Today is Friday night/Saturday morning. I'm tired from too much Chinese food and cosmopolitans. And from laughing too hard at my neighbor's Chihuahua's obsession with licking (and I do mean licking, in a kind of dirty way) their cat's ass. Jalapeno, the Chihuahua, is consumed on a daily basis with licking their cat, Peel, in a naughty way. There just seems to be so very, very much animal boy-on-boy action at our house, it's just a bit silly.

Richard and I were checking out Myspace.com, being online stalkers for a little while. It's strange to see what has become of people, and how very accepting they are of placing personal details out where anyone can see them. (Says the girl in her blog, I know). However, I don't place a lot of terribly personal things out there, either, so I'm not sure what that says about me... Or them...

My workshop went well, I think. Generally complimentary, although the time structure of the story really seemed to baffle a few people. I'm not sure if I'll just leave it alone, or if I'll monkey with it. I have to wait a while and come back to them, I'm not really good at going right back to something after it has been discussed to death.

It is so very cold tonight, after the warmth we've had this week. I know I shouldn't complain, it's just that it seems so hard to switch from 90 degree weather to 50 degree weather in less than 48 hours. It makes 50 degrees so much colder.

I'm watching a documentary on dolphins, and they are cute, in an anthropormorphic kind of way, until you get closer and see their eyes. Which are actually a bit disturbing. Its just a dark spot until you can see the pupil distinctly. Then it is a huge animal staring at you. Understanding you. Which is scarier somehow than the knowledge in a chimpanzee's eyes, or in a gorilla's. Yeah, I'm not hot on them. They're just a little too smart for their own good, if you catch my drift....

It is now early Tuesday, and I am up for workshop on Thursday. It just occurred to me that I was going to go through it again. So soon, somehow. I am glad that this time snuck up on me- no time to get super worried and neurotic about it. I really have no idea what people are going to say about this one. It's really kind of strange, when you think about it.

This story just made me so annoyed when I wrote it. But now I kind of like it.

I'm sure after it's been workshopped to death I will detest it with a renewed vigor. At least this time I won't just want to cry afterwards. So that's a bit of a plus, a bright side, if you will.

I've been reading Flannery O'Connor this week. As a result, I am feeling just a tiny bit shaky, faced with the master. She is just simply amazing, this woman. If you haven't read her, you NEED to go buy a copy of "A Good Man is Hard to Find." That collection leaves you with your jaw hanging- she is just so good at this. I just love her.

I can't write this week, but I just love her anyway. I'll probably never write anything. (I should rephrase that. I'll never write anything good. I'll write masses of self indulgent tripe).

Anyhow, I am going to finish the hot cocoa my husband made me and go bed. (For almost seven whole hours of sleep. Woo-Hoo! That is a good chunk by my insomniac standards).

Catch y'all later.

I work with a girl from Vietnam, who came to America when she was a child. We were discussing tattoos the other day, and I mentioned a friend's LaCoste alligator tattoo. She said that the alligator was kind of puffy. "Puffy? You mean it sticks out, on the shirt?" I asked.

"No, I mean it's a fat alligator. In Vietnam, the alligators are skinny."

"I didn't know there were any alligators in Vietnam. Huh."

"Yeah, we have one. At the zoo. They don't feed him enough and he's really skinny."

So she made me laugh for about half an hour, and it's still good for a giggle now. So now I know that there is one alligator in Vietnam. And he could apparently use a couple extra meals.

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Last night we went to the Bridges auditorium to see Willie Nelson. It was fun, but I have to say (I'm not a true committed Willie Nelson fan) that after a couple of drinks, the songs all started to sound like "Crazy", the Patsy Cline song that Willie wrote. It struck me that this is the only concert that I have ever been to that has used a Texas state flag as a backdrop. There really aren't that many events I would actually attend that involve a Texas state flag.

The other little note I wrote to myself about the show was how I remembered going to see Johnny Cash at the Midstate Fair in Paso Robles when I was about 10, which made me remember that my grandmother was so excited to see Johnny Cash. She would have loved to have seen Willie Nelson, too. I wrote in my little notebook, "Willie's voice is sweet, and Johnny's is like a hangover with soul."

So I just got back from workshop, and it seems that I am work-shopping a story next week, the one below. One of the people who was going to workshop was ill tonight, so I gave my story to Lisa and she copied it and there we go.

I'm actually not nervous this time. I felt sick to my stomach every single time I thought about it last semester. I almost feel.... relaxed? about it this time around. This story is just different, somehow. I don't feel as personal about this one, and I kind of feel as if it were more finished, I guess.

I am so tired that my hands have started shaking and I'm having trouble typing, so I'm off to bed.

PA, if you're reading this, smile and enjoy the shade of your own tree. You have shaken free.

Good night, world.

We spoke of racism on Tuesday, my husband and I. We spoke of poor people, African Americans, the dispossessed of the South. We spoke of the uncaring responses of government, with the exception (at that time) of the mayor of New Orleans. We spoke of our sadness and our shame at living in a country that could callously deflect their responsibilty towards our citizens.

We talked about the shame of living in a racist society, where all it takes is a tragedy to bring our worst attributes floating to the surface. I know that many citizens in the United States feel the same way. We are right to be ashamed, to expect so much more from our government. I am inclined to think about my government officials as my employees. If this is the case, since I do pay the wages (as do you, my tax-paying friend), I should seriously think of replacing them. Perhaps pressing criminal charges, as well. Isn't it criminal negligence to allow another human to die when you have the power to prevent it?

I truly believe that this should awful event allow us to take the time to examine what is truly wrong with America. Is instituting a police state and handing out a few "relief" debit cards really the best response? Can we allow our leadership to contend that everyone (FEMA for example) is doing a great job when we have thousands of hopeless homeless people waiting for assistance? When there are maggot swollen corpses lying on the sidewalks of an American city? When the only assistance the government seems to want to offer is soldiers with guns?

What, indeed, is wrong with America?

Please read this article, available at TheNation.com.

This is my little note to the Democrats and Liberals of America

Please do not sell out half of the population by moving toward the right. Be brave and strong and do what is right for America. We must endlessly strive for equality for everyone. The double tragedy America is facing must serve to enforce that America today is not the mythical land of equality. We have lost Americans in Hurricane Katrina and proceeded to treat survivors shamefully because they are poor African Americans. We have neglected to help and this is simply not acceptable, as color and economic status should have NO impact on our treatment of our fellow Americans. The second tragedy I speak of is the death of our Chief Justice. We must not sucumb to the conservative lies. We must hold ourselves to the standards set for us. We must stand up for what we believe in, or we have nothing. To quote an early feminist, Freya Stark, "There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do." I agree and continue her thought- There can be no equality and true freedom if the things we believe are different from the things we do.

The Religious Right Co-Opts T-Rex

There is an article in the LA Times that explains that a group of religious people have purchased the large dinosaur statue off of the 10 freeway in order to show people that dinosaurs were on earth a mere 6000 years ago, since that's when the earth was created. Click here to read the story at LATimes.com

This is complete nonsense, which led a few friends and I to contemplate the concept of incorporating T-Rex into religious icons and paintings. We pondered the idea of T-Rex crucifixes, with tiny little arms nailed to the cross. We thought of a painting of T-Rex madonna and child, (T-Rex of course having difficulty once again due to her tiny arms), a painting of the Sistine Chapel, featuring T-Rexes touching their teeny finger tips. A "Last Supper" with T-Rexes sharing T-Rex jesus' last meal.

I wonder if there is something chemically imbalanced in the severely religious. Perhaps it is something that can be addressed with medication in the future. It is startling to remember that there are people with these views in our government, with power to limit our scientific research and advances. Maybe we need legislation limiting the effect of religion on our society....

Journler Kicks A**

Well, I guess that this is my first journal entry. I am trying out a program called Journler. This is kind of a neat program that will hopefully allow me to keep a journal on my laptop. I kind of hate writing on paper, since I can't read my handwriting, and then I lose all the scraps of paper.

This is organized pretty well, and I think that I really will use this. It is a lot easier than trying to organize a journal via AppleWorks. This is a very cool way to blog. I am using a program for Mac OSX called Journler. You can find out more about Journler at: http://www.phildow.net/. It is freeware, but he does request donations (and he is a teacher so you should help support him!)

This is a really easy way to blog. Much easier than remembering to actually log in and post stuff!

Religion Rots the Brain

That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. Candy is bad for your teeth and religion is bad for your brain.

Books I Intended to Read, and Ones I Actually Did

Well, I intended to read serious works of literature over my summer holiday, however, I haven't quite gotten to the library. (Summer being its' most odiferous season- our local library is a haven for the homeless men and women, being next to a park and located downtown). It certainly puts one's worries into perspective, though. Early this year I walked into the library, worrying of course about money, school and myriad other things. I went into the restroom and found a woman attempting to bathe herself in the inadequate sink, and this prompted me to feel incredibly shallow and insensitive to the needs of others. At least I can make ends meet (granted a strained thing, but still). How a simple visit to the restroom can make one thankful for all that one has. I have health, a loving husband, a job, my family nearby, and a place to live. As my grandmother used to say (and my mantra, lately), "It's just stuff" or (when I was a particularly starving student) "It's just money". How very true. It isn't remotely that important.

Well, back to my subject. I meant to read various important works this summer, but I found myself with a few old aquaintances on my bookshelves, instead. I began this season reading Laurie R. King's "Locked Rooms", a Mary Russell book. I am always so very excited to have another fascinating book by Ms. King, and this one lived up to my expectations. She is so talented at evoking a particular location that if this mystery thing doesn't work out, (which it seems to be- she landed on the bestseller list for this and many others), she might consider travel writing. Just as her first Mary Russell book created an insatiable thirst for Earl Grey and London, this book made me yearn for the City by the Bay. A good book, but I cannot bring myself to expect any less from Ms. King.

I also read Haven Kimmel's novel, "The Solace of Leaving Early", which was interesting. I was suprised that she had a bit of depth in her novel, as her memoir, "A Girl Named Zippy" was extremely light-hearted. (Though definitely very, very funny).

One of my favorites this summer was "Saturday", Ian McEwan's newest. I always enjoy his books, however, I am always left with the slight feeling that Mr. McEwan doesn't really care for people all that much. He never seems to sympathize in the slightest with any of his characters, which seems very odd to me. Perhaps a book cannot be "serious" if the author shows the moral weakness of caring about his creations.

Well, even though it is technically now July 31, I am still up, so I can safely wish my sister a very happy birthday. Thanks for inviting me for the fabulous Chinese food, even if the service left a bit to be desired.

Interesting Women

I just finished reading Freya Stark's "A Winter In Arabia", a satisfying read. Ms. Stark is intrepid explorer and savvy feminist; she is also a clever and intuitive diplomat. Her witty and well laid out books all fascinate me. I have no real desire to travel to the lands that she descibes, but she evokes the nuance and feeling of the culture that is rare among writers. She is entirely enjoyable as a travel companion from my sofa.

I have no classes for about seven weeks. What to read, what to read?

The public library is calling me.... My list is growing by the day. For a few sweet weeks, no one is getting married, no one is bacheloretting, no one is calling with parties. I will remain indoors to stay the inexorable deepening of my freckles and simply read. A lot. Ahhh....

Spring is in the Air

It's beginning to seem like the endless rain is over. I can finally smell the stirrings of spring, the California air redolent of dust and smog. Ah, spring.

My office is now sixty degrees below zero, because it was about eighty degrees outside. There's some kind of formula used in calculating the optimum office temperature here. It must involve some seriously interesting math, as now I am dressing in light clothing, as not to sweat to death outside. Inside, however, I am utilizing a free company blanket and free company sweater. Which makes me look like a branded bag lady. So that's nice.

R and I went to the Dodgers game tonight. Which officially makes it spring time. They lost, but the glorious feeling that winter is banished kept a smile on my face.

Early spring smells like damp earth and sea salt here by the shore. Now I can barely smell the dust and pollution because my nasal membranes have completely dried out. Santa Ana winds are blowing in, making contact lenses unbearable. In fact, they make having eyeballs pretty unbearable. I miss the rainy winter already. Sigh.