Ha! What a tangled web we weave. . .. Thanks to This Modern World.

Wow, today is Friday. I am so glad this week is over. It has been short, but crazy and hectic enough to make up for it. When in my life did I have to start looking forward to the weekends to get me through the week?

I heard a great story on NPR that really got me energized this morning. Apparently in DC they are doing an updated version of "Fidelio". I think it is one of my favorite operas because it is the first one I saw live, and because I just love Beethoven. This opera deals with issues that other operas of its time didn't try to. I will say that musically, it isn't all that great, but the subject matter is what it's all about. The story is here if you'd like to listen. It is amazing how relevant that opera can be to our situation today. Who knew? I guess liberty, freedom (intellectual and otherwise), and unfair imprisonment are issues that have never gone out of style.

CD of the day: Shakira, Laundry Service. Listening to it in my car this morning I wondered, why did I like this CD?

From This Modern World, bad news for innocent people everywhere.

I forgot to mention my dream -- I dreamt last night, among other things, that Dolly Parton was putting on a continous show in town, and that I got to hang out with her. She was really nice and much shorter in person. So she was here for a while and her crew loved it here, but she got called to be either be a) a judge or b) on some variety show. I can't honestly remember, but I was very upset at her for leaving. I take this as a sign that I have listened to The Grass is Blue too many damn times. Ah well - when I watched General Hospital regularly (it's been a while now), the characters would always be in my dreams. I'm glad that doesn't happen anymore. Gosh, that show went to crap real fast. And it won a best writing emmy? What the hell?

I go to Common Dreams and find this article about U.S. soldiers shooting at an Iraqi wedding party. Reading about the forced curfew, it hit me. Does this remind anyone else of a similar period of time when certain people were under enforced curfews? I mean, the attacking of the wedding party is straight out of Fiddler on the Roof!! Where is the UN?

And when will our Democrats react like these Brits?

It frustrates me what we Americans are letting Bush and his cronies get away with. Lord knows if Clinton had tried this, the Republicans would have attacked him like *that*!

I got the bookshelves from J, and she also gave me two end tables. I think my Walmart furniture is slowly being faded out.

those fiesty Texans.

I watched the new show Fame last night. I totally got into it. I can't believe Joey Fatone is co-hosting it! He's actually better than Ryan Seacrest, but then, that doesn't take much. All I have to say to that Mackenzie girl who sang "Don't Rain on My Parade" is - don't try to be Barbra, and pull your hair back.

CD of the day: Elton John, Greatest Hits, 70s - 00s. Where is Kiki Dee nowadays anyway? =)

I have discovered Friendster and if you were my friend, you'd go and sign up. But seriously, folks - it is a neat concept, even though it shows me only having one friend. Thank you, Alice! It's not my fault all my friends don't want to meet new people. Or they're seriously dating someone. Sheesh.

Why does today feel like a Monday? Is it because we got Monday off? But if that is true, then why wasn't yesterday like this? People are calling in with crazy orders, wanting 3-year old transcripts yesterday. I hate to tell them no, but sheesh!

and I think I really am getting J's bookshelves today. It doesn't look like rain, so this is very promising.

CD of the day: Peter Gabriel, Up. Peter Gabriel = the best there is. And if you haven't seen "Rabbit Proof Fence" yet, go get it, b/c his soundtrack is AWESOME. I'm only a little biased. Really.

I'm not really surprised.

Blogger is telling me that I can't change my template. =( How annoying.

It was really nice to have a long weekend. I got to talk to my friend S in Winona, MN, who I haven't talked to in a few months. He's doing well, so that's good. We talked for a few hours. I rarely talk that much on the phone. I talked to him, did some extra work and watched "Trading Spaces".

I'm trying to get K to do the new TLC show "For Better or For Worse". That would be so cool.

CD of the day: Tori Amos, Scarlet's Walk. What a great CD, no bad song on it.

I am listening to this panel discussion right now. It is really humorous.

I had a meeting last night that went from 6:30 until 8:45. Ack! Fortunately, snacks happened to be provided at this meeting, otherwise, I would have had to leave early. Seriously. B/c of the location, I have to go straight after work. But no more! The next meeting we will start to meet in a more central location, with no squaredancing in the background. I won't miss the calls in the background, let me tell you. Last night we were discussing the financial report and the squaredancers were dancing to "Elvira". It was so hard to concentrate while that songs was on. Anyway, I ramble.

As I'm sure you know by now, reporter Chris Hedges was booed off the stage at the Rockford College commencement. I didn't realize that Rockford was where Jane Addams, founder of Hull House, graduated from college. In this interview on Alternet, he discusses what he witnessed at the commencement:

"As I gave my talk and I looked out on the crowd, I was essentially witnessing things that I had witnessed in the Plaza de Mayo in Argentina or in squares in Belgrade or anywhere else. Crowds, especially crowds that become hunting packs are very frightening. People chanted the kind of cliches and aphorisms and jingoes that are handed to you by the state. "God Bless America" or people were chanting "send him to France" – this kind of stuff and that kind of contagion leads ultimately to tyranny, it's very dangerous and it has to be stopped.



"I've seen it in effect and take over countries. But of course, it breaks my heart when I see it in my country. That's essentially what I was looking at was in some ways a mirror of what I was trying to speak about. And I think I managed to touch upon it somewhat when I talked upon this notion of comradeship as a suppression of self awareness and self-possession to sort of follow along, locked in the embrace of a nation, or of a group, or of a national group unthinkingly, blindly. And there is a kind of undeniable euphoria in that. And that's what I was looking at."

Yay, Ruben won. I caught the tail end of the show last night to find out.

In Harper's this month, they publish the last e-mails that Rachel Corrie wrote her family. I'm reminded of this because Commondreams.org has an article by Naomi Klein called Why Two Women Went to War. It is a sad thing that our nation celebrates the faux rescue of one while ignoring the death of another. It probably has a lot to do with our current faux-President.

Tape of the day: Nat King Cole, songs I recorded off of KUT many years ago. Yes, I should just buy a CD that will last longer, but the show really played a diverse range of his music. I'll probably keep listening to the tape til it dies. Which will probably be any month now.

Okay, first blogger is running REALLY slow today. Second - I've got an ad for a Texas Republican on my page? What the hell?! I'd rather have the San Francisco wedding harpist. Ack!

and how come nobody told us it was supposed to rain yesterday? L and I were wearing shorts and it was 55 degrees and wet in Fort Worth. Sheesh!

Oh - and the Modigliani exhibit was really cool. I think my favorite pieces were "Alice" (a painting of a young brown girl with a cross around her neck), "Rose Caryatid with Blue Border" (he liked the idea of female figures holding great amounts of weight), a sketch he did of a young girl, and a painting by another Montparnasse artist entitled "Sun, Tower, Airplane" or something to that effect. The last piece is very vibrant and cubist. To see more examples of Modigliani's work and to read about his life and other artists of Montparnasse, check out Who is Modi?

I feel a little more with it now. Last night I was so tired that when I spoke, I made little sense. When I get that tired, I mix up words and have to think really hard about what I'm talking about. News on V's wedding: she's looking for a new venue. The Baptist church said no "Ave Maria", so she's searching for a new place.

I get a new (to me) bookcase from my friend J tonight. Exciting.

CD of the day: Michelle Branch Spirit Room. It's my sister's, and I like it so far.

Okay, I am exhausted from driving all day, but there you are. Two things:

1) I have joined a blog called List of Lists, and we shall see how that goes.

2) I just finished watching Gilmore Girls (I had recorded it). This episode just furthered my appreciation for the show. The Judging Amy team could definitely learn a lesson on season finales from the GG team. What a terrific show. I just love it and am never disappointed with an episode.

Okay - time for sleep. See you tomorrow.

The continuing killings (serial and otherwise) of female maquiladora workers in Juarez is appalling. Read about them here. This situation is not getting the attention it deserves. The El Paso newspaper did a story on them a while ago that I link to on my feminist page. Why haven't these murders been solved yet? It's ridiculous.

Okay, I realize I post a lot of links here. And here's another one: If Bush Was Popular, We Wouldn't Need Polls to Convince Us. I couldn't have put it any better. The basic gist of the article is that it is easier for a lot of Americans to not have to think about what Bush is doing than to research all he has done wrong. See what you think.


I noticed this morning that the ads displayed on my page are currently wedding-related. Very interesting, since this is certainly NOT a wedding-related blog. Perhaps if I list the word music enough times I'll get some music-related ad. Here's the test: music, music, music, music, music, music.


Tomorrow is my drive to DFW. I'm glad to get a day off, but not too excited about being in the car all day. At least my friend B is coming along. I'll drive most of the day, and she'll take over after we drop my sister L off. And we are making a stop at the Kimbell to see a Modigliani exhibit. Whoo hoo, half price Tuesdays! I hope my plan works out and I don't feel rushed. I like to take time at museums. When I was in Minnesota, I spent a summer day at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Two reasons why: 1) It is an awesome museum, and 2) it was air-conditioned (my apartment was not). I went through every room I was interested in and wrote in my journal about neat works and artists I wanted to remember. That was a great day. I especially loved their photography exhibit. *sigh* I wish my city had a decent art museum.

A neat article about the trip to Ardmore and more.

It's a sad day - Ari Fleischer is resigning. Boo hoo.

I've come to the decision that the only way I can get excited about doing housework is to put Latin music on. For example, Putumayo's Afro-Latino is what I'm listening to now. I figured I might as well vacuum after I got back fromm the gym, since I'm already sweaty and gross.


Tuesday I get to drive my sister to DFW airport. She is flying to Australia. I am slightly jealous. I want to go to Australia, but not with a large group of people, like she is. Anyway, she should have lots of fun.


More tomorrow.

An extremely disturbing article on the use of DU by American troops in Iraq. These awful tales I hear of current "post-war" Iraq disappoint me, because they prove that I was right in being against the war. I knew that if we invaded Iraq, innocent people would die. I have seen way too many pictures of Iraqi people, mostly children, wounded by cluster bombs to feel that our involvement was necessary. I hated Hussein, sure. But I am truly disgusted by the way America decided to ignore the UN. I just know this will bring serious repercussions for us in the future. *sigh* And I really hate how any anti-war protestor is labelled as being anti-troops. Okay, that's enough about that. Go to the Monitor and see what you think.

Well, the Killer Ds are back in town. Yay! And if you were wondering why the hubbub between the two parties, here's an explanation for you from the town pundit John Kelso: You're likely a member of the GOP if. . . It's a bit oversimplified, but I do think he's got the main idea right. Hee Hee. Enjoy.


CD of the day: my mix CD of Chicago's Greatest Hits and the Coors In Blue. You may think that seems a strange mix. . . but I think it flows rather well. I did something weird when burning the CD and got the tracks all mixed up. For the record - I own both of these CDs, and I'm not gonna sell my mix. Just in case you're wondering.

If this article is correct in its prediction, I will never watch American Idol again. Now wouldn't that give me more free time?! Ruben deserves to win - he's the best, and everyone knows it. If Clay wins, it won't be for talent. I'm sorry, I took three and a half semesters of vocal lessons, and I can't stand the way he sings! Ack! Of course, I wanted Kimberley Locke to make it to the top two, but I wasn't surprised last night. Not at all.*sigh* Okay, now you all know I watch American Idol. I probably won't bring it up again, unless Clay wins. Expect an angry rant in that case. =)

Why am I just hearing about the lawsuit against Oreos? I've known for a while that trans-fats are evil, but I'd never think to take it that far! Check the site out.

I talked to K last night and apparently, V is having some issues planning the music for the wedding (yes, another friend is getting married. . .when it rains, it pours, you know). She wants K to sing "Ave Maria", which is not an unusual request for weddings. However, V is getting married in a Baptist church (she is Catholic) and her music has to be approved by the church! Isn't that ridiculous?!! The church planner asserts that "Ave Maria" is a "Catholic" song, and doesn't belong in a Baptist wedding. Never mind that "Ave Maria" has been sung at weddings in her family for generations. . . It's okay for people to sing really bad versions of "I Hope You Dance" or "From this Moment" at a wedding, but not a beautiful version of the "Ave Maria". Can someone explain that to me?

But we won't delve into my issues with the Southern Baptist church. I don't think you have all day to read, and I know I don't have all day to type.

More news on the Killer Ds.

CD of the day: Nickel Creek's eponymous album. Don't know what eponymous means? Go here for a clue.

You know, I remember (was it 1996? or 1992?) when Al Franken and Arianna Huffington bantered on Comedy Central about the presidential candidates, and I thought she was nuts. However, I have been reading her more recent stuff off of Common Dreams and Alternet, and she is making so much more sense now. I just found this off her site that explains what made her change her political standpoint, see the light, etc. See? You can grow out of conservatism!

I knew the Homeland Security Department was there for something, but this is ridiculous. Your tax dollars at work - finding Texas Democrats. Sheesh.

Another neat take on the Killer Ds.


Question: what are the responsibilities of the maid of honor if there is a matron of honor too? Who is really in the place of honor? Do you share it? Can one sit back and enjoy the ride? and what do you get an acquiantance for a baby shower? I think I'll go with a card. That's always a safe bet.

Helen Thomas rocks; read what she has to say about Dubya and the way he's sent America down the wrong path where diplomacy is concerned.

I watched Judging Amy's season finale last night and was extremely disappointed. I have watched this show since the first season, and find it hard to believe it went so low. Is Gillian dead? Will Kyle stay sober? Will Amy work in criminal court? Will Amy *shudder* marry Stu? I understand that in the season finale you want to leave people hanging, but you also want to peak their interest. I think that season finale just tells me to find a new show on Tuesday nights at 9. After watching a neat episode of Gilmore Girls, Amy is just disappointing in comparison.

Okay, that rant is over.

CD of the day: Fleetwood Mac The Dance. I heard "Bleed to Love Her" on the Alias season finale and wanted to listen to it. . .

I have never been so proud to be a Texas Democrat. Here's why. I have been getting e-mails from my county's Democratic party for a while now discussing the planned redistricting. Evil Tom DeLay! I wish there was a better way the Republicans would listen to some sense, but I guess the Killer Ds did what they had to do. Just for the record, I wrote a letter to Rep. Crabb at the start of all this. I felt at least I could look back and say I did something.

Last night I got roped into helping my church-friend K. So I got to watch "Shrek" and five school-kids while their parents attended K's parenting class. Supposedly I get a meal for the Monday nights I've helped out. Hmm.

CD of the day: I'm back to Steady Pull by Jonatha Brooke. It's a relatively new CD for me, so I have to listen to it enough to memorize as many lyrics as possible, at least on the songs I really like.

So. . . women like this war? This is news to me.

The youth service yesterday went off without a hitch - yay.

I saw A Mighty Wind yesterday and absolutely loved it. Man, it was funny. I almost died laughing at a few parts. I strongly recommend it to anyone with a sense of humor. Especially if you have any knowledge of the folk music movement of the 60s. Ha! Instant classic.

CD of the day: Tom Petty Wildflowers. Listening to it reminds me of high school. I wrote the lyrics to "A Higher Place" in my journal, I liked that song so much. *sigh*

Well, I got my hair done. What a pick-me-up. My stylist even straightened it for me. So it will look fabulous, at least until I take a shower and it dries wavy. The colors are a lot bolder than I've done before. . . I really like it.

K told me today that she is engaged to W. And I will be maid-of-honor! Very exciting, since this will be the only wedding I'll be involved in in the near future. Since I'm not involved with anyone, I don't see one happening too soon. And that is okay. I don't need a man to feel complete! It still would be nice to have one though. . .=)

The real story behind Private Lynch's removal. Ack!

My dream last night - well, it was interrupted. My newspaper is now being thrown onto my balcony, since it was stolen from in front of my door last Friday and Saturday. So anyway - at 5:25 I hear this big thunk that wakes me from my pleasant dream. I think someone is trying to break into my apartment. I get up and check my locks, then remember about the paper delivery and assume all is well. Of course, I can't get back to sleep for a few minutes. I hate that. When I do get back to sleep, it is only a half-sleep. I am somewhat in control of my dreams. It is strange, because I imagine myself in a thinner body. Why? I am comfortable with my body-type! Overall, my dreams after that were stranger than normal, because I kept waking up, thinking my alarm was about to go off. I must say, when my alarm finally did go off, I uttered, "Finally!" and got out of bed pretty quick.

My eyes are finally reacting to the smoke from Central America, I guess. They are so itchy, they are driving me nuts! If I had known that they were going to be this way, I would have just worn my glasses. Sheesh.

CD of the day: Putumayo's Cuba. You can find out more about the Putumayo label here. I love their CDs, and a portion of their profits go to UN or other world non-profits.

Gotta love our media and their ignorance of the real left-over effects of this war. Now why wouldn't we sign that anti-landmine agreement? Hmm . . .

Now this is just ridiculous.

"Democrats alleged that the 1,092-foot carrier was delayed to enhance Bush's trip, and called it a sign that he was using the military as a prop for political advantage. The Lincoln provided a spectacular platform for his May Day address declaring victory in Iraq, and the commander in chief's landing aboard in an S-3B Viking jet produced huge headlines labeling him "Top Gun.""

Again Boondocks is wonderful.

The A/C in the office isn't working. This is not the best day for it to be off. The stillness of the air doesn't help. I've got the fan behind my desk on, so that will aid a little bit.

Last night I dreamed that I was in "Starship Troopers". I haven't even seen this movie, so I don't know why I dreamed about it. And of course, the scenario in my dream is different from anything that is in that movie, I'm willing to bet. I wish I dreamed that I was in "Strictly Ballroom", because I did watch that DVD last night. *sigh*

CD of the day: Soundtrack, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Okay - here's another good find(Warning: it is a .pdf file). A letter from Henry Waxman to Rumsfeld re: Halliburton's involvement with terrorist countries.

"There is also evidence . . . that indicates that Halliburton has profited from numerous business dealings with state sponsors of terrorism, including two of the three members of . . . Bush's 'axis of evil'."

Boondocks today is quite humorous. Hee hee!

So I just got back from my attempt to see the doctor. I say attempt because although I got there in plenty of time (I filled out all the paperwork and got weighed in), my appointment was disrupted by a smoke attack. I was waiting in the exam room, with one tennis shoe half-off, reading a poster on the many different versions of the Pill available, when someone popped into the waiting room and told us that we had to evacuate the building because of a large amount of smoke. I put my shoe on and walked out the building with the doctor and her secretary, and we noticed the fire engine outside. We thought we could go inside any minute now, until a Special Operations truck pulled up 25 minutes later. The doctor asked if I just wanted to reschedule, and I finally agreed that would be best after waiting outside in the gross humidity for 40 minutes. I actually wished I had a cell phone while waiting outside, since I can't really read One Hundred Years of Solitude standing in a misty parking lot. I guess I'll have to make an appointment for later on this week.

CD of the day: Erasure Other People's Songs. I'm not ashamed of my love of Erasure's music. Yes, perhaps pop-techno's days are over, but I'll still buy their CDs. This one has a great cover of "Solsbury Hill"(Peter Gabriel).

A well-made statement by Senator Byrd:

"President Bush's address to the American people announcing combat victory in Iraq deserved to be marked with solemnity, not extravagance; with gratitude to God, not self-congratulatory gestures. American blood has been shed on foreign soil in defense of the President's policies. This is not some made-for-TV backdrop for a campaign commercial. This is real life, and real lives have been lost. To me, it is an affront to the Americans killed or injured in Iraq for the President to exploit the trappings of war for the momentary spectacle of a speech. I do not begrudge his salute to America's warriors aboard the carrier Lincoln, for they have performed bravely and skillfully, as have their countrymen still in Iraq, but I do question the motives of a deskbound President who assumes the garb of a warrior for the purposes of a speech."

Amen, Senator Byrd!

Fifteen more minutes and I can go home! I have been wasting time at my desk here taking random web quizzes, such as "What kind of music are you?" and "What kind of thinker are you?" with mixed results. I've been checking out other blogs, and I think mine is about in the middle.

I made an appointment to get my hair cut and highlit/lowlit this weekend. It is driving me nuts. I'm thinking of going with something completely different. Yet - there is a limit to what can be done, since I refuse to blowdry my hair. It is really strange. Two years ago at this time I was in Minnesota working on basement forms, and now I sit at a desk, pondering my hair. I'm not saying I've gotten shallow. . . just bored.

The youth are leading the service on Sunday. I am excited, a)because they are going to do a great job, and b) because we won't have to plan the service anymore!

I will celebrate by going to see A Mighty Wind this weekend. It is about freaking time it came to town!

you are Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Classic, elegant, and you speak properly!


What Famous literary Work Are You?
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Which X-man are you? Take this test and find out. Apparently, I'm either Professor X or the Invisible Woman.

CD of the day: Dixie Chicks Fly. I will probably tire of them soon, but I just bought Fly and Wide Open Spaces on CD this weekend. The quality on CD is a lot better than the cassettes I had of them.

I am apartment-searching right now. It is somewhat frustrating, since I can't move until my lease runs out in late July. I am just so tired of my neighbors playing pumped-up bass music at midnight, getting monthly notices of another break-in at my complex, the beeping horns of people who can't get in the gate, the traffic at the intersection, etc. I'd rather pay more for a quiet place that feels a bit safer. Enough is enough.

CD of the day: Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces. Gotta support those Dixie Chicks. =)

Well, I saw two great shows this weekend: Xmen 2 and the Alias season finale. Both were great, but Alias still has me thinking. I love television that blows your mind. Just when you think you know what to expect from a show, it throws you for a loop. I am amazed at the writing of that show. I mean, who thought of this? If any show is deserving of awards, it is this one, especially with that finale. Whoo-ee.

I am addicted to "Manor House" on PBS. I am engrossed in the plight of these volunteers. There are only 6 hours of this show! Only! =)

I think I am getting the hang of this blog thing. I was trying to explain to my mom what blogger was, and she wondered why anyone would want to put their journal where everyone could read it. I told her it could be used for a lot more than that, showing her Alternet's blog of current events.

I doubt I'll use this for anything as important as that, but it is a good example of a relevant blog. I also like Tom Tomorrow's blog on his page.

CD of the day: Jonatha Brooke's Steady Pull. Don't know Jonatha Brooke? She's on my music page.

A very interesting find from Common Dreams. Well, it is actually from Newsweek, but anyway. . .
Apparently "(t)he White House is battling to keep a report on the terror attacks (of Sept. 11) secret". Why has it taken so long for the mainstream media to realize that Bush is hiding something? *sigh*

Okay - I have spent a really long time trying to tweak this blog and it is annoying me!!!!

so I am trying this blog thing, which is the fad now. Supposedly it is easier to update than my attempts with html on my page. We'll see!