Pete was talking to an airline representative on the phone today. In giving his confirmation number, he started doing the a for apple thing. All of a sudden, I heard this:
"D as in Dog, F as in Frank, Z as in Zed"
I'm sure the representative wondered why their was a crazy person laughing in the background.
Addendum:
I googled "zed" and found that, according to Wikipedia at least, it is a real word that is actually the name of the letter zee, as it is called in non US English speaking countries.
3.02.2008
2.09.2008
1.28.2008
THANK YOU!
Thank you so much to everyone who donated to the Help Minna campaign. We raised almost $4,000 in cash donations and free samples, and Minna was able to borrow to cover the rest of the costs. Minna is by no means on dry land, but thanks to you, she stayed afloat and can see the shore from where she sits. Medicare kicks in soon, and with a $25/month supplementary plan, she'll be able to get all of her medicines for $15. This brings her costs down from approximately $900 per month to less than $200.
The bigger issue here is that Minna is just one example of millions of people dealing with this issue. As the current candidates talk about what they plan to do with health care in the future, please make sure that you know what you want in a health care system. There are many ways to address the issue, and each one is successful in its own way, with its own drawbacks. The Jan-Feb 2008 issue of Mental Floss has a FABULOUS and IMPARTIAL article on the different systems in play worldwide. Wikipedia details some of these differences in a slightly more complex way. The fact is, that while we might not all be able to agree on what we need, we do need something. It is tragic that someone might not have an equal opportunity to life because of a financial situation.
So please, read up on health care. Figure out what YOU want. And please make sure this issue plays at least a small role in your vote next year.
To get you started:
American Cancer Society: Access To Care
American Medical Student Association: Universal Health Care Initiative
Health Care Reform Now!
The bigger issue here is that Minna is just one example of millions of people dealing with this issue. As the current candidates talk about what they plan to do with health care in the future, please make sure that you know what you want in a health care system. There are many ways to address the issue, and each one is successful in its own way, with its own drawbacks. The Jan-Feb 2008 issue of Mental Floss has a FABULOUS and IMPARTIAL article on the different systems in play worldwide. Wikipedia details some of these differences in a slightly more complex way. The fact is, that while we might not all be able to agree on what we need, we do need something. It is tragic that someone might not have an equal opportunity to life because of a financial situation.
So please, read up on health care. Figure out what YOU want. And please make sure this issue plays at least a small role in your vote next year.
To get you started:
American Cancer Society: Access To Care
American Medical Student Association: Universal Health Care Initiative
Health Care Reform Now!
1.24.2008
When Your Job Makes You Smile
Because we all need reminders as to why we do what we do, I thought I'd post this article by a Bay Area Chef. She went down to South Central LA to work in the public schools teaching kids about healthy choices. Just so happens that the funding for the whole program is one of my grants. Makes me think maybe it's worthwhile. :)
Read about Megan Hanson's experience: 2 Days Cooking in South Central
Read about Megan Hanson's experience: 2 Days Cooking in South Central
12.19.2007
Holiday RE-Gift Charity Party
So we're hosting an event to raise funds for the Help Minna venture. Wednesday, January 16, 2008.
SAVE THE DATE!
Read more at orgEvolve!
SAVE THE DATE!
Read more at orgEvolve!
10.24.2007
Help My Mom!
as of 1/24/08:
$3,860* raised out of $8,000** needed
*includes free samples
**may change based on discount programs
$3,860* raised out of $8,000** needed
*includes free samples
**may change based on discount programs
Who is Minna Matthews?
Minna Lendle was born in Germany during WWII to a German soldier fighting in the war and a mother who hid her Jewish friends in her basement. She married an American soldier when she was 18, had a baby, and moved to the states. After 38 years as a meat wrapper in a local grocery store, she retired and now lives with her cats and a giant German shepherd named Kingsley in Ozark, Missouri.
Breast Cancer
In 2001, at the age of 58, Minna was diagnosed with breast cancer. When a lumpectomy didn't work, Minna had a mastectomy, followed by weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. Her treatment caused many other problems to develop, and by the time Minna passed her 3-year check up she had also been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, major kidney and liver problems, and severely high blood pressure. She is now in full remission, but is constantly battling these other ailments.
The Fallout
Throughout most of her cancer treatment, Minna continued to work in her labor-intensive job. Years of hard work took their toll. Since recovering from cancer, Minna has had one knee replacement, needs another, suffered a herniated disc in her back, and had surgery for shoulder problems. She waited as long as she could to retire, but when she qualified for her pension, she decided to take a rest. The Cobra on her insurance ran out after 18 months, and she won't qualify for Medicare until she's 65. With all of the pre-existing conditions, she's been unable to get individual insurance. She's been coping with the cost of monthly doctor visits, but prescription costs are insane.
Vital Medications - Cost Per Month:
Aromasin - $300 - prevents recurrence of cancer
Blood Pressure/Heart Medication - $300 - lowers blood pressure to prevent heart attacks
Kidney Medication - $105 - maintains kidneys at current level of 40% full function
Insulin - $80 - for diabetes
Vitorin - $80 - lowers cholesterol to prevent heart attacks
Thyroid Medication - $30 - prevents overworked thyroid from causing weight gain and depression
Depression Medication - $250 - helps maintain chemical balance to stabilize moods
The total cost of her medications each month is over $1,145. Minna's doctors were able to offer a couple of months of free samples for several of the medications, so over the course of her eight months uninsured, she needs approximately $8,400.
For an extra kick in the pants, if she hadn't given up her German citizenship to become an American, Minna would get all of this FOR FREE!
If you've got an extra $5 or $10 around that you could contribute, please think of Minna. Every little bit helps. Another donor will match all donations up to $1,000.
If you'd like to donate, but don't want to do it online, please email somebodysmiracle@gmail.com for more information.
THANK YOU!
For information about the prohibitive cost of healthcare, check out the American Cancer Society's Access To Care.
10.12.2007
Rules in a House with Kitties
The Napping Kitty Rule.
This totally goes in our house, too. Honey can you get me a water? Sebastien is all sleepy-sleepy on me.
This totally goes in our house, too. Honey can you get me a water? Sebastien is all sleepy-sleepy on me.
10.11.2007
Call of Duty
As a teenager, I was a HUGE fan of Natalie Portman. She taught me how to handle dirty old men in Beautiful Girls, she was lovably quirky in Garden State, and she helped heat up the screen in Closer. She's such a self-assured young woman, and I've always admired that.
So it's no surprise that she was my introduction into National Service. I remember the big hullabaloo over whether she would serve in the Israeli army, and then later whether she was a draft dodger. Turned out she wasn't required to serve, but it brought the idea of mandatory service of some sort to light for me.
I've often wondered if we shouldn't require our high school graduates to make a choice among military service, higher education, or possibly public service of some sort. Seems the idea is becoming much bigger in this pre-election year. So much so, that Time Magazine featured a special report in its September 10, 2007 issue.
The report discusses the current presidential candidates' stances, other countries' programs, and the need for something in the U.S. As for the next president, McCain supports incentives for National Services, Hillary supports the Public Service Academy model, Edwards wants to require community service in high schools, and Barack wants to do what tons of urban non-profits are already doing - put disadvantage youth to work on the environment, teaching them usable skills for the future while instilling a spirit of service. As mentioned above, Israel requires 3 years of military service for men, 2 for women, but only for the non-orthodox Jews of the country. Germany has a draft of 180,000 men, but half of those opt out for civilian service and foreign development work. South Africa (offering my favorite program) requires new healthcare workers (including docs, nurses, dietitians, psychologists, etc.) to spend a year working in poor areas before they receive certification to practice. The need is clear to many, but the main idea seems to be that citizens who work together to provide services stand together as a united republic.
The author, Richard Stengel, goes on to outline what a service program might look like in the States. The first thing he points out is that a plan in the U.S. would not be mandatory. Americans would throw a hissy fit over not having the "freedom" to not serve (my statement, not Stengel's), and many argue that requirements take away the meaning. Having established the voluntary nature of this potential Universal National Service, Stengel discusses what needs to be included:
1. Baby Bonds - For every baby born in the States, the Federal Government would invest in a $5k bond in that child's name. By around 20 years of age, the bond would be worth $19,000. the could then redeem the bond between the ages of 18-25 after committing to at least one year of national or military service. The bond could then be used only toward an education, a business start-up, or a home.
2. Cabinet-Level Department - No more small, independent agencies. This would need to be a priority of the president, and the department should be big enough to demonstrate that.
3. Expand Existing Programs - AmeriCorps and the Senior Volunteer Corp serve as a bit of a catch all for the small number of people who actually know about them. These should be expanded, and then divided into new branded corps and programs under the cabinet-level department.
4. Education Corps - Half of America's high school drop outs come from just 15% of the schools, mostly in urban areas and across the south. This division would match teachers and tutors with needs in the community.
5. Summer of Service - Between middle school and high school, students would be required to do a summer volunteer program, and be rewarded with a small scholarship to college.
6. Health Corps - Many children qualify for public health insurance, but are not on it. The health corps volunteers would help people navigate healthcare, and the experience might lead more people into nursing or medicine, which would help the current shortage.
7. Green Corps - Volunteers to combat climate change, focusing on the 1.5 million young Americans who are neither employed nor in school.
8. Rapid Response Reserve Corp - Katrina.
9. National Service Academy - This is what Hillary supports. Like a military academy, with tuition being subsidized by the government in exchange for service. But rather than a few years in the military after graduation, students would commit to 5 years of public service (defined in current pending legislation as federal, state, or local government - I'm in favor of non-profit work being included here, too, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards).
10. Baby-Boomer Education Bonds - With the vast number of baby boomers that will be old enough to retire, but would like to keep working, many public service positions could be filled by this population. Each volunteer would be able to designate a scholarship of $1,000 for every 500 hours of community service.
The best part about this proposal is the cost. According to Stengel, who neglects all of the other pieces, the baby bonds alone would cost $20 billion per year. While this sounds high, it's roughly two months of funding for the Iraq war, and around half of what the government currently spends on the federal prison system. In addition, the government would get dividends and would be able to cash in unused bonds. Basically, the proposal means that corporate America would have to fund a big portion of the project. And why shouldn't they?
My only concern with this idea (it mostly sounds great to me), is what happens to the nonprofits out there that are working on this now? It would be great if non-profits weren't needed, but given the government's reputation for never actually offering enough funding for things like this, they probably still would be. But would people still donate? If the government had this program, would donors still turn to NGOs for social services?
Maybe. But I've got to admit it's a scary thought for those of us in the sector.
Michael Kinsley has a pretty interesting argument against any form of universal service. A piece of it:
This will be an interesting one to watch, folks.
So it's no surprise that she was my introduction into National Service. I remember the big hullabaloo over whether she would serve in the Israeli army, and then later whether she was a draft dodger. Turned out she wasn't required to serve, but it brought the idea of mandatory service of some sort to light for me.
I've often wondered if we shouldn't require our high school graduates to make a choice among military service, higher education, or possibly public service of some sort. Seems the idea is becoming much bigger in this pre-election year. So much so, that Time Magazine featured a special report in its September 10, 2007 issue.
The report discusses the current presidential candidates' stances, other countries' programs, and the need for something in the U.S. As for the next president, McCain supports incentives for National Services, Hillary supports the Public Service Academy model, Edwards wants to require community service in high schools, and Barack wants to do what tons of urban non-profits are already doing - put disadvantage youth to work on the environment, teaching them usable skills for the future while instilling a spirit of service. As mentioned above, Israel requires 3 years of military service for men, 2 for women, but only for the non-orthodox Jews of the country. Germany has a draft of 180,000 men, but half of those opt out for civilian service and foreign development work. South Africa (offering my favorite program) requires new healthcare workers (including docs, nurses, dietitians, psychologists, etc.) to spend a year working in poor areas before they receive certification to practice. The need is clear to many, but the main idea seems to be that citizens who work together to provide services stand together as a united republic.
The author, Richard Stengel, goes on to outline what a service program might look like in the States. The first thing he points out is that a plan in the U.S. would not be mandatory. Americans would throw a hissy fit over not having the "freedom" to not serve (my statement, not Stengel's), and many argue that requirements take away the meaning. Having established the voluntary nature of this potential Universal National Service, Stengel discusses what needs to be included:
1. Baby Bonds - For every baby born in the States, the Federal Government would invest in a $5k bond in that child's name. By around 20 years of age, the bond would be worth $19,000. the could then redeem the bond between the ages of 18-25 after committing to at least one year of national or military service. The bond could then be used only toward an education, a business start-up, or a home.
2. Cabinet-Level Department - No more small, independent agencies. This would need to be a priority of the president, and the department should be big enough to demonstrate that.
3. Expand Existing Programs - AmeriCorps and the Senior Volunteer Corp serve as a bit of a catch all for the small number of people who actually know about them. These should be expanded, and then divided into new branded corps and programs under the cabinet-level department.
4. Education Corps - Half of America's high school drop outs come from just 15% of the schools, mostly in urban areas and across the south. This division would match teachers and tutors with needs in the community.
5. Summer of Service - Between middle school and high school, students would be required to do a summer volunteer program, and be rewarded with a small scholarship to college.
6. Health Corps - Many children qualify for public health insurance, but are not on it. The health corps volunteers would help people navigate healthcare, and the experience might lead more people into nursing or medicine, which would help the current shortage.
7. Green Corps - Volunteers to combat climate change, focusing on the 1.5 million young Americans who are neither employed nor in school.
8. Rapid Response Reserve Corp - Katrina.
9. National Service Academy - This is what Hillary supports. Like a military academy, with tuition being subsidized by the government in exchange for service. But rather than a few years in the military after graduation, students would commit to 5 years of public service (defined in current pending legislation as federal, state, or local government - I'm in favor of non-profit work being included here, too, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards).
10. Baby-Boomer Education Bonds - With the vast number of baby boomers that will be old enough to retire, but would like to keep working, many public service positions could be filled by this population. Each volunteer would be able to designate a scholarship of $1,000 for every 500 hours of community service.
The best part about this proposal is the cost. According to Stengel, who neglects all of the other pieces, the baby bonds alone would cost $20 billion per year. While this sounds high, it's roughly two months of funding for the Iraq war, and around half of what the government currently spends on the federal prison system. In addition, the government would get dividends and would be able to cash in unused bonds. Basically, the proposal means that corporate America would have to fund a big portion of the project. And why shouldn't they?
My only concern with this idea (it mostly sounds great to me), is what happens to the nonprofits out there that are working on this now? It would be great if non-profits weren't needed, but given the government's reputation for never actually offering enough funding for things like this, they probably still would be. But would people still donate? If the government had this program, would donors still turn to NGOs for social services?
Maybe. But I've got to admit it's a scary thought for those of us in the sector.
Michael Kinsley has a pretty interesting argument against any form of universal service. A piece of it:
As it happens, we already have a system for inducing truly voluntary activities that benefit the public. It's called free-market capitalism. It works this way: if you need something done, you offer enough money to induce someone to do it. There is no need for inspiration or other malarkey. In fact, the voluntary nature of transactions under capitalism is what gives our economic system its moral authority. And if the need that has to be satisfied is social — if satisfying it would benefit everybody or the worst-off among us who need help — we have another well established system called taxation. It works this way: through democratic processes, we decide as a society that something is worth doing or someone is worth helping. Then we tax ourselves in order to buy this service from someone who wishes to sell it for the amount we are willing to pay.
This will be an interesting one to watch, folks.
9.26.2007
The Truth Hurts
From Psychology Today:
Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature
Why most suicide bombers are Muslim, beautiful people have more daughters, humans are naturally polygamous, sexual harassment isn't sexist, and blonds are more attractive.
Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature
Why most suicide bombers are Muslim, beautiful people have more daughters, humans are naturally polygamous, sexual harassment isn't sexist, and blonds are more attractive.
Human nature is one of those things that everybody talks about but no one can define precisely. Every time we fall in love, fight with our spouse, get upset about the influx of immigrants into our country, or go to church, we are, in part, behaving as a human animal with our own unique evolved nature—human nature.
This means two things. First, our thoughts, feelings, and behavior are produced not only by our individual experiences and environment in our own lifetime but also by what happened to our ancestors millions of years ago. Second, our thoughts, feelings, and behavior are shared, to a large extent, by all men or women, despite seemingly large cultural differences.
Human behavior is a product both of our innate human nature and of our individual experience and environment. In this article, however, we emphasize biological influences on human behavior, because most social scientists explain human behavior as if evolution stops at the neck and as if our behavior is a product almost entirely of environment and socialization. In contrast, evolutionary psychologists see human nature as a collection of psychological adaptations that often operate beneath conscious thinking to solve problems of survival and reproduction by predisposing us to think or feel in certain ways. Our preference for sweets and fats is an evolved psychological mechanism. We do not consciously choose to like sweets and fats; they just taste good to us.
The implications of some of the ideas in this article may seem immoral, contrary to our ideals, or offensive. We state them because they are true, supported by documented scientific evidence. Like it or not, human nature is simply not politically correct.
Read the Ten Truths here!9.24.2007
Soundtrack of My Soul - Track #4
Famous in a Small Town, as sung by Miranda Lambert
They say life is so much sweeter
through the telephoto lens of fame
around here you get just as much attention
cheerin' at the high school football game
I dreamed of going to Nashville
Put my money down and placed my bet
But I just got the first buck of the season
I made the front page of the Turnertown Gazette
Every last one, route one, rural hearts got a story to tell
Every grandma, in law, ex girlfriend
Maybe knows us just a little too well
Whether you're late for church or you're stuck in jail
Hey words gonna get around
Everybody dies famous in a small town
Tyler and Casey broke up
It ended pretty quietly
We heard he was caught red-handed with her mama
So that's just what they let us all believe
Every last one, route one, rural hearts got a story to tell
Every grandma, in law, ex girlfriend
Maybe knows us just a little too well
Whether you're late for church or you're stuck in jail
Hey words gonna get around
Everybody dies famous in a small town
Baby who
Needs their faces in a magazine
Me and you
We've been stars of the town since we were 17
Let's go on down to the quick stop
Wear your yellow shades
And I'll put on my tight jeans
And we'll just spend the weekend burnin' rubber
And we'll let em point and stare in disbelief
Every last one, route one, rural hearts got a story to tell
Every grandma, in law, ex girlfriend
Maybe knows us just a little too well
Whether you're late for church or you're stuck in jail
Hey words gonna get around
Everybody dies famous in a small town
They say life is so much sweeter
through the telephoto lens of fame
around here you get just as much attention
cheerin' at the high school football game
I dreamed of going to Nashville
Put my money down and placed my bet
But I just got the first buck of the season
I made the front page of the Turnertown Gazette
Every last one, route one, rural hearts got a story to tell
Every grandma, in law, ex girlfriend
Maybe knows us just a little too well
Whether you're late for church or you're stuck in jail
Hey words gonna get around
Everybody dies famous in a small town
Tyler and Casey broke up
It ended pretty quietly
We heard he was caught red-handed with her mama
So that's just what they let us all believe
Every last one, route one, rural hearts got a story to tell
Every grandma, in law, ex girlfriend
Maybe knows us just a little too well
Whether you're late for church or you're stuck in jail
Hey words gonna get around
Everybody dies famous in a small town
Baby who
Needs their faces in a magazine
Me and you
We've been stars of the town since we were 17
Let's go on down to the quick stop
Wear your yellow shades
And I'll put on my tight jeans
And we'll just spend the weekend burnin' rubber
And we'll let em point and stare in disbelief
Every last one, route one, rural hearts got a story to tell
Every grandma, in law, ex girlfriend
Maybe knows us just a little too well
Whether you're late for church or you're stuck in jail
Hey words gonna get around
Everybody dies famous in a small town
9.21.2007
My Morning Entertainment
From Best of Craigslist:
Whenever I get a package of plain M&Ms, I make it my duty to continue the strength and robustness of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels.
Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them cracks and splinters. That is the "loser," and I eat the inferior one immediately. The winner gets to go another round.
I have found that, in general, the brown and red M&Ms are tougher, and the newer blue ones are genetically inferior. I have hypothesized that the blue M&Ms as a race cannot survive long in the intense theater of competition that is the modern candy and snack-food world.
Occasionally I will get a mutation, a candy that is misshapen, or pointier, or flatter than the rest. Almost invariably this proves to be a weakness, but on very rare occasions it gives the candy extra strength. In this way, the species continues to adapt to its environment.
When I reach the end of the pack, I am left with one M&M, the strongest of the herd. Since it would make no sense to eat this one as well, I pack it neatly in an envelope and send it to M&M Mars, A Division of Mars, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ 17840-1503 U.S.A., along with a 3x5 card reading, "Please use this M&M for breeding purposes."
This week they wrote back to thank me, and sent me a coupon for a free 1/2 pound bag of plain M&Ms. I consider this "grant money." I have set aside the weekend for a grand tournament. From a field of hundreds, we will discover the True Champion.
There can be only one.
On the subject of m&m's, you can make your own m&m character.
9.19.2007
Please Vote
And do away with this nonsense. Regardless of any kind of interference, Barry was still the one who did it. He's the one who played long enough and hit hard enough to get it done. They're all out there doing the same things, so the fact that this man accomplished something is still extremely important in the context of modern baseball. Let's acknowledge the historical feat, and send the ball directly to Cooperstown.
9.18.2007
Answer: Happy and Motivated Me
Question: What do you get when you take the American Cancer Society and add a campaign for healthcare access equality?
Yet another reason to support the American Cancer Society:
Access
Yet another reason to support the American Cancer Society:
Access
Earlier this year, the American Cancer Society proudly reported a decline in cancer deaths. Sadly, scientific evidence suggests that this progress won't continue unless all Americans gain access to quality health care. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 47 million Americans have no health insurance and millions more don't have enough to cover costs. As a result, too many people can't afford medical care or screening tests that can prevent cancer or find it early – and too many die needlessly of cancers that are detected too late. Others end up losing everything they own because they cannot afford the cost of their cancer care.
And so we cannot help but ask, is choosing between your life and financial ruin really a choice?
With this new initiative, the American Cancer Society will do what we have historically done best – educate the public and move our country to action. When the Society confirmed the link between tobacco use and lung cancer more than 40 years ago, we worked hard to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco. Years later, we led volunteers across the country to advocate for policy changes that led to increased tobacco taxes and thousands of smoke-free communities. This combination of public awareness and grassroots advocacy has led to the lowest smoking rates in decades and, best of all, decreased death rates from lung cancer. We have made similar strides in cervical, breast, and colon cancers.
Now we plan to educate Americans about the need for greater access to quality health care through an aggressive public awareness campaign featuring real people telling their own very real stories. Advertisements airing nationwide will encourage people to visit www.cancer.org/access to learn more. For those who want to be part of the nationwide grassroots movement to make this issue a priority for state and federal elected officials, our sister advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), will provide opportunities for volunteers to become an active part of this effort.
Of course, while we pursue this new effort, we will continue to do all of the things that you expect from your American Cancer Society. We will continue to be the nation's top private funder of cancer research, to educate Americans about reducing their cancer risk, and to be available 24 hours a day to those who need us for information and support.
9.11.2007
The Most Beautiful Creature
I have a thing for tigers.
People who know me find this out pretty quickly. I have a small tiger tattoo, a ton of tiger books, and a bajillion stuffed tigers hiding in a box because I'm too adult to display them and too attached to let go.
I cried at the tiger feeding at Discovery Kingdom a couple of weeks ago. I am so moved by these animals that I frequently wonder if I should give up my steady job to go work with tigers. Only the knowledge that I would someday want a family kept me from moving to India after college to be with them in the wild.
People often ask me, "Why?"
Many attribute it to the fact that I was involved in sports and that was our team mascot--but I loved tigers long before I even understood that concept.
It's something about the grace and beauty of this amazing animal that still holds such immense strength within itself. I think the tiger is the epitome of what I have always longed to be: a beautiful, graceful, strong, and independent woman.
That, and they're friggin adorably cuddly kitty cats.
Recently I began reading a beautiful book called Tigers in Red Weather, about a woman who discovers the beauty of tigers while searching for something of her own. I say began reading because I had to put it down only a short way into the book. It was so densely packed with things I wanted to read, yet I had little time to fully enjoy it. I did, however, pull out a few quotes that I wanted to share.
People who know me find this out pretty quickly. I have a small tiger tattoo, a ton of tiger books, and a bajillion stuffed tigers hiding in a box because I'm too adult to display them and too attached to let go.
I cried at the tiger feeding at Discovery Kingdom a couple of weeks ago. I am so moved by these animals that I frequently wonder if I should give up my steady job to go work with tigers. Only the knowledge that I would someday want a family kept me from moving to India after college to be with them in the wild.
People often ask me, "Why?"
Many attribute it to the fact that I was involved in sports and that was our team mascot--but I loved tigers long before I even understood that concept.
It's something about the grace and beauty of this amazing animal that still holds such immense strength within itself. I think the tiger is the epitome of what I have always longed to be: a beautiful, graceful, strong, and independent woman.
That, and they're friggin adorably cuddly kitty cats.
Recently I began reading a beautiful book called Tigers in Red Weather, about a woman who discovers the beauty of tigers while searching for something of her own. I say began reading because I had to put it down only a short way into the book. It was so densely packed with things I wanted to read, yet I had little time to fully enjoy it. I did, however, pull out a few quotes that I wanted to share.
______
You'd love Bhutan. There are tigers on the wall of every house. In their Buddhism, tiger is the ground you start from, where there'snothing to lose. That's where the curiosity, the sniffing-things-out a tiger does, can begin. The tiger is the broken heart.
The tiger IS the wild. If it goes, part of us goes with it: our sense that something out there is stronger, more beautiful; something not us. Outer wildness affets our inner landscape in ways we do not control. The tiger is its epitome: elusive, with its own concerns, nothing to do with us, from its point of view. But for us the extreme image of the wild.______
East and West know tigers differently but both try and internalize the tiger's power. Tigers pay a heavy price for their role in human fantasy. They are a casualty of symbolism.
9.06.2007
Red Sky in the Morning
I awoke this morning to a room filled with oddly-colored sunlight, that still somehow seemed dark--like the sun that comes out after a storm, but the rest of the sky is still dark and cloudy. The light was almost bright red, though, and cast an eerie glow that made it feel even weirder. My boss later told me (only half-jokingly) that she wondered to herself whether the world was ending. It was also stiflingly hot. Really quite spooky.
As I got ready for work, I quickly discovered that my eyes weren't quite functioning. I could see, but I couldn't focus. I cleaned my glasses again and again, thinking that maybe I got something on them, but the problem wasn't with the lenses. Not being able to see is actually a pretty big fear of mine, and I was definitely scared out of my mind this morning. I figured it was my allergies, took a claritin, and pulled myself together enough to get to the office (albeit half an hour late), and tried to work on things that didn't require precise focus. Not easy in an office setting.
Just before lunch, a visitor mentioned the Lick Fire, and everything suddenly made sense. For those not in the area, apparently there's a gigantic fire about 200 miles from here, and the winds changed last night to send the smoke up this way. The smoke/haze makes the sun look red, and is definitely causing many people allergy-like symptoms. Given that I'm allergic to smoke and asthmatic anyway, this is not a good day for me to be outside.
200 miles from here, though? Wow. And apparently the winds moved it up really quickly. What's even weirder is that Jen, who lives in San Jose, wayyyy closer to the fire, says it's sunny and clear there. Perhaps not the apocalypse, but strange nonetheless.
At least I know what the heck is wrong with my eyes.
9.05.2007
Proud of My Missouri Roots
From MyWayNews:DE SOTO, Mo. (AP) - The naked truth: Three eastern Missouri men were willing to go to extreme lengths to get some beer.
That's the accusation after an incident in the early hours of August 18th at Fish's Quick Stop in De Soto. Store clerk Vicky Gaines says a masked man walked in and began doing the hula dance.
Police say the plan was for the naked dancer to create a distraction while another man took a case of beer from the store. It didn't work.
Gaines called police. As the naked man and his accomplice joined a third man in a car, a customer got their license plate number. All three were caught a few days later.
The men, ages 19 to 23, face charges of shoplifting and indecent exposure.
8.28.2007
These Are Not Anxious People
I'm currently reading a hauntingly beautiful, but extremely depressing novel about a likeable but messed-up woman dealing with her past and facing her future.
Exposure, by Kathryn Harrison, is incredible, and a couple of quotes have really struck me thus far.
On discussing the past:
On searching through other people's medicine cabinets:
Exposure, by Kathryn Harrison, is incredible, and a couple of quotes have really struck me thus far.
On discussing the past:
She'll talk later, but for now, whatever she remembers threatens to recede, evaporate, when she contemplates articulating it for someone else. Even as she tried just now to tell Carl about posing for her father's camer, it was as if she were trying to recount a dream: what she remembered seemed absurd, and parts of what she had thought was a coherent story were suddenly missing. Her mouth open to speak, she was left with nothing more than the idea of herself at the grade school science fair. Chosen from the audience of children to come stand on the stage, putting her hands over her head at the hypnotist's command.
On searching through other people's medicine cabinets:
These people aren't anxious or depressed. They have sinus infections and athlete's foot. They don't spend the minutes between waking and showering reciting reasons not to kill themselves.
I suspect that people from unhappy families are always searching the cupboards and drawers of happy people. Sliding a hand between the neat stacks of towels in the linen closet, slipping a finger under the hinged lid of a jewel box, flipping furtively through the pages of a book. They are looking everywhere. As if, perhaps, out might fall a list, an outline, the formula for how they do it.
8.23.2007
Oh My Grits!
Overheard in SF:
Alabamians At Breakfast
"They don't serve grits everywhere. We took a tour with our church group and we had to take along our own grits."
8.19.2007
There's a First Time for Everything
And Friday was the first time I got kicked out of a bar.
Well, okay, not really kicked out. Just politely told that I should enjoy my night elsewhere.
Here's what happened:
I used to like Anu. I met one of my best friends here and saw some great comedy. But that has all changed, and now I will never go back.
Friday night after Avenue Q, my 7 friends and I walked in totally sober ready to drink it up. I started things off with a round of tequila for everyone. The adorable, very friendly bartender (eager for more business because the clientelle was a bit lacking) asked me what kind of tequila I wanted. With a big smile I said "If I'm paying for everyone, it better be the cheapest tequila you've got."
So what does she bring out? A bottle of Patron. Yeah.
I call her out and say, "I asked you for the cheapest tequila and you bring me Patron?" but with a smile so it won't be a big deal.
She says, "I'll give you a discount, it'll be the same."
I think, man, I'm gonna tip this chick well...she's awesome.
One girl in my group won't do tequila, she orders Absolut instead.
Everyone else in the group orders a drink for themselves after the shots...we're planning to drink quite a bit, but we're still stone cold sober.
I decide to close out my tab because my boy had the cash to cover the rest of my drinks. I get my bill. $52 for 7 shots (one member didn't drink). I'm a bit confused, so I take a look...they actually charged me for 8 shots, at $7 a shot. She did offer me a $1 discount on four of the shots...but I'm still a bit confused as to how "the cheapest tequila" turned into $7 shots.
So I pull over another bartender who looks like he's kinda running things. I ask, "what's the cheapest shot of tequila you've got?"
He says, "Jose is normally $5, but it's $4 tonight."
So I show him my bill. He argues that I had Patron. I told him I ordered the cheap crap. As he's fixing the bill, my bartender comes back and I tell her I feel a bit taken advantage of. She said, looking sweet and friendly, that she would never do that, that she misunderstood. I highly doubt this, but I tell her it's cool, I buy it, as long as I get my bill fixed. Man bartender comes back and gives me a new bill, this time for 8 shots at at the correct price, but the Absolut is still $7.
Turns out they actually charge $7 for a shot of Absolut. Are you kidding me? Friggin absolut? Seriously.
Anyway, so he comes back and tells me, "We don't take advantage of people here, she went above and beyond for you already."
I show him that my bill is still wrong, that we only had 7 shots. After arguing with me and counting the people in our group who had drinks, he finally comes back with a correct bill of $31. (That makes the original bill a 69% overcharge, by the way.)
Me (still feeling a little miffed and hoping to clear everything up because I like to hang on to a good bar and I have too many bartender friends not to at least try to make it all happy): "Thanks for fixing this. I'm confused, though. I felt like everything was all resolved and happy until you said that she went above and beyond for me, so I'm wondering what you meant."
Man Bartender (who has now told me he's not the manager, but is "kind of the head bartender tonight"): "She gave you a discount when she shouldn't have."
Me: "But I asked for cheap tequila and she gave me Patron."
MB: "You saw the Patron before she poured it, you should have stopped her."
Me: "She said she'd give me a discount."
MB: "We don't take advantage of people here. You should have stopped her. Your tab is closed. Have a good time elsewehere. Goodnight."
So I took my group of 8 over to Mr. Smith's and we ran up our tab there instead.
It's unfortunate, because I liked Anu, and I know you've got to have your peeps' backs, but seriously...don't mess it up once it's resolved.
To you, Mr. Kinda the Head Bartender--you just lost the business of 8 young professionals who love to drink it up and are usually pretty damn good tippers. For that night and from now on. Sucks to be you. I'd be mad as hell at you if that was my bar.
Well, okay, not really kicked out. Just politely told that I should enjoy my night elsewhere.
Here's what happened:
I used to like Anu. I met one of my best friends here and saw some great comedy. But that has all changed, and now I will never go back.
Friday night after Avenue Q, my 7 friends and I walked in totally sober ready to drink it up. I started things off with a round of tequila for everyone. The adorable, very friendly bartender (eager for more business because the clientelle was a bit lacking) asked me what kind of tequila I wanted. With a big smile I said "If I'm paying for everyone, it better be the cheapest tequila you've got."
So what does she bring out? A bottle of Patron. Yeah.
I call her out and say, "I asked you for the cheapest tequila and you bring me Patron?" but with a smile so it won't be a big deal.
She says, "I'll give you a discount, it'll be the same."
I think, man, I'm gonna tip this chick well...she's awesome.
One girl in my group won't do tequila, she orders Absolut instead.
Everyone else in the group orders a drink for themselves after the shots...we're planning to drink quite a bit, but we're still stone cold sober.
I decide to close out my tab because my boy had the cash to cover the rest of my drinks. I get my bill. $52 for 7 shots (one member didn't drink). I'm a bit confused, so I take a look...they actually charged me for 8 shots, at $7 a shot. She did offer me a $1 discount on four of the shots...but I'm still a bit confused as to how "the cheapest tequila" turned into $7 shots.
So I pull over another bartender who looks like he's kinda running things. I ask, "what's the cheapest shot of tequila you've got?"
He says, "Jose is normally $5, but it's $4 tonight."
So I show him my bill. He argues that I had Patron. I told him I ordered the cheap crap. As he's fixing the bill, my bartender comes back and I tell her I feel a bit taken advantage of. She said, looking sweet and friendly, that she would never do that, that she misunderstood. I highly doubt this, but I tell her it's cool, I buy it, as long as I get my bill fixed. Man bartender comes back and gives me a new bill, this time for 8 shots at at the correct price, but the Absolut is still $7.
Turns out they actually charge $7 for a shot of Absolut. Are you kidding me? Friggin absolut? Seriously.
Anyway, so he comes back and tells me, "We don't take advantage of people here, she went above and beyond for you already."
I show him that my bill is still wrong, that we only had 7 shots. After arguing with me and counting the people in our group who had drinks, he finally comes back with a correct bill of $31. (That makes the original bill a 69% overcharge, by the way.)
Me (still feeling a little miffed and hoping to clear everything up because I like to hang on to a good bar and I have too many bartender friends not to at least try to make it all happy): "Thanks for fixing this. I'm confused, though. I felt like everything was all resolved and happy until you said that she went above and beyond for me, so I'm wondering what you meant."
Man Bartender (who has now told me he's not the manager, but is "kind of the head bartender tonight"): "She gave you a discount when she shouldn't have."
Me: "But I asked for cheap tequila and she gave me Patron."
MB: "You saw the Patron before she poured it, you should have stopped her."
Me: "She said she'd give me a discount."
MB: "We don't take advantage of people here. You should have stopped her. Your tab is closed. Have a good time elsewehere. Goodnight."
So I took my group of 8 over to Mr. Smith's and we ran up our tab there instead.
It's unfortunate, because I liked Anu, and I know you've got to have your peeps' backs, but seriously...don't mess it up once it's resolved.
To you, Mr. Kinda the Head Bartender--you just lost the business of 8 young professionals who love to drink it up and are usually pretty damn good tippers. For that night and from now on. Sucks to be you. I'd be mad as hell at you if that was my bar.
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