Day: 327
High Temp: 77F (what?!)
It's true! I have been thinking about writing a post like this for weeks now, but with the recent addition of two new blogs in the past 24 hours, I figured it is time to come clean. I am currently following 43 (!) blogs, and I keep adding more. They break down as follows:
Wedding/Event Planning- 21
Family and Friends- 8
Crafts/Fashion/Arts- 3
Food- 3
Misc- 3
Professional (like non profit, entrepreneurial related)- 2
Theatre- 2
Celebrity- 1
The most recent blog I added to the roll is Food In Jars, a blog about canning. I love to can and jar all sorts of stuff, and so I was really excited when Carol over at Alinea At Home turned me onto it. Yes, that is how it almost always works for me. One blog leads to another and another and another, and so forth.
My favorite wedding blog, by far, is Ruffled. And the only celebrity blog I am following is Jorge Garcia's Further Dispatches (which truly was amazing when he was still filming Lost, but is still nice as he is such a genuinely cool guy).
I have 45 unread items still in my reader today, even though I had cleared it out by the end of the day yesterday, and spent part of my lunch hour earlier getting through a good portion of today's posts. What do you think? Do I need help?
I, myself, am currently tending to 2 of my own blogs... There is this one here, and my wedding blog here. Who needs 2 blogs?!
It helps to have a desk job, where instead of taking cigarette or coffee breaks, I can take a blog break when my brain is fried. I also have a mandatory 1 hour lunch each day, and do a lot of reading and writing at that time.
And since I am a glutton for punishment, I have to know... what are your favorite blogs? Besides mine, of course!
Showing posts with label Personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal. Show all posts
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Holding Back
Day: 243
High Temp: 74F
I wanted to share with you a situation and get some feedback on it. Like many of you, I have a Facebook page. I check it a few times throughout the work day, and generally find the random thoughts of my friends and family members entertaining and informative. This is particularly true of the tweenage daughter of one of my cousins. She is on it constantly, and is always in the middle of hormone-fueled dramas with her school friends. It's quite hilarious, and it helps me remember why I am so glad to not be a teenager any more!
That was not the case this morning when I read her update that said "if you come to our country, learn to speak our language, or don't come at all. :)"
I find that ignorant and offensive. Hoping that surely this young, smart kid was alluding to some kind of inside joke, I write, "that is a joke, right"
She says, "nope."
Me, "okay, well then I have to ask, you realize that "our language" wasn't here first, right? when your English speaking ancestors arrived, they were foreigners. basically, you are the product of immigrants."
I know it is Facebook, not the place to pick political or social fights with family members, but I just could not let it slide. I spent a school year volunteering in the Chicago Public Schools, teaching a curriculum of human rights and tolerance with Amnesty International. I can get a young man who grew up in the DRC to come around to the fact that it is not okay to persecute homosexuals, then certainly I can help my sheltered second-cousin realize the ignorance of what she is saying.
To her credit (I think), she then posted, "Ohh sorry i have facebook mobile and i wasnt sure which status you commented on. And didnt know that:) thanks for lettin me know.:) Haha"
I can see her rolling her eyes while posting it, but still, she seemed to at least gather that what she said was offensive.
Following that, this girl's aunt (the woman married to another of my cousins) said "I agreed because most immigrants from mexico are illegal and stubborn so the case is closed for me."
Well, that pissed me off. I want to go back on there and say to the aunt, "Oh, well, if most Mexicans are illegal and stubborn, then of course, by all means, marginalize them!" Or to the young woman who originated this post, "Well yes, with adult roll models like these, I can see what you are a closed-minded xenophobe."
These people are my family, and here there are doing their best to prove another stereotype- people from Missouri are backwards, intolerant hicks.
So, instead of instigating a huge war of the families (which I kind of want to do, because, lets face it, I am right, and I have mad debating skills), I am writing this post. What do you guys think. Hold my tongue. Fight against ignorance? Am I just self-righteous?
UPDATE: A few hours after my blog posting, I got a little notification on my Blackberry that someone else had commented on the original Facebook post which incited my little war. Nervous about what other horror may have been unleashed, I tentatively checked what was new. Turns out it was the offending tween's dad, my cousin, who had this to say, "Yeah, I just can't leave this one alone...my opinion, but this statement is a little narrow-minded, intolerant and certainly not a reflection on her father. I encourage free thinking but wowzers!"
Good on ya cousin Justin! Thank you for saying what needed to be said, in a caring and open minded way, and with a sense of humor and love. This probably had a more (positive) affect than anything I could have said.
And thanks for those who here, and over email, gave me their thoughts on this subject. It's good to know that you guys are out there fighting the good fight against intolerance too!
High Temp: 74F
I wanted to share with you a situation and get some feedback on it. Like many of you, I have a Facebook page. I check it a few times throughout the work day, and generally find the random thoughts of my friends and family members entertaining and informative. This is particularly true of the tweenage daughter of one of my cousins. She is on it constantly, and is always in the middle of hormone-fueled dramas with her school friends. It's quite hilarious, and it helps me remember why I am so glad to not be a teenager any more!
That was not the case this morning when I read her update that said "if you come to our country, learn to speak our language, or don't come at all. :)"
I find that ignorant and offensive. Hoping that surely this young, smart kid was alluding to some kind of inside joke, I write, "that is a joke, right"
She says, "nope."
Me, "okay, well then I have to ask, you realize that "our language" wasn't here first, right? when your English speaking ancestors arrived, they were foreigners. basically, you are the product of immigrants."
I know it is Facebook, not the place to pick political or social fights with family members, but I just could not let it slide. I spent a school year volunteering in the Chicago Public Schools, teaching a curriculum of human rights and tolerance with Amnesty International. I can get a young man who grew up in the DRC to come around to the fact that it is not okay to persecute homosexuals, then certainly I can help my sheltered second-cousin realize the ignorance of what she is saying.
To her credit (I think), she then posted, "Ohh sorry i have facebook mobile and i wasnt sure which status you commented on. And didnt know that:) thanks for lettin me know.:) Haha"
I can see her rolling her eyes while posting it, but still, she seemed to at least gather that what she said was offensive.
Following that, this girl's aunt (the woman married to another of my cousins) said "I agreed because most immigrants from mexico are illegal and stubborn so the case is closed for me."
Well, that pissed me off. I want to go back on there and say to the aunt, "Oh, well, if most Mexicans are illegal and stubborn, then of course, by all means, marginalize them!" Or to the young woman who originated this post, "Well yes, with adult roll models like these, I can see what you are a closed-minded xenophobe."
These people are my family, and here there are doing their best to prove another stereotype- people from Missouri are backwards, intolerant hicks.
So, instead of instigating a huge war of the families (which I kind of want to do, because, lets face it, I am right, and I have mad debating skills), I am writing this post. What do you guys think. Hold my tongue. Fight against ignorance? Am I just self-righteous?
UPDATE: A few hours after my blog posting, I got a little notification on my Blackberry that someone else had commented on the original Facebook post which incited my little war. Nervous about what other horror may have been unleashed, I tentatively checked what was new. Turns out it was the offending tween's dad, my cousin, who had this to say, "Yeah, I just can't leave this one alone...my opinion, but this statement is a little narrow-minded, intolerant and certainly not a reflection on her father. I encourage free thinking but wowzers!"
Good on ya cousin Justin! Thank you for saying what needed to be said, in a caring and open minded way, and with a sense of humor and love. This probably had a more (positive) affect than anything I could have said.
And thanks for those who here, and over email, gave me their thoughts on this subject. It's good to know that you guys are out there fighting the good fight against intolerance too!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Losing Sarah
Day: 229
High Temp: 83F
Tuesday at lunch I received a call from a former co-worker, informing me that my friend Sarah had lost her battle with cancer. It was shocking news, and I have struggled over the past few days to come to terms with it. Sarah and I were not close friends, but she was a straight genuine lady, and was the only other girl on "frat row" back in the days at WT when Dennis, Shade and Jimmy still worked there.
Sarah started feeling ill in October, and was treated for a range of respiratory disorders that kept increasing in severity. By December, she was having serious back pain along with her difficulty breathing. Soon after, a scan found a mass in her lungs, melanoma, that had metastasized to her spine and hip bone. Sarah learned that it was stage 4 cancer, inoperable and incurable. She began an aggressive regiment of treatments, including some experimental, but nothing was able to slow or reverse the progress of the cancer within her body.
I followed a blog that she and her family had been keeping, and it was plain that nothing was working. Just 8 weeks after her diagnosis, she was practically bed-ridden. I have been thinking about her so much over the past few months. The phone call on Tuesday confirmed something that I am still having trouble understanding: within 6 months of feeling her first symptom, cancer has taken this otherwise young and healthy woman.
The whole Writers' family is reeling over this, a continuation of the surprise many of us felt upon hearing the news of the diagnosis in January. I find myself unable to express how it is making me feel, except shocked. I was confused as I watched her Facebook page turn into a memorial board. Both saddened and comforted by it. I am thinking a lot of my Chicago theatre friends who knew and loved Sarah. I am thinking of her family, her parents who seem to be bearing this loss with strength and an openness that all of us who knew Sarah appreciate.
What I can say about Sarah is that she was funny, and tough. She was honest, and didn't put up with anyones bullshit. She was fun to have around. She was a major reason why artists loved to work at WT, and that made all of our jobs easier. Her attitude, even in dealing with this horrible reality of the cancer in her body, was so admirable. She remained strong and positive throughout, exhibiting grace that I am sure I would be incapable of.
I had an errand to run on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after I received the news. I looked up at the sky, bright blue, sunny, breezy, birds singing. It was warm and beautiful and I thought to myself, on a day like today, such sorrow is still possible. On any day, such sorrow is possible. I know it made me hug Tom a little tighter when I got home. I also know that many of us are thinking that our next visit to Glencoe won't quite feel the same without Sarah there.
High Temp: 83F
Tuesday at lunch I received a call from a former co-worker, informing me that my friend Sarah had lost her battle with cancer. It was shocking news, and I have struggled over the past few days to come to terms with it. Sarah and I were not close friends, but she was a straight genuine lady, and was the only other girl on "frat row" back in the days at WT when Dennis, Shade and Jimmy still worked there.
Sarah started feeling ill in October, and was treated for a range of respiratory disorders that kept increasing in severity. By December, she was having serious back pain along with her difficulty breathing. Soon after, a scan found a mass in her lungs, melanoma, that had metastasized to her spine and hip bone. Sarah learned that it was stage 4 cancer, inoperable and incurable. She began an aggressive regiment of treatments, including some experimental, but nothing was able to slow or reverse the progress of the cancer within her body.
I followed a blog that she and her family had been keeping, and it was plain that nothing was working. Just 8 weeks after her diagnosis, she was practically bed-ridden. I have been thinking about her so much over the past few months. The phone call on Tuesday confirmed something that I am still having trouble understanding: within 6 months of feeling her first symptom, cancer has taken this otherwise young and healthy woman.
The whole Writers' family is reeling over this, a continuation of the surprise many of us felt upon hearing the news of the diagnosis in January. I find myself unable to express how it is making me feel, except shocked. I was confused as I watched her Facebook page turn into a memorial board. Both saddened and comforted by it. I am thinking a lot of my Chicago theatre friends who knew and loved Sarah. I am thinking of her family, her parents who seem to be bearing this loss with strength and an openness that all of us who knew Sarah appreciate.
What I can say about Sarah is that she was funny, and tough. She was honest, and didn't put up with anyones bullshit. She was fun to have around. She was a major reason why artists loved to work at WT, and that made all of our jobs easier. Her attitude, even in dealing with this horrible reality of the cancer in her body, was so admirable. She remained strong and positive throughout, exhibiting grace that I am sure I would be incapable of.
I had an errand to run on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after I received the news. I looked up at the sky, bright blue, sunny, breezy, birds singing. It was warm and beautiful and I thought to myself, on a day like today, such sorrow is still possible. On any day, such sorrow is possible. I know it made me hug Tom a little tighter when I got home. I also know that many of us are thinking that our next visit to Glencoe won't quite feel the same without Sarah there.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Remembering Sweetie
Day: 177
High Temp: 64 F
It is with a heavy heart that I report to you all that Sweetie, the beloved beagle owned by my parents for the past 14 years, passed away last night. Sweetie was at home, with my parents, when she started having trouble breathing. Shortly after her labored breathing began, she died quietly and calmly.
If you know my family, you know that for the most part we are very much "dog people". Sweetie was a very important part of my family, and was a constant joy to have around. In honor of one of my most favorite dogs of all times, I thought I would share a few of my favorite Sweetie moments.
-Puppy. Seeing her for the first time in the cage at the humane society downtown. We fell in love with her immediately.
-Hide and seek. Sweetie loved to play hide and seek. I always had to hide, but she would literally play for an hour straight.
-Stormy Sweetie. She was terrified of storms, and if we were gone when a thunderstorm hit, we would inevitably find her wiggling her way out from under my mom and dads bed when she heard us come home. Even if the storm had abated hours before, she would wait for us under the bed.
-Bad Dog. My mom and I took a 6 day trip to San Francisco the summer before my senior year of high school. When I arrived home, I realized that Sweetie had been going into my bedroom to pee on my bed each day. Six distinct spots. We guessed that she was so mad at us for leaving her with the boys that this was her revenge. That, or she thought that if she did something naughty, we would come home sooner to punish her.
-PB&J. Sweetie was an infamous beggar, trained on years of table scraps. Her favorite part of the day was when my mom would come home mid-day after working a morning at the floral shop, and they would share a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I think it was my mom's favorite part of the day too!
-Santa's Little Helper. Sweetie was not only adept at unwrapping presents, but she also became a pro at stepping in just the right place on the paper while I was wrapping to leave a big, decorative wrinkle across one side, and maybe even a little tear, for artistic value.
-Squirrel Chaser. Sweetie definitely had the hunting instinct of her breed, and the famous beagle yowl. No squirrel could enter the back yard without a fierce bark from her, followed by a spirited chase up the hill. Terrorizing the squirrels of West County was her favorite pastime, a hobby that she happily taught Homer over Christmas.
-Sweetie and Bandit. While Sweetie always tolerated bigger dogs, she never really liked other dogs much, especially those smaller than her. However, a few summers ago my sister-in-law's sister Ashley brought her white Pomeranian, Bandit, to the house for a visit. The dogs were instantly best friends, and Bandit soon had Sweetie playing with the vigor of a puppy a decade younger.
I know this isn't the most exciting blog post to read, but it helps me to write it, so I appreciate you all bearing with me. Sweetie was a truly wonderful, and very happy dog and I will miss her terribly.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Day: 30
High Temp: 78F!!!
Job Status: Unemployed
I returned to Austin on Saturday night, after spending a week in St. Louis to mourn the passing, and celebrate the life of my grandmother. She has been battling cancer for many years now, with good results, however, when we got news that the cancer had spread to her liver in the past year, she began to prepare for the inevitable end of her fight. She was ready to go, and was at peace with what was to come. For my part, I am happy to say that Tom and I had a chance to see her twice this summer, once over the 4th of July weekend, and once in mid-August when we were in the midst of our move to Austin. We knew the end was near when we saw her a few weeks ago, and are both very happy to have had a chance to say goodbye while she was still feeling good.
Nothing is real about my life in Austin yet, so to say returning here was getting back to normal is just not true. I dont yet have a job, and spend my days while Tom is at school and work looking for and applying to jobs, and playing with my puppy. Being in St. Louis was so nice, as I had family around, and had a chance to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a while. It was nice to be there for my mom, and help her sort out some of the legal papers too (my mom and I are the executors on my grandmother's estate).
Getting back here isrough. There isn't too much to focus on, except when the puppy had last gone out for a potty break. Being back in Austin made me realize that I am not quickly settling in here, and that while I really do like this city, there is still a long time ahead of me before Austin will feel like home. Indeed, it was really sad to realize that flying home from St. Louis meant flying to Austin, not Chicago.
But, there are two more jobs posted today that I want to apply for, so I will focus on that for today, and a little bit of work I have promised TimeLine still needs to be done too. And I promise to update the blog more often now that I am back in Austin. After all, what else is there to do?
High Temp: 78F!!!
Job Status: Unemployed
I returned to Austin on Saturday night, after spending a week in St. Louis to mourn the passing, and celebrate the life of my grandmother. She has been battling cancer for many years now, with good results, however, when we got news that the cancer had spread to her liver in the past year, she began to prepare for the inevitable end of her fight. She was ready to go, and was at peace with what was to come. For my part, I am happy to say that Tom and I had a chance to see her twice this summer, once over the 4th of July weekend, and once in mid-August when we were in the midst of our move to Austin. We knew the end was near when we saw her a few weeks ago, and are both very happy to have had a chance to say goodbye while she was still feeling good.
Nothing is real about my life in Austin yet, so to say returning here was getting back to normal is just not true. I dont yet have a job, and spend my days while Tom is at school and work looking for and applying to jobs, and playing with my puppy. Being in St. Louis was so nice, as I had family around, and had a chance to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a while. It was nice to be there for my mom, and help her sort out some of the legal papers too (my mom and I are the executors on my grandmother's estate).
Getting back here isrough. There isn't too much to focus on, except when the puppy had last gone out for a potty break. Being back in Austin made me realize that I am not quickly settling in here, and that while I really do like this city, there is still a long time ahead of me before Austin will feel like home. Indeed, it was really sad to realize that flying home from St. Louis meant flying to Austin, not Chicago.
But, there are two more jobs posted today that I want to apply for, so I will focus on that for today, and a little bit of work I have promised TimeLine still needs to be done too. And I promise to update the blog more often now that I am back in Austin. After all, what else is there to do?
Monday, September 7, 2009
Hiatus
I just wanted to let everyone that my grandmother passed away on Saturday night, and I have been in St. Louis for the past few days helping with arrangements and preparing for the funeral. Give this turn of events, I wont likely have regular access to the internet, and won't be able to update you all about the mundane goings on in Austin, TX.
For those in town, the visitation will be held at Schrader's funeral home on Manchester Road on Tuesday from 4pm - 8pm. She will be buried the following day at Jefferson Barracks Nat. Cemetery. If you need more information, feel free to contact me or my parents.
For those in town, the visitation will be held at Schrader's funeral home on Manchester Road on Tuesday from 4pm - 8pm. She will be buried the following day at Jefferson Barracks Nat. Cemetery. If you need more information, feel free to contact me or my parents.
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