Holiday? What Holiday?

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo... a holiday that commemorates a little-known battle, that is significant to a small region in southern Mexico. I think. Cinco de Mayo has become a fun time for Americans to go out and drink Margaritas or tequila shots, although it isn't a "real" holiday for most of our Mexican compatriots.

I liken it to St. Patrick's Day. A holiday that is ostensibly Irish, but really is a much bigger deal in the States than in Ireland. A chance for Americans to go out and drink Irish beer or whiskey.

When we mentioned to a Russian friend that we were looking for Mexican places in Beijing that might have Cinco de Mayo specials, her first question was "what's Five May?" and when we explained as I just did here, her next question was "So do you have any fake Russian holidays?"

Well, no, not that I know of. 

Then again, it was what, like 150-200 years after the Spanish-American war before we started doing Cinco de Mayo on a grand scale? And right up to the 90s Americans were told to hate and distrust the Russians. So if we consider the Cold War as a marker, we still have about 100-150 years to build cross-cultural ties with Russia before conscripting one of their holidays!

I would like to find one now, and start using a Russian holiday as a chance to celebrate by drinking vodka shooters and Black or White Russians! Let's get on this.

What cross-cultural holidays am I forgetting? 

Chinese New Year is more about fireworks than booze. Maybe.

Mardi Gras - a French holiday to load up on sugar, fat, and liquor.

Others?

My Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas!
 
(I celebrate Christmas, so by wishing you that, I am including you in my celebrations and joy. If you celebrate something else, hopefully my shared joy will extend to that as well.)
 
First...I am cutting myself off from facebook for a while, because people are all goobers. Which doesn't affect you, since my facebook is in my real name and you don't know it, BUT... it's an excellent time to follow me on Twitter right now, since I'm posting there instead. (@notklingonred, in case it's still not showing here.)
 
That said, since only one of you received my actual Christmas card with my annual letter in it, I am posting my letter here, as a letter, with love, to you all:
 

2012…far, far away…

Ho-ho-ho! Happy April Fools Day!

...no joke. I moved back to the Midwest this year.

(I hope that everyone on my Christmas list knows that I moved to Indiana to be nearer to my parents and siblings. If not, well, I did. …Also, you might want to friend me on facebook to stay on top of these things!)
 

When I have an address change, I try to get these out early, so that you will all know

where to find me, but I’ve not been inspired, so it didn’t happen.

Then, at work, we had our quarterly “pitch-in” – that’s Indiana lingo for “potluck” – with a Thanksgiving theme, and all our little post-its listing things we’re thankful for were full of appreciation of family or other close relationships. That’s very sweet, and very true, and of course, “The Right Answer”, but it kind of made me wish I’d written down something more hedonistic.I’m thankful for my hot new car!
I’m thankful for books.
I’m thankful for stupid games I can download onto my phone, to bide my time in long lines.
I’ll be honest – I’m thankful for good wine!

But even trying to be hedonistic, the reality can't be denied:I AM thankful for my family and friends.
I AM thankful for their continued good health.
I am thankful for the new love in my life (even if it’s strange to mention in a Christmas letter).
I’m so thankful that I have the abilities to get out and walk the dog, mow the lawn, bake cookies.
I’m thankful that I live where I can worship God in freedom.
I’m thankful that I live in such a varied country that if I never leave these borders again, there are endless new marvels and mysteries to find that God has placed here for us to enjoy.

At this time of year, with all the chaos involved – the stress of “obligatory” shopping,

the mess of all the baking, the angst of unintended weight-gain, the sleeplessness of travel
– with the joyful chaos that stems from being humans in relationship to one another,
and the sadness that stems from being humans missing the company of one other,

… I cannot help but be thankful that God sent his Son for my sake.
I admit to being more awed by the empty tomb of Easter than by the star and stall of Christmas,

but the humility of the gift of Christmas is truly one to inspire gratitude.

 

Does this gratitude stay? Um…no, to be honest. Not if I don’t think about it. Frustration is my downfall. But the good news is that the Good News IS! When I don’t think of it for a day, or when I forget the joy in the midst of a stressing, seasonal moment, I can always return to it.

And that is something to be truly thankful for. I pray that this season will find you with gratitude in your heart, in the midst of joys and sorrows, stress and peace.
That's it. Enjoy the remainder of the year, now that we've all survived the Mayan apocalypse!
　

Leave Me Alone! I’m Blogging!

I feel like I’ve been offline forever, but I realize it was just the weekend. I’ve been a little distracted, and am losing sense of time. I want it to speed up, but need more of it to successfully wrap up my loose ends out here and arrange all the logistical details of actually getting to the Midwest.

…”Let’s do the time warp again!”

...

...

[Doggone it, I’ll have to try to add the video later. This isn’t working.]

I had a good weekend, although I have to say I’m bit too distracted these days to call it a truly productive weekend. But now, on a beautiful sunny Monday morning – after a week of fog – they actually expect me to work! How dare they.

Seriously, I think I mentally checked out before I ever gave notice at my job. Winter is the very downest of down time in my job (or more accurately, in this region), and that’s when I started reading blogs again, and decided to start a new one. And I’ve been sucked in. On top of my two jobs, my theatre-thing (which is now over), and the church-thing. And planning a move. And they expect me to be all responsible and get work done today. Yeesh.

Anyway, I’m going to put forth the required effort at my job, and hopefully have something pithy and clever to post tomorrow.

(… my mood today is best summed up by Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”. Sweet.)

Today’s reason to celebrate:

It’s the Otago Anniversary in New Zealand! Apparently this day in 1848 the Otago settlement was begun on the South Island. Cheers, Kiwis!

The Movie Whore Dumbs Down

The Movie Whore needed a cinema-fix recently. My shoes had all stayed relatively free from sticking to floors. (The brewery tour reminded me of that.) Needing a fix of sticky shoes and salty popcorn, I took my alter-ego to see This Means War. I have to say, I was hoping to go see The Hunger Games, but realized after my movie-craving began that it’s not out yet! I was afraid that This Means War would be a “date movie”. Bleah. Oh well, dumb movies aren't always a bad thing.

First the good news:

1. There are some really good action sequences.
2. I laughed a lot more than I expected to. Even during some of the action sequences. I actually laughed so hard at one point that I almost choked on a Raisinet. Good reason not to get Raisinets at a movie – which I usually don’t do. I don’t know what prompted me to do it this time.

Bad news:

1. The ending is kind of saccharine, but they add a couple twists to reduce the sweetness, which is fun.
2. She picks the wrong guy, IMHO. Before you shout “Spoiler Alert!” - that is not a spoiler because you don’t know my opinion!

The Movie:

Early on during the movie, The Movie Whore nudged me saying Wow – I am Lauren! – never dating and desperately trying to prevent friends from entering me into some online dating service!...but without Lauren’s actual desire to date and with no ex that I feel a need to impress.

Then we meet Chris Pine’s character – whose incongruous name is NEVER EXPLAINED – and that crazy Whore nudged me again to correct herself: No! This is me! Skeptical of the dating scene and furiously happy in my singleness!...but without all the womanizing and scheming.

That Whore is crazy. And schizophrenic. Personally, it just took a while for me to think of Chris Pine as anyone other can Captain Kirk.

Two other points:

First a direct quote, which I almost didn’t want to quote thinking it would be a spoiler, but the only way it’s a spoiler is if you as a movie-goer are more in sync with this movie than I am. So here it is:

Lauren’s friend says to her, “Don’t choose the better guy. Choose the guy who makes you the better girl.” Wow. So true! Yes indeedy, friend; that is good advice. Personally, I look for the “light bulb moments”. There have been only a couple guys I’ve dated who provided that “light bulb moment”. You know, that moment when someone enlightens you about something either you’ve always wondered about, or never thought to wonder about. (Like Brett’s Rainbow Theory, but with facts.) I’m addicted to the lightbulb. Paradigm shifts are catnip to me. Yum.

And the second thing...

The Movie Whore is very curious: do people really try to work out their problems talking to a mirror? Lauren does that in this movie and I couldn’t help but think it was weird. Of course no one does that in a public restroom - that's a movie device, but even in your own mirror? Do you? I might discuss an issue with myself…sometimes even out loud, but not in a mirror.

Anyway, a fun flick. Probably not one I’ll purchase though.

…and not one that requires a big screen.

Something to celebrate:

Today is "Naw-Ruz" - the Baha'i and Persian New Year. Yes! Another New Years celebration! I love having a reason to break out the bubbly.

Happy New Year, dudes!

Beware the Ides of…Anything!

“Reason to Celebrate”!

I know, I predicted I wouldn’t be posting today, but I forgot about the Ides of March – how could I let today pass without a mention?

Did you know that every month has an “Ides”? Fact. It’s the middle of the month – the 15^th or 13^th, depending on the month in the ancient Roman calendar.

~~~I’m sure you’re relieved that I’m here to tell you these things!
~~~ For full details, visit Cranky&Difficult, here.

I don’t know what the traditional celebration involves for the Ides of March. Well, except for stabbing emperors. …Which I will TOTALLY do for you if you need me too! (I’m obsessed with sharp things, as we all know.)

For myself, I wasn’t kidding yesterday when I said I was taking the whole afternoon off. My office-mate and I are going out for a late lunch and then going up to a local Craft Brewery to take the tour. It’s time for me to start saying good-bye to the places and things I’ll miss about Delaware, and Dogfishhead is one of them. (no, I’m not on the payroll, but I’ve shared this nectar of the gods with all my family. Check them out, they’re sold in most states now.)

This will be my third time taking the tour. Dogfishhead is not only really good, flavorful, unique beer, but they are an environmentally friendly company and the tour is very cool.

So for the Ides of March I’ll drink like an emperor – in terms of quality at any rate. Definitely their "Midas Touch" (especially 'cause it's warm and lovely out, and this is the perfect brew for out back on the deck) and I might have to try the "Theobroma" ("food of the gods") if it's in production, because didn't the Caesars claim to be gods? How will you honor the day?

Tomorrow you really won’t hear from me. Remember that meeting that caused my major office faux pas a few weeks ago? That meeting is tomorrow, all day at the other end of the state. (teehee, the fun of living in such a small state. >sigh< I really will miss the bragging rights of “second smallest state in the union”!)

I’ll be back on St. Patrick’s Day, if there’s anything left to say!

Party on, dudes...and "Beware the Ides of March"!

An American in …India!

Reminiscing seems very popular in the blogosphere these days. And then Bozo has me thinking about my days in India. I think a lot of Americans have a one-sided perception of this country, and it makes me a little sad.

A couple years ago the pastor at my church went on a short-term mission trip to India. When I had a chance to talk to him about the trip, I was immediately let down. I don’t blame him, but I have to assume the organizers in India made a point to take their American visitors to every run-down village they operated in, perhaps to emphasize the poverty and the need. I get it. Marketing’s a bitch. Either that or my pastor was so dialed into the need and poverty that he didn’t open his eyes to the GLORIOUS RICH HERITAGE and CULTURE that is India!

Even just driving between villages …did he not drive past any low-walled gardens with shrines and peacocks? We used to pass those all the time! Could be a dry-looking stretch of open highway and all of a sudden there’s this garden/shrine thing right by the road! And I don’t mean “low-walled” as in someone slapped a 2-foot picket fence around a 100-square-foot plot of land. The walls are some kind of stone, usually painted, and somewhat sculpted along the top: scallops and domes, stuff like that. I wish I’d taken pictures, but who knew? For me, it was just life. Really, we don’t take pictures of the stuff we always see, do we? We can’t know that decades later it might seem unique.

Yes, cows roam free in India, but they aren’t really in the way, and they aren’t like American cattle. It’s not like someone just opened the gate of a dairy farm. It’s hard to explain. Maybe I’ll tackle that subject some other time.

My school was in southern India, in the mountains. Home was in Sri Lanka, in the mountains. As the crow flies, the two places were maybe…400 miles apart? Something like that. But… BWAHaHAHAhahahaha! Getting there was something else.

Here you go: Doesn't look very far apart! 

Home was in the dark spot in the Island of Sri Lanka.
School was in India, probably parallel with the northern tip of Sri Lanka.
(map from wikipedia) 

First, we had a four-hour drive (approximately) down through the tea estates of Sri Lanka to the capital city of Colombo. These roads are narrow, with long stretches only one lane wide, and if you came upon another vehicle one of you had to back up until the road widened. The roads were also pot-holey. Motion sickness was fairly common, but not to be complained about. “Suck it up and deal” was the name of the game. We would make a stop around the half-way point and have a snack and soda, or buy pineapples or something. (Oh! The PINEAPPLES! But that’s another post.) Usually this drive was made the day before flying out, and we would stay with another missionary family overnight. That part was good fun, like a going away slumber party.

The flight was only about an hour or so. We’d fly from Colombo to (usually) Tiruchirupalli or (sometimes) Trivandrum – these city names will likely only mean anything to Bozo , who lives in the region. Either place had an airport unlike any I’ve seen since. First, there was no jetway, just a stairway to the tarmac. The luggage was hand-searched. The waiting area was un-air-conditioned, and crowded with people and luggage. …No-no. Crowded. Not like in line for the Phillies game. Crowded. Elbow-to-elbow people. Yeah, more like that… Look again at that map. Firmly ensconced within the tropics. Elbow-to-elbow, hot-and-sweaty people. With no A.C., ceiling fans were in plentiful supply. (funny the things you remember, isn't it?)

The school would schedule (or have the families schedule) students to arrive at one airport or another on the same day, and send down a bus. …not like the yellow school busses we have here, but not totally unlike. There was a huge luggage rack on top and a ladder down the back for ease of loading the luggage, and the bus was blue, and not air-conditioned, but the seats were similar, as were the windows. …I think it was shorter than the standard US busses. Yep, that's right. I rode “the short bus” to school. (but there was no other length.)

After everyone had arrived and the bus was loaded, off we’d go. The bus trip was about 4-5 hours, as I recall. We’d cross a vast plain before reaching the Eastern Ghats – the mountain range containing a town and small lake, both called Kodaikanal. The plains were hot and depending on the season, dry and yellow or green and lush. But the mountains…

I have never seen this any other place I’ve been. The mountain range rises abruptly out of the plain. No gradual about it. You’re driving a straight road on flat land, watching a mountain range come at you from the distance and suddenly you’re on switchback roads where each hairpin turn creates a new view that is distinctly higher than the last. ...again, wishing I'd taken pictures.

You know how the pyramids just come up out of nothing? Yeah, more sharply than that, though. And with hairpin turns.

I’m sure there’s a specific elevation range where the ecology changes, but come on, I was in Jr. High, what did I know? All I can say is pretty soon we were cooling off; then pulling out jackets or cardigans. Again with the pot-holes, but I somehow remember the roads being a little wider than the tea estate roads of Sri Lanka. Who knows – I was a kid.

The monkeys, though! That’s a noise that just becomes ambient noise once you’re used to it. Like the ocean now that I live near the shore…it’s just there. If the bus stopped for a break, we found out the hard way: don’t sit too close to the trees or you’ll get a monkey in your hair!

...I’m cutting myself off there. I could go on and on, and probably will, but I’m getting a little long-winded. Maybe the next time it will be about the dorm, or hiking, or sunrise Easter service looking out over the plains, or the riots in town when trouble broke out in neighboring Sri Lanka between different ethnic groups. Yeah, probably that.

In other news: Something To celebrate!

I’m so sorry I forgot to mention the Friday was Holi – a Hindu festival also known as the “festival of colors”. Part of the celebration includes throwing scented flowers or perfumes on each other, and there’s a bonfire at night. Sweet.

It’s Commonwealth Day in Australia today, so go out and get some Fosters Lager to toast our Aussie friends!

Something Serious, Something Fun…For Me

Seriously, dudes…

Today is “International Women’s Day”. In honor of the day, I would like to say that my favorite woman ever, of all time, across all political, geographical or chronological boundaries is Aung San Suu Kyi. This woman is the big bomb-diggity of everything! I’d like to say she inspires me, but I have no interest in getting involved in politics, and I’m not likely to change the world or my country in any major way, so maybe “inspire” isn’t the correct word. I will say she gives me hope for the planet. As long as there are women like her who are concerned enough to step up when needed, there is hope for us all.

I hope that the changes being promised by the Burmese government will actually take place, but will skeptically wait and see. Freeing Suu Kyi from house arrest was simply a good political move to make them look good in the eyes of the world, but what is really going on in the hills and jungles of Burma? 

…And yes, I’m using the name “Burma” intentionally. Did you know that it was the military dictatorship that simply decided to change the country’s name to “Myanmar”? If we don’t recognize the political leadership as having true authority, why are we accepting their enforced name change? Hmm?

~~~~~

Fun for me (teehee) ... 

Dudes, I am a Geography Nerd (among my various nerd-hats). I had a whole post written about the Storm of ’62 (which I advised you yesterday was the 50^th anniversary, and a reason to celebrate), because personally, I think it’s fascinating to watch weather make monkeys of us all. But then as I told my mom about this documentary about it that any weather-junkie or geography-junkie would love, she suggested it was fascinating to me not for those reasons, but because I’m connected to the area. Okay, maybe so.

It’s one thing I’ll miss when I move. Delaware is an unfound state to most people. I’m a Geography Nerd and still used to have to find it through process of elimination! …you know, one by one naming the rest of the small states, until only Delaware was left. (hint: we’re not in New England.)

But since most Americans are NOT geography nerds, and most of my readers from outside the US don’t really need to know specifically where I am, I deleted all the boring delightful geography-related stuff. However, so that they don’t revoke my Geography Nerd card, I feel I MUST at least include a map, so here:

(I love worldatlas[dot]com.)

Don’t you think Delaware looks a bit like Idaho, only shrunk down? (and without the mountains, but you can't tell that from a map.)

...here, for comparison... 

Yeah!

Indiana’s not nearly so interesting.

...But at least I’ll be able to eat popcorn off a cob! (For real. I have photos. If you’re good maybe someday I’ll show you.)

AND of course: Reasons to Celebrate!
International Women's Day, obviously. (We're doing a Girls' Night Out at a Mexican restaurant, for no particular reason.)
Also, "Purim", a Jewish festival celebrating liberation from the Persians.
Also? It's a Full Moon! Get your HOWL on!

Reply All = EPIC FAIL!!!

This is TOO GOOD NOT TO POST!

So, it’s late in the workday, and I got an email from someone about planning a major meeting involving several lord-high muckymucks for sometime in March, and requesting response about the better date.

The date choices offered were 3/16 and 3/23. I have plans in the evening on 3/23, which wouldn’t really be a problem, but I’d prefer the 3/16 option, since the location is up-state. (Delaware’s small, but still…) I added that some of us might even enjoy going out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day after the meeting adjourned, since it will be an all-day affair and we don’t all see each other very often, being spread across the state.

After suggesting going out after the meeting I added the phrase, “I know, beach party animal, me” with a smiley face. Because in the state of Delaware, those of us who live near the beach are notoriously more laid-back and carefree, and presumably drink and party more than those up north. It's just a stereotype... Really... Shut up.

Because these emails are typically sent by one of my counterparts, to all the rest of the people in our same position, I hit “reply all”, as I usually do. Because I enjoy being around my counterparts and again, it doesn’t happen often, so I wanted to include anyone who might find the suggestion agreeable.

My first two replies were from people who do NOT hold my same position.

Hmm…I must have made a mistake. How did Mary and Susan know about this meeting if it was just for us? (Mary and Susan are friends of mine, who actually work in an office closer to my home, and who I have in fact gone out with. It would be great if they were there! Awesome!)

Let me just look at the “sent to” portion…

Holy. Crap-eroni! With bells on.

CC’ed to ALL the superintendents, all the administrators, some people from other offices I don’t usually deal with and who therefore don’t-know-about-my-witty-humor-and-good-nature, and THE BIG BOSS HIMSELF!!!! (who is a very nice guy, but not someone I want to go out with on St. Paddy’s)

Epic. Fail.

My office-mate and I laughed uproariously as I recited names off the "sent to" and "CC" list.

Then I attempted a “message recall”. The list of people with “recall failures” (meaning they’d already read my faux pas) is pretty humorous, too…including a previous supervisor with a great sense of humor who I’ve no doubt will have something to say!

Boy, is my face red.

I then sent a more specific email to only those I thought I was “replying all” to, explaining my thoughts on potentially going out that night. Schadenfreude being what it is, they should all get a laugh! (it’s German, look it up.)

(I know, I'm posting twice in one day. Please don't ignore my previous post, I'm still seeking feedback. Just had to get this out there.)

So now I'm Dreaming about Blogging? Crap.

To quote Holly Golightly, "Quelle Night!" (please correct my French, if you know where the accent goes.)

That’s right. Last night I had two “blogocentric” dreams. First I dreamed that The Bloggess turned me into a cartoon on her page. If you read her regularly, as I think the entire blogging world does, then you understand how this dream came about.

Second, I dreamed that I actually met my internet-fiance (blog-fiance? I still don’t know what we are…), Brett of the Transformed Non-conformist, only we still didn’t meet. That dream was kind of Scooby-Doo-ish. You know, lots of going in random doors and coming out others? …But I kept running into his son, who didn’t look like the son Brett posts about in his blog, but I knew it was him because, you know how in dreams you just know? Yeah, that. Also, random members of my own family kept popping up behind the various doors. Hmm… Parse that one, dream-analysts!

(For anyone new to my blog, check out the comment section of this post to catch up. There’s more in Brett's blog, but this is where it started.)

I should explain that these dreams occurred AFTER I awoke at 1:30 a.m., had a small dose of Angry Birds Opium and, unable to go back to sleep after an hour of trying, I finally gave up, grabbed my pillow, and went into the living room to try to doze to a movie. Didn’t really work for a good long while, but obviously I slept at some point, long enough for two distinct dreams.

It’s Karma.

The rough night is, I mean.

See, yesterday was not the first time I took a “mental health day”. I don’t do it often, but I have done it before. However, yesterday I bragged about it online. Shame on me! Not that anyone I know is on here, or even knows about this blog, but still, I tempted fate, and fate accepted the bait, Doggone it.

Since I’m not on-form today, and while I’m inserting links like …wow, there are so many great analogies for that one and my brain is just off. Pick your analogy of choice. Wait, let me know your “link inserting” analogy of choice in the comment-section.

ANYway, I would like to point you to an LOL-funny blog I found recently: Sara's  Tangled Skein is a riot - at least she tickles my distorted funny-bone, so I hope you feel the same. If I ever get out to Spokane, I am totally taking this chica out for coffee (or something). She doesn’t post often, but it’s a gem when she does. So, since I’m not making you laugh, check her out!

AND for today’s reason to celebrate:

Today is the 25^th anniversary of the closest exploding star seen on Earth since the telescope was invented. (Supernova 1987A, in the Large Magellanic Cloud, if you’re counting.) WHAT? A supernova?

Awesome.

Someone needs to create a drink called the supernova…or maybe “exploding star”. Either way.

...Maybe it should have bubbles… sweet. Happy Supernova, everyone!

Playing Hooky and Proud of It!

Hey Dudes!
(Sorry if "dude" annoys you. I live at the beach, and picked it up somehow. I'm not using it to be gender-specific, if that's not obvious. I've decided that ya'll are my "dudes". Deal.)

ANYway...
Hey, Dudes - I'm totally playing hooky today. Or, as my former boss would say, "taking a mental health day". Sometimes you just need an extra day to play catch up on life, sleep, housework, and since I have no definite commitment this evening, how nice not to have to drive anywhere. You know, saving gas is VERY good for the mental health!

Yes, I'm a little sniffly.
Yes, I could with some exaggeration claim I'm crampy.
Yes, my throat has bothered me the last few mornings.
Maybe, it could be pollen-related.
No, I don't feel like I'm on my death bed and cannot move.

I called in to take a sick-day, knowing that these days are so NOT busy at work that nobody will miss me. Besides most of the management is at a big conference today. And I've had a very productive day thus far! I'd launch into a "six impossible things I did before breakfast" but they're not impossible, not all before breakfast, and probably not six.

"Mental health, riiiight..." you say? Here's how mentally healthful this is:

1. Before I even got up I had beaten that Angry Birds level I was stuck at - Yea! Body releases dopamine into my system. Good for the mental health.
2. I moved on into some of the "nickel-slot-style" easy-win levels, but successfully put down the Angry Birds even without feeling stuck on a level! Conquering an addiction. Good for the mental health.
3. After rising, I exercised (which looks spelled wrong) releasing positive endorphines. Good for the mental health.
4. Ate sugary cereal for breakfast, which takes me back to my youth, when we never kept sugared cereal in the house so it was a very unique occasion and always at someone else's house, like Grandma's. Ah, nostalgia. A little nostalgia is good for the mental health.
5. After finishing breakfast, the kettle whistled, I made my giant mug of Earl Grey and went for a walk on the beach. (Dude, it's supposed to get into the upper 60s today, how could I not?) About 45 minutes. Endorphines AND Vitamin C. Very good for the health and mental health. Also, more exercise. SO healthy! Plus meditation time, excellent.
6. When I got out of the shower, I set up a time to skype with my parents later today. We talk every Wednesday, which is unbelievably vital to my mental health. They keep me grounded.
7. I also emailed a friend for her address so I can send her birthday gift, finally. If she gets back to me today, I can wander in to the Post Office and mail it. Sense of accomplishment: good for the mental health!

...and that's just the things I've already done. I still intend to do some of that "catch up" housekeeping, and if time and energy allow, I may even get going on my "organize my house" resolution by rearranging things or at least doing the prep-work. (I've already measured the spaces I want things to go, but need to clear bookshelves in order to move them.)

If it's truly warm, I'll have a beer on my deck later, because that makes me feel like summer's coming and although I'm not particularly a summer-lover, I do enjoy my deck, and again, out on the deck I'll be getting more vitamin C, and curing some cabin fever. ...wait, what time is sunset? Maybe I'll make it a mixed drink and have a "sun-downer" as my dad calls it.

AND on another note:
Today's "reason to celebrate" for those of you who will not be partaking of the Ash Wednesday tradition (which ya can't really call a "celebration" anyway, can ya?) is "Losar" or Tibetan New Year! Excellent! ANOTHER New Year! Get out the bubbly, everyone!

Lupercalia - your REAL Valentine

Now that you all know how I feel about Valentines Day, allow me to introduce Lupercalia – a pagan holiday that takes place February 13-15, and may be the reason that the ancient Christian church decided it needed a holiday at this time (you know, to Christian-up a pre-existing party). Wikipedia tells me that Lupercalia was to “avert evil spirits and purify the city, releasing health and fertility”…sounds like an orgy to me!

Originally, I was inspired to write about books today – seeing that I can’t stop buying them, and the first thing anyone sees on entering my house is my “books purchased but not yet read” (several purchased second-hand, but still). But when the term “bibliophile” was used in my general direction as I perused The Onion's "Our Dumb World" atlas, I realized that I’d be writing a love story. And I, for one, will not write about love on February 14 (hereafter known as Lupercalia)!

Tangent:

When my dearest friend got my Christmas card and letter this year, she said “You should write love stories” …or maybe it was “You should write romances”. Something like that. Knowing my utterly non-romantic nature, I still don’t get it.

ANYhoo!

I’m glad I found out about Lupercalia. I've heard "happy valentines day" enough today to make my ears bleed. Now at least I can reply with a "happy lupercalia" in return. ...I actually got an email from a (male) friend who really should know better. The email's subject was "happy valentines day". I did not open it - figured I'll wait at least until tomorrow, because clearly this dear old friend who has known me for 15 years (ish) does not actually know me at all. Such a shame. I can only assume that he's just following "the Valentines Day rules" and not really thinking about the person he sent the email to.

For my part, I'm having second thoughts about my movie choice for later tonight. What do I have that could be construed as "pagan celebration" - 300? One of the Harry Potters? LOTR? Wizard of Oz? In a world where anything goes, what still counts as pagan?

Your Bloody Valentine's Day...

I’m not a fan of Valentine’s Day and it has nothing to do with being “alone” which is my choice, or being “reminded that I don’t have anyone” or anything like that. I don’t wear black in protest, or mourning, or whatever that’s supposed to signify.

Here’s my deal: It’s NOT ROMANTIC, homies! St. Valentine was a martyr! While incarcerated he wrote notes to the jail-keeper’s daughter and signed them “your” – as was common even in Jane Austen’s day – which gave us the phrase “your Valentine”. …at least that’s the popular one of many saints Valentine. February 14 celebrates the date of his burial. Happy Valentine’s Day, ya’ll!

Besides, if you love someone, do you really need a special day to tell them? Haven’t you already told them? Don’t you show them in myriad ways? If not, shame on you. Doing something special on Valentine’s Day is a cop-out. How much nicer when it’s a surprise for no reason!

So okay, a lot of people might appreciate a “gimme” holiday that basically tells you what to do and how to celebrate. Fine. But really? Named after - and celebrated on -  the day a MARTYR was BURIED? Let’s call it what it is: Happy “Hallmark Totally Made This Up” Day. Or, my personal favorite: Happy “Anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” Day. Heehee. Did I mention I used to live in Chicago?

I’m wracking my brain, and I don’t think I’ve actually been in a relationship on the fake holiday. But then, if I was involved with someone who decided to “do something special” on that day, I would probably get up and walk out of the restaurant, or otherwise ruin all the careful planning. Because really, if we’re together, you KNOW this about me. You KNOW I find this holiday trite and phony and a waste of time and money. So if you have made the colossal mistake of attempting “romance” (key point: I’m not romantic, either - at least not in a traditional way) then you MUST be hinting that it’s time for our relationship to end.

I actually have a commitment – not romantic, and not one-on-one – tomorrow night, so it’s a non-issue for me. But when I get home? Sweats and the movie “Some Like It Hot” which opens in Chicago and includes reference to the massacre in question.

And maybe pizza.

And a beer.

Ah, romance!

To all those who also are not celebrating this martyr: You're welcome for the logical excuse.

Angry Birds, a.k.a. The Opium App

Are you aware of this phenomenon called “Angry Birds”? I have many nieces and nephews – and a very trendy sister – so I’ve been aware of its existence possibly since its beginning. Never cared. SO not a gamer.

Cute idea though…haha…birds exacting revenge on pigs by flinging themselves from a sling-shot. I can see the attraction for a 10 year old!

I’ve had my smart-phone a month now, and have avoided games, unless you count Sudoku.

Yesterday I observed someone playing “papijump”, “papipole” and such, on their IPod-touch. These apps seemed easy to put down and pick up later – not based on levels or anything, so I thought that might be a nice diversion. I don’t have an IPod, but figure all smart-phones surely offer similar apps.

At bedtime I opened the App Store in all innocence to seek out a free, mindless diversion. One of the first things showing was Angry Birds. Little Angry Bird toys were the hit at family Christmas this year, and my 2yo nephew even imitates their birdy-noises, so I decided to download it and finally check it out – time to get this outdated Aunt back to today! (mwahahahahahaha...)

AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER… I finally put the phone down, turned off the light, curled into the fetal position and cried myself to sleep in the yearning to keep playing. Oh, my eyes: the burn of late-night phone-screen! Oh the lost sleep! Oh, the ache of not completing that level I finally bailed on! I want more, but can’t stay awake to take it! Boo-hoo, woe is me!

The game is just so cute! So harmless…cute little cartoon birdies, cute little round snorting piggies – who get black eyes if you wound but don’t “poof” them! …I’m sure they aren’t killed, they’re just poofed into another dimension. No game this cute could kill!

But I. Must. Finish. This. Level!

Have you played this? There’s like 30 levels on each level! And they’re quick, mostly, so it’s like winning at nickel-slots (I suppose). You win, win, win, (nickel, nickel, nickel) and suddenly you get stuck on one and REFUSE to abandon it knowing the payoff must come soon!

Oh the horror.

…credit where credit is due, I refused to allow myself to roll over this morning and call in late to work from the lost sleep. I do have some pride. That would be worse than calling in with a hangover! – which I’ve also never done, thankyouverymuch.

I read that Opium is immediately addictive. That taking it once means your body immediately requires it. Okay, well, that was presumably an exaggeration, but by all accounts it is highly addictive, compared to other drugs.

I fear that Angry Birds is the same. I can’t wait until I have time to attack that level again! Probably not until I fall into bed again at the end of the day. I’m not at the point of playing Angry Birds instead of eating though. When I get there, get me help!

on another note: 

(Celebrations today, for those needing a reason to bust out the champagne: Nirvana Day in the Buddhist world, Tu B’Shevat in the Jewish world, and John Williams’ 80^th birthday in the Star Wars world!)

Superbowl - Well, not really, but almost

Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll post about the Superbowl, since everyone else seems to be avoiding the elephant in the room.

Because here’s the thing – it seems that most of us (that I’ve read, anyway) in the blogosphere pride ourselves on our nerdiness. Myself included.

But here’s the other thing: I LOVE me some football! (American-style. What most of the world calls football, although appropriately named, is too tame and predictable for this random maniac.)…(Actually I think I would prefer a cricket match to soccer, just because it’s more confusing and therefore less predictable.)

But I digress…

I was raised with a high-school football star of a father, reliving his glory days whenever allowed. Although I’ve mentioned that my mom wouldn’t let him tell me all his teenage stories, football was okay, so in middle-school – since we lived overseas and American football was not readily available, my dad started having “chalk-talks” with me during summer vacations, reviewing plays and positions, and all that good stuff.

So by the time we came back to the States – to Chicago, the year they won Superbowl XX – I was well-versed in the sport and truly appreciated all the football I could ever watch. Frankly, I’m surprised more of my brainiac buddies aren’t in love with it. Football seems to me a thinking-man’s sport. The sheer variety of ways used to move the football down the field, the details of what makes a play illegal, and the to-the-untrained-eye seemingly capricious penalties applied could fill a book – oh wait. It does: The players’ handbook. (haha)

I’ve not watched football this year, though, for two reasons:

1.       Stupid players' union striking for more money during the off-season really put me off. Seriously? You need more money? In this economy? Ba$!ards. (sorry. I never swear. You know I don’t, but I could not think of a more appropriate clean term.)

2.       I decided to stop allowing my cable company to bleed me dry and cancelled my contract with them, which means I have no TV access at my house. It’s been a great experiment, and I was honestly most concerned about surviving football season, which I have now done, so Yea, me!

But the Superbowl is my favorite National Unofficial Holiday, so I had to party! I got together with the same friends as usual, and it was fun. Of course. Actually, I think I was more social this year because none of us really had a team in the game. As one person called it (based on the logos on the players’ helmets): “m&ms vs. the post office”! haha. Take a look at the Giants’ logo, and see if that isn’t the same font-type as m&ms! Hilarious.

I ate too much, but didn’t drink too much. Partly because I’d had a few earlier in the day, but mostly, I was just happy to be relaxing at a friend’s house because Sunday was insane for me - on the go until I arrived in her kitchen and offered pretend-assistance while munching on pita-chips and hummus while her hubby made some outstanding guacamole. Yum. I was glad the Giants won, mostly because they beat the Packers in the playoffs. The Packers, who suck with major cheese-loving suckage, but seemed to be winning a lot. I don’t hate any people, but I truly hate the Packers with an undying hatred that sears into my eyeballs and makes my hair bleed.

My dearly beloved brother is a Packer-backer. ...

I have to forgive him for this on a regular basis.

And he’s raising his son, my godson, into the cult.

Oh the shame of it.

Okay, so I didn’t really write about the Superbowl, just the cult of the NFL.

...and happy Waitangi Day, New Zealand! (I don't understand this holiday enough to write about it, but it's a big deal, so rock on!)

Time to Celebrate! (hint: it’s ALWAYS time to celebrate)

I believe in celebrating whatever there is. I’m a big fan of celebrating Thursdays, just because of the line in HHGG “Must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.” Mind you, I don’t party all the time or anything.

Yesterday, in my rant, I neglected to mention that it was Philip Glass’ birthday! What? Who’s that, you ask? I know. I came across him by accident. Or rather, I discovered who he was by accident.

(brief explanatory tangent)

Philip Glass is a (now) 75yo composer of classical-style music. I happened to be at the symphony a while back where the featured guest violin-soloist was performing a concerto by Philip Glass. I’d never heard of him, but had the tickets anyway. Part way through the performance I caught myself all tensed up – you know when you catch yourself slouching and sit up straight? Like that, only my guts were tight, my arms were tight, and my hands were in fists. I consciously relaxed myself and paid attention to the music, thinking “I’ve had that same feeling before, when was it?” And it dawned on me: the movie The Illusionist. Did you see that movie? Watch it again and listen to the music in the background. It sounds like anxiety, like worry, but is incredibly sexy at the same time. Anyway, when I got home, I checked and sure enough: Philip Glass composed the music for The Illusionist.

(Later, I was watching a documentary about the big nor’easter that destroyed southern Delaware “The ’62 Storm” and recognized his style again. Very notable composer, once you know his work.)

So last night, I toasted to Philip Glass' 75th birthday. Happy birthday, composer I've never met!

But that was yesterday.

Today is Imbolc – Happy Imbolc everyone!

Wait – what’s Imbolc you ask? Don't worry, I’d never heard of it either.

Well… my new, very cool planner that includes all kinds of holidays from many different religions and nationalities refers to Imbolc as “pagan/wiccan”. According to Wikipedia, which of course we all know to be the source of all knowledge, Imbolc celebrates the coming of spring and the lengthening of days. It marks the midway point between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox.

Eh, not a wild party day, but still, it’s something! Apparently the ancient gaelic people celebrated by having a big fire and drinking milk and eating a special kind of bread with butter. Also, divination…supposed to make predictions about the spring. Haha! Kind of like Groundhog Day!

So in deference to the “celebration of the coming of spring”, I cut some fresh rosemary for my coworkers from my huge giant rosemary bush – did you know rosemary is supposed to help creative brain function? Just fyi. (i.e. good to give to coworkers.)

Anyway…Celebrate! Celebrate something! I always keep a bottle of champagne in the fridge just in case there becomes something to celebrate – I don’t want to be caught off guard with nothing celebratory on hand! It’s an attitude, not a party. Whether it’s just wishing people a “happy February” or going out for lunch, or splurging on that frou-frou coffee drink in the middle of the afternoon, or actually having a party, there’s always something!

...and hopefully I will remember that when I really hate the world and all of life!