Hurrah!
I MUST say...kudos to the EU for taking on the Bill Gates.
Darn right Microsoft is monopolizing the market. I wonder what the effect of the suit will be?
Ok that's as deep as I get.
I have been carrying around the cutest list in my purse for months now. It's getting all tattered so I better hurry up and share it. I came across it on a teacher's desk one day while subbing for a First Grade class in San Diego so the kids were 6-7 years old. (Yes I am a nosey, but it wasn't like she was hiding it or anything...). The school was located in a low-income area. The last one is my favorite. Poor babe must have privacy issues...
What would you buy with $100?
1. A big house
2. A picture of me and my mom
3. A bike
4. A car
5. Toys for me, flowers for my mom
6. A car, I think
7. Clothes
8. 100 Apples :)
9. A house to live in
10. Matches in case my stove doesn't work
11. New clothes that I always liked
12. A bike
13. A house
14. A car
15. Candy
16. A bathroom, extra bathrooms, some baby bathrooms for my baby sisters with little doors. :)
Monday, September 17, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Adventures in Chinese Medicine
So yesterday Anjoli had a day off from school. (She has today off also).
My goal since arriving is to start mega treatments of acupuncture to speed along the healing of my facial paralysis (it looks like Bell's Palsy). Our friend and Sujoy's partner's mom recommended I visit a Buddhist run hospital - it's VERY FAR from our apartment.
Getting there was a bit of an tricky, but fun! I told Anjoli it's like finding buried treasure via the subway! I love the challenge of going somewhere new. First we took a cab to the MRT (subway) station. Of course he took the long way but whatever. Five NT more big deal.
Anjoli and I checked out the route - I thought I figured it out but it was a bit confusing. While looking at a map while on the train, I asked someone if I needed to get off the train at the next stop to change lines. She said yes, (then I remembered that even when people don't really understand you, they often just nod and say yes to save face- even though I am the dope that should know Mandarin).
When we got off the train, it still didn't seem right, so I asked ANOTHER woman if she knew the route to Dapinglin station. "What? She said, "you want to eat dumplings? You hungry?" NO! I need acupuncture! Hospital! No dumplings!!! I didn't say that, of course, I just led her to the subway map and pointed to our destination. "Oh!" she said, "you needed to stay on the train!"
So we waitied for the next (correct) train, got off at our stop, then had trouble exiting. Turns out I didn't pay enough for the fare, so we went to a worker there and I had to pay $10NT each more for our tokens. It's so cool - they have these plastic tokens that you scan and it reads the fare. Weird.
So we went up to the street and looked for a shuttle for the hospital. Um...I neglected to find out exactly WHERE to take the shuttle, so we just took another cab. I pointed to the address on their brochure/schedule and we got there in less than 5 minutes.
The hospital was HUGE and BEAUTIFUL. As we entered there were lots of plants, a huge mural of the Buddha smiling over ill folks and lovely, serene flute music playing in the background. I have never felt so good to be in a hospital. No sign of concrete anywhere - just wood (looked like bamboo) and gorgeous Asian art and Chinese calligraphy. (Made me realize I would LOVE to learn Chinese brush painting which looks deceptively easy but it is so beautiful and soothing to the eye).
The registration forms were in English, but a volunteer led me right to the front of the line and a woman behind the counter walked me through the form. Immediately a patient in line chimed in to help as her English wasn't so great. At one point, I thought they asked me: "white?" So I said, "yes, I'm white!" as in Caucasian. "No no! they said, "Do you drink wine?" OH!!! "Nope," I proudly answered, "no more!" no no no. It's not even a thought at this stage in my life. No smoking either. Angelic Sue, c'est moi.
So we made our way to the Chinese/Integrated medicine floor (the hospital is mainly a Western Medicine/Conventional hospital). We had to wait over 2 and a half hours to see the doctor. Poor Anjoli! Good thing I fed her a big grilled cheese sandwich before coming....and she had a snack.
The doctor (a woman) was excellent. Very kind and efficent. I showed her my surgical report. She was kind of taken aback, I could tell. I told her the doctors said it "may" take 6-8 months for my face to come back (the left side). That was unacceptable to her. She told me she wanted me to come see her 3 times a week, but to ALSO go for Rehabilitation Therapy (Physical Therapy) on the same days and they would do muscle stimulation on my face (which is exactly what I had done in Massachusetts, but I only made one appointment).
I had one half hour of acupuncture - she used electrodes on the needles on my face as well, so it was a weird sensation. The good news was I felt an itch coming on on my left side of my face! I took that as an excellent sign. She also inserted a needle in my left hand between my thumb and index finger - I believe that is to help with my insomnia. She told me she can help me with my insomnia- phew! I did sleep REALLY well too, but I still took my Ativan, which I will wean myself off of very very soon, now that I will be busy and on a good sleep schedule. I am asleep by 10:30 now and up every day at 6:30. Perfect.
We didn't get home until 7:00 - we left at 12:45! Oh well. Next time it will be quicker. I have a yellow card which I show to the nurse and I just will immediately go for acupuncture (with an appointment of course).
I am HUGELY relieved that I will get a combination of eastern and western medicine. It's a huge trek but that's fine by me. I have all the time in the world to heal! I have been eating a "caveman's diet," lots of organic grains, almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, coconut water, veggies (not enough probably), fruit,plain yogurt, fish. Barely any meat but I did have chicken and a bit of shaved meat in my hot pot dinner the other night. Eggs, salmon. ALL good stuff. I also started, yes, I know people think it's freaky, but I am taking coffee enemas. They helped me get pregnant I swear (I also cleaned up my diet).
It's an adventure in healing.
I'm drinking organic apple cider vinegar in water - two caps full in a cup of water. It's supposed to give you energy. I feel a little more awake, but I sure would love a cup of coffee! I am too paranoid to drink it now for fear that I won't be able to sleep at night. I just want to cut out all caffeine.
Oh another thing, I have been BUGGING out because my left eye is SO dry since it doesn't blink that often due to the palsy. The weight helps a bit. This morning, I am happy to report that it is pretty teary (it still feels odd with the weight in my eyelid- I hope to have it removed ASAP).
Oh and of course, I pray like crazy. I am still confused about religion and going to/finding a church. I have DEEP faith on my own, but I do recognize that it is important to give thanks and praise to God and show respect by making the effort of going to church. Plus it is nice to be a part of a community. Being surrounded by Buddhist nuns and volunteers, I felt so much at home. I am very eastern minded, spiritually. I want to explore Buddhism, but still hold onto my love for Christ. While waiting for the doctor, I realized I can of course do both. Buddhism is more of a philosophy, a way of life. People do not pray to Buddha (I don't think) he wasn't God. But they DO believe in God, they just do not believe in an afterlife - they believe in reincarnation. That's the rub for me, because so do I! Yikes.
That would really set off a die hard Christian. Oh well. This is Sue. I never do things the easy way.
This is long, I know. I don't expect anyone to read it all! If you do, bless your heart.
Lots of love to you all,
Suexxxxxxxxxx
My goal since arriving is to start mega treatments of acupuncture to speed along the healing of my facial paralysis (it looks like Bell's Palsy). Our friend and Sujoy's partner's mom recommended I visit a Buddhist run hospital - it's VERY FAR from our apartment.
Getting there was a bit of an tricky, but fun! I told Anjoli it's like finding buried treasure via the subway! I love the challenge of going somewhere new. First we took a cab to the MRT (subway) station. Of course he took the long way but whatever. Five NT more big deal.
Anjoli and I checked out the route - I thought I figured it out but it was a bit confusing. While looking at a map while on the train, I asked someone if I needed to get off the train at the next stop to change lines. She said yes, (then I remembered that even when people don't really understand you, they often just nod and say yes to save face- even though I am the dope that should know Mandarin).
When we got off the train, it still didn't seem right, so I asked ANOTHER woman if she knew the route to Dapinglin station. "What? She said, "you want to eat dumplings? You hungry?" NO! I need acupuncture! Hospital! No dumplings!!! I didn't say that, of course, I just led her to the subway map and pointed to our destination. "Oh!" she said, "you needed to stay on the train!"
So we waitied for the next (correct) train, got off at our stop, then had trouble exiting. Turns out I didn't pay enough for the fare, so we went to a worker there and I had to pay $10NT each more for our tokens. It's so cool - they have these plastic tokens that you scan and it reads the fare. Weird.
So we went up to the street and looked for a shuttle for the hospital. Um...I neglected to find out exactly WHERE to take the shuttle, so we just took another cab. I pointed to the address on their brochure/schedule and we got there in less than 5 minutes.
The hospital was HUGE and BEAUTIFUL. As we entered there were lots of plants, a huge mural of the Buddha smiling over ill folks and lovely, serene flute music playing in the background. I have never felt so good to be in a hospital. No sign of concrete anywhere - just wood (looked like bamboo) and gorgeous Asian art and Chinese calligraphy. (Made me realize I would LOVE to learn Chinese brush painting which looks deceptively easy but it is so beautiful and soothing to the eye).
The registration forms were in English, but a volunteer led me right to the front of the line and a woman behind the counter walked me through the form. Immediately a patient in line chimed in to help as her English wasn't so great. At one point, I thought they asked me: "white?" So I said, "yes, I'm white!" as in Caucasian. "No no! they said, "Do you drink wine?" OH!!! "Nope," I proudly answered, "no more!" no no no. It's not even a thought at this stage in my life. No smoking either. Angelic Sue, c'est moi.
So we made our way to the Chinese/Integrated medicine floor (the hospital is mainly a Western Medicine/Conventional hospital). We had to wait over 2 and a half hours to see the doctor. Poor Anjoli! Good thing I fed her a big grilled cheese sandwich before coming....and she had a snack.
The doctor (a woman) was excellent. Very kind and efficent. I showed her my surgical report. She was kind of taken aback, I could tell. I told her the doctors said it "may" take 6-8 months for my face to come back (the left side). That was unacceptable to her. She told me she wanted me to come see her 3 times a week, but to ALSO go for Rehabilitation Therapy (Physical Therapy) on the same days and they would do muscle stimulation on my face (which is exactly what I had done in Massachusetts, but I only made one appointment).
I had one half hour of acupuncture - she used electrodes on the needles on my face as well, so it was a weird sensation. The good news was I felt an itch coming on on my left side of my face! I took that as an excellent sign. She also inserted a needle in my left hand between my thumb and index finger - I believe that is to help with my insomnia. She told me she can help me with my insomnia- phew! I did sleep REALLY well too, but I still took my Ativan, which I will wean myself off of very very soon, now that I will be busy and on a good sleep schedule. I am asleep by 10:30 now and up every day at 6:30. Perfect.
We didn't get home until 7:00 - we left at 12:45! Oh well. Next time it will be quicker. I have a yellow card which I show to the nurse and I just will immediately go for acupuncture (with an appointment of course).
I am HUGELY relieved that I will get a combination of eastern and western medicine. It's a huge trek but that's fine by me. I have all the time in the world to heal! I have been eating a "caveman's diet," lots of organic grains, almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, coconut water, veggies (not enough probably), fruit,plain yogurt, fish. Barely any meat but I did have chicken and a bit of shaved meat in my hot pot dinner the other night. Eggs, salmon. ALL good stuff. I also started, yes, I know people think it's freaky, but I am taking coffee enemas. They helped me get pregnant I swear (I also cleaned up my diet).
It's an adventure in healing.
I'm drinking organic apple cider vinegar in water - two caps full in a cup of water. It's supposed to give you energy. I feel a little more awake, but I sure would love a cup of coffee! I am too paranoid to drink it now for fear that I won't be able to sleep at night. I just want to cut out all caffeine.
Oh another thing, I have been BUGGING out because my left eye is SO dry since it doesn't blink that often due to the palsy. The weight helps a bit. This morning, I am happy to report that it is pretty teary (it still feels odd with the weight in my eyelid- I hope to have it removed ASAP).
Oh and of course, I pray like crazy. I am still confused about religion and going to/finding a church. I have DEEP faith on my own, but I do recognize that it is important to give thanks and praise to God and show respect by making the effort of going to church. Plus it is nice to be a part of a community. Being surrounded by Buddhist nuns and volunteers, I felt so much at home. I am very eastern minded, spiritually. I want to explore Buddhism, but still hold onto my love for Christ. While waiting for the doctor, I realized I can of course do both. Buddhism is more of a philosophy, a way of life. People do not pray to Buddha (I don't think) he wasn't God. But they DO believe in God, they just do not believe in an afterlife - they believe in reincarnation. That's the rub for me, because so do I! Yikes.
That would really set off a die hard Christian. Oh well. This is Sue. I never do things the easy way.
This is long, I know. I don't expect anyone to read it all! If you do, bless your heart.
Lots of love to you all,
Suexxxxxxxxxx
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Sue the insomniac
Ok it's 4:30 a.m. here in Taipei. I have been up all night because I took a 4 hour nap yesterday. Ah well. It will take time to adjust. I am now 12 hours ahead of eastern time.
I am finally in a good place after feeling suicidal and ending up in a psych ward! I thought it would be a place where I could get HELP or SOMETHING. Well I did get something, but let me tell you, the mental health care in the U.S. in abysmal. I don't think things have changed much since One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest . I need to read the book now. Truly it was similar to the movie, EXCEPT, I must say there were NO Nurse Cratchetts - the counselors were fantastic - one was even coaching me on how to get out. Even the nurse who checked me in thought I'd be out in no time (she knew I didn't "belong" there). Well, I was sent 75 miles from my cousin's house on a Saturday, after spending all day Friday in the ER. Things do not start moving until Monday. They do not let the patients out for supervised walks (unless you ask for "level one" as I learned and had to wait forever to ask the psychiatrist for it). Only 3 of us were given permission out of um, maybe 20 people?
The patients do NOTHING all day. They MAYBE have one half hour "group" session per day but they were pretty lame. The place was FREEZING - I didn't have any warm clothes and had to beg for a jacket (they have a room of donated clothing - mostly men's) from my roommate who hoarded all the warm clothes. She was elderly and very ill - not able to keep weight on, but don't worry she had a thick sweatshirt and wasn't using the jacket.
Our room was an ICEBERG so I slept (when I slept) with three blankets. My roomie was an absolute angel - and I am praying for her. She has dementia (a bit) and is an alcoholic.
She doesn't really remember how she got there (she did call 911). She told me she arrived without pants and that someone took her clogs. I don't think she was wearing them when she arrived, but I just listened to her. Poor lady was diabetic and incontinent.
She told me: "You have to tell me how you pull the toilet paper so evenly." So Sue, being a bit of a brat said, "Oh yeah - it's a real art!" OK that wasn't nice. I did in fact SHOW her my techinque though! Ok I know this is weird! Funny though.
I briefly saw the psychiatrist on Sunday. He said, "I read your note." WHAT NOTE???? (Later I figured out that the crisis counselor in Plymouth "fibbed" a bit to get insurance coverage because you have to be legitamately suicidal to get coverage! Which, when you think of it, makes sense). He told me, "ok, no more talk about THAT," since he probably realized that I hadn't written a note. He gave me the feeling that I would be dischargesd soon and that he would work on it "100%."
On Monday, my social worker told me that the plan was to discharge me on Wednesday.
I was told I would meet with the shrink (it's easier to spell that!) later that day. I was a BIT anxious to say the LEAST. I kept hounding the poor man and all the counselors that morning and afternoon. I was bugging out - even though friends told me to be cool and I would be released quicker. When the shrink finally saw me, he told me I was being irrational and that he would consider my case on a "day to day basis." !!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh man. I was just beside myself at that point. I didn't think God was listening to me, even though I prayed like a maniac.
BUT! Prayers were answered when my wonderful friends Prakash and Asha came to visit.
Prakash went to university with my husband in India. We haven't really been in touch for a long time though, but Sujoy had been in contact w/him when he learned I was in trouble.
Sujoy has the BEST friends (and they are mine now also, thank goodness). They are always there for us.
I was SO tired that night from not sleeping at all the night before, so I actually called Prakash and told him that I was going to sleep. So, I was in bed when a nurse told me that a beautiful Indian couple were there to visit - and asked if I wanted to see them. I jumped out of bed of course!
They were my only visitors during the whole stay (but I got a million phone calls).
I was ELATED and can't go into details, but I had been feeling EXTREMELY anxious/ guilt ridden for a "good" reason.
They stayed for an hour talking to me about Jesus. As a Catholic, I never really understood Jesus. They really enlightened me, and we prayed and I knew I would be forgiven. I finally had peace and faith that I WOULD get out of that place on Wednesday. Even though I told Prakash not to bother coming, he did, because "something" told him to come anyway. Yes, their visit really was an answer to my prayers.
After they left Sujoy (hubby) called and calmed me down. I went back to my room and wrote a 2 page "plan" which I showed to the shrink the next day. "Good," he said in his Russian accent, "I see you have a plan - I like that." He agreed to discharge me on Wednesday.
I was free to go on by 10:30 on Wednesday, but I had to wait until 8:00 pm for Prakash to pick me up on his way back from a business trip in Maine. That was the LONGEST day of my life!
I tried to play "matchmaker" while I was there. There was a severly depressed older man there who only talked to my sweet roommate. I always ate with my roommate but one day I asked if he would like to eat with her. (She was so weak that she couldn't carry her tray from the shelves where the food was delivered, so I always got her tray for her). He was so happy and smiled when I brought her tray over to his table. He told her that she was the only one who wasn't "role playing" which was probably true. I hope she's ok.
I learned so much from my stay - I am SOOOO grateful that I AM sane and my brain is now functioning fully. I pray for those poor patients every day. It was SO depressing seeing people in that state (I could relate to some of them though). I was anxious/irrational at my cousin's for a number of reasons- a huge one being coming off of presrcibed drugs such as steroids, painkillers and 12 hours worth of anesthesia. Imagine the toxins floating around my body. The OTHER reason is my own - I was so restless. I don't have lovely crafty hobbies - I don't have any hobbies really! I love to read, but was too depressed and anxious to read. I don't watch tv
(except for a few choice shows). I cannot be a couch potato because...I can't! I used to be a long time ago though! I could only walk so much...it was hard being in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do...but I am DO appreciate that my cousin TRIED to take care of me. She did her best and she's a great cook, but I needed more emotional support. I really needed my husband, but he couldn't stay any longer (he wouldn't get paid!) and Anjoli needed to start school.
Hubby and Anjoli had to leave for Taiwan on my birthday, on August 17th. We said goodbye, I put on my brave face....then his flight to NY got cancelled and they couldn't leave until August 19th. Talk about torture - having to say goodbye twice!
Anyway, this is very long I know and probably boring. I had such a nice, peaceful stay with Prakash and Asha. I ate YUMMY (mostly vegetarian) Indian food. Asha is a total health freak so she coached me with lots of remedies for depression and fatigue. We prayed every night - even their 11 year old son prayed for me every night. I left feeling spiritually, physically and mentally refreshed and renewed.
I had three good visits with my old friends who live in the same area as Prakash and Asha. Ursula was a doll and took me to a Renaissance fair in Carver, Mass. Her husband Frank is an actor in it every year. I was so out of it though and had NO energy. It's a wonderful fair. The HUGE favor she did was help me collect all my stuff from my cousin's house which was nearby (and very far from where I was staying with my friends).
My friend Miriam met me in Boston and took me back to her house in Newton so I got to see her husband, Frank who is a hoot. He is a (jazz and blues) music critic/writer and always has fun stories to tell. He gave me a cd of a famous folk singer (her writing was on the cd even) which hasn't been released yet. I better not say who it is - I don't want to get Frank in trouble! I like this singer alot, even though I only have one of her cds. Now I have two! I also spent a day with my friends Ashwin and Sonia and had a blast playing with their adorable 5 year old daughter. I tried to play this game with her. She is so smart - it was too logical for me (recommended age was 7-adult). I just couldn't get it at all- so I told her that I just had brain surgery - and she said "Oh I know," and she quietly put the game away. Very sensitive and sweet of her. She drew me a beautiful flower and made a "Happy Snail" tracing her thumb and part of her hand. Kids are great therapy.
[EDIT: Oh man oh man how could I forget my dear, sweet wonderful friend Laura who gave up a day of her life, risking life and limb driving around the circle of death at LAX. She was there when I got off my Delta flight at 10:30 am, and stayed with me until I boarded my China Airlines flight at 3:30 pm. What a gal, quelle pal. We had a delish lunch, of course Laura had to one up me with her "cheeseburger" sans the burger! Cute, ay? I wish her luck in her job search- I know she will land a fab job in the film biz soon. She has a cool media (music and film) blog now, check it out: LMS].
So here I am in Taipei -very happy to be here. In New England I was having mixed feelings about leaving the US. But home is where the heart is, and my heart is with my wonderful little family.
I am finally in a good place after feeling suicidal and ending up in a psych ward! I thought it would be a place where I could get HELP or SOMETHING. Well I did get something, but let me tell you, the mental health care in the U.S. in abysmal. I don't think things have changed much since One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest . I need to read the book now. Truly it was similar to the movie, EXCEPT, I must say there were NO Nurse Cratchetts - the counselors were fantastic - one was even coaching me on how to get out. Even the nurse who checked me in thought I'd be out in no time (she knew I didn't "belong" there). Well, I was sent 75 miles from my cousin's house on a Saturday, after spending all day Friday in the ER. Things do not start moving until Monday. They do not let the patients out for supervised walks (unless you ask for "level one" as I learned and had to wait forever to ask the psychiatrist for it). Only 3 of us were given permission out of um, maybe 20 people?
The patients do NOTHING all day. They MAYBE have one half hour "group" session per day but they were pretty lame. The place was FREEZING - I didn't have any warm clothes and had to beg for a jacket (they have a room of donated clothing - mostly men's) from my roommate who hoarded all the warm clothes. She was elderly and very ill - not able to keep weight on, but don't worry she had a thick sweatshirt and wasn't using the jacket.
Our room was an ICEBERG so I slept (when I slept) with three blankets. My roomie was an absolute angel - and I am praying for her. She has dementia (a bit) and is an alcoholic.
She doesn't really remember how she got there (she did call 911). She told me she arrived without pants and that someone took her clogs. I don't think she was wearing them when she arrived, but I just listened to her. Poor lady was diabetic and incontinent.
She told me: "You have to tell me how you pull the toilet paper so evenly." So Sue, being a bit of a brat said, "Oh yeah - it's a real art!" OK that wasn't nice. I did in fact SHOW her my techinque though! Ok I know this is weird! Funny though.
I briefly saw the psychiatrist on Sunday. He said, "I read your note." WHAT NOTE???? (Later I figured out that the crisis counselor in Plymouth "fibbed" a bit to get insurance coverage because you have to be legitamately suicidal to get coverage! Which, when you think of it, makes sense). He told me, "ok, no more talk about THAT," since he probably realized that I hadn't written a note. He gave me the feeling that I would be dischargesd soon and that he would work on it "100%."
On Monday, my social worker told me that the plan was to discharge me on Wednesday.
I was told I would meet with the shrink (it's easier to spell that!) later that day. I was a BIT anxious to say the LEAST. I kept hounding the poor man and all the counselors that morning and afternoon. I was bugging out - even though friends told me to be cool and I would be released quicker. When the shrink finally saw me, he told me I was being irrational and that he would consider my case on a "day to day basis." !!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh man. I was just beside myself at that point. I didn't think God was listening to me, even though I prayed like a maniac.
BUT! Prayers were answered when my wonderful friends Prakash and Asha came to visit.
Prakash went to university with my husband in India. We haven't really been in touch for a long time though, but Sujoy had been in contact w/him when he learned I was in trouble.
Sujoy has the BEST friends (and they are mine now also, thank goodness). They are always there for us.
I was SO tired that night from not sleeping at all the night before, so I actually called Prakash and told him that I was going to sleep. So, I was in bed when a nurse told me that a beautiful Indian couple were there to visit - and asked if I wanted to see them. I jumped out of bed of course!
They were my only visitors during the whole stay (but I got a million phone calls).
I was ELATED and can't go into details, but I had been feeling EXTREMELY anxious/ guilt ridden for a "good" reason.
They stayed for an hour talking to me about Jesus. As a Catholic, I never really understood Jesus. They really enlightened me, and we prayed and I knew I would be forgiven. I finally had peace and faith that I WOULD get out of that place on Wednesday. Even though I told Prakash not to bother coming, he did, because "something" told him to come anyway. Yes, their visit really was an answer to my prayers.
After they left Sujoy (hubby) called and calmed me down. I went back to my room and wrote a 2 page "plan" which I showed to the shrink the next day. "Good," he said in his Russian accent, "I see you have a plan - I like that." He agreed to discharge me on Wednesday.
I was free to go on by 10:30 on Wednesday, but I had to wait until 8:00 pm for Prakash to pick me up on his way back from a business trip in Maine. That was the LONGEST day of my life!
I tried to play "matchmaker" while I was there. There was a severly depressed older man there who only talked to my sweet roommate. I always ate with my roommate but one day I asked if he would like to eat with her. (She was so weak that she couldn't carry her tray from the shelves where the food was delivered, so I always got her tray for her). He was so happy and smiled when I brought her tray over to his table. He told her that she was the only one who wasn't "role playing" which was probably true. I hope she's ok.
I learned so much from my stay - I am SOOOO grateful that I AM sane and my brain is now functioning fully. I pray for those poor patients every day. It was SO depressing seeing people in that state (I could relate to some of them though). I was anxious/irrational at my cousin's for a number of reasons- a huge one being coming off of presrcibed drugs such as steroids, painkillers and 12 hours worth of anesthesia. Imagine the toxins floating around my body. The OTHER reason is my own - I was so restless. I don't have lovely crafty hobbies - I don't have any hobbies really! I love to read, but was too depressed and anxious to read. I don't watch tv
(except for a few choice shows). I cannot be a couch potato because...I can't! I used to be a long time ago though! I could only walk so much...it was hard being in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do...but I am DO appreciate that my cousin TRIED to take care of me. She did her best and she's a great cook, but I needed more emotional support. I really needed my husband, but he couldn't stay any longer (he wouldn't get paid!) and Anjoli needed to start school.
Hubby and Anjoli had to leave for Taiwan on my birthday, on August 17th. We said goodbye, I put on my brave face....then his flight to NY got cancelled and they couldn't leave until August 19th. Talk about torture - having to say goodbye twice!
Anyway, this is very long I know and probably boring. I had such a nice, peaceful stay with Prakash and Asha. I ate YUMMY (mostly vegetarian) Indian food. Asha is a total health freak so she coached me with lots of remedies for depression and fatigue. We prayed every night - even their 11 year old son prayed for me every night. I left feeling spiritually, physically and mentally refreshed and renewed.
I had three good visits with my old friends who live in the same area as Prakash and Asha. Ursula was a doll and took me to a Renaissance fair in Carver, Mass. Her husband Frank is an actor in it every year. I was so out of it though and had NO energy. It's a wonderful fair. The HUGE favor she did was help me collect all my stuff from my cousin's house which was nearby (and very far from where I was staying with my friends).
My friend Miriam met me in Boston and took me back to her house in Newton so I got to see her husband, Frank who is a hoot. He is a (jazz and blues) music critic/writer and always has fun stories to tell. He gave me a cd of a famous folk singer (her writing was on the cd even) which hasn't been released yet. I better not say who it is - I don't want to get Frank in trouble! I like this singer alot, even though I only have one of her cds. Now I have two! I also spent a day with my friends Ashwin and Sonia and had a blast playing with their adorable 5 year old daughter. I tried to play this game with her. She is so smart - it was too logical for me (recommended age was 7-adult). I just couldn't get it at all- so I told her that I just had brain surgery - and she said "Oh I know," and she quietly put the game away. Very sensitive and sweet of her. She drew me a beautiful flower and made a "Happy Snail" tracing her thumb and part of her hand. Kids are great therapy.
[EDIT: Oh man oh man how could I forget my dear, sweet wonderful friend Laura who gave up a day of her life, risking life and limb driving around the circle of death at LAX. She was there when I got off my Delta flight at 10:30 am, and stayed with me until I boarded my China Airlines flight at 3:30 pm. What a gal, quelle pal. We had a delish lunch, of course Laura had to one up me with her "cheeseburger" sans the burger! Cute, ay? I wish her luck in her job search- I know she will land a fab job in the film biz soon. She has a cool media (music and film) blog now, check it out: LMS].
So here I am in Taipei -very happy to be here. In New England I was having mixed feelings about leaving the US. But home is where the heart is, and my heart is with my wonderful little family.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
thank you!
so sorry- i can't keep up w/blogging and responding to comments.
it helps more than you will ever know.
i am strong physically. i could walk forever, but it is very tiring for my brain.
i have to learn patience and slow down in order to heal.
i hate lying down, but i must.
i love all of you- family, friends, blog buds.
thank you sooooo much.
i miss you guys....
i am going to be just fine, i know it.
suexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ps thank you Janice for the story you sent awhile back. it helped me so much.
it helps more than you will ever know.
i am strong physically. i could walk forever, but it is very tiring for my brain.
i have to learn patience and slow down in order to heal.
i hate lying down, but i must.
i love all of you- family, friends, blog buds.
thank you sooooo much.
i miss you guys....
i am going to be just fine, i know it.
suexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ps thank you Janice for the story you sent awhile back. it helped me so much.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Brain Salad Surgery!
Yum.
Time is inching towards TUESDAY - the big day.
I will have surgery at Mass General Hospital in Boston to have my golf ball sized brain tumor removed.
A team of doctors will toil 12 hours to get rid of this puppy.
I just can't wait until it's OVER!!
I am being very Zen about it, honestly. All shall be well. I have alot of faith for a heathen. hee hee
My husband, Sujoy (Sue's Joy) will be posting comments and updates on my progress, so please check back here, ok? He promises to keep you well informed and will be speedy about it.
I cannot thank all of you enough for your love and support. It means the world to me.
I leave you with a picture of me in my favorite new outfit that I bought in Provincetown the other night!
Peace and love,
Suexxxxxxxxxx
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Tag from Bex!
Ok Delbut inspired me. What can I say?
Never in my life have I: eaten rabbit.
High school was : Not a heck of alot of fun. I went to a Catholic High School. I was voted "easiest to get along with." yes it was shortened to "easiest." That came later...ha ha. Joking. I studied WAY too hard, how idiotic was that? I was #1 in my class Freshman year, then dropped to 31 by Senior year thanks to boys and marahootchie.
When I'm nervous : I sweat like crazy, get knots in my stomach. whine.
My hair : Is very medusa looking in the morning, but I clean up alright.
When I was 5 : I had an imaginary friend named "Benny," but one day my grandmother stepped on him. That was the end of Benny.
When I turn my head left : I can't hear because I have tinnitus in my left ear...so please remember NOT to whisper sweet nothings in that ear...because...well, I will hear nothing. Ok nevermind.
I should be : dancing...yeah!
By this time next year : I will be at my Formosa Fest. Please join me!
My favorite aunt is : My Auntie Chris who saved my life pretty much. (I put the BAD in "bad girl" in my younger daze).
I have a hard time understanding : why most people don't think the way I do.
You know I like you if : I ask you 5 billion questions about yourself.
My ideal breakfast is : An omelet with avocado, cheese, tomatoes and chipotle salsa, home fries, coffee (but I gave it up), and a Mimosa. With Brad Pitt on the side. Angelina too.
If you visit my home town : You will wonder how I turned out to be so incredibly warm, friendly and loving. (And modest).
If you spend the night at my house : I may snuggle with you.
My favorite blonde is : OWEN FREAKING WILSON
My favorite brunette is : Frida Khalo. She's dead though, so I am not quite sure what color her hair is now.
The animal I would like to see flying besides birds : An elephant. Dumbo. (my husband's nickname for me).
I shouldn't have been : born a woman. :) nah um...so mean to my daughter last week in the car. I was so stressed. Sorry baby.
Last night I: slept in my daughter's bed because my husband snores so effing loud.
A better name for me would be : Misty Simone. (Long story).
I've been told I look like: the woman with the curly hair on Three's Company.
If I could have any car, it would be : An "Austin Powers" mini Cooper, or a VW Microbus.
Never in my life have I: eaten rabbit.
High school was : Not a heck of alot of fun. I went to a Catholic High School. I was voted "easiest to get along with." yes it was shortened to "easiest." That came later...ha ha. Joking. I studied WAY too hard, how idiotic was that? I was #1 in my class Freshman year, then dropped to 31 by Senior year thanks to boys and marahootchie.
When I'm nervous : I sweat like crazy, get knots in my stomach. whine.
My hair : Is very medusa looking in the morning, but I clean up alright.
When I was 5 : I had an imaginary friend named "Benny," but one day my grandmother stepped on him. That was the end of Benny.
When I turn my head left : I can't hear because I have tinnitus in my left ear...so please remember NOT to whisper sweet nothings in that ear...because...well, I will hear nothing. Ok nevermind.
I should be : dancing...yeah!
By this time next year : I will be at my Formosa Fest. Please join me!
My favorite aunt is : My Auntie Chris who saved my life pretty much. (I put the BAD in "bad girl" in my younger daze).
I have a hard time understanding : why most people don't think the way I do.
You know I like you if : I ask you 5 billion questions about yourself.
My ideal breakfast is : An omelet with avocado, cheese, tomatoes and chipotle salsa, home fries, coffee (but I gave it up), and a Mimosa. With Brad Pitt on the side. Angelina too.
If you visit my home town : You will wonder how I turned out to be so incredibly warm, friendly and loving. (And modest).
If you spend the night at my house : I may snuggle with you.
My favorite blonde is : OWEN FREAKING WILSON
My favorite brunette is : Frida Khalo. She's dead though, so I am not quite sure what color her hair is now.
The animal I would like to see flying besides birds : An elephant. Dumbo. (my husband's nickname for me).
I shouldn't have been : born a woman. :) nah um...so mean to my daughter last week in the car. I was so stressed. Sorry baby.
Last night I: slept in my daughter's bed because my husband snores so effing loud.
A better name for me would be : Misty Simone. (Long story).
I've been told I look like: the woman with the curly hair on Three's Company.
If I could have any car, it would be : An "Austin Powers" mini Cooper, or a VW Microbus.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Gandhi Garden Gone WILD!!!!!!
Oh my goodness. Take a look at this crazy garden the kids planted! (For a back story, please click HERE).
My daughter and her friends planted all kinds of seeds - watermelon, pumpkin (I think), radish, corn, sunflower, basil, green beans and wildflowers (that's all that I can recall!). They planted the seeds willy nilly...and didn't bother labeling them either. There's alot of merging of plants going on too, but, oh well...it's still pretty.
A neighbor just stopped by to compliment them on it, so I figured I better take some pics before we move overseas.
Pretty cool, ay?
THIS IS EITHER A PUMPKIN OR A WATERMELON...HMM...I THINK IT'S A PUMPKIN
GREEN BEANS!
CORN!
My daughter and her friends planted all kinds of seeds - watermelon, pumpkin (I think), radish, corn, sunflower, basil, green beans and wildflowers (that's all that I can recall!). They planted the seeds willy nilly...and didn't bother labeling them either. There's alot of merging of plants going on too, but, oh well...it's still pretty.
A neighbor just stopped by to compliment them on it, so I figured I better take some pics before we move overseas.
Pretty cool, ay?
THIS IS EITHER A PUMPKIN OR A WATERMELON...HMM...I THINK IT'S A PUMPKIN
GREEN BEANS!
CORN!
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
But I have so much to look forward to!
Most of you know I am moving to Taipei at the end of the month.
Ok, the packing is going ever so slowly...because, OF COURSE I have to read/go through all the crap I save.
I came across this brochure promoting a night market in Keelung called Miaokow...it describes all the stalls in the market.
THIS ONE caught my eye:
PORK LARGE INTESTINE/SALTED VEGETABLE AND PIG'S BLOOD
(followed by Chinese script then this translation)
"Stuff the pig's large intestines with steamed greasy onion and glutinous rice and then steam it again til the whole body is filled with rice flavor. You can find thick and and thin large intestines here. After making your own choice, the owner will cut it up and pour it with sauce. DON'T FORGET to go with a bowl of pig's blood soup, which is braised with pig's bones. What a nice duo!"
And this is a brochure used to promote tourism!!!
I love the people in Taiwan, but seriously...um...?
Ok, the packing is going ever so slowly...because, OF COURSE I have to read/go through all the crap I save.
I came across this brochure promoting a night market in Keelung called Miaokow...it describes all the stalls in the market.
THIS ONE caught my eye:
PORK LARGE INTESTINE/SALTED VEGETABLE AND PIG'S BLOOD
(followed by Chinese script then this translation)
"Stuff the pig's large intestines with steamed greasy onion and glutinous rice and then steam it again til the whole body is filled with rice flavor. You can find thick and and thin large intestines here. After making your own choice, the owner will cut it up and pour it with sauce. DON'T FORGET to go with a bowl of pig's blood soup, which is braised with pig's bones. What a nice duo!"
And this is a brochure used to promote tourism!!!
I love the people in Taiwan, but seriously...um...?
Packing and Procrastinating
This is my life at the moment!
I have a permanent migraine- because, as we all know, there is NO bigger headache than packing.
On the bright side, I found some gift certificates today (that have probably expired) for Borders and my favorite health food store. Yipeeeeee!
I found photos of Anjoli and her best friend looking blissed out (as usual), playing with a garden hose, from the year they first met and I just broke down. You would not believe the chemistry those two girls have - it blows my mind. It hurts beyond belief to separate them.
There must be light at the end of the tunnel, but I can't see it just yet...
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a permanent migraine- because, as we all know, there is NO bigger headache than packing.
On the bright side, I found some gift certificates today (that have probably expired) for Borders and my favorite health food store. Yipeeeeee!
I found photos of Anjoli and her best friend looking blissed out (as usual), playing with a garden hose, from the year they first met and I just broke down. You would not believe the chemistry those two girls have - it blows my mind. It hurts beyond belief to separate them.
There must be light at the end of the tunnel, but I can't see it just yet...
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Happy Summer! I'll be back...eventually.
And so...
the time has come...
to pack up
and leave the comfort of my home
for more
"adventurous"
things.
wish
me
well!
i
wish
y'all
well,
as
well!
xxxxxxxxxxxx
I leave you with a good reason to stay away from crack!
the time has come...
to pack up
and leave the comfort of my home
for more
"adventurous"
things.
wish
me
well!
i
wish
y'all
well,
as
well!
xxxxxxxxxxxx
I leave you with a good reason to stay away from crack!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
A Memorial Day to Remember...
This is a story about a bush.
See the happy children playing in the said bush?
See the sad faces of the children, who mourn for their lost sanctuary.
Their oasis of wonder and enchantment now reduced to this:
For some ungodly reason, there were neighbors in my condo community who disapproved of my daughter and friends playing in "the bush" as the kids called it.
So, those of the "children- should- be- seen- and- not- heard" ilk slyly ordered that the lush, 30 year old bush be removed.
A neighbor whose house borders the communal property (the "grassy area") complained to my daughter's friend's mother (named Kristin) that "she had very sick people living with her." As if the sound of laughter would bother someone who is ill.
Rumors circulated that some neighbors worried that they would "break the bush," or "hurt themselves." If the anti-bush neighbors were so concerned, well, they never addressed their concerns to me or to Kristin. The neighbor caring for sick people even went so far as to show pictures she had taken of Kristin's son PLAYING [gasp] BALL! He was catching a baseball with his friend in the STREET! NO! Imagine...the nerve of them!!!
My daughter was quite upset by this sudden loss, to say the least, and so was I (and still am).
She wrote this letter and taped it on everyone's front door in our complex:
May 21,2007
Dear People of this Block,
I’m guessing many of you have noticed a big bush has been cut down. I’m also guessing some of you have noticed kids were always playing in that bush. I was one of those kids.
If you were a person who agreed that the bush should be cut down, you should have looked at it from my point of view. I went in the bush almost every day for five years. When it got torn down those five years of my life got torn out. So much happened in the bush. My friends and I found a nest. We saw the eggs hatch. Now the nest is gone and so is the bush, but we’ll always remember them.
From,
Anjoli (your neighbor who played in the bush).
One kind neighbor named Marian came by the next morning to voice her concern. She let me know that she was horrified that the bush had been removed. She complimented Anjoli on her letter.
For about a week we stewed in our anger. I was so upset, and I started to get very depressed.
I don't remember who had the idea, but one thing led to another and the kids and I decided that we would buy a small bush and build a Memorial Garden for The Bush.
Et voila:
In shiny pebbles, they spelled: "RIP BUSH" under a heart shaped garden.
"If we are to teach real peace in this world...we shall have to begin with children; and if they grow up in their own innocence, we won't have to struggle; we won't have to pass fruitless, idle resolutions, but we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of world are covered in peace and love for which, consciously or unconsciously, the world is hungering."~Mahatma Gandhi
See the happy children playing in the said bush?
See the sad faces of the children, who mourn for their lost sanctuary.
Their oasis of wonder and enchantment now reduced to this:
For some ungodly reason, there were neighbors in my condo community who disapproved of my daughter and friends playing in "the bush" as the kids called it.
So, those of the "children- should- be- seen- and- not- heard" ilk slyly ordered that the lush, 30 year old bush be removed.
A neighbor whose house borders the communal property (the "grassy area") complained to my daughter's friend's mother (named Kristin) that "she had very sick people living with her." As if the sound of laughter would bother someone who is ill.
Rumors circulated that some neighbors worried that they would "break the bush," or "hurt themselves." If the anti-bush neighbors were so concerned, well, they never addressed their concerns to me or to Kristin. The neighbor caring for sick people even went so far as to show pictures she had taken of Kristin's son PLAYING [gasp] BALL! He was catching a baseball with his friend in the STREET! NO! Imagine...the nerve of them!!!
My daughter was quite upset by this sudden loss, to say the least, and so was I (and still am).
She wrote this letter and taped it on everyone's front door in our complex:
May 21,2007
Dear People of this Block,
I’m guessing many of you have noticed a big bush has been cut down. I’m also guessing some of you have noticed kids were always playing in that bush. I was one of those kids.
If you were a person who agreed that the bush should be cut down, you should have looked at it from my point of view. I went in the bush almost every day for five years. When it got torn down those five years of my life got torn out. So much happened in the bush. My friends and I found a nest. We saw the eggs hatch. Now the nest is gone and so is the bush, but we’ll always remember them.
From,
Anjoli (your neighbor who played in the bush).
One kind neighbor named Marian came by the next morning to voice her concern. She let me know that she was horrified that the bush had been removed. She complimented Anjoli on her letter.
For about a week we stewed in our anger. I was so upset, and I started to get very depressed.
I don't remember who had the idea, but one thing led to another and the kids and I decided that we would buy a small bush and build a Memorial Garden for The Bush.
Et voila:
In shiny pebbles, they spelled: "RIP BUSH" under a heart shaped garden.
"If we are to teach real peace in this world...we shall have to begin with children; and if they grow up in their own innocence, we won't have to struggle; we won't have to pass fruitless, idle resolutions, but we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of world are covered in peace and love for which, consciously or unconsciously, the world is hungering."~Mahatma Gandhi
Sunday, May 27, 2007
In rememberance...
of fallen soldiers and veterans
who sacrificied their lives for freedom.
No one likes/wants war.
I wish it wasn't a necessary evil.
who sacrificied their lives for freedom.
No one likes/wants war.
I wish it wasn't a necessary evil.
Monday, May 21, 2007
A Suesjoy original riddle for ya!
What did the alien say when it landed in Germany?
Take me to your lederhosen!
Ok, in the US we mispronounce lederhosen...so it only works for ignorant Americans (comme moi). ;)
Here is Rufus channeling the spirit of Judy Garland.He is performing "Release the Stars" on Letterman.
Release the Stars
Why do you keep all your stars in from your studio on Melrose Avenue?
You have locked all of your assets up in life-long contracts to you
Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?
Oh, can't you see all the good that celebrity can do for those in the dark?
Yes of course, I am speaking in metaphors for something more in your heart
Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?
So why not just release the gates and let them all come out?
Remember that without them there would be no Paramount
No paramount need to hold on to what isn't yours
Release the stars
The more that you fight, then the more they will scrutinize and realize just your size
And believe me, you are no match for the public that has seen the whites of your eyes
Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?
Old Hollywood is over
So why not just release the gates and let them all come out?
Remember that without them there would be no Paramount
No paramount need to hold on to what isn't yours
Release the stars
Release the stars, release your love, release the stars
Release your love, 'cause Hollywood is over
Why do you keep all your stars in from your studio on Melrose Avenue?
Take me to your lederhosen!
Ok, in the US we mispronounce lederhosen...so it only works for ignorant Americans (comme moi). ;)
Here is Rufus channeling the spirit of Judy Garland.He is performing "Release the Stars" on Letterman.
Release the Stars
Why do you keep all your stars in from your studio on Melrose Avenue?
You have locked all of your assets up in life-long contracts to you
Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?
Oh, can't you see all the good that celebrity can do for those in the dark?
Yes of course, I am speaking in metaphors for something more in your heart
Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?
So why not just release the gates and let them all come out?
Remember that without them there would be no Paramount
No paramount need to hold on to what isn't yours
Release the stars
The more that you fight, then the more they will scrutinize and realize just your size
And believe me, you are no match for the public that has seen the whites of your eyes
Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?
Old Hollywood is over
So why not just release the gates and let them all come out?
Remember that without them there would be no Paramount
No paramount need to hold on to what isn't yours
Release the stars
Release the stars, release your love, release the stars
Release your love, 'cause Hollywood is over
Why do you keep all your stars in from your studio on Melrose Avenue?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
My Fellow Americans: Let's See Action!!!
Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's see freedom
Let's see who cares
~Pete Townshend
Today the senate took an important step in bringing our troops back from Iraq.
They voted on the Feingold-Reid amendment to end the war. This bill would require re-deployment of troops within 120 days, with full re-deployment ending on March 21,2008.
Unfortunately, the bill did not pass.
I genuinely believe that this war/administration is the greatest catastrophe in American history.
"US President George W Bush has vetoed a [previous] bill that would have set a deadline for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. The bill was approved by BOTH the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Congressional opponents of the war believe the veto signals that now it is the President alone who must take responsibility for continuing America's involvement, and the casualties. " [taken from a BBC on-line article which you may read HERE].
How in world do we think can we "export democracy" with a neo-Nazi in power?
Bush simply DOES NOT REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!
It boggles the mind, what this demonic duo (Bush-Cheney) have gotten away with...in a word MURDER. Yup. Lie to the Americans, play dumb (very easy for Bush) then have your way.
The result?
To date, there have been Over 3400 American casualties. 30,000 injured!!!!!!!!!! 30,000!!!!!!!
There have been between 64-70,000 Iraqi civilian casualties.
We are putting our troops in harms way FOR NO REASON. We are not dealing with ONE civil war in Iraq... presently there are MANY regional civil wars and the unspoken edict among all Iraqis: KILL AMERICANS. Over 70% of Iraqis want the US OUT OF IRAQ!!!
I, for one, cannnot stand for this BULLSHIT. I am so tired of it.
Are YOU?
Below is a list of how the senators voted.
PLEASE, if you see one (or both) of your senators on the list, I URGE you to call them and ask them to give us what the majority of Americans want to see: THE END OF THIS HORRIFIC, POINTLESS WAR!!!!!!
Thank you.
Peace and love to all...and GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!! AMEN.
xoxoxoxoxo
Voted In Support of Feingold-Reid:
Akaka (D-HI)
Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Reid (D-NV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
Voted Against Feingold-Reid:
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Did Not Vote:
Brown (D-OH)
Dole (R-NC)
Johnson (D-SD)
McCain (R-AZ)
Let's see people
Let's see freedom
Let's see who cares
~Pete Townshend
Today the senate took an important step in bringing our troops back from Iraq.
They voted on the Feingold-Reid amendment to end the war. This bill would require re-deployment of troops within 120 days, with full re-deployment ending on March 21,2008.
Unfortunately, the bill did not pass.
I genuinely believe that this war/administration is the greatest catastrophe in American history.
"US President George W Bush has vetoed a [previous] bill that would have set a deadline for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. The bill was approved by BOTH the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Congressional opponents of the war believe the veto signals that now it is the President alone who must take responsibility for continuing America's involvement, and the casualties. " [taken from a BBC on-line article which you may read HERE].
How in world do we think can we "export democracy" with a neo-Nazi in power?
Bush simply DOES NOT REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!
It boggles the mind, what this demonic duo (Bush-Cheney) have gotten away with...in a word MURDER. Yup. Lie to the Americans, play dumb (very easy for Bush) then have your way.
The result?
To date, there have been Over 3400 American casualties. 30,000 injured!!!!!!!!!! 30,000!!!!!!!
There have been between 64-70,000 Iraqi civilian casualties.
We are putting our troops in harms way FOR NO REASON. We are not dealing with ONE civil war in Iraq... presently there are MANY regional civil wars and the unspoken edict among all Iraqis: KILL AMERICANS. Over 70% of Iraqis want the US OUT OF IRAQ!!!
I, for one, cannnot stand for this BULLSHIT. I am so tired of it.
Are YOU?
Below is a list of how the senators voted.
PLEASE, if you see one (or both) of your senators on the list, I URGE you to call them and ask them to give us what the majority of Americans want to see: THE END OF THIS HORRIFIC, POINTLESS WAR!!!!!!
Thank you.
Peace and love to all...and GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!! AMEN.
xoxoxoxoxo
Voted In Support of Feingold-Reid:
Akaka (D-HI)
Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Reid (D-NV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
Voted Against Feingold-Reid:
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Did Not Vote:
Brown (D-OH)
Dole (R-NC)
Johnson (D-SD)
McCain (R-AZ)
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Do I Disappoint You?
Well, while my hubby is away, Suzie gets to play!
With his car that is.
He recently bought a used Mazda Miata.
It's his mid-life crisis car. Mine now!
He told me to drive it as much as possible since we are selling my car soon and we don't want Sue to smash it or anything.
(He's gone for about 6 weeks).
Yes it is very California to drive a convertible, but I feel really strange when I drive it.
People tend to always look at you when you are cruising with the top down.
I wish they wouldn't.
I fear I am just a huge let down for many.
They are expecting some young hot size zero blonde babe in something low cut and slinky.
What they will find in this green Miata is a middle aged mama (is 44 middle aged?) with an afro ("wind blown" mop headed curls translates into an afro) who lives in jeans and clogs and hardly ever wears makeup.
I always look around when entering or exiting this vehicle.
It is VERY difficult to look graceful as you slide your way into the seat.
I usually slide in and plop down. Even though I have lost weight this year, I am far from svelte, and getting into the Miata, well...oh nevermind. It's too depressing!
Getting in is hard, but getting out is even trickier.
If no one is looking, I will open the door and push my self out of the damn car.
Today I pretended that the eyes of the world were upon me and I swung both legs to the side and bent from the thighs. No pushing needed. Aha! Got it.
Today drove the eency car to the mall to have my eyebrows waxed (and buy a birthday present).
It's so funny how often when we communicate, we very rarely say what we REALLY mean. When I asked to have my eyebrows waxed, what I really wanted to say was, "could you wax my face, please?"
I followed the beautician to a small room and she asks me, "eyebrow wax?" and I say, well, I also need my "uppper lip" [which is actually code for "moustache"] and chin done.
I swear, by the time she had finished, she nearly HAD waxed my entire face! I mean she outlined what could have been a goatee with the wax. If I didn't get these waxings, I would probably be touring with some circus as a bearded lady with a unibrow or something. Nah, I'm kidding. The woman went a LITTLE overboard, I think.
God definately must be a heterosexual male. Why He must make us suffer the world's worst pain during childbirth (and facial waxings!), give us cramps and bloating for a week every month, let us sprout beards as we crawl toward menopause, where we will be greeted with hot flashes and violent mood swings among God knows what other bodily dysfunctions is beyond me.
Imagine a world of opposites: as we age, our metabolism increases! Your friends will say, "girl, you better watch yourself, you are just wasting away!"
I'll shrug and say, "I know...old age. Not a damn thing I can do about it."
With his car that is.
He recently bought a used Mazda Miata.
It's his mid-life crisis car. Mine now!
He told me to drive it as much as possible since we are selling my car soon and we don't want Sue to smash it or anything.
(He's gone for about 6 weeks).
Yes it is very California to drive a convertible, but I feel really strange when I drive it.
People tend to always look at you when you are cruising with the top down.
I wish they wouldn't.
I fear I am just a huge let down for many.
They are expecting some young hot size zero blonde babe in something low cut and slinky.
What they will find in this green Miata is a middle aged mama (is 44 middle aged?) with an afro ("wind blown" mop headed curls translates into an afro) who lives in jeans and clogs and hardly ever wears makeup.
I always look around when entering or exiting this vehicle.
It is VERY difficult to look graceful as you slide your way into the seat.
I usually slide in and plop down. Even though I have lost weight this year, I am far from svelte, and getting into the Miata, well...oh nevermind. It's too depressing!
Getting in is hard, but getting out is even trickier.
If no one is looking, I will open the door and push my self out of the damn car.
Today I pretended that the eyes of the world were upon me and I swung both legs to the side and bent from the thighs. No pushing needed. Aha! Got it.
Today drove the eency car to the mall to have my eyebrows waxed (and buy a birthday present).
It's so funny how often when we communicate, we very rarely say what we REALLY mean. When I asked to have my eyebrows waxed, what I really wanted to say was, "could you wax my face, please?"
I followed the beautician to a small room and she asks me, "eyebrow wax?" and I say, well, I also need my "uppper lip" [which is actually code for "moustache"] and chin done.
I swear, by the time she had finished, she nearly HAD waxed my entire face! I mean she outlined what could have been a goatee with the wax. If I didn't get these waxings, I would probably be touring with some circus as a bearded lady with a unibrow or something. Nah, I'm kidding. The woman went a LITTLE overboard, I think.
God definately must be a heterosexual male. Why He must make us suffer the world's worst pain during childbirth (and facial waxings!), give us cramps and bloating for a week every month, let us sprout beards as we crawl toward menopause, where we will be greeted with hot flashes and violent mood swings among God knows what other bodily dysfunctions is beyond me.
Imagine a world of opposites: as we age, our metabolism increases! Your friends will say, "girl, you better watch yourself, you are just wasting away!"
I'll shrug and say, "I know...old age. Not a damn thing I can do about it."
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Life's A BEACH!
Here are my daughter and her friends at Coronado Beach. They had fun burying themselves in the sand.
You can see the Hotel del Coronado in the background. (Click on the photo to see it better). We live about a 15 minute drive from there. I am already getting homesick! (We are moving to Taiwan in July).
Oh man...last Sunday was the PERFECT beach day - a little early, but, hey, it IS San Diego. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
There were tons of people sailing... I guess (according to Pete Townshend) it's one of the best places in the world to sail. I've never sailed on the ocean here. I started to take sailing lessons on the bay though...but I am just really bad at sailing...well, I can sail but I suck at rigging. That's what scared me away! I DO love to sail though. I even surived a three month Outward Bound course in the Florida Keys - we sailed and hiked through the Keys, the Everglades and Southern Florida. I just wanted a tan and boot camp. I got that and much, much more. I hated it most of the time...it was torture. An ex-boyfriend tricked me into going...he was going to go too, then bailed at the last minute (he never intended on going the bastard!). Oh well, he got me a scholarship. He just wanted my position as assitant General Manager at a college radio station where we both worked. He got it too. Loser.
Below you can see all the sailboats and the Coronado Islands (off the coast of Mexico). Sorry, it's a bit crooked.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
For Sale: 1 Husband
He cooks, he cleans (sometimes...but he is very quick and efficient). He could use a little help in the fashion department.
I put him up on eBay.
Don't worry, he comes with a new set of pjs.
This pic was taken the day after a going away (pyjama) party last weekend...
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Nirvana at the Belly Up on Saturday
Aha!
That got your attention.
No I didn't see a dead rock star sing! I never did see Kurt, sadly.
Still walking on air after seeing Rufus Wainwright on Saturday.
My fellow Rufian Laura took the train down from LA Saturday afternoon.
We had a long, leisurely late lunch - I made Indian vegetarian food (dal, aloo gobi and mattar panir and rice, followed by burfee which is like Indian fudge only not so sweet).
Laura, my husband Sujoy and I arrived at the club at 6:15 and met a few fellow groupies - there is a small circle of diehards here in soCal...so that was fun chattting with them.
We went in and got right up to the front of the stage and waited for Teddy Thompson. (I am gaga over his last cd, Separate Ways, so I was excited about seeing him again).
Laura and I pre-ordered Rufus' new cd, and in turn we were given a VIP badge which we annoyingly flashed at eachother a la Wayne's World! This badge allowed us to go meet Ru and have him sign our cd after the show.
Teddy played a beautiful set, mostly solo. He only performed a few songs from his last cd, concentrating on new material from a cd that will be released in July. I enjoyed his set very much - it was mellow, but good. Love his voice and, yeah shallow Sue didn't mind looking at him either!
Rufus came on shortly and gave THE best performance I have ever seen.
He wore a crazy outfit: striped shirt, striped pants, a white ribbon around his neck in lieu of a real tie, and brooches on his shirt AND pants! (His fans know he loves brooches so they always bestow him with brooches!). If that wasn't enough, his entire 6 piece band was also dressed in stripes, and they all wore brooches!!! The man is too funny.
This is the best shot I got, taken with my cell phone, because I was afraid to bring my camera.
Rufus performed 23 songs - I think it was about a 2 1/2 hour show. I have never seen him more relaxed or happy. He kept smiling - he looked like a handsome Lepruchan, minus the red hair, beard and green suit! LOL He has the cutest appley red cheeks.
Ok stop Sue!
Highlights: there were SO many, but a stand outs were "Beautiful Child" w/the fab horn section...I Don't Know What It Is, 2 songs from the Judy Garland tribute (he sounded better than at Carnegie Hall), a new one and I am not sure of the title, but it was very apocolyptic/Radioheadish... INTENSE, MAGNIFICENT...AWE INDUCING. Another new one, "Leaving for Paris" made Laura cry, it was that gorgeous (she studied there last year).
Rufus is a natural comedian/ham...near the end of the show, he said, "my band tells me the women are HOT here in San Diego. I wouldn't know...but they assure me that they are...so I'll start auctioning them off for brooches!" Cute cute cute.
After the show, we waited in line to get our cd signed. I knew they were hurrying everyone along...so this is what I said:
"HI RUFUS!!!!" grinning profusely. I touched his hand and asked how his mother was doing. (I am not sure, but I believe she has a serious illness...I know she was ill from his board). He said she is fine, then I leaned into him and said, "give Martha a hug for me...I introduced her to Pete Townshend and Rachel Fuller...Lala helped me" (Lala was his techie).
Most people know the story, I won't bore anyone now w/the details! I did it via email and MySpace after having met Martha in October 2005. I have met her many times, she remembers me!
So Rufus smiled and nodded and said, "I will tell Martha you said hi."
Then the security guard gave me a hard time so I walked away, as Rufus said "BYYYYYE," and he didn't sign Laura's cd until he saw that I looked back and he smiled and said BYE again!
Ta da.
That was my night in a nutshell.
::sigh::
That got your attention.
No I didn't see a dead rock star sing! I never did see Kurt, sadly.
Still walking on air after seeing Rufus Wainwright on Saturday.
My fellow Rufian Laura took the train down from LA Saturday afternoon.
We had a long, leisurely late lunch - I made Indian vegetarian food (dal, aloo gobi and mattar panir and rice, followed by burfee which is like Indian fudge only not so sweet).
Laura, my husband Sujoy and I arrived at the club at 6:15 and met a few fellow groupies - there is a small circle of diehards here in soCal...so that was fun chattting with them.
We went in and got right up to the front of the stage and waited for Teddy Thompson. (I am gaga over his last cd, Separate Ways, so I was excited about seeing him again).
Laura and I pre-ordered Rufus' new cd, and in turn we were given a VIP badge which we annoyingly flashed at eachother a la Wayne's World! This badge allowed us to go meet Ru and have him sign our cd after the show.
Teddy played a beautiful set, mostly solo. He only performed a few songs from his last cd, concentrating on new material from a cd that will be released in July. I enjoyed his set very much - it was mellow, but good. Love his voice and, yeah shallow Sue didn't mind looking at him either!
Rufus came on shortly and gave THE best performance I have ever seen.
He wore a crazy outfit: striped shirt, striped pants, a white ribbon around his neck in lieu of a real tie, and brooches on his shirt AND pants! (His fans know he loves brooches so they always bestow him with brooches!). If that wasn't enough, his entire 6 piece band was also dressed in stripes, and they all wore brooches!!! The man is too funny.
This is the best shot I got, taken with my cell phone, because I was afraid to bring my camera.
Rufus performed 23 songs - I think it was about a 2 1/2 hour show. I have never seen him more relaxed or happy. He kept smiling - he looked like a handsome Lepruchan, minus the red hair, beard and green suit! LOL He has the cutest appley red cheeks.
Ok stop Sue!
Highlights: there were SO many, but a stand outs were "Beautiful Child" w/the fab horn section...I Don't Know What It Is, 2 songs from the Judy Garland tribute (he sounded better than at Carnegie Hall), a new one and I am not sure of the title, but it was very apocolyptic/Radioheadish... INTENSE, MAGNIFICENT...AWE INDUCING. Another new one, "Leaving for Paris" made Laura cry, it was that gorgeous (she studied there last year).
Rufus is a natural comedian/ham...near the end of the show, he said, "my band tells me the women are HOT here in San Diego. I wouldn't know...but they assure me that they are...so I'll start auctioning them off for brooches!" Cute cute cute.
After the show, we waited in line to get our cd signed. I knew they were hurrying everyone along...so this is what I said:
"HI RUFUS!!!!" grinning profusely. I touched his hand and asked how his mother was doing. (I am not sure, but I believe she has a serious illness...I know she was ill from his board). He said she is fine, then I leaned into him and said, "give Martha a hug for me...I introduced her to Pete Townshend and Rachel Fuller...Lala helped me" (Lala was his techie).
Most people know the story, I won't bore anyone now w/the details! I did it via email and MySpace after having met Martha in October 2005. I have met her many times, she remembers me!
So Rufus smiled and nodded and said, "I will tell Martha you said hi."
Then the security guard gave me a hard time so I walked away, as Rufus said "BYYYYYE," and he didn't sign Laura's cd until he saw that I looked back and he smiled and said BYE again!
Ta da.
That was my night in a nutshell.
::sigh::
Saturday, April 28, 2007
The Rufus is Coming!!
To the Belly UP in my fair city...TONIGHT!!
My dear friend Laura is taking the train up from L.A. today.
We plan on waiting in line for a good two hours before the door opens to get front row spots.
Even my husband (my "Rufus bait" as I jokingly refer to him) is excited!
The club is pretty small, it has a 600 seat (er standing) capacity.
They will be selling his new cd Release the Stars tonight and he will be signing them after the show! However, rumor has it that he will only sign the cd booklet and no pictures are allowed...but that's where cell phones come in handy..aw but no posing pics with Ru I guess.
Looks like Laura and I will have to stalk him again! We know the drill, right Laura?
We usually bump into him before his shows anyway. You know how easy it is to bump into an artist NEXT TO THEIR TOUR BUS!! Hee hee. Nah - he usually bops around before the show...and we just giggle like teenagers, trying not to faint (or stare).
I caught about half of his performance last night at the Coachella Fest...which is streaming live all weekend HERE. I was quite pleased to see that he is touring with a kick ass horn section!! Alright! I am sure most of you aren't familiar with his music, but he ended (before the encores) with "Beautiful Child" from Want One and it sounded FANTASTIC. I am beside myself and have goosebumps already thinking about hearing it live in a tiny club tonight.
If you haven't heard Rufus, then what are you waiting for? Check out this amazingly gifted singer-songwriter HERE!! and at: Rufus Wainwright.com
From last night's show at Coachella...Who has nicer legs, Martha or Rufus???!!!!
Here is a recent article from Uncut:
CHAOS! DESTRUCTION! ENNUI! AN OPULENT MASTERPIECE FROM POP’S JADED BOHEMIAN
In 1821, Thomas De Quincey compared opium addiction to being trapped in a “castle of indolence.” An opium eater, he wrote, “lies under the weight of incubus and nightmare…He would lay down his life if he might but get up and walk, but her is powerless as an infant, and cannot even attempt to rise.”
Forgive the pretension, it’s just that Rufus Wainwright drives you to these sort of lofty references. Release the Stars as Wainwright tells UNCUT on the next page, was recorded in a state of extreme purity, the lavish drug binges long behind him. It’s not so easy, though, to escape that castle of indolence.
For nearly a decade, now, Wainwright has proved himself to be one of the most gifted songwriters in America. His erudition, wit and general gayness have been so pronounced, we’re technically obliged to call him Wildean at every opportunity. He has a magical way of joining the dots between Cole Porter and Thom Yorke, between David Ackles and Jeff Buckley. He’s a serious artist though, on e with a keen sense of his own absurdity: the cover of 2005’s Want Two found Wainwright posing as a Pre-Raphaelite Ophelia, all dressed up and ready to drown.
Still, it is his voice, so extravagantly mournful, so luxuriously torpid, that suggests he must always remain The Jaded Bohemian, even without the drugs. Release the Stars his fifth and possibly best, album, should be the record where he escapes such stereotypes. But curiously, he sounds more opulently wasted than ever as if he’s realized that ennui, in the right hands, can be a creative attribute rather than a professional curse. “Going to a Town” might be the angriest lyric Wainwright has written an indictment of the country of his birth that hinges on the refrain, “I’m so tired of you America.” that “tired” is the key, though: rarely has a protest song been so dolorous. Like De Quincey, he’s start a revolution if he could only get off the chaise longue.
The effect is striking, not least because “Going to a Town” sounds something like Radiohead’s “High and Dry” rescored as a torch song. Release the Stars is full of lovely tunes, but it’s the imagination with which Wainwright tackles them that raises this album above his previous work. While Want One and Want Two were slightly marred by a glossy pop finish, Release the Stars has a wood-paneled classiness, and arrangements whose complexity augments the tunes rather than overwhelms them.
Neil Tennant is listed as Executive Producer, but it is Wainwright himself who actually produced these 12 songs, and who navigated his own path from studio to studio, picking up an ever-more bejeweled coterie of musicians along the way. If the vocal tone might often be one of somnambulence, the practicalities of making Release the Stars suggest a very clear head. The cast list includes regulars like sister Martha, mother Kate McGarrigle and Teddy Thompson, venerable actress Sian Phillips, Tennand ton synths, sundry orchestras plus, on lead guitar, Teddy’s father Richard Thompson.
Fortunately, Wainwright is adept at finding grace and space where others would be swamped. The opening “Do I Disappoint You” sees him present a withering defense of his own human frailties, while one orchestral battalion after another mount their attacks and Martha Wainwright (a much stronger singer than her brother, by the by) summons “CHAOS!” and “DESTRUCTION!” like a marauding Fury. The title track, meanwhile, has a brassy Broadway swagger – the result, presumably, of Wainwright immersing himself in that world for his Judy Garland tribute concerts (the song’s lyrical inspiration comes from Lorca Cohen, Leonard’s daughter, missing the New York show). Wainwright, though, is not a belter, and it’s his unsuitability to the top hat and high-kicking routine that makes this grand, flawed finale so compelling.
“Slideshow” is even better, a masterpiece of wry emotional dithering that begins, pointedly, “Do I love you because you treat me so indifferently? Or is it the medication?” Pursued by 14 musicians and the London Session Orchestra, he moves at a languid pace through a sequence of euphoric crescendos until, after four minutes, Richard Thompson cuts through the melodrama with a clean, needling solo and Wainwright is left in a lucid reverie, realizing, “Do I love you? Yes I do.”
It’s a rare moment of resolution on an album filled with romantic indecision, with dreams of travel and leave-taking, “Between My Legs” is sprightly and uncharacteristically rocking, describing a dysfunctional relationship that can only be consummated with an escape from the city. There are apocalyptic overtones, too, as Wainwright describes a frenzied mass evacuation, then employs Sian Phillips to incant his words like a spell over another ravishing climax.
If these set pieces initially gr5ab the attention, Release the Stars has other pleasure that reveal them selves more discreetly. “leaving for Paris” is an end-of-the-affair piano ballad which intimates that Wainwright’s may yet be solemn and minimal. There’s a baroque, Brel-like trinket called “Tulsa” that claims Brandon Flowers “tastes of potato chips in the morning.”
And finally, amid all the gilt, theratre, recherche poses and brilliant music, there’s a hint that, without the drugs, the castle of indolence might not always be a rewarding place to hang out. “I’m tired of writing elegies to boredom” he writes in “Sanssouci,” “I just want to be at Sanssouci tonight.” “Sans souci” translates as carefree and, of course, the promise of happiness – “the boys that made me lose the blues” – turns out to be an illusion. When Wainwright arrives at the club it is deserted, and terminally world-weary, he can only retreat to his melancholy boudoir. If he keeps making albums as good as this, we should wall him up in there forever.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The Best Day of My Life
As many of you know, I am an elementary school substitute teacher. I have had the pleasure of subbing for my friend Chelice's second grade class 11 days this year. They are the sweetest, most loving kids I have ever taught. (Chelice was my daughter's 2nd grade teacher last year and we have become good friends since we moved back from Taiwan last summer).
Chelice recently gave the kids a benchmark test for writing, and the assignment was to describe the best day of your life. Here is what one little cutie wrote. (I changed his name in case his parents try to sue me!). I didn't correct his grammar or spelling.
The Best Day of My Life
By Sean, aged 8
My best day was on Tuesday Ms. Sue was our sub. We lernd about shapes. After that the class had free time. We had popcorn and punch. We did the congodanse. There was popcorn all over the plase. Then it was the end of school and we did not get any math. Then after that I went to Dash and playd doch ball and basket ball and my mom picked me up at Dash and we had pizza. At night sleped in my moms bed and her bed is warm and cozy. It was an adventure.
Ms. Sue DID pick up every piece of popcorn (with a little help from a few of the kids!). I let them throw the popcorn up in the air and catch it with their mouth! I guess we didn't get too much math done that day...hmmm.
Chelice recently gave the kids a benchmark test for writing, and the assignment was to describe the best day of your life. Here is what one little cutie wrote. (I changed his name in case his parents try to sue me!). I didn't correct his grammar or spelling.
The Best Day of My Life
By Sean, aged 8
My best day was on Tuesday Ms. Sue was our sub. We lernd about shapes. After that the class had free time. We had popcorn and punch. We did the congodanse. There was popcorn all over the plase. Then it was the end of school and we did not get any math. Then after that I went to Dash and playd doch ball and basket ball and my mom picked me up at Dash and we had pizza. At night sleped in my moms bed and her bed is warm and cozy. It was an adventure.
Ms. Sue DID pick up every piece of popcorn (with a little help from a few of the kids!). I let them throw the popcorn up in the air and catch it with their mouth! I guess we didn't get too much math done that day...hmmm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
