Poverty, ignorance, pride and selfishness are responsible for as many deaths as the hurricane itself, in my opinion.

The conditions people are trying to survive in are unfathomable to me. And I am shocked that some people are acting so barbarically.

However, after my initial response–that many people were too poor or too stupid or too stubborn to leave the city before the storm–lay more serious questions. What happened to our society that we are able to so easily abandon our family and neighbors? Why don’t people know who their neighbors are?

I realized last night that I don’t know my neighbors. I wondered as I started knocking on their doors, to borrow some baking soda for the banana bread that I was making, that I haven’t taken the time to say more than hello. If our building suddenly collapsed, I wouldn’t even know their surnames or where their families lived or who to contact and they don’t know a thing about me. I value my privacy, but… If one of them needed a ride out of town should we all need to flee some disaster, natural or otherwise, I wouldn’t hesitate to give it. And they might not hesitate to give me a ride, but would they offer or would they wait for me to ask? And I am one of the fortunate ones, because I have resources, I have money, I have a car and I have the desire to leave my home behind to ensure the safety of my family. What about those who are living near me and unable to drive, live in a wheelchair, are bed bound, et cetera? Who is looking out for them?

What happened that we are so protective of our things that we don’t want to leave any of it behind anyway? What do we have that is truly irreplaceable? Each other. That’s all I can think of.

What happened that our country is so focused on ‘homeland security’ but can’t get a grip on this rescue operation? This disaster makes 9/11 look like a walk in the park, if you ask me. There were places for people to go, there was communication, water, electricity; basic human needs were met in a relatively short period of time. Looting was minimal. No one was shooting at rescue workers. People weren’t raping one another. There was appropriate leadership and an organized response to the disaster.

The situation in New Orleans and vicinity is truly horrible because we can’t seem to organize a rescue effort. FEMA just called off its boat rescue operations because the conditions are too difficult. People are dying from lack of clean water, food, a place to sleep and a place to poop. Others are dying because they need dialysis or insulin or they rely on oxygen to breathe and have run out.

Rescue workers are in no better shape than the rescuees. Their lives have been threatened. They need places to eat and sleep and poop. Houston and San Antonio have offered places for some people to stay but that is not going to be enough. Where is the help? Why aren’t average Americans offering their couches and their spare bedrooms to people who do manage to get out of the area? Maybe they are and I just haven’t heard about it yet. I realize just getting out of the city is logistically difficult to the nth degree, but where is the outpouring of support?

What made America great? Rugged individualism? Perhaps. What we are seeing here is rugged individualism at it’s worst. The very fabric of a civilized society has been ripped and shredded and now we are seeing people acting out in ways that we think are limited to third-world countries. We think we rise above the most difficult circumstances to come together and help out. We think that we can take the very worst that Mother Nature can dish out. But guess what? Sometimes we don’t rise above the circumstances; sometimes we sink to new depths and sometimes Mother Nature can throw us a whammy that we aren’t prepared for even if we think we are.

We are watching on live television, people dying slow, painful deaths because they didn’t have the resources or the wherewithal to get out before the city was destroyed. Make no mistake; this city is damaged beyond comprehension. We will rebuild it and it will be a shiny, happy place again. But in the meantime, we are just sitting and watching this play out like some bad disaster film.

[I am not going to address the economic impact, the fact that over a million people are now homeless, jobless, school-less. That is a concern but it is secondary. And who the hell really cares that the New Orleans Saints football team is homeless?]

We can rebuild and repair the damage. Time and money will take care of that. But I am interested in knowing how we will restore civility and humanity in the meantime; how we will take care of those in need; how we will pull together to overcome one of the most severe hardships we’ve seen in our lifetime.

I hope we do. I hope this nightmare ends soon for all of those suffering. And I hope we take a minute to talk to our neighbors to say more than ‘hello’ and really get to know who they are. I hope that today hope is not a four-letter word.

Good News on a Bad News Day

In what I consider to be fantastically good news on an otherwise awful news week, my son called last night to say he got his first set of official Army orders.

If you haven't been following along, my son is in the Army in basic training and will graduate September 22. He is (going to be) a Cavalry Scout. You may know Cavalry Scouts best as protrayed by Robert Duvall as the character (Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore) in Apocolypse Now! Yes, he said "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" and yes, I am vehemently anti-war, but that's the job my son chose and I give you the example as a point of reference only. They have a long and illustrious history which began in the Civil War where they rode horses and did reconnaissance missions.

The Cavalry Scouts of today hold onto their traditions and history with pride. They wear the 'saber', an emblem of two crossed swords and their dress uniforms include yellow kerchiefs around their neck, the hat and spurs. When you get your spurs, I guess it's a really big deal. They still do reconnaissance missions only they do them in Abrams or Stryker tanks and Humvees now instead of on horseback.

Anyway. So, back to the good news. He is going to Schweinfurt. Germany. That's in Europe! I am going to go to Europe, y'all. Mr. Q doesn't know this yet, but we are going even if we have to beg, borrow and steal to do it. But the really good news, to me, is that the squadron he will be attached to spent 12 months in Iraq and recently got back. So, that means he won't be going to Iraq any time soon.

Hopefully, the good news stays good news. I know that I am excited that he will get to see beautiful parts of the world and I still pray that he won't see combat, at least in Iraq.

Just wanted to update you, in case, you know, you'd like to share my excitement. Also, I needed a brief break from the news. I am seriously getting upset by how horrible the situation is in New Orleans and Mississippi. And the awful stampede in Iraq. I just don't have the words. It's hard to comprehend. All of it.

Twenty-five Questions

This has been seen everywhere, but most recently at JoFo the MoFo.

1.When you look at yourself in the mirror, what’s the first thing you look at?

First, I check to make sure there isn’t anything stuck in my teeth. Then I do a nose hair check. After that, I look at my eyes, or more accurately, the bags under my eyes. Attractive, eh?

2. How much cash do you have on you right now?

$6, a veritable fortune for me these days.

3.What’s a word that rhymes with “TEST”?

Jest.

4. Favourite plant?

Lilac tree.

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?

A “restricted” number. If you restrict your number, don’t expect me to answer the phone.

6. What is your main ring tone on your phone?

Ring, ring.

7. What shirt are you wearing?

I’m topless. Ha! Gotcha. I was just seeing if you were actually paying attention. I am wearing a black, silk, knit, Joseph A. shell under a suit jacket.

8. Do you “label” yourself?

With like a label machine? That would be weird.

9. Name brand of your shoes currently wearing?

Two Lips.

10. Do you prefer a bright or dark room?

It all depends on what I am doing. I guess darker is better. Actually, when I get home and the whole apartment is lit up with candles, that is my favourite.

11. What did you have for breakfast?

What is this “breakfast” you speak of? You mean coffee and cigarettes?

12. Since question 12 is weirdly missing, make up a question.

Who made up this meme? Were they 14 years old by chance?

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Probably itching and scratching. I got a wee little sun poisoning from Sunday when we laid out by the pool all day. It’s wicked itchy.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell phone say?

“Not at a bar?”

That makes no sense by itself, so for your edification, here is the whole conversation between me and Mr. Q’s dad, or as we call him, Lorenzo the Magnificent.

LtheM: Where are you?
Me: Gramma’s house.
LtheM: Not at a bar?
Me: Not yet!

15. Do you ever click on “Pop Ups” or Banners?
Not on purpose.

16. What’s an expression that you say a lot?

Goodbye please.

17. Who told you they loved you last?

You would think that it was my husband, but I think my son said it last. He called last night and said, among other things, that he loves me. I think all Mr. Q said this morning was ‘have a good day’.

18. Last furry thing you touched?

I’m going to go ahead and say my cat, Pi.

19. How many hours a week do you work?

Define “work”. If by "work" you mean being at the office, then 45-50 hours. If you include home and school, then it’s more like 80-100. If you mean actually “working” as in expending energy, I’d say about 15 minutes.

20. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?

Too many to count. I have taken dozens of rolls and I haven’t had many developed since about 1995.

21. Favourite age you have been so far?

This age. Thirty-six. I have a perfect partner, I look better than ever, I feel better than ever and I am finally on a path to doing what I want.

22. Your worst enemy?

Time.

23. What is your current desk top picture?

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?

“I don’t know.” Said just now, when someone shook a snow globe sitting on my desk and asked me why it was so fun to shake it.

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to go back in time and fix all your mistakes which would you choose?

Mistakes? I never make misteaks so I’d take a million bucks obviously. Duh!

One Foot in the Grave

This has to be one of the most heartbreaking things I've read today (hurricane Katrina coverage notwithstanding).

Corporal Thomas Strickland, 27, of Fairplay, was a member of the Army’s 48th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), according to Wes Tallon, county communications director.

Here is his blog. And in his last post, written two days before he was killed when his truck overturned in Iraq, he says:

What the fuck has my chain of command been doing? We were winning somewhat when I left. And now we're being pinned down in our own fucking homes? Insurgents are pushing locals out of their homes and taking over my area at will? What kind of fucktarded plan have we been half-assedly executing? Obviously the kind that neglects sound contact with locals. Obviously the kind that gives further distance to unbridged gaps between soldiers and locals. Obviously the kind that has shown enough weakness when confronted by the insugency that it has been encouraged to grow.

Back home (the USA kind)I have no home, no job, and my commander in chief is on vacation (he's about 20 days behind Ronald Reagan right now in the race to become the most vacationing president ever. Hey W! we all got our fingers crossed! Here's to you and two more years of presidency...er vacationing!). Luckily pretty much everything that is important to me can fit into the back of a truck. Luckily I just paid off one of those.

In their fear to build relationships and get out of their hiding holes the FOBbits
above me have fucked my friends and I.

I just don't know what to say. There is no justice in this world.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS - BRING THEM HOME NOW!

[via Shakespeare's Sister.]

Scattered and Torn

My thoughts have been scattered lately. I am all betwixt and between about spilling my guts and not, sorting out feelings and not, writing it here and not.

Rambling on and on about pms, too many bills, crazy traffic, annoying co-workers and such is getting to be a bore, I'm afraid.

The problem is that I am very good at compartmentalizing. This is useful. It can also be crippling. I don't deal with things. They sneak up on me.

I was watching the tele on Saturday or Sunday with Mr. Q and a video came on for Green Day's "Wake me up when September ends". It looked like a typical teenage love story kind of video - two high school kids hanging out, kissing, sharing fun times and then... the boy is screaming at his girlfriend "I'm doing this for US! I thought you would be PROUD of me! I thought YOU of all people would understand!" and the girl is crying hysterically. In our typical, slightly cynical fashion, we look at each other on the couch and go "heh. I wonder what he DID?" Surely something dumb.

The next scene is the boy getting on a bus, entering boot camp, getting his head shaved, etc. then going off to war. As soon as we saw the clippers touch the boy's head, Mr. Q gasped and I burst into tears. The waterworks that followed were like none seen in ... well, a really long time. I was crying hysterically and couldn't stop until well after the video ended.

I was shocked by how hard that caught me off guard. I haven't cried about my son joining the Army since he left. I have tried to be brave and only think good thoughts about how it will be a positive and valuable experience. I have tried to have faith that he won't be sent anywhere that he can't handle. I have supported from afar the Cindy Sheehan's of the world without really doing much. I have regretted how hard I lobbied for Josh to get out of his commitment and just be a free-wheeling civilian because he is so young and I don't want him to fight in a war that is WRONG on every level.

But the truth is, I am terrified.

I am sad that what is left of my son's innocence will be or could be shattered very soon like so many lives and limbs that have been shattered and destroyed by an IED or stray gunfire. Or that an IED or stray gunfire will take my baby boy from me in a brutal and violent and totally unnecessary way. I am terrified that he will be sent into a situation that he can't handle because he is so young. So many boys have fought and died and, so much of me feels like they were too young to know what it was they were really doing. I am so scared that he will be lost and lonely and broken and I won't be there to soothe him or comfort him. I am angry that his Army experience could very well involve the killing and dying of people he's never met and never would know if not for this violent occupation in a country that wasn't even a threat to me, my family, my way of life, or my country - no matter what kind of bullshit they tell us or what kind of bullshit some people still believe.

The only thing I know to do is to send my most positive vibes and best wishes to all of our kids out there and send my son the things he needs, including a card or a letter telling him that I AM proud of him and what he is doing, and that is all. I wish I could do more. It breaks my heart that there is so little I can actually do.

He will be graduating from boot camp September 22nd. If anyone would like to send him a postcard or letter, email me and I can give you his address. He loves to get mail. After graduation, I can update you with his new address.

Also, I just now decided that I want to be here on September 24th:

Mass March and Rally in L.A.Stop the War in Iraq

Sept. 24, 12 noon

Olympic & Broadway

If you live in LA or Orange County or anywhere near, email me about that too and let me know if you plan to go. I'd love to get a group together.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS - BRING THEM HOME NOW

100% Nerd

Ta Da! The meme we've all been waiting for. I'm a nerd. But you knew that already, didn't you?

Modern, Cool Nerd
100 % Nerd, 56% Geek, 43% Dork

For The Record:

A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Nerd and Geek, earning you the title of: Modern, Cool Nerd.

Nerds didn't use to be cool, but in the 90's that all changed. It used to be that, if you were a computer expert, you had to wear plaid or a pocket protector or suspenders or something that announced to the world that you couldn't quite fit in. Not anymore. Now, the intelligent and geeky have eked out for themselves a modicum of respect at the very least, and "geek is chic." The Modern, Cool Nerd is intelligent, knowledgable and always the person to call in a crisis (needing computer advice/an arcane bit of trivia knowledge). They are the one you want as your lifeline in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (or the one up there, winning the million bucks)!

Congratulations!

Spotted at Shakespeare's Sister.

kitty pi

About

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Friday, September 23, 2005

Ready. Set. Move!

Tell me all of your problems

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

I'm a lurker. You're a lurker. We're all lurkers!

No time like the present

Monday, September 19, 2005

This Spam's for You

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Making Lemonade

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Would you like some cheese with that whine?

Monday, September 12, 2005

No shoes is... good shoes?

Friday, September 09, 2005

A quickie

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Q&A with Q

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

A, B, C, it's easy as 1, 2, 3...

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

C'est mardi? C'est impossible!

Off the top of my head

Friday, September 02, 2005

Inadequate

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Hope is a Four-letter Word

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Good News on a Bad News Day

Twenty-five Questions

One Foot in the Grave

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Scattered and Torn

Monday, August 29, 2005

100% Nerd