My wife and I have been having a series of serious talks over the past week. Nothing serious about "us"...just exploring some topics that we both care deeply about. Some of it relates to our processing of grief, some to our spirituality, some to our beliefs about the relationship between pleasure and happiness. As we've gone through these discussions this week, we've both had some "ah ha" moments where we learned new things, came upon a new idea, or gained new perspective from the other.
But we did finish our last conversation late last night with still some questions remaining unanswered and some feelings still lingering without resolution.
Then we went to church this morning. It was a day where our minister had swapped pulpits with another minister in the state - he was at their church and she was at ours. And with a visiting minister, we walked in without any idea what the sermon would be about - no title on the web page, no summary in the monthly newsletter.
As she talked, we were both struck repeatedly by how the things she said related to our conversations. Over and over. We couldn't wait till we got out to the car to just look at each other and go "oh my god!" Several things said summarized some of our thoughts perfectly. Some of what she said expanded our ideas. And some of it gave us new ideas and thoughts that just helped pull it all together.
Coincidence? Synchronicity? Fate? Dumb luck?
I have no idea what really makes things like that happen. But when it does, I can feel myself reacting to the surprise and the pure joy of being in the moment with that kind of experience.
Showing posts with label Random Matter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random Matter. Show all posts
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
More Every Day
Definition of LIBERAL
a : one who is open-minded or not strict in the observance of orthodox, traditional, or established forms or waysb capitalized : a member or supporter of a liberal political partyc : an advocate or adherent of liberalism especially in individual rights
The above comes from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. And I'm thinking this is me. In fact, I know I'm liberal, but I'm beginning to think I'm very liberal. Conversations I have with friends and family leave me thinking that I'm not just a little off center....but more that I'm so far away from the center that I don't even see it any more!Open-minded? Absolutely. Not strict in the observance of established ways. Totally. In many cases, I view "established ways" as code for "resistant to change". In a recent conversation with an old college friend, he was bemoaning the fact that his students (he is a college professor) just did not write very well. Sure, they used complex sentences, decent grammar, well thought out reasoning. But on occasion, they just seemed too casual. In fact, hold on to your hats here, a few of them had even used some text speak in a homework assignment. I know. Horrors. These surely are the end times!
He was surprised when I basically said...."so what?" If they are writing well reasoned papers with complex writing strategies, what's the harm in including some of the casual words that are part of our every day communication? Should school work be devoid of what is real in our lives? Perhaps that kind of thinking is why many kids think of school as irrelevant or "old fashioned" or many of the other complaints kids have about the institution. I'm a teacher. I'm all for standards. But standards can change with the times.
My friend felt differently.
And yes, I support the liberal party. In truth, my real problem with politics is that the liberal party is just way too conservative! I voted for Obama. And I hear pundits talk about how he has to move to the center to get re-elected. Move to the center? He was smack dab in the center to begin with! How about moving toward some actual, liberal thinking??? For example, it was back in 1972 that the ERA passed both houses of Congress. But has it been ratified yet? Nope. For some strange reason, our country is still threatened by the idea of women being equal! And don't get me started on the rights of gay and lesbian folks to get married. But does the so-called "liberal" party stick up for those kinds of issues? No way.
And in a recent chat with a good friend, I was expressing my dismay that a gentleman in our state was recently sentenced to death for a crime. Yes, the crime he committed was awful. But I simply don't support the idea of killing someone. I mean, that was his crime. He killed someone. And if we view killing as so terrible, then why do we want to do it even more? Plus I know all the political arguments - it costs more to execute a prisoner than the have him spend life in prison. States with the death penalty traditionally have higher rates of capital crimes than those that don't...so clearly it isn't a deterrent. And the US is pretty much the only developed nation that still chooses to kill its citizens when they just don't like what they do.
My friend was horrified. He could I want this terrible person to live??? At some point, I don't even know how to explain myself in the face of that.
And what about those individual rights? Well, the current uproar about TSA and the full body scanners (sometimes referred to as the "porno scanners") and the National Opt-Out Day that may or may not happen tomorrow is the perfect example. No way would I want to be scanned by one of those things. And not because I don't want someone seeing me naked. Go ahead and look, I don't care. But every reputable scientist who has spoken out on the issue says the radiation levels are dangerous. That's good enough for me. And yes, I do care of they see my wife and/or kids naked. And like the guy we've all come to know....I just don't really want those folks touching my junk. Or my wife's private parts. Or my kids. Millions of people fly all over the world every day without going through those screeners or getting groped. And the incidents of disaster are extremely rare. And there is no proof...none at all...that these types of scanners and fondling would have prevented any of the few that have taken place.
They say we NEED these things to protect us from shoe bombers and underwear bombers. But wait a minute. We stopped both those guys. Without any of this nonsense. So why do we suddenly need it now?
And why is it necessary that we give up our basic rights of privacy just so the guys who see terrorists around every corner can scan us and feel us and probe our luggage and make us strip off our shoes and belts and dump everything in our pockets? Is it really necessary? Has anyone ever tried to take down a jumbo jet with a car key? And if not, why do they need to see mine?
Yeah, I'm a liberal. I wear it proudly. But I fear my liberalism is creating a pretty large gap between me and most everyone I know. And sometimes that makes me sad.
Friday, October 29, 2010
I'm Troubled By Halloween - Part 1
Let me set the record straight right up front. I love Halloween. I had fun as a kid, dressing in my costume and racing through the neighborhood gathering up the goodies. I had fun as a teenager going to Halloween parties. And I've had the most fun on Halloween as I walked through our neighborhood with our kids...holding their hand in the dark and then just holding the flashlight when they were too old to want to hold hands. I've prompted them to ring the bell and say "trick or treat". And of course, I prompted them to say "thank you" once the loot had been delivered. I've even participated in some Samhain rituals in pagan celebration of the season. So as you can see, I've got no intrinsic problem with the holiday.
But I am troubled by how it has been co-opted by groups for their own purposes. In the 90's we were treated to Hell Houses - church sponsored horror shows designed the scare the crap out of people with their interpretation of all the evils in the world such as abortion and drinking. Talk about taking the fun out of a haunted house...these folks knew just how to suck all the joy out of a holiday and turn it into a sledgehammer-to-the-head approach to winning people over to their view of Christianity.
Eventually, Hell Houses became a bit too gruesome and controversial so a newer, milder version of Hell Houses hit the scene. These new guided tours are known as Judgement House, a different dramatic presentation about the "truth of people's choices". In fact, Judgement House (the two "e's" are their idea, not mine) has been around since the early 80's, but seemed to really grow in popularity in the early part of this decade as Hell Houses faded from popularity.
Don't get me wrong. I've got nothing against religious groups sharing their beliefs and values. But the Hell House movement was extreme. However, it was not the most extreme horror show on this little tour.
Oh no, that honor goes to the Tribulation Trail. Located in the woods of southern Georgia, the Tribulation Trail is a 90-minute walk through the woods sponsored by the Mount Vernon Baptist Church. It bills itself as a "walk through drama portraying the end of times". What it really is, as reported by one participant, is an "intensely violent rendition of standard end-times scenarios". Six of the twelve scenes involve executions including a teenager watching his young sister beaten to death. Participants are "guided" from scene to scene by men and teenage boys carrying automatic rifles. Yet, the official website for the Tribulation Trail says it is fine for kids 10 years of age and older. And perhaps the most frightening thing of all...25,000 people a year buy tickets and take the walk and this year it is sold out.
So someone explain this to me. When so many religious groups are wanting to avoid Halloween because it isn't safe or "kid friendly"...costumes are too scary...there is too much "evil" associated with it...etc...etc...how is it that religious groups are also bringing us some of the most revolting moments of Halloween horror? Can these types of events really convert people? Or is it merely a faith-promoting tool for the believers?
I understand their purpose. I'm just very confused by their tactics. Confused and appalled. I'm very clear that these activities do not represent my values. And I'm clear that I don't believe this is what Halloween is all about...whether you believe in the spirituality of Samhain, Day of the Dead, or just want a good Snickers.
But I am troubled by how it has been co-opted by groups for their own purposes. In the 90's we were treated to Hell Houses - church sponsored horror shows designed the scare the crap out of people with their interpretation of all the evils in the world such as abortion and drinking. Talk about taking the fun out of a haunted house...these folks knew just how to suck all the joy out of a holiday and turn it into a sledgehammer-to-the-head approach to winning people over to their view of Christianity.
Eventually, Hell Houses became a bit too gruesome and controversial so a newer, milder version of Hell Houses hit the scene. These new guided tours are known as Judgement House, a different dramatic presentation about the "truth of people's choices". In fact, Judgement House (the two "e's" are their idea, not mine) has been around since the early 80's, but seemed to really grow in popularity in the early part of this decade as Hell Houses faded from popularity.
Don't get me wrong. I've got nothing against religious groups sharing their beliefs and values. But the Hell House movement was extreme. However, it was not the most extreme horror show on this little tour.
Oh no, that honor goes to the Tribulation Trail. Located in the woods of southern Georgia, the Tribulation Trail is a 90-minute walk through the woods sponsored by the Mount Vernon Baptist Church. It bills itself as a "walk through drama portraying the end of times". What it really is, as reported by one participant, is an "intensely violent rendition of standard end-times scenarios". Six of the twelve scenes involve executions including a teenager watching his young sister beaten to death. Participants are "guided" from scene to scene by men and teenage boys carrying automatic rifles. Yet, the official website for the Tribulation Trail says it is fine for kids 10 years of age and older. And perhaps the most frightening thing of all...25,000 people a year buy tickets and take the walk and this year it is sold out.
So someone explain this to me. When so many religious groups are wanting to avoid Halloween because it isn't safe or "kid friendly"...costumes are too scary...there is too much "evil" associated with it...etc...etc...how is it that religious groups are also bringing us some of the most revolting moments of Halloween horror? Can these types of events really convert people? Or is it merely a faith-promoting tool for the believers?
I understand their purpose. I'm just very confused by their tactics. Confused and appalled. I'm very clear that these activities do not represent my values. And I'm clear that I don't believe this is what Halloween is all about...whether you believe in the spirituality of Samhain, Day of the Dead, or just want a good Snickers.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Observations from the road
One thing we saw a lot of this summer when we were driving around on vacation was other people driving around on vacation. And we couldn't pass that many vehicles on the road without starting to comment on favorites, least favorites and oddities. And along the way, we came to the conclusion that there are two popular colors for vehicles right now that we just could not understand.
The first color that confused us was rust. Oh I know, the car companies have carefully crafted names for their colors. And this is no doubt something like sunset orange or pumpkin metallic or some such thing. But really...the more we looked at it...we became convinced it was nothing more than shiny rust.
The thing that was difficult to understand was why someone would choose a car that looked like shiny rust. I mean, rust is generally something we do not want to see on our car bodies. So maybe this color is designed to hide the real rust when it starts to eat away at the car? Or maybe we are so easily swayed by product marketing that we'll buy most anything as long as it is shiny?
Ah, but shiny rust was not the most confusing color option on the road. It was lagging behind in second place on the list of Most Confusing Vehicle Color Choices. The #1 confusing color choice...yellow.
No, not pale yellow. Not pastel yellow. Not even bright yellow. We're talking about glow-in-the-dark-oh-my-god-it-hurts-my-eyes-yellow! And there were a lot of them out there!
One model where we saw a lot of of this color was on little Volkswagon bugs. A cute little car...which can pull off being in a cute little color. Somehow that just looked okay.
But then there were these.
Gigantic macho trucks in yellow. Lots of them. And always some big guy driving this screaming yellow truck. And we just could not figure out that choice. Was that the only color available when the guy went to buy a truck? Or perhaps, along with buying the largest truck he could find (compensating??) he also wanted a truck that could be seen from the International Space Station?
Maybe he just walked into the dealership and said he wanted a gigantic, gas guzzling truck with the comment...
And to any of my readers who may, this very day, be driving a sunset pumpkin rust metallic car or a lemon yellow truck so bright it hurts to look at it, I still love ya. And I respect your right to drive the car of your choosing.
But please don't be offended if I never ask you to go shopping to help me pick out a nice sweater.
The first color that confused us was rust. Oh I know, the car companies have carefully crafted names for their colors. And this is no doubt something like sunset orange or pumpkin metallic or some such thing. But really...the more we looked at it...we became convinced it was nothing more than shiny rust.
The thing that was difficult to understand was why someone would choose a car that looked like shiny rust. I mean, rust is generally something we do not want to see on our car bodies. So maybe this color is designed to hide the real rust when it starts to eat away at the car? Or maybe we are so easily swayed by product marketing that we'll buy most anything as long as it is shiny?Ah, but shiny rust was not the most confusing color option on the road. It was lagging behind in second place on the list of Most Confusing Vehicle Color Choices. The #1 confusing color choice...yellow.
No, not pale yellow. Not pastel yellow. Not even bright yellow. We're talking about glow-in-the-dark-oh-my-god-it-hurts-my-eyes-yellow! And there were a lot of them out there!
One model where we saw a lot of of this color was on little Volkswagon bugs. A cute little car...which can pull off being in a cute little color. Somehow that just looked okay.
But then there were these.
Gigantic macho trucks in yellow. Lots of them. And always some big guy driving this screaming yellow truck. And we just could not figure out that choice. Was that the only color available when the guy went to buy a truck? Or perhaps, along with buying the largest truck he could find (compensating??) he also wanted a truck that could be seen from the International Space Station?
Maybe he just walked into the dealership and said he wanted a gigantic, gas guzzling truck with the comment...
I want the yella truck cause I look purty in yella.I don't know what prompted it...but it was undoubtedly our choice for Most Confusing Vehicle Color Choice.
And to any of my readers who may, this very day, be driving a sunset pumpkin rust metallic car or a lemon yellow truck so bright it hurts to look at it, I still love ya. And I respect your right to drive the car of your choosing.
But please don't be offended if I never ask you to go shopping to help me pick out a nice sweater.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
OUCH!
After 5 days of healing, it is starting to look pretty good. You should have seen it on the first day. Ugly and oozing. Both cuts are about four inches long. And it hurt!I'm not bothering to say how it happened because the story is just too mundane. But I think one of these cuts may leave a bit of a scar. So I'll need a not-so-mundane story. I'm torn between wild sex and bear attack. But I'm open to other ideas.
Oh...first time I've ever shaved part of my leg. That was odd. But I do have baby-soft skin. :)
My wife suggested I just go all the way and give my self a little Brazilian styling. She is so funny sometimes.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Re-entry
Twenty days since I last posted. Ten days since I last came to work. Eight days since I even saw my house. Vacation is a marvelous thing!
I swam, boated, walked on the beach, collected shells, played "Go Fish", built campfires, cooked over the open campfire, read good books, slept late, watched a lot of movies, ate a lot of great food, and really enjoyed just hanging out with my family.
And now, back to work. For me, not a bad thing. I love my job and I enjoy the people around me. And for someone who has spent their entire life as either a student or a teacher in some fashion, the beginning of the school year is always an exciting time. A fresh start. New people to meet. New back-to-school clothes. New pencils and folders and notebooks. And the excitement of new projects and new tasks.
And for the first time for me, the return from vacation also brings me back to my blogger friends! I greatly appreciate those of you who sent an e-mail to check up on me during my absence. I can't wait to wander through my bloglines account and find out what has been going on with all you guys! Might take me a while to catch up with that much reading...but that will be fun, too!
I swam, boated, walked on the beach, collected shells, played "Go Fish", built campfires, cooked over the open campfire, read good books, slept late, watched a lot of movies, ate a lot of great food, and really enjoyed just hanging out with my family.
And now, back to work. For me, not a bad thing. I love my job and I enjoy the people around me. And for someone who has spent their entire life as either a student or a teacher in some fashion, the beginning of the school year is always an exciting time. A fresh start. New people to meet. New back-to-school clothes. New pencils and folders and notebooks. And the excitement of new projects and new tasks.
And for the first time for me, the return from vacation also brings me back to my blogger friends! I greatly appreciate those of you who sent an e-mail to check up on me during my absence. I can't wait to wander through my bloglines account and find out what has been going on with all you guys! Might take me a while to catch up with that much reading...but that will be fun, too!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Old Friends
Just before starting 7th grade, my family moved to a new town. On the first day of middle school, not knowing anyone in the town, I sat down in homeroom, nervous and uncertain. Almost immediately the kid next to me started talking to me. He didn't introduce himself. He didn't ask questions about who I was or from where I came. He just started a conversation as if we had known each other forever.
He became my best friend, my security, my confidant. Our friendship grew over the years. We went to the same middle school and high school. We attended the same church. We spent a lot of our free time together. He helped me with art projects and I helped him with math. We both hated PE but joined the choir. We traded albums and books. And then high school ended.
No problem. We were roommates all through college. We both were successful debaters. We both loved drama classes. We both worked for the local radio station to earn extra cash. I don't think we ever dated the same girl, but we certainly gave each other feedback about our choices in women.
College ended. He got married and moved to another town in the south. I got married and moved to New England. Initially, we wrote letters (yeah, I'm old enough there was no e-mail!) a few times a month. Then it dwindled to less. We called each other on our birthdays and Christmas. And then not so often. And little by little, our contact became nothing more than a card at Christmas with maybe a note that said "hey, we had a baby" or "notice the new address...we moved". But other than that, the person I was best friends with for a dozen years became barely even a connection.
A few weeks ago I decided to make more meaningful contact with my old friend. I had his e-mail address from the card that came this past Christmas. So I sat down to write a pretty lengthy letter. But what do you include in just one letter? It can't be everything. And our last real exchange of information was more than twenty years ago. He has never seen any of my kids. Had no idea that we had a kid with special needs. Doesn't know about my hobbies or my job. Do I talk about fun stuff or serious stuff? Politics? Spirituality? Or just what TV shows I like?
I did a summary of lots of different things and sent the note on its way.
A couple of days later, I got a great response. He had many questions about my life and shared a lot about his life. And he sent a link to his Facebook page so I could see some photos.
And that was a weird sensation. Even though we have not talked in years, I knew him so well in the past that I still had this feeling that we know each other. So I experienced this odd sense of my world shifting as I looked at photos of a life I've never known. Pictures of his kids that I've never met...who are now adults...some even have kids of their own. There was my middle school buddy holding his grandchild! Photos around the Christmas tree on Christmases I know nothing about in homes I've never visited. Pictures of his parents who I knew so well growing up - now old. It was almost startling to see his life spread out before me and realizing the person I once knew better than anyone else - now I barely know at all.
I wrote my friend about my feelings. The fun of seeing his photos and the weirdness and sadness of realizing I had missed so much of his life. He had similar feelings when viewing the photos I sent him. And we've swapped e-mail several times since then.
I'm not naive. I don't expect us to ever be friends in the way we were as kids. Family and work and paying bills and a million other things make it difficult to stay in touch with someone so far away. But I think we can do better than just being Christmas card buddies. Even at a distance, if we are committed to it, old friends can slowly grow older together.
Thanks to Simon & Garfunkel for the lyrics.
He became my best friend, my security, my confidant. Our friendship grew over the years. We went to the same middle school and high school. We attended the same church. We spent a lot of our free time together. He helped me with art projects and I helped him with math. We both hated PE but joined the choir. We traded albums and books. And then high school ended.
No problem. We were roommates all through college. We both were successful debaters. We both loved drama classes. We both worked for the local radio station to earn extra cash. I don't think we ever dated the same girl, but we certainly gave each other feedback about our choices in women.
College ended. He got married and moved to another town in the south. I got married and moved to New England. Initially, we wrote letters (yeah, I'm old enough there was no e-mail!) a few times a month. Then it dwindled to less. We called each other on our birthdays and Christmas. And then not so often. And little by little, our contact became nothing more than a card at Christmas with maybe a note that said "hey, we had a baby" or "notice the new address...we moved". But other than that, the person I was best friends with for a dozen years became barely even a connection.
A few weeks ago I decided to make more meaningful contact with my old friend. I had his e-mail address from the card that came this past Christmas. So I sat down to write a pretty lengthy letter. But what do you include in just one letter? It can't be everything. And our last real exchange of information was more than twenty years ago. He has never seen any of my kids. Had no idea that we had a kid with special needs. Doesn't know about my hobbies or my job. Do I talk about fun stuff or serious stuff? Politics? Spirituality? Or just what TV shows I like?
I did a summary of lots of different things and sent the note on its way.
A couple of days later, I got a great response. He had many questions about my life and shared a lot about his life. And he sent a link to his Facebook page so I could see some photos.
And that was a weird sensation. Even though we have not talked in years, I knew him so well in the past that I still had this feeling that we know each other. So I experienced this odd sense of my world shifting as I looked at photos of a life I've never known. Pictures of his kids that I've never met...who are now adults...some even have kids of their own. There was my middle school buddy holding his grandchild! Photos around the Christmas tree on Christmases I know nothing about in homes I've never visited. Pictures of his parents who I knew so well growing up - now old. It was almost startling to see his life spread out before me and realizing the person I once knew better than anyone else - now I barely know at all.
I wrote my friend about my feelings. The fun of seeing his photos and the weirdness and sadness of realizing I had missed so much of his life. He had similar feelings when viewing the photos I sent him. And we've swapped e-mail several times since then.
I'm not naive. I don't expect us to ever be friends in the way we were as kids. Family and work and paying bills and a million other things make it difficult to stay in touch with someone so far away. But I think we can do better than just being Christmas card buddies. Even at a distance, if we are committed to it, old friends can slowly grow older together.
Can you imagine us
Years from today,
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange
To be seventy.
Old friends,
Memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fears
Thanks to Simon & Garfunkel for the lyrics.
Friday, June 22, 2007
I am NOT buying their products!
Is it just me? This commercial just creeps me out! The less-than-presidential
Abraham Lincoln isn't too bad. But a talking beaver? A talking beaver that plays chess! That's disturbing. And what about the guy that never talks? The guy in the deep sea diver suit. What's up with that guy? Is he even aware these other characters exist? He seems unaware. Is that what taking this sleep aid does to him - turn him into a zombie? And we don't even really know if he is a "guy", do we? Maybe "he" is a "she"? Or, even more creepy, an "it"! An alien? A talking orangutan from Planet of the Apes?
This is such an odd combination of characters that it just leaves me with the willies!
Of course, my wife loves these commercials. She thinks they are just soooooo funny. Have I ever mentioned that my adorable wife can be entirely weird at times?
Anyway, if I couldn't sleep, would I take this product? Or would the commercials with their promise of weird dreams just seem so creepy that I would look elsewhere for sleep?
Certainly not here! Cause if the talking beaver and the alien deep sea diver aren't creepy enough, we've got the luna moth. In these commercials, a luna moth quietly flutters in through the window, hovers above the face of the person in bed, and instantly they fall asleep. What the hell is that?!? What did the moth do???
First of all, let's be clear. If a moth or any other flying animal suddenly appeared hovering over my face in the dark, it would NOT help me relax! That surge of adrenaline would keep me awake for days!!!
But not these folks. Sleep comes instantly. Why? Does the hovering moth suck the oxygen away from the person? Does it spray them with some sort of venom or pheromone that induces sleep? Whatever it does to those people, it is a powerful assault that is just too strong to resist.
Again...creepy. Not for me!
Why do these companies think these are images to encourage us to take their sleep aids? Potentially creepy dream scenarios don't make me want to go to sleep! And a moth that somehow puts me under certainly doesn't soothe me. Isn't there a sleep aid that inspires a desire to sleep with the promise of pleasant dreams and soft lullabies? That would be the one for me!
Abraham Lincoln isn't too bad. But a talking beaver? A talking beaver that plays chess! That's disturbing. And what about the guy that never talks? The guy in the deep sea diver suit. What's up with that guy? Is he even aware these other characters exist? He seems unaware. Is that what taking this sleep aid does to him - turn him into a zombie? And we don't even really know if he is a "guy", do we? Maybe "he" is a "she"? Or, even more creepy, an "it"! An alien? A talking orangutan from Planet of the Apes?This is such an odd combination of characters that it just leaves me with the willies!
Of course, my wife loves these commercials. She thinks they are just soooooo funny. Have I ever mentioned that my adorable wife can be entirely weird at times?
Anyway, if I couldn't sleep, would I take this product? Or would the commercials with their promise of weird dreams just seem so creepy that I would look elsewhere for sleep?
Certainly not here! Cause if the talking beaver and the alien deep sea diver aren't creepy enough, we've got the luna moth. In these commercials, a luna moth quietly flutters in through the window, hovers above the face of the person in bed, and instantly they fall asleep. What the hell is that?!? What did the moth do???First of all, let's be clear. If a moth or any other flying animal suddenly appeared hovering over my face in the dark, it would NOT help me relax! That surge of adrenaline would keep me awake for days!!!
But not these folks. Sleep comes instantly. Why? Does the hovering moth suck the oxygen away from the person? Does it spray them with some sort of venom or pheromone that induces sleep? Whatever it does to those people, it is a powerful assault that is just too strong to resist.
Again...creepy. Not for me!
Why do these companies think these are images to encourage us to take their sleep aids? Potentially creepy dream scenarios don't make me want to go to sleep! And a moth that somehow puts me under certainly doesn't soothe me. Isn't there a sleep aid that inspires a desire to sleep with the promise of pleasant dreams and soft lullabies? That would be the one for me!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Meet The Blogger
Rebecca from Circle of the Muses has passed along this interview meme. It works like this. She sent me five questions of her choosing. I share her questions and my answers here. Rebecca asked some interesting questions. Here they are, along with my answers...
1. Do you share your blog with your family and close friends from REAL life? Or do you keep your blog as a private space?
I debated about that for a while. I eventually told my wife about the blog. And I told her I had hesitations about telling her. She took it all pretty well. She often asks what I write about. She asks about comments I receive. But she has never actually looked at my blog. And no other family knows I blog.
As for friends, the same hesitation exists. Not because I'm writing bad things about them. But I want to write freely without ever having to check myself to see if I'm gonna upset someone. For that reason, only two other people in my real life know. And neither of them are regular readers. One of them told me, it was fun to read, but it was stuff they already knew. So unless I had something new to say, there was no reason to read things they already knew. LOL
2. You stumble upon a genuine 'Genie in a Bottle'. He grants you the obligatory 3 wishes. What are they going to be?
Well, it is hard to avoid the Miss America answers here - world peace, the end of hunger, a cure for cancer, etc. All of those are good things. But that seems too easy here. Rebecca would want me to stretch myself beyond the obvious.
But first, what I would not wish for. Many people assume I would wish for Son17 to not have is disabilities. I don't think I would make that wish. To me, that would imply that he is not a beautiful person just as he is. He has his own integrity. His own personality. His own contributions to make. To wish that he were different feels as if I'm denying the whole person that he is now.
That being said, what would I wish?
I would wish for all three of my kids to have lives filled with love and joy. I want them to be successful in whatever they do.
I would wish that we could all live with less violence - in every form. Less war. Less crime. I guess the events of this past week weigh heavily on me with this one.
And Rebecca, I'm no fool! I would use my last wish to wish for more wishes! Cause I really do want to get in the Miss America things. And winning the lottery. And I would love to have someone else paint my garage doors for me.
1. Do you share your blog with your family and close friends from REAL life? Or do you keep your blog as a private space?
I debated about that for a while. I eventually told my wife about the blog. And I told her I had hesitations about telling her. She took it all pretty well. She often asks what I write about. She asks about comments I receive. But she has never actually looked at my blog. And no other family knows I blog.
As for friends, the same hesitation exists. Not because I'm writing bad things about them. But I want to write freely without ever having to check myself to see if I'm gonna upset someone. For that reason, only two other people in my real life know. And neither of them are regular readers. One of them told me, it was fun to read, but it was stuff they already knew. So unless I had something new to say, there was no reason to read things they already knew. LOL
2. You stumble upon a genuine 'Genie in a Bottle'. He grants you the obligatory 3 wishes. What are they going to be?
Well, it is hard to avoid the Miss America answers here - world peace, the end of hunger, a cure for cancer, etc. All of those are good things. But that seems too easy here. Rebecca would want me to stretch myself beyond the obvious.
But first, what I would not wish for. Many people assume I would wish for Son17 to not have is disabilities. I don't think I would make that wish. To me, that would imply that he is not a beautiful person just as he is. He has his own integrity. His own personality. His own contributions to make. To wish that he were different feels as if I'm denying the whole person that he is now.
That being said, what would I wish?
I would wish for all three of my kids to have lives filled with love and joy. I want them to be successful in whatever they do.
I would wish that we could all live with less violence - in every form. Less war. Less crime. I guess the events of this past week weigh heavily on me with this one.
And Rebecca, I'm no fool! I would use my last wish to wish for more wishes! Cause I really do want to get in the Miss America things. And winning the lottery. And I would love to have someone else paint my garage doors for me.
3. Do you feel that the media coverage of unspeakable tragedies, such as 9/11 and Virginia Tech, has any kind of helpful or educational value?
Or is it all entirely exploitive?
I think it is important for us to know what happens in the world. Timely news coverage is important. But in moments like this, I do believe it goes way over the line. We could get the necessary information with much less coverage than what we saw this week. I think this much coverage begins to create a somewhat mythical figure of the perpetrator. I think this much coverage intrudes on the privacy and grief of the family and friends who lost loved ones. And I think this much coverage begins to minimize the event itself. The media people give these events names, they create graphics, they turn it into a news "event" which I believe takes away for the actual horror and severity of the moment.
4. You are given the opportunity to take 1 journey in a time-machine, back to any place or time in the history of mankind. The only restriction is that you go as an observer only. You are not permitted to alter any of the circumstances. Where will you go, and what will you see?
Wow! This is tough. Just one time in all of history...how to choose? I could witness some of the signatures on the Declaration of Independence. I could witness (if it happened) the resurrection of Jesus. I could witness my own birth. In truth, I'm not a student of history. That was always one of my worst subjects. So I'm sure I'm overlooking some obvious moment in time that I would love to see but I'm just not thinking of at the moment. And it would surely change my choices if I could interact and change events. But just as a witness...this is tough. I think I'll pick something that would just be fun. Not a major event in history. But a fun time to read about...a time that has spawned many books and movies and celebrations. I would drop back and witness a day during the Renaissance period. It would be fun to see the knights and the maidens and the jousting and so forth.
And I won't try to come up with 5 unique questions for every person who might leave a comment. My brain would get tired. So I'll interview the first couple of folks who express a desire to expose themselves to my probing. Rebecca promised to be nice with her questions. I make no such guarantee. ;)
I think it is important for us to know what happens in the world. Timely news coverage is important. But in moments like this, I do believe it goes way over the line. We could get the necessary information with much less coverage than what we saw this week. I think this much coverage begins to create a somewhat mythical figure of the perpetrator. I think this much coverage intrudes on the privacy and grief of the family and friends who lost loved ones. And I think this much coverage begins to minimize the event itself. The media people give these events names, they create graphics, they turn it into a news "event" which I believe takes away for the actual horror and severity of the moment.
4. You are given the opportunity to take 1 journey in a time-machine, back to any place or time in the history of mankind. The only restriction is that you go as an observer only. You are not permitted to alter any of the circumstances. Where will you go, and what will you see?
Wow! This is tough. Just one time in all of history...how to choose? I could witness some of the signatures on the Declaration of Independence. I could witness (if it happened) the resurrection of Jesus. I could witness my own birth. In truth, I'm not a student of history. That was always one of my worst subjects. So I'm sure I'm overlooking some obvious moment in time that I would love to see but I'm just not thinking of at the moment. And it would surely change my choices if I could interact and change events. But just as a witness...this is tough. I think I'll pick something that would just be fun. Not a major event in history. But a fun time to read about...a time that has spawned many books and movies and celebrations. I would drop back and witness a day during the Renaissance period. It would be fun to see the knights and the maidens and the jousting and so forth.
5. In your fondest childhood daydreams, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Ah, never a fireman or policeman for me. As a kid I wanted to grow up to be a performer. An actor or musician would have been okay. But the ultimate performer would have been a magician. I love magic. I've been to see David Copperfield live. I'm in awe of the combined skill and performance ability of good magicians. They must have the skill of their craft. But so much of what they do is interact with the audience, suck them in, make them focus on one thing while something else is happening out of their sight. And to pull off a trick when every person in the room is totally focused on figuring out how you are doing it...that is performing!
Rebecca, thank you for your fun and thoughtful questions! This was fun.
And now, in the spirit of the meme, I will pass it on. So if YOU would like to participate...
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me.
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your weblog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Just make sure that your email is listed on your blog, or leave it in your comment so I can send you questions.
Ah, never a fireman or policeman for me. As a kid I wanted to grow up to be a performer. An actor or musician would have been okay. But the ultimate performer would have been a magician. I love magic. I've been to see David Copperfield live. I'm in awe of the combined skill and performance ability of good magicians. They must have the skill of their craft. But so much of what they do is interact with the audience, suck them in, make them focus on one thing while something else is happening out of their sight. And to pull off a trick when every person in the room is totally focused on figuring out how you are doing it...that is performing!
Rebecca, thank you for your fun and thoughtful questions! This was fun.
And now, in the spirit of the meme, I will pass it on. So if YOU would like to participate...
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me.
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your weblog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Just make sure that your email is listed on your blog, or leave it in your comment so I can send you questions.
And I won't try to come up with 5 unique questions for every person who might leave a comment. My brain would get tired. So I'll interview the first couple of folks who express a desire to expose themselves to my probing. Rebecca promised to be nice with her questions. I make no such guarantee. ;)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Just moving you along...
I try to write my own stuff here rather than passing you off to another site. But I read a really interesting piece at washingtonpost.com yesterday that has sparked a lot of discussion around our house. The article begins thusly...
The experiment - is art and/or culture the same everywhere? Or is something really "art" only in context? Do we need to approach something with a certain mindset to really see it as art?
The experiment was videotaped. Passersby were later interviewed. Bell was interviewed. And the resulting article, written with a nice sense of humor, does a fascinating job of exploring people's reaction (and non-reaction) to an encounter with a world renowned master of his art.
The reporters draw their own conclusions. And discussing the article has certainly led to other conclusions in our house. Is some "art" classist? Are such things as opera and classical music so specialized that only those with easy access (meaning the ability to pay to see these folks) can learn to appreciate it and recognize it as different from just music in general? What would have happened if this had been a professional jazz musician? Or a professional country music artist? Would I have stopped and listened or rushed past with barely a notice?
I just thought it was an interesting experiment and an interesting article. If you wander over to their site, I hope you enjoy it. And I would be curious to know your thoughts.
HE EMERGED FROM THE METRO AT THE L'ENFANT PLAZA STATION AND POSITIONED HIMSELF AGAINST A WALL BESIDE A TRASH BASKET. By most measures, he was nondescript: a youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his feet, he shrewdly threw in a few dollars and pocket change as seed money, swiveled it to face pedestrian traffic, and began to play.So what's the deal here? This street musician just happened to be Joshua Bell, one of the most prominent concert violinist in the world. The violin was his 3.5 million dollar Stradivari.
The experiment - is art and/or culture the same everywhere? Or is something really "art" only in context? Do we need to approach something with a certain mindset to really see it as art?
The experiment was videotaped. Passersby were later interviewed. Bell was interviewed. And the resulting article, written with a nice sense of humor, does a fascinating job of exploring people's reaction (and non-reaction) to an encounter with a world renowned master of his art.
The reporters draw their own conclusions. And discussing the article has certainly led to other conclusions in our house. Is some "art" classist? Are such things as opera and classical music so specialized that only those with easy access (meaning the ability to pay to see these folks) can learn to appreciate it and recognize it as different from just music in general? What would have happened if this had been a professional jazz musician? Or a professional country music artist? Would I have stopped and listened or rushed past with barely a notice?
I just thought it was an interesting experiment and an interesting article. If you wander over to their site, I hope you enjoy it. And I would be curious to know your thoughts.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
1...2...3...4...5!
My good blogger friend Barb has passed along a meme where I am to share five little known facts about myself. I'm happy to play along, Barb!
In thinking about what to write, my first question was...little known to whom? I moved from the south to New England right after graduate school, so my friends here don't know a lot about my growing up. On the other hand, family and friends in the south don't know all there is to know about my life here. And since I've only been blogging for less than six months, you guys don't know a lot about me at all! So what to choose?
Here are the five I decided to share with the world...
In thinking about what to write, my first question was...little known to whom? I moved from the south to New England right after graduate school, so my friends here don't know a lot about my growing up. On the other hand, family and friends in the south don't know all there is to know about my life here. And since I've only been blogging for less than six months, you guys don't know a lot about me at all! So what to choose?
Here are the five I decided to share with the world...
- Barb shared that she was a cheerleader, so I'll start with my cheerleading story. No, I did not date a cheerleader. I was a cheerleader. Okay, only for one day. But I get full credit! Way back in middle school, we held an annual "powder puff" football game as a fund raiser. Looking back on it, "powder puff" seems a very politically incorrect name for girls playing flag football. But hey, this was a long time ago! Anyway, the girls played football and the boys were cheerleaders. I don't even recall how I got selected to be one. Probably lost a bet or something. But I do remember dressing up in the cheerleader skirt and sweater, donning a wig, leading cheers in the gym at a pep rally, and then leading cheers on the sidelines. No doubt, Barb made a much better cheerleader!
- In my senior year in high school and all through college, I was on the debate team. I know, pretty nerdy. But that was my extracurricular activity of choice. The teams traveled throughout the south competing in tournaments. I also participated in various individual events at these tournaments - primarily dramatic poetry reading and extemporaneous speaking. I wasn't so good at the individual things. But my partner and I pulled in a ton of trophies in the debate competition. And what benefit did I get from all that? I am totally comfortable speaking in front of groups. And I can argue with the best of them!
- I attended a private religious school for my undergraduate degree and my first graduate degree. And at the time, no one would have been surprised by that. But the people that know me know would find it hard to believe that I could have survived in such a rigid environment. I've changed a LOT in the past 26 years!
- How did I work my way through college? I was a disc jockey. Broadcasting under the exciting pseudonym of "Ed Larson", I spun those discs at an adult contemporary station. Hours and hours of college life spent listening to Barry Manilow and Dan Fogelberg and Seals & Crofts. For you young readers, Google them. Those are real people. In fact, I really liked Dan Fogelberg.
- Finally, number five, I love pets. My family loves pets. At the moment, we have two box turtles, a golden retriever, and two rabbits. But we are at a low point in pet ownership. At times we've had as many as thirteen pets in the house...not counting tropical fish in the aquarium or goldfish in bowls.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Week of Random Events
This week has been a crazy week. Today is the first time I've had an opportunity to sit and write. And it feels good to be here by the fire with a cup of coffee. And yes, my golden retriever is sleeping at my feet. Sort of a Norman Rockwell moment. If Norman had a laptop and wireless, broadband internet access! Anyway, this is just sort of a ramble about my week, so fasten your seatbelts and put your tray tables in their upright and locked position.
At the beginning of the week, the 'check engine' light in my wife's car started flashing. Now I know nothing about cars. This seemed ominous. So I called the garage and they said bring it in. We did. They got about three dozen error messages when they hooked it up to the computer, but only found one little problem. One cable that had shorted or something. So they replaced it. And it was inexpensive. Good deal. Until yesterday. My wife called me while I was at work to report that her car was sitting in the driveway, all alone, with the lights flashing and the horn blowing. Started all by itself. I appreciated the report, but there was little I could do. And since I know so much about cars, little that I could suggest for her to do! But while we were talking, it stopped. Well that means the car fixed itself, right? LOL Nope. It did that little series of events once again about 15 minutes later. So my wife hopped in the car and drove it to the garage. And that silly little 'check engine' light came on again while she was driving. The garage boys started it, drove it, scratched their heads, double-checked to make sure that we really did not even have an alarm system on the car, and suggested we make an appointment to bring it in for more work. Ya think? But my wife has a theory. The car only seems possessed if we lock the doors. So far....her theory is sound! No locking...no more beeping and flashing. Maybe that will get us through until the garage spends another day with it.
The next big event of the week....Son16 took his CAPT tests this week. This is a standardized test that you must pass in order to graduate from high school in our state. And you take them in the tenth grade. That way, if you don't pass, you get two more years to try again. And the test is so long that they break it up into parts. He has had five parts with one more part to go. So every day this week, he arrived at school and headed into a testing room where he would take two parts of the test. This lasted about 2 and a half hours. Then he would follow his regular schedule for that day, except every class was condensed to only about 25 minutes. Now I've not written much about my son's disabilities. I guess I should at some point. But a key component of asperger's syndrome is difficulty with 'executive functions'. That's the part of the brain that deals with organization and structure. Son16 needs routine. Structure. Predictability. His schedule is very, very important. Very. So for this CAPT testing, every aspect of his day has been different. The testing block in the morning. Classes squeezed into short bursts. It has been that aspect of the whole testing ordeal that has created huge amounts of anxiety. And it forces him to check a million times a day to find out what happens next, what time will something be, will it be just like this tomorrow, etc, etc. A very long week for him. And a long week for us.
My friend Mike is back at work. They have identified some irregular heartbeat but not exactly sure what causes it yet. He did go in for a couple of more tests this week. And they have him wearing one of those little gizmos that monitors his heart rate and records it. And every time he goes above 85 beats per minute, it beeps like crazy (sort of like my wife's car!) and he has to call in and play the recording over the phone. Really, 85 beats a minute is not that high. Can you just imagine how tempting it is at work to set that little bugger off! We can just get him laughing really hard and he sounds off the warning. Oh...it is cruel to have fun at the expense of a sick man. Cruel. And yet....
Son16 was scheduled for a big lock-in this weekend at our church with all the other high school youth. He is not a very social kid, but he did attend the fall lock-in and really loved it. We were thrilled it went well and happy he wanted to go again. Really wanted to go. Has been talking about the games they play, all the snack food, etc, etc. And it got canceled yesterday due to illness among some of the adult sponsors. A last minute cancellation. Have I mentioned.... Son16 needs a predictable schedule and consistency???? Not anyone's fault. But just one more layer of stress in his life.
Yesterday was my second visit (out of a series of four) to the periodontist. I'm going through a process caused scaling and root planing. Just the name should tip you off here. I mean, it isn't good to do things to the ROOT of your tooth, right? That hurts. And they are doing stuff to the root of EVERY tooth! With merely a topical anesthetic. So go ahead...imagine how you think that would feel. Then take two steps deeper into hell. And you've got it. Mashed potatoes and pudding are my friends.
Okay, that's my ramble for the week. Now I'm gonna go read your stuff...cause I'm sure it will be way more interesting!
At the beginning of the week, the 'check engine' light in my wife's car started flashing. Now I know nothing about cars. This seemed ominous. So I called the garage and they said bring it in. We did. They got about three dozen error messages when they hooked it up to the computer, but only found one little problem. One cable that had shorted or something. So they replaced it. And it was inexpensive. Good deal. Until yesterday. My wife called me while I was at work to report that her car was sitting in the driveway, all alone, with the lights flashing and the horn blowing. Started all by itself. I appreciated the report, but there was little I could do. And since I know so much about cars, little that I could suggest for her to do! But while we were talking, it stopped. Well that means the car fixed itself, right? LOL Nope. It did that little series of events once again about 15 minutes later. So my wife hopped in the car and drove it to the garage. And that silly little 'check engine' light came on again while she was driving. The garage boys started it, drove it, scratched their heads, double-checked to make sure that we really did not even have an alarm system on the car, and suggested we make an appointment to bring it in for more work. Ya think? But my wife has a theory. The car only seems possessed if we lock the doors. So far....her theory is sound! No locking...no more beeping and flashing. Maybe that will get us through until the garage spends another day with it.
The next big event of the week....Son16 took his CAPT tests this week. This is a standardized test that you must pass in order to graduate from high school in our state. And you take them in the tenth grade. That way, if you don't pass, you get two more years to try again. And the test is so long that they break it up into parts. He has had five parts with one more part to go. So every day this week, he arrived at school and headed into a testing room where he would take two parts of the test. This lasted about 2 and a half hours. Then he would follow his regular schedule for that day, except every class was condensed to only about 25 minutes. Now I've not written much about my son's disabilities. I guess I should at some point. But a key component of asperger's syndrome is difficulty with 'executive functions'. That's the part of the brain that deals with organization and structure. Son16 needs routine. Structure. Predictability. His schedule is very, very important. Very. So for this CAPT testing, every aspect of his day has been different. The testing block in the morning. Classes squeezed into short bursts. It has been that aspect of the whole testing ordeal that has created huge amounts of anxiety. And it forces him to check a million times a day to find out what happens next, what time will something be, will it be just like this tomorrow, etc, etc. A very long week for him. And a long week for us.
My friend Mike is back at work. They have identified some irregular heartbeat but not exactly sure what causes it yet. He did go in for a couple of more tests this week. And they have him wearing one of those little gizmos that monitors his heart rate and records it. And every time he goes above 85 beats per minute, it beeps like crazy (sort of like my wife's car!) and he has to call in and play the recording over the phone. Really, 85 beats a minute is not that high. Can you just imagine how tempting it is at work to set that little bugger off! We can just get him laughing really hard and he sounds off the warning. Oh...it is cruel to have fun at the expense of a sick man. Cruel. And yet....
Son16 was scheduled for a big lock-in this weekend at our church with all the other high school youth. He is not a very social kid, but he did attend the fall lock-in and really loved it. We were thrilled it went well and happy he wanted to go again. Really wanted to go. Has been talking about the games they play, all the snack food, etc, etc. And it got canceled yesterday due to illness among some of the adult sponsors. A last minute cancellation. Have I mentioned.... Son16 needs a predictable schedule and consistency???? Not anyone's fault. But just one more layer of stress in his life.
Yesterday was my second visit (out of a series of four) to the periodontist. I'm going through a process caused scaling and root planing. Just the name should tip you off here. I mean, it isn't good to do things to the ROOT of your tooth, right? That hurts. And they are doing stuff to the root of EVERY tooth! With merely a topical anesthetic. So go ahead...imagine how you think that would feel. Then take two steps deeper into hell. And you've got it. Mashed potatoes and pudding are my friends.
Okay, that's my ramble for the week. Now I'm gonna go read your stuff...cause I'm sure it will be way more interesting!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
A Friend In Need
I've mentioned once before about my friend and co-worker who was treated for cancer during the late spring and fall. He has seemed to recover well...getting back to work and seeming to feel much stronger, less tired, etc. And all that was great.
Till yesterday. He was taken from work to the hospital yesterday. He began reporting that he felt dizzy to a couple of folks around the building. They sent him down to the school nurse who asked a few questions and pretty quickly decided to drive him to the hospital.
By that time he was dizzy and complaining of blurred vision. The hospital took him right in and started tests. And last night and today, all his friends have been waiting for periodic calls from his wife as she has tried to keep us updated on what they've been learning.
The latest report indicated two things were going on. They diagnosed some heart issue that relates to periodic rapid heart rates which can cause the dizzy feeling. But in doing another test, they also located what they thought was a clot in his brain. They've now changed that to a tiny occipital bleed in the brain.
I have no idea if/how these two things could be related. Or perhaps it is just coincidence that both were taking place. But it has certainly made the last 24 hours stressful for his friends as we wait for more news.
And it just feels like he has been through enough this year. The poor guy deserves a break.
Till yesterday. He was taken from work to the hospital yesterday. He began reporting that he felt dizzy to a couple of folks around the building. They sent him down to the school nurse who asked a few questions and pretty quickly decided to drive him to the hospital.
By that time he was dizzy and complaining of blurred vision. The hospital took him right in and started tests. And last night and today, all his friends have been waiting for periodic calls from his wife as she has tried to keep us updated on what they've been learning.
The latest report indicated two things were going on. They diagnosed some heart issue that relates to periodic rapid heart rates which can cause the dizzy feeling. But in doing another test, they also located what they thought was a clot in his brain. They've now changed that to a tiny occipital bleed in the brain.
I have no idea if/how these two things could be related. Or perhaps it is just coincidence that both were taking place. But it has certainly made the last 24 hours stressful for his friends as we wait for more news.
And it just feels like he has been through enough this year. The poor guy deserves a break.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Word Police
A word has come to my attention. It also seems to have come to the attention of school librarians everywhere. And I'm going to use the word more than once in this post, so if you are offended by words, feel free to click along to another site for now.
For those of you who are left, the word of the day is 'scrotum'. See, that didn't hurt, did it? And yet, school librarians are banning a book just because it uses that word.
Here's the story. The book is called "The Higher Power of
Lucky". It is written by Susan Patron, who also happens to be a librarian. And the book is this year's winner of the Newbury Award, the most prestigious award in children's literature. Sort of like being named the Oprah Book of the Month. The book was first published last November, but it wasn't until it won the award that people started to take notice.
And what did they find? Right on page one, Lucky, the 10-year-old heroine of the book, overhears the word when another character says he saw a rattlesnake bite his dog on the scrotum.
“Scrotum sounded to Lucky like something green that comes up when you have the flu and cough too much,” the book says. “It sounded medical and secret, but also important.”
There ya go. That's the word. Used in context. And it is freaking people out. The book has already been banned in a handful of states and it looks like there are more planning to follow.
The author says the intended audience is 9-12 year olds. Sounds right to me. When my kids were that age, they had heard the word scrotum. They knew what is was. They also knew testicles, balls, nut sack, berries, and probably some words to describe it that I don't even know! Kids know these things. This just doesn't seem like a horrific thing to me.
But one librarian who was interviewed said this was what she would call the "Howard Stern-type shock treatment just to see how far they could push the envelope." Has this woman ever heard Howard?!?! Howard talks about scrotums at the breakfast table!
I'm just baffled by peoples' reaction. I can't believe a library would censor a book based on the proper use of the name of a body part. But one elementary school librarian said parents wouldn't want to have to explain that kind of vocabulary. Really? I would not want my kids to know about their bodies? Gee, don't speak for me, lady! If I'm nervous about explaining vocabulary to my kids, that is my issue. Not theirs. Not the author's. And not the librarian's.
I'm sure a few of you may be thinking...gee, glad Em isn't the person making the final call on the books my kids read! And that's okay. Every parent has to make that choice. But that seems to be the key. It is the parent's choice. When we ban books and censor material, parents never get the opportunity. I trust myself to make choices for my kids. I don't trust the Word Police.
For those of you who are left, the word of the day is 'scrotum'. See, that didn't hurt, did it? And yet, school librarians are banning a book just because it uses that word.
Here's the story. The book is called "The Higher Power of
Lucky". It is written by Susan Patron, who also happens to be a librarian. And the book is this year's winner of the Newbury Award, the most prestigious award in children's literature. Sort of like being named the Oprah Book of the Month. The book was first published last November, but it wasn't until it won the award that people started to take notice.And what did they find? Right on page one, Lucky, the 10-year-old heroine of the book, overhears the word when another character says he saw a rattlesnake bite his dog on the scrotum.
“Scrotum sounded to Lucky like something green that comes up when you have the flu and cough too much,” the book says. “It sounded medical and secret, but also important.”
There ya go. That's the word. Used in context. And it is freaking people out. The book has already been banned in a handful of states and it looks like there are more planning to follow.
The author says the intended audience is 9-12 year olds. Sounds right to me. When my kids were that age, they had heard the word scrotum. They knew what is was. They also knew testicles, balls, nut sack, berries, and probably some words to describe it that I don't even know! Kids know these things. This just doesn't seem like a horrific thing to me.
But one librarian who was interviewed said this was what she would call the "Howard Stern-type shock treatment just to see how far they could push the envelope." Has this woman ever heard Howard?!?! Howard talks about scrotums at the breakfast table!
I'm just baffled by peoples' reaction. I can't believe a library would censor a book based on the proper use of the name of a body part. But one elementary school librarian said parents wouldn't want to have to explain that kind of vocabulary. Really? I would not want my kids to know about their bodies? Gee, don't speak for me, lady! If I'm nervous about explaining vocabulary to my kids, that is my issue. Not theirs. Not the author's. And not the librarian's.
I'm sure a few of you may be thinking...gee, glad Em isn't the person making the final call on the books my kids read! And that's okay. Every parent has to make that choice. But that seems to be the key. It is the parent's choice. When we ban books and censor material, parents never get the opportunity. I trust myself to make choices for my kids. I don't trust the Word Police.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Meteorological Musings
I just have to point out that Mother Nature has lost her mind. Seriously. It is the first week of January...in Connecticut. And as I write this at 7:15 in the evening, it is a balmy 57° outside. And you can see in the little graphic what we expect tomorrow. This is wrong!We've got our bulky winter coats hanging by the door. Gloves stuffed in the pockets. Various hats and scarfs nearby. Forty tubes of chapstick ready to fight off the dry lips from the winter winds.
Nothing. No snow. No ice. No arctic breeze.
I'm not really complaining. Just pointing out. Just in case you're keeping track of signs of the end times. Cause this might be one.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
The 360 Degree Procedure
It seems the German scientists are on the ball with this one - a condom that fits every man. How so, you ask? What a great question. And the answer...........
(drum roll, please)
It is a SPRAY ON CONDOM. I kid you not. I can't make this stuff up. Go here and see (well, read) for yourself!
Bottom line, the gentleman would insert his penis into the spray can, push the nozzle, and be coated with a with a rubber condom with a procedure described as "once around and from top to bottom a bit like a car wash"
Will it replace the need for an old-fashioned condom? Or just replace the need for a partner?!?
(drum roll, please)
It is a SPRAY ON CONDOM. I kid you not. I can't make this stuff up. Go here and see (well, read) for yourself!
Bottom line, the gentleman would insert his penis into the spray can, push the nozzle, and be coated with a with a rubber condom with a procedure described as "once around and from top to bottom a bit like a car wash"
Will it replace the need for an old-fashioned condom? Or just replace the need for a partner?!?
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Man vs. Nature
We have a lot of wonderful trees in our yard. Different sizes. Different kinds. And right behind our house is a big patch of woods, so looking out our windows we see nature everywhere. And on one side of our property there is a stream surrounded by more trees. In the spring everything is glowing green as new leaves bud on the branches. In the summer it is lush with a cooling shade. And it reaches it's peak in the fall when it explodes in reds, yellows, browns, golds, and oranges. Just beautiful.
And then those leaves fall. And fall. And fall. A carpet of leaves. Piles of leaves. Leaves from our trees. Leaves blowing in from the woods. Leaves blowing from the stream. And the battle begins. The leaves trying to cluster in the gardens, on the deck, against the house. While I try to put them back in the woods or pile them near the street for the giant leaf-sucking truck. Choosing the right time to rake is more of an art than a science. Clearing the yard too soon just means I'll have to do it over and over. Too late and I run the risk of an early snow that turns them into a thick, heavy, wet clump that is almost impossible to move. (I speak from experience having used the snow shovel one year to 'rake' the leaves!)
My Magic 8 Ball told me this was the weekend. Working along with Son19, two rakes, a pitchfork, a hand-held blower, and the big 5 horsepower blower, it took us seven hours to turn that thick carpet of leaves into The Great Leafy Mountain Range - mounds of leaves all along the edges of the yard and in the woods. Well, to almost accomplish the task. Some leaves will blow back in the yard and need to be cleaned up. And there is still one large tree in the back that hasn't dropped any leaves yet. Maybe by Turkey Day. But most of it is done.
Anyone got some Ben Gay?
And then those leaves fall. And fall. And fall. A carpet of leaves. Piles of leaves. Leaves from our trees. Leaves blowing in from the woods. Leaves blowing from the stream. And the battle begins. The leaves trying to cluster in the gardens, on the deck, against the house. While I try to put them back in the woods or pile them near the street for the giant leaf-sucking truck. Choosing the right time to rake is more of an art than a science. Clearing the yard too soon just means I'll have to do it over and over. Too late and I run the risk of an early snow that turns them into a thick, heavy, wet clump that is almost impossible to move. (I speak from experience having used the snow shovel one year to 'rake' the leaves!)
My Magic 8 Ball told me this was the weekend. Working along with Son19, two rakes, a pitchfork, a hand-held blower, and the big 5 horsepower blower, it took us seven hours to turn that thick carpet of leaves into The Great Leafy Mountain Range - mounds of leaves all along the edges of the yard and in the woods. Well, to almost accomplish the task. Some leaves will blow back in the yard and need to be cleaned up. And there is still one large tree in the back that hasn't dropped any leaves yet. Maybe by Turkey Day. But most of it is done.
Anyone got some Ben Gay?
Friday, November 03, 2006
Signs of the Time
One of my favorite blogs to read on local politics is My Left Nutmeg. On their front page they feature this Welcome To Connecticut sign. I love it. And I thought it might be my favorite sign about little Bush. Until Winston showed us this!
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Midterm Madness and Mayhem - Part 2
There are awards for everything. The Country Music Awards. The Tony Awards. The Darwin Awards. The People's Choice Awards. The Hasty Pudding Awards. The Best Awards Awards. So tonight I present the Midterm Madness and Mayhem Awards. For the most part, these awards are just for candidates in the great Nutmeg state cause that is what I know best. But I'm sure you've got your own award winners right where you live.
Our first award tonight is The Most Over-Used Euphemism Award. And it goes to Joe Lieberman. He has told us over and over and over and over just how he can 'reach across the aisle' to get things done. That is his way of saying, if George Bush wants it done, I'm abandoning my party and voting Republican.
Next up, The Biggest Waste of Experience Award is awarded to Rob Simmons. Mr. Simmons has stressed his years of military and intelligence experience. And yet, he never seemed to use that when making decisions. He was bamboozled by the WMD argument. He supported the rush to war. He sees no way out of the war. So apparently his years of experience mean nothing.
The 'Nothing More Than Feelings' Award goes to our highest ranking politician in the state, Governor M. Jodi Rell. In her short term as governor, both good and bad things have happened. Ethics violations in government - including her former boss being sent to prison. Men being put to death in the death chamber. Child abuse. High gas prices. And the list goes on. And on every occasion, Governor Rell simply seemed incapable of taking decisive action, taking a stand, or setting progressive policy. But she never hesitates to tell us how she feels. She feels badly/ashamed/proud/angry/sad/etc. She always has feelings. But never really any ideas.
The Total Truth In Advertising Award is presented to Alan Schlesinger, Republican candidate for US Senate. His TV commercials have been perfectly true and accurate. What's the catch? He has NO advertising. He has NO money. His own party nominated him and then abandoned him to support Joe Lieberman's independent bid for Senate.
Susan Bysiewicz, State Treasurer, wins The Exploited Children Award. Her commercials start with her kids, focus on her kids, and end with her kids. "Our mom...." That's cool. She has handsome kids. But what does that have to do with being Treasurer??
One of our double award winners, Joe Lieberman, picks up The Slushie Award. He has a remarkable amount of petty cash funds that he can't account for. Well over $300,000. If you aren't sure how that stacks up to other candidates, check out this chart at Connecticut Blog.
The Sleaziest Politician Award is given to Nancy Johnson. In this category, there weren't even any other nominees. Her commercials have been vile and untrue. In some cases, they were so ridiculously bizarre and untrue as to be laughable. In other cases, they were so mean-spirited that it was uncomfortable to watch. The result, for the first time, in the last poll, she has fallen behind! Whether it is a response to the polling or just a calculated move to end on a positive note, suddenly all her commercials are quaint and upbeat and never mention her opponent. I truly hope the voters aren't fooled by this 'Grandma Goes To Washington' pitch at the final hour.
The Man On The Corner Award goes to Bill Aman. He is our local representative to the state legislature. And he stands on street corners waving at passing cars more than any politician in history! And he has become such a fixture on the corner that his campaign posters are now life-size cardboard cutouts of Bill waving at cars. So now he can be on lots of corners all the time! (Wonder if he supports cloning?)
The See No Evil Award goes to our other two-time winner, Governor Rell. While she was Lieutenant Governor, our Governor engaged in enough ethics violations - stealing money, misappropriations of funds, rigged bids for state contracts, etc - that he ended up in prison. Somehow, in all those years, Jodi never saw a thing. She never grew suspicious. She had no clue. She was obviously so uninvolved in goverment that she had no idea what was going on around her. Oh, but when it finally became too obvious and too publicized to ignore, she felt really badly about it all.
This final award does extend beyond state lines. The 'I Can't Believe Anyone Thinks This Way' Award goes to every politician at the national level who voted to support Bush's torture legislation but opposes gay marriage. I don't care how you look at it, I just can't understand how any list of human behaviors would rank torture as a more favorable thing than a loving marriage. And yet, we have a lot of senators who would rather torture someone than let them get married.
Congratulations to all our winners.
Our first award tonight is The Most Over-Used Euphemism Award. And it goes to Joe Lieberman. He has told us over and over and over and over just how he can 'reach across the aisle' to get things done. That is his way of saying, if George Bush wants it done, I'm abandoning my party and voting Republican.
Next up, The Biggest Waste of Experience Award is awarded to Rob Simmons. Mr. Simmons has stressed his years of military and intelligence experience. And yet, he never seemed to use that when making decisions. He was bamboozled by the WMD argument. He supported the rush to war. He sees no way out of the war. So apparently his years of experience mean nothing.
The 'Nothing More Than Feelings' Award goes to our highest ranking politician in the state, Governor M. Jodi Rell. In her short term as governor, both good and bad things have happened. Ethics violations in government - including her former boss being sent to prison. Men being put to death in the death chamber. Child abuse. High gas prices. And the list goes on. And on every occasion, Governor Rell simply seemed incapable of taking decisive action, taking a stand, or setting progressive policy. But she never hesitates to tell us how she feels. She feels badly/ashamed/proud/angry/sad/etc. She always has feelings. But never really any ideas.
The Total Truth In Advertising Award is presented to Alan Schlesinger, Republican candidate for US Senate. His TV commercials have been perfectly true and accurate. What's the catch? He has NO advertising. He has NO money. His own party nominated him and then abandoned him to support Joe Lieberman's independent bid for Senate.
Susan Bysiewicz, State Treasurer, wins The Exploited Children Award. Her commercials start with her kids, focus on her kids, and end with her kids. "Our mom...." That's cool. She has handsome kids. But what does that have to do with being Treasurer??
One of our double award winners, Joe Lieberman, picks up The Slushie Award. He has a remarkable amount of petty cash funds that he can't account for. Well over $300,000. If you aren't sure how that stacks up to other candidates, check out this chart at Connecticut Blog.
The Sleaziest Politician Award is given to Nancy Johnson. In this category, there weren't even any other nominees. Her commercials have been vile and untrue. In some cases, they were so ridiculously bizarre and untrue as to be laughable. In other cases, they were so mean-spirited that it was uncomfortable to watch. The result, for the first time, in the last poll, she has fallen behind! Whether it is a response to the polling or just a calculated move to end on a positive note, suddenly all her commercials are quaint and upbeat and never mention her opponent. I truly hope the voters aren't fooled by this 'Grandma Goes To Washington' pitch at the final hour.
The Man On The Corner Award goes to Bill Aman. He is our local representative to the state legislature. And he stands on street corners waving at passing cars more than any politician in history! And he has become such a fixture on the corner that his campaign posters are now life-size cardboard cutouts of Bill waving at cars. So now he can be on lots of corners all the time! (Wonder if he supports cloning?)
The See No Evil Award goes to our other two-time winner, Governor Rell. While she was Lieutenant Governor, our Governor engaged in enough ethics violations - stealing money, misappropriations of funds, rigged bids for state contracts, etc - that he ended up in prison. Somehow, in all those years, Jodi never saw a thing. She never grew suspicious. She had no clue. She was obviously so uninvolved in goverment that she had no idea what was going on around her. Oh, but when it finally became too obvious and too publicized to ignore, she felt really badly about it all.
This final award does extend beyond state lines. The 'I Can't Believe Anyone Thinks This Way' Award goes to every politician at the national level who voted to support Bush's torture legislation but opposes gay marriage. I don't care how you look at it, I just can't understand how any list of human behaviors would rank torture as a more favorable thing than a loving marriage. And yet, we have a lot of senators who would rather torture someone than let them get married.
Congratulations to all our winners.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Midterm Madness and Mayhem - Part 1
We're just one week away from the elections so it seemed as good a time as any to toss out a thought or two. I'm no political junky but I do try to pay attention to current events. So I've got a few thoughts about this whole midterm muddle.
I will stand in line next Tuesday and cast my vote. I enjoy participating in the process. I like expressing my opinion with my vote. But my track record isn't so good. I usually vote for the one who loses. My values and beliefs are not mainstream. But that won't stop me. I'll be there. I'll pull a lever or scan a document or punch a chad or whatever the hell kind of voting mechanism we get to use this time. And I'll sit at home Tuesday night, watching the returns, and keeping my fingers crossed for just enough victories locally and nationally to maybe make a difference. And I hope I'm not writing next Wednesday about how futile the whole thing is and what a dumb bunch of voters we all are.
- Every survey tells us that we, as a people, are unhappy about the direction the country is headed. We are angry about Iraq. We got tricked into this war and now there is clearly no plan to get us out. We are unhappy about the economy and the prices we paid for gas this summer. And we are angry that Dick Cheney can shoot a guy in the face with no real consequence while we can't even carry shampoo on an airplane cause that seems dangerous. And yet, I wonder how much will change? We get pissed. We rant and rave. But will we really vote for change? Or will most incumbents slip by with a narrow margin so we can continue on our merry way with no real change?
- What if we do elect a whole new slew of politicians? Will it matter? Do any of them give a rat's ass about change - or do they just care about getting elected? The way they alter their positions almost daily as the polls move up and down gives us a hint about what they care about, doesn't it!
- I don't know about the politicians where you live. Perhaps they are fine, upstanding characters with integrity and decency and high ideals. But if that's the case, then you don't live here! Some of the commercials on TV here have broken new ground in tastelessness. If the commercials were true, we would be choosing between terrorist supporters, porn producers, idiots, losers and crooks. Okay, some of that may be true. But I'm betting most of it is not. While the commercials have that same bizarre appeal as a car crash - we are repulsed but we can't look away - it seems the quality of them must surely be bad for the political process as a whole.
I will stand in line next Tuesday and cast my vote. I enjoy participating in the process. I like expressing my opinion with my vote. But my track record isn't so good. I usually vote for the one who loses. My values and beliefs are not mainstream. But that won't stop me. I'll be there. I'll pull a lever or scan a document or punch a chad or whatever the hell kind of voting mechanism we get to use this time. And I'll sit at home Tuesday night, watching the returns, and keeping my fingers crossed for just enough victories locally and nationally to maybe make a difference. And I hope I'm not writing next Wednesday about how futile the whole thing is and what a dumb bunch of voters we all are.
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