Month: May 2003

end of the day

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It’s the end of the week. Finally. Things have been slow and boring – yesterday I seriously thought I was going to fall asleep at my desk – but I didn’t. I just want to go HOME and not sit here for another half hour. Whinge whinge whinge.

I’m reading Picasso’s War. It is so good – just the sort of thing I need to keep the old grey matter going. I can’t – I just can’t believe the destruction that took place at Guernica. It’s beyond words. I was reading about the bombing while on my lunch break yesterday and was so deeply moved. The things humanity does to itself are just astounding. And all of Europe was horrified and up at arms – yet we allow these things to happen again and again. The author, Russell Martin, described the first time he actually saw Guernica – he was at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, where I saw the painting in 2000, on 9/11:

I looked at Guernica for a long time on that warm September afternoon, joined by thousands of people who had come to Madrid from every part of the world to spend a bit of time in the presence of what is widely regarded as the most important artwork of the twentieth century. None of us was aware as we stood across from the brutal, horrific, yet somehow mesmerizing images of Picasso’s war, that in those same moments the twenty-first century had been forced forever onto a new tack, that once more – as had happened in little Gernika – humans had transformed themselves into demons, and other humans suddently searched for reasons why.

nerves

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We’re making a second offer on this house tomorrow. My stomach is all in knots, afraid that they’ll sell it to the couple that’s looking at it today. We so want this house.

Today has been excruciatingly boring. I really thought I was going to fall asleep at my desk. I have 7 minutes left – it’s still a possibility.

Sometimes I wish I could write consistently themed or consistently clever entries. I wish my entries were more coherent and not just about anything and everything. But maybe that’s why people read here.

some links

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A think that annoys me is that once an update is moved off this index page, it ceases to be read. What’s the point of keeping archives then? Maybe that indicates a lack of interest? I know that when I start really reading someone’s site, I make a point of reading the entire thing, finish to start. But maybe I just have too much time on my hands.

These people clearly have too much time on their hands, though the keg one cracked me up. And what the hell is this? I read it at least twice and still have no clue. This article breaks my heart and just makes me sick because it is so very true. I hate how illiterate we’re becoming – and how few people can write! I suppose, then, that this site should be some consolation. At least they’re reading.

Had a thought this weekend. Michelle was talking about Principal Nick’s family, how they don’t know much about her, including the fact that she’s bi. It was just strange to hear her say it – it’s so much a part of who she is and always has been, at least as long as I’ve known her. And I wonder if I’m the same way and if when I tell people they say to themselves “Oh yeah, I’ve known that forever.” I want to be that way, if I’m not already. I guess it’s strange to put it in words.

hair

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red hair02.jpg
You can’t really tell from the photo – but my hair is kind of a crazy red brown blonde color – a bit of all three, actually. I think it could use another round of dye – but given the dye nightmare this weekend, I can wait. I bought two boxes of Feria at the grocery – got ready for Michelle to come do it – and then opened the box to discover that one had no dye! So I went to the store again, bought more dye (checked for it this time) – and when Michelle went to mix it, someone had switched the bottles! So we went out and bought a FOURTH box of dye. Ridiculous. And it always happens that I find a color I like – and then it’s discontinued. Hopefully not this time.

thought for the day

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“time flies when it’s wrapped in plastic.” – Moby

My husband came up with some very bizarre Marry/Shag/Cliff suggestions:
Betty Boop
Olive Oyl
Strawberry Shortcake
We were having a terrific time with it last night. I think some of my responses surprised him. I’d post them here – but some of them are just too strange for words.

It’s potluck at work today – and a v slow and boooooooooooring day. Not a good combination. It’s a nap under the desk sort of day. Trying to find things to do and ways to keep my eyes open. Am thinking about kicking my computer just for something to do.

So tired of looking at houses. I suspect we’ll never find anything. Just got an email from Landlord Mark, who said they looked for over a year before they found their house. I don’t want to hear that!!! At least we’re not in a hurry for any legitimate or unavoidable reason.

Still pondering my plans for the weekend. I want to go out and do stuff but from looking at the budget, I don’t know if that’s possible. I don’t think I even have the gas money to drive to Champaign. Is there anyone who would like to come over and play Trivial Pursuit? Yes, that’s right. I’m advertising for weekend plans on the Interweb. Sad but true.

more

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When I run the shadow government, my electric bill will be due two days AFTER pay day, not before it.

When I run the shadow government and have to work 10 hour days, I’d better have a damned cool office, especially if it’s only two of us working there.

When I run the shadow government, I will hire a minion to do my filing. Then I will be able to put potluck food through the shredder just to see what happens.

shag, marry, cliff

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Happy belated birthday Trent. Meathead‘s tribute is much better than mine.

I’m quite obsessed with Marry/Shag/Cliff. It is the most terrific game ever. Any suggestions?
Stephen Dorff
Trent Reznor
Adrian Brody

Angelina Jolie
Nicole Kidman
Julianne Moore
Pick which one you’d marry, which you’d shag, and which would go off a cliff. My choices for the first should be pretty obvious…

As you can tell, I’m doing much better since the weekend. I’ve kept quite busy, which is really, really good for the soul. No word from Eva – but it is her honeymoon and that is to be expected. I called her from Chicago and she called me – but things were different and she was a little more desperate. Secretly I do wish she’d call, though. I want to hear her voice, to know that she’s missing me, longing for me. That’s super selfish – but also the sort of affirmation that is needed in this sort of situation.

What should I do this weekend? Sarah wants me to come down to visit her – but she’s working Saturday and Sunday. Michelle’s going to dye my hair – and Mary J has invited me to hang out. I could also use some quality reading and cleaning time – and Eva’s coming home on Friday and I’m a sucker for her. So I don’t know.

Public Service Announcement #6 :
Conjugation is important. This is wrong: “It seem like it won’t pull up the benefits.” This is right: “It SEEMS like it won’t pull up the benefits.”

friday five

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1. What drinking water do you prefer — tap, bottle, purifier, etc.?
I prefer bottled water – unless the tap water is really, really good. We’ve been buying purified water at the grocery – that’s my favorite right now.
2. What are your favourite flavor of chips?
Salt & vinegar. Gross but true. 🙂
3. Of all the things you can cook, what dish do you like the most?
I love my tomato bisque and Grandma’s mashed potatoes.
4. How do you have your eggs?
Sunny side up!
5. Who was the last person who cooked you a meal? How did it turn out?
Tuesday I made chicken tikka masala. It was terrific.

memory

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Public Service Announcement #5 (courtesy of Newman):
There is no such thing as a “skrimp.” The word is SHRIMP (or, for those from Down Under, PRAWN. Thank you.

The weather today reminds me of Paris the last time I was there. We went for Easter when I was in London – a long weekend – took the Eurostar, stayed at Three Ducks, did our own thing. Friday we saw the Pendulum at The Pantheon, went to the Musee D’Orsay, cooked for the first time in months, and got really drunk in the garden, among other things. Saturday it poured. The heavens just opened up and dumped on us. Newman and Steph-a-nee did their own thing – I think they went to the Louvre – but I braved the rain and went to le cimitiere Montparnasse and visited Baudelaire – then walked down the Boulevard Raspail and soaked it up – the city, the sights and smells, the store at the corner of Raspail and Montparnasse where I bought my blue journal. I walked from Montparnasse to the Ile de la Cite where water was standing in the streets – taking brief respite at the Sainte Chapelle – then walking to Notre Dame. My clothes were soaked. My sandals were soaked. The laminated map I was using as an umbrella was soaked – but I was having a brilliant time. I don’t think I would’ve been any happier had it been sunny. Today’s rain holds none of that magic – only the memory.

In case you’re concerned that the entire weekend was a wash, so to speak, you’re wrong. The rain continued through Sunday morning, then lifted just as Steph-a-Nee and I left the Centre Pompidou. We walked for a long time, then took the Metro to Montmatre and walked the steps to Sacre Coeur, where we were presented with a brilliant view of the entire city. I didn’t want to leave. But I did and three years passed and here I am.

more

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Public Service Announcements #3 and 4:
The word is YOUR, not “yo’.”
The word is CHECKING, not “checkin’.”
As in “I need your checking account number.”

Day one of new hours has been marvelous. I went home on my lunch break, warmed up meal #3 from Saturday’s dinner, and ate on the porch while reading my book. It was soooooo nice. One bad thing is that I can’t take my 15 minutes paid and my hour unpaid at the same time – but that also means I get a smaller break during the day – which isn’t so bad.

We went to Erich & Amy’s on Sunday to look at the house. They’re really eager to sell to us – unfortunately we’re not going to go for it. 😦 The house is really nice – they’ve done even more work since the last time we were there – but it’s not what we want and we just can’t afford a $110,000.00 favor. In the interim, however, I talked to a few people and might have a friend-of-a-friend who is interested. I figure that if we can’t help them out by buying the house ourselves, we might as well pimp it out to other friends who are looking! It’s a great house and I know they’ll sell it quickly – I just hope they can do so and still make enough off of it to pay their bills and get a good start in Indianapolis. We’re going to miss them.

Kate’s site is back up – hooray! And Newman got a kitten and Sarah and Hannah got a house. And Missy is graduating and Eva is getting married. Lots of big things going on. It makes my head hurt! Right now I’m concentrating on one more hour of work, then dinner with N, Eva, Cath, and Jen. Then nap. Maybe.