On the 12th day of Bloglessness...

Some observations since I last wrote...



T? (As referred to over at Girl Meets World) Is so good. He's great- smart, easy to talk to, considerate of Girl, patient with people who need to pause periodically before squeezing themselves through giant boulder crevices even though he doesn't need to, never claims to be a spy... Overall, two thumbs up.



On an entirely different note, I've been watching My So-Called Life re-runs on the-n. That channel is addictive like crack/cocaine. Although, in my defense, Degrassi, the most addictive, terribly-written, poorly-acted show since ABC Specials went off the air, DID get a shout-out in the latest Bitch magazine.



So yeah- My So-Called Life. (That title probably more accurately describes my life now than it did ten years ago.) I must confess, it hurt to watch it at the time, which is probably why it went off the air. Angela Chase's parents' marital problems were too plausible, her embarrassment too realistic for it to last. Beverly Hills 90210 was still so popular and squeaky-clean then. (Brenda was still a virgin; Kelly's bangs were still so perfect.) My So-Called Life was too smart; it didn't stand a chance.



Even now, it reminds me of the first time I fell in love. Of October, of waiting for him to come from college for the first time. Angela's bright red hair just reminded me that he was juggling both our relationship as well as "flirtations" with a redheaded girl. The re-runs still make me think about that- and how my birthday is now one of three days that I know for sure I'll hear from him, but that's a good thing.



I watch Jared Leto crooning, "I call her red, I call her re-eh-ed..." and it sounds nasal, like REM. Or Live, with that Lightning Crashes song.



The way the characters talk, interjecting the word "like," which makes everything they say seem deeper somehow in a very 1994 way... "You know those guys? Who make snow, like, as their job?" And then Jordan Catalano leans in to kiss her, and it's awesome until we learn the song "Red" was about his car.



But it still hurts me to watch it, even as an adult. The episode where Ricky brings a gun to school and accidentally shoots a bottle of Pepsi in a locker is infinitely more painful now. The scenes of the parents panicking about guns at school and Ray-Anne saying, "Who's gonna shoot me with a bod like this!?!?!" seems scarier post-Jonesboro, post-Paducah, post-Columbine. Not that I don't love Ricky wearing a button-down silk shirt and a bandana, like, before it was a 'do rag- I love Ricky. He's, like, a cuddly, effeminate pirate.



I think it's just that the 90s are still too close for me to feel nostalgic about them. VH1's "Reasons Why the 90s Ruled" doesn't do it for me the way the "80s Strike Back" does. I wonder, though, if I like the 80s tribute shows because hearing about Cabbage Patch dolls, ewoks, Velveeta, ET, and jelly bracelets makes me feel safe. By the time the 90s rolled around, I was aware of things like Waco and the Oklahoma City bombing. Listening to Jason Priestly ruminate about the OJ trial doesn't quite feel the same.



I don't necessarily wish I was a kid again, but sometimes I envy the kids I cover. I recently attended an International Food Night/Elementary School Art Show that featured a timeline with the students' personal histories intermixed with international news. For example:



1998- The majority of AnySchool kindergarteners were born.



1999- Amber Larson's twin brothers were born.



2001- The Twin Towers were knocked down. It was September 11, 2001. (The child's drawing of this almost brought me to my knees- two towers bent like rubber bands, bricks falling all around with a plane drawn between them, the amorphous curvy kind of plane that kids put into drawings of their summer vacation essays about going to Disney World.)



2001- In December, Jose Rojas moved to America with his family from Puerto Rico.



2002- Osama Bin Laden was found hiding in a cave.



2003- Saddam Hussein was found hiding underground.



I'd like to think that the teachers do know Osama bin Laden hasn't been found, that they allowed the kids to work this into their timeline because it makes them feel safe: the bad guy was caught!



Oof. Pass the Velveeta. Oh yeah. pleeease!

On the 12th day of Bloglessness...

Some observations since I last wrote...



T? (As referred to over at Girl Meets World) Is so good. He's great- smart, easy to talk to, considerate of Girl, patient with people who need to pause periodically before squeezing themselves through giant boulder crevices even though he doesn't need to, never claims to be a spy... Overall, two thumbs up.



On an entirely different note, I've been watching My So-Called Life re-runs on the-n. That channel is addictive like crack/cocaine. Although, in my defense, Degrassi, the most addictive, terribly-written, poorly-acted show since ABC Specials went off the air, DID get a shout-out in the latest Bitch magazine.



So yeah- My So-Called Life. (That title probably more accurately describes my life now than it did ten years ago.) I must confess, it hurt to watch it at the time, which is probably why it went off the air. Angela Chase's parents' marital problems were too plausible, her embarrassment too realistic for it to last. Beverly Hills 90210 was still so popular and squeaky-clean then. (Brenda was still a virgin; Kelly's bangs were still so perfect.) My So-Called Life was too smart; it didn't stand a chance.



Even now, it reminds me of the first time I fell in love. Of October, of waiting for him to come from college for the first time. Angela's bright red hair just reminded me that he was juggling both our relationship as well as "flirtations" with a redheaded girl. The re-runs still make me think about that- and how my birthday is now one of three days that I know for sure I'll hear from him, but that's a good thing.



I watch Jared Leto crooning, "I call her red, I call her re-eh-ed..." and it sounds nasal, like REM. Or Live, with that Lightning Crashes song.



The way the characters talk, interjecting the word "like," which makes everything they say seem deeper somehow in a very 1994 way... "You know those guys? Who make snow, like, as their job?" And then Jordan Catalano leans in to kiss her, and it's awesome until we learn the song "Red" was about his car.



But it still hurts me to watch it, even as an adult. The episode where Ricky brings a gun to school and accidentally shoots a bottle of Pepsi in a locker is infinitely more painful now. The scenes of the parents panicking about guns at school and Ray-Anne saying, "Who's gonna shoot me with a bod like this!?!?!" seems scarier post-Jonesboro, post-Paducah, post-Columbine. Not that I don't love Ricky wearing a button-down silk shirt and a bandana, like, before it was a 'do rag- I love Ricky. He's, like, a cuddly, effeminate pirate.



I think it's just that the 90s are still too close for me to feel nostalgic about them. VH1's "Reasons Why the 90s Ruled" doesn't do it for me the way the "80s Strike Back" does. I wonder, though, if I like the 80s tribute shows because hearing about Cabbage Patch dolls, ewoks, Velveeta, ET, and jelly bracelets makes me feel safe. By the time the 90s rolled around, I was aware of things like Waco and the Oklahoma City bombing. Listening to Jason Priestly ruminate about the OJ trial doesn't quite feel the same.



I don't necessarily wish I was a kid again, but sometimes I envy the kids I cover. I recently attended an International Food Night/Elementary School Art Show that featured a timeline with the students' personal histories intermixed with international news. For example:



1998- The majority of AnySchool kindergarteners were born.



1999- Amber Larson's twin brothers were born.



2001- The Twin Towers were knocked down. It was September 11, 2001. (The child's drawing of this almost brought me to my knees- two towers bent like rubber bands, bricks falling all around with a plane drawn between them, the amorphous curvy kind of plane that kids put into drawings of their summer vacation essays about going to Disney World.)



2001- In December, Jose Rojas moved to America with his family from Puerto Rico.



2002- Osama Bin Laden was found hiding in a cave.



2003- Saddam Hussein was found hiding underground.



I'd like to think that the teachers do know Osama bin Laden hasn't been found, that they allowed the kids to work this into their timeline because it makes them feel safe: the bad guy was caught!



Oof. Pass the Velveeta. Oh yeah. pleeease!

Whack-A-(m)ole' (like guacamole)

This morning I shot a very cool assignment for the daily about new training equipment at the county firefighter training center. They were unveiling a new simulator made with a 10,000-gallon propane tanker railroad car.



Basically, they push a button, set the railroad car on fire, then local firefighters practice extinguishing it. They did it three times so three different companies would have a chance to train. Ignite, rinse, repeat.



The local politician who pushed for the emergency services budget was on hand, so it was a bit of a horse-and-pony show for the press. Consequently, the firefighters had to stand around in their hot, heavy gear for a while when the chief was being interviewed by channel 12.



Firefighters' jackets have sound transmitters that beep if one does not move around while wearing it, so they can find in each other in smoke-filled places, etc. There were, like, 40 firefighters standing around during the politician's speech-and-schmooze time who all started beeping, and apparently you have to hit a button to stop it.



But it's like an alarm clock, it goes off again in 2 minutes if you don't move. So this politician is talkingtalkingtalking community connection, 9/11, re-election blahblahblah, and the firefighters are all standing there, continuously beeping and smacking each other's transmitter boxes. It was like a Human Whack a Mole game (or as Stephen would say, "Whack-a-(m)ole'!"

Whack-A-(m)ole' (like guacamole)

This morning I shot a very cool assignment for the daily about new training equipment at the county firefighter training center. They were unveiling a new simulator made with a 10,000-gallon propane tanker railroad car.



Basically, they push a button, set the railroad car on fire, then local firefighters practice extinguishing it. They did it three times so three different companies would have a chance to train. Ignite, rinse, repeat.



The local politician who pushed for the emergency services budget was on hand, so it was a bit of a horse-and-pony show for the press. Consequently, the firefighters had to stand around in their hot, heavy gear for a while when the chief was being interviewed by channel 12.



Firefighters' jackets have sound transmitters that beep if one does not move around while wearing it, so they can find in each other in smoke-filled places, etc. There were, like, 40 firefighters standing around during the politician's speech-and-schmooze time who all started beeping, and apparently you have to hit a button to stop it.



But it's like an alarm clock, it goes off again in 2 minutes if you don't move. So this politician is talkingtalkingtalking community connection, 9/11, re-election blahblahblah, and the firefighters are all standing there, continuously beeping and smacking each other's transmitter boxes. It was like a Human Whack a Mole game (or as Stephen would say, "Whack-a-(m)ole'!"

Oh my God, I'm lonely

I'm sitting in the office at 9:45 p.m. and somehow this day just got away from me.



Alissa's Rock Star Roommate Antje came out to the 'burbs so I could shoot a bunch of photos of her for the album she's about to release (and other promo materials.) We had a very ambitious shooting goals. Antje with my cat, Antje wearing a sombrero skipping in front of a wall of graffiti, Antje dressed as a fairy in the woods, in a field, by stream, on a bridge, Antje with Dame Edna Sunglasses and an orange peel in her mouth.



We shot all of that, and we had plans to shoot a lot of other stuff, too. BUT THEN- I lost four digital memory cards (monetary total approx. $400) containing all of those images. (They were all in a leather pouch thingy). She was so, so sweet to me about it- helping me look everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE- in the woods, in the field, by the stream, on the bridge, not to mention the car, camera bag, etc.



She's a lovely person- tried to make me feel better by telling me about cellos and guitars and various things she's either lost or were stolen. We re-shot everything and a lot of other stuff (Antje sliding headfirst down a slide while pretending to knit), but I wasted so much of her time.



I am so, so angry with myself. And with St. Anthony. :( I almost want to go back to mass and stop questioning patriarchy if it means petitioning St. Anthony would work for me again.



I'm quite proud of what I shot, though. Here are two of my favorites. Enjoy. (and then call me, I am so, so lonely :) <--- rueful smile)

Oh my God, I'm lonely

I'm sitting in the office at 9:45 p.m. and somehow this day just got away from me.



Alissa's Rock Star Roommate Antje came out to the 'burbs so I could shoot a bunch of photos of her for the album she's about to release (and other promo materials.) We had a very ambitious shooting goals. Antje with my cat, Antje wearing a sombrero skipping in front of a wall of graffiti, Antje dressed as a fairy in the woods, in a field, by stream, on a bridge, Antje with Dame Edna Sunglasses and an orange peel in her mouth.



We shot all of that, and we had plans to shoot a lot of other stuff, too. BUT THEN- I lost four digital memory cards (monetary total approx. $400) containing all of those images. (They were all in a leather pouch thingy). She was so, so sweet to me about it- helping me look everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE- in the woods, in the field, by the stream, on the bridge, not to mention the car, camera bag, etc.



She's a lovely person- tried to make me feel better by telling me about cellos and guitars and various things she's either lost or were stolen. We re-shot everything and a lot of other stuff (Antje sliding headfirst down a slide while pretending to knit), but I wasted so much of her time.



I am so, so angry with myself. And with St. Anthony. :( I almost want to go back to mass and stop questioning patriarchy if it means petitioning St. Anthony would work for me again.



I'm quite proud of what I shot, though. Here are two of my favorites. Enjoy. (and then call me, I am so, so lonely :) <--- rueful smile)

A New Challenge...

So I am putting out a Gentle Self-Improvement Challenge. It's an experiment, really.



I've decided, that for the next week, I am going to do some the things I "should" do but never seem to be able to manage. As I write this, I am doing the Rembrandt 2-hour Dramatic Whitening Teeth Bleaching system. I have Biore Pore Strips Stuck all over my face, and when they come off I am going to do a Mint Julep Pore Cleansing Mask ( Thank you, HEKF!) My fingernails are sporting a fresh French manicure ( I *know!* Don't pass out :), and the fridge is full of fresh, healthy foods.



For the next week:

I will drink 8 glasses of water every day.

I will floss every day. (I hate flossing, this is huge.)

I will maintain my nails, even if that means removing the polish and filing.

I will sit in my sacred space on 5 separate occasions.

I will not oversleep- no more than 9 hours a night (Don't hate me.)

I will spend "quality time" in nature at least once.

I will write in my journal.

I will not eat fast food more than once.

I will read more and watch television less.

And I will exercise- really get up and do it- at least 2 times.



I just want to see if all the things I dismiss as being "high maintenance, unnecessary, simply just-not-enough-time-or-energy/so why freakin' bother?" actually do help me feel more focused, energized, confident and/or less stressed. I sort of doubt it, but I am going to try.



By the way, this is, in part, inspired by my awesome friends, with their diligent aerobics-doing, softball-playing, yoga-ohming, gym-going, urban funk-dancing, healthy-eating, Brita-guzzling, Lindy Hop-Exchanging successful life habits. :)



Still, though. Anyone want to join me in the Gentle Self-Improvement Challenge?

A New Challenge...

So I am putting out a Gentle Self-Improvement Challenge. It's an experiment, really.



I've decided, that for the next week, I am going to do some the things I "should" do but never seem to be able to manage. As I write this, I am doing the Rembrandt 2-hour Dramatic Whitening Teeth Bleaching system. I have Biore Pore Strips Stuck all over my face, and when they come off I am going to do a Mint Julep Pore Cleansing Mask ( Thank you, HEKF!) My fingernails are sporting a fresh French manicure ( I *know!* Don't pass out :), and the fridge is full of fresh, healthy foods.



For the next week:

I will drink 8 glasses of water every day.

I will floss every day. (I hate flossing, this is huge.)

I will maintain my nails, even if that means removing the polish and filing.

I will sit in my sacred space on 5 separate occasions.

I will not oversleep- no more than 9 hours a night (Don't hate me.)

I will spend "quality time" in nature at least once.

I will write in my journal.

I will not eat fast food more than once.

I will read more and watch television less.

And I will exercise- really get up and do it- at least 2 times.



I just want to see if all the things I dismiss as being "high maintenance, unnecessary, simply just-not-enough-time-or-energy/so why freakin' bother?" actually do help me feel more focused, energized, confident and/or less stressed. I sort of doubt it, but I am going to try.



By the way, this is, in part, inspired by my awesome friends, with their diligent aerobics-doing, softball-playing, yoga-ohming, gym-going, urban funk-dancing, healthy-eating, Brita-guzzling, Lindy Hop-Exchanging successful life habits. :)



Still, though. Anyone want to join me in the Gentle Self-Improvement Challenge?

Birthday Message, for someone else

Happy birthday to the Person Who



-helped me with a darn good History Day project in 8th grade, only to decide after I (and the other girl in the group) left, that the title would really look better if it were glued, not stapled, onto a red background, so she re-did a big part of the display board on her own because she's THAT. COOL.



-Snorts uncontrollably when she laughs really hard.



-Learned to drive on a car with no vowels, a Honda C V C, that used to provide complimentary (and spontaneous) mulching services.



-Agreed to skip out of school lunch to go to McDonald's senior year, under the condition that if her mom was working the drive-thru, she would have to hide under a coat.



-Is so courageous that she not only faces her inner demons, but kicks their @sses Buffy-style.



-Makes friends wherever she goes.



-Loves dark-chocolate-covered strawberries.



-Has endless admiration for her younger sister, endless patience for her youngest one, and endless love for them both.



-Strongly believes that birthdays not only remain important as we get older, but that the "presents/cake-and-ice-cream/blowing out candles/making wishes" part is absolutely essential.



Happy Birthday, Mel!

Birthday Message, for someone else

Happy birthday to the Person Who



-helped me with a darn good History Day project in 8th grade, only to decide after I (and the other girl in the group) left, that the title would really look better if it were glued, not stapled, onto a red background, so she re-did a big part of the display board on her own because she's THAT. COOL.



-Snorts uncontrollably when she laughs really hard.



-Learned to drive on a car with no vowels, a Honda C V C, that used to provide complimentary (and spontaneous) mulching services.



-Agreed to skip out of school lunch to go to McDonald's senior year, under the condition that if her mom was working the drive-thru, she would have to hide under a coat.



-Is so courageous that she not only faces her inner demons, but kicks their @sses Buffy-style.



-Makes friends wherever she goes.



-Loves dark-chocolate-covered strawberries.



-Has endless admiration for her younger sister, endless patience for her youngest one, and endless love for them both.



-Strongly believes that birthdays not only remain important as we get older, but that the "presents/cake-and-ice-cream/blowing out candles/making wishes" part is absolutely essential.



Happy Birthday, Mel!

Happy Birthday to the person who

-Pays my rent

-Sleeps with my boyfriend

-Is wearing my clothes right now



Whee! 25 today!

Happy Birthday to the person who

-Pays my rent

-Sleeps with my boyfriend

-Is wearing my clothes right now



Whee! 25 today!