Happy New Year!

Well, DH Jeff & I are about to take off for a weekend in the mountains with friends. So I don't have time to do an actual list of resolutions at this time. Let it be said, though, that the first one is "Get a Job, Layabout!" Ok look for an actual list when I return.

Happy & Safe New Year's celebrations!

Merry Christmas to all!

I'm so ready for Christmas! Gifts bought, wrapped and either mailed or ready to go! I have a good bead on life & am grateful for so many lovely people in it.

So, let's have a wonderful, safe Christmas (or whatever) and start the New Year on a good foot.

Peace out,
Your humble hostess

Decide what you're willing to eat, then just order

Discuss amongst yourselves already. Don't ask me to choose, because I don't have the incredible number of food exclusions that you do, so I'm likely to order something you don't like or refuse to eat. And I don't mean allergies, I mean plain choice exclusions. Here are only some:

- no red meat or pork
- no meat at all
- ew, raw fish
- no seafood or fish (even cooked)
- no tomatoes
- no onions
- no spicy food
- no mushrooms
- no vegetables or salads
- I'll order my own entree at a tapas place instead of sharing whatever you order
- [add your own]

Seriously folks, if we were out in the wild, you would die (and I would live) because you wouldn't bring down that antelope and eat already.

This food discrimination has been an increasing annoyance to me. When entertaining or eating out with folks (esp at tapas places), one ALWAYS has to provide and/or order food that lands in between the NARROW range of acceptable food. It's no surprise that we don't have any vegan friends. And, it's actually a HUGE relief to eat with folks who say (and mean), "I eat everything." You just know DH Jeff wouldn't have lasted a week (vs nearly 14 years) if either of us were picky eaters.

That said, here are a few kudos:

- thanks to our parents who had us try a variety of foods as children, so that as adults, we're pan-food-friendly. As a matter of fact, as I grow older, my range of likes is expanding, not shrinking.

- thanks to those friends and family who look at food as an adventure, and gamely try anything.

- thanks to DH Jeff for not only being a great and willing cook, but one who isn't afraid of experimenting.

- thanks to Pete for generously giving us his hunting overflow (yes - we love venison!). Now if you'd only come over so we could cook some for you. :)

- thanks to God or whatever powers-that-be for creating so many edible and appetizing things. Vive la variété!

Arghhh!

Just finished my resume on the DC Employment Services Site (I'm required to look for a job using their site for my unemployment pay), and I'm exhausted. Totally wiped out. And I haven't even applied for any jobs on the site. I should want to workout, but all I want is a drink. And I have completing the USAJobs.org site to look forward to. Clearly not tonight.

And then, I'll have to write COVER LETTERS - ARGGGHHH! I'd like to put a one-liner: See attached for resume. I suppose prospective employers want to see more "personality" and "enthusiasm," and so I'll have to make something up, but seriously, folks, most of the jobs for which I'm qualified are not going to be exciting. And do employers really want a taste of my cynicism? Do they really want to know that I detest meetings & am not overjoyed by the prospect of overtime? That I suck at office politics and prefer just to do my job (Heaven forfend!)?

Oh well, you know I'll slog through these things, because, you know, I have to.

Too much stuff

Because I [we] keep losing track of all of our stuff, and because I'm a bit OCD, I'm going to create a searchable list of where stuff is. For instance: doorstops removed from our 100 or so doors so we could fit more stuff into 980 square feet: in the cabinet above the fridge; removed door from study: under bed. You get the picture. Yes, I am serious.

Disturbing science moment

Just because you need to see this for your general edification, check out this YouTube clip of a centipede eating a mouse. I personally felt nauseous.

Rambling on Tuesday

Ok, so I'm totally burnt out on politics & news in general that I'm simply not going to comment about it. Sick, sick, sick of all of it.

Well, maybe a little: Obama's "Infrastructure Plan." Slogans & gimmicks but no real substance. Like that's a shocker. BTW, I cheated and just read DH Jeff's assessment of the "Plan." You too can read it here.

Obama smokes. What a wonderful and life-affirming example not only his daughters, but the nation's youths as well. Yeah cigarettes!

I often toy with the idea of buying stock in Philip Morris or one of those Evil Empire cig companies. Why, if I'm so against smoking? Simple: observation & the potential for financial gain. In other words, I see people smoking downtown every day & in bars here in unenlightened Virginia; ergo, folks are still buying the things for their daily poisoning, and since smoking is unlikely to kill them right off, those companies must still be making money. Look, no one's holding a gun to smokers' heads - they can conceivably quit. Why shouldn't I profit from others' stupid choices? After all, I'm already paying for people's stupid choices, so...

On another topic, I've finished a very interesting book & I'd like to review it - yet I've been avoiding it. Hmm. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I seem to be incapable of coherent, succinct summary as of late.

Do you ever get the impression that when folks (of all ilks) say "Middle Class" they mean "having kids, a mortgage and car payments" and not "child-free, renting & dependent on public transportation"? Just saying...

Ok, must go work on my resume. Pooh.

Stuff on parade [long post]

Ok, so, in order to make my job search easier (less painful), I've decided to do an "application resume," ie, take my regular resume and insert all the crappity-crap that these online applications require so that I could just copy & paste instead of having to research the stuff from scratch each time.

Good thing I'm OCD, because I actually HAVE all data going back to my first job, in classification folders. Heck, I have tax records going back twenty years, neatly filed. I'm that sort of girl.

Yesterday, DH Jeff calls out to me, "um, Scooter, come here a second." He'd found my classification folder with all the WaPo "Second Glance" puzzles I've ever done. You know, the ones where there are two pictures and you have to identify the twelve differences between them? "Why are you keeping a file of these?" Well, I had no plausible answer to give him that didn't include impending alien invasions and coded messages imbedded in the images. He gave up that query after I said something like, "because."

One application requests the reason for leaving each position. While I'm tempted to put, in the one case,* "I quit before the unethical, snake-in-the-grass asshat could procure an excuse to fire me, after side-lining me under one of his quintessentially mediocre lapdog administrative hires and making my work life completely miserable," I have the time to craft a more palatable and succinct reason: "was planning to leave the area with fiance," which was also true at the time.

More on that boss: I once ran into him outside of work with his two small children and he made this grand gesture, like, "see the children! aren't they wonderful? don't you love them (you're a woman, after all)? aren't I wonderful - I'm playing Daddy?" Uggh. It might come as a great shock to you, dumbass, but I don't melt around children, especially if I know they're growing up under your influence. And the thought that the sight of them (around you) would make me more positively inclined towards you doesn't work because I know your wife is raising them, while you play executive. Ahh, vitriole of the past.

So, yesterday Jeff & I were moving furniture and stuff in advance of some ADA-required modifications to our apartment which started this morning. I'm a pretty good housekeeper, but one thing I've always neglected is this set of metal trays under the stovetop grill thingies, which catch the splatter & cooking detritus. Once the stuff gets on the trays, it's loathe to come off with anything weaker than concentrated acid. As a result, they had become pretty disgusting. I've soaked them in hot soapy water & scrubbed them with various abrasive cleansers, to no avail. Yet last night I was on a mission to overcome this particular obstacle to stovetop cleanliness bliss. Guess what worked? Scraping off the gunk with a small screwdriver. Desperate situations...

After this feat was accomplished, I started getting kind of manic, because I started seeing other things in dire need of cleaning, lest the workmen get the impression that we're (I'm) slovenly. After I finished cleaning to an acceptable level, I told myself sternly, "get a hold of yourself - they won't even be looking at the top of the fridge and probably don't care either way." Then, I congratulated myself on this useful exercise & how much I learned about myself in the process." Yeh.

Alright. I believe the workmen have finished for the day, so it's time to reclaim our apartment.

Next effort: solving the mystery of the "self-cleaning oven."

*This was a LONG time ago, so back off!

Project or exercise

Well, since I've been unemployed, I've started a project or "exercise" which I've wanted to do for a while. I call it "exercise" because if it doesn't turn out, I can tell myself what a valuable experience it was & how much I've learned from it. If it turns out awesome, I'll call it a quilt or duvet cover (not sure which yet). Hah!

Ok, now I'm going to file for unemployment...mewl. Did I mention how clean the apartment is?

A big Bravo Zulu goes to...

DH Jeff for completing a novel for NaNoWriMo the second year in a row! This is especially praise-worthy & awesome because he wrote most of it in the past week. Wow!

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is a contest - for bragging rights really - in which one endeavors to write a 50,000-word novel during November. Yes, that's right, a novel in a month. The benefit (besides bragging rights) is that one then has the first draft of a novel.

It's very cool. I have yet to participate in this because I'm just not that disciplined and have the attention span of a five-year-old. So I'm very proud of Jeff for having done this a second time - AND, he has also written a screen play for a similar contest.

Evidence of my looming domesticity

Last night I (1)made stock from a chicken carcass...from (2) a meal I cooked on Friday. By myself.

(3)I hemmed a pair of jeans. With blue seam tape. By hand.

(4)I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping, wrapping, and it's creative. (5)Also decorating gift tags. Using glue.

It's gotten downright scary.

5 people to thank today

Ok, so today I went into my former office & boxed my computer to transport home. No, I didn't steal it - I bought it from the organization because it's closing shop permanently & had to do something with the computers. Now, those of you who know me are wondering - how was I going to get these things home since I don't have a car? Did I have some car'd friend willing to give me a lift? Well, I do have lovely friends who would have helped had I asked them...but that would have taken forethought, common sense and planning. And I'll have none of that. Short story long, I "planned" to metro in, pack up, then catch a cab home. Brilliant huh? Well, that's exactly what I did. Fortunately, along the journey, I encountered some very nice souls who helped in various ways & should be thanked here:

1. The office building security lady who watched my boxes while I returned the hand-truck to my office;
2. The young man who volunteered to carry the heavy box to the curb so I could hail a cab;
3. The African cabby (accent, people, it was the accent) who carried the box from the curb and later to my doorstep, & admonished me that lifting heavy boxes was not a woman's job but a man's job. Amen to that;
4. The young woman who held open the apartment building doors for me even though she didn't even live in my building;
5. And last but not least, the concierge who lifted the box onto the cart so I could easily take it up to our apartment.

My computer is now home safely, my back intact, my mood cheery. Thanks guys!

Grapes in Maryland

In the Metro Section of today's WaPo is an article about how some southern Marylanders are trying their hands at viniculture in areas that historically grew tobacco. Challenges abound: weather & climate, expense, predation (deer, beetles, mildew), legislation - not to mention all the time & effort required to produce a viable crop of grapes.

I'm whole-heartedly behind wine-making in general, but certainly its supplanting tobacco. But in a larger sense, it's good to see adaptation in commerce from one industry (or market) to another, seeing that change as an opportunity (instead of becoming a dinosaur in a dying market). Interestingly, some previous tobacco growers used settlement money to start their vineyards. Sounds like progress.

A cool science moment (aren't they all?)

Today in WaPo was a really interesting article about how a bunch of scientists are reconstructing the genome of the woolly mammoth using samples from 20,000-year-old and 65,000-year-old specimens. They are 2/3s done & it seems that this genome varies from modern elephants on by 0.6%, which is approximately half of the genetic difference between humans & chimpanzees. This is a fascinating concept because although mammoths lived in very cold climates, elephants live in very warm climates. So...what were the adaptations to enable this switch? Anyhoo, it's nice to hear of these findings because they raise further inquiry/research & potentially, render profound discoveries that advance our knowledge of life.

A Tiny Little Miracle [Caution: irreverent post]

Well, as the observant and thoughtful God that He is, Jesus miracled my dental floss to become endless (see “loaves & fish”). He knows I’m currently jobless, want to conserve money, yet value healthy gums. And I really appreciate that – I do! – except for one thing: I cannot stand this floss. It’s supposed to make one’s teeth whiter, but I think that’s code for “abrasive,” “not waxed” and “causes gum irritation.” I’ve had this same spool at work for the last year, trying to finish it up (conserving!) at my post-lunch brushing. It just doesn’t decrease - ever. Ah well, off I go to “make my teeth whiter.”

Movie Review: Blood Diamond

The storyline is thus: diamond smuggler (Leo DiCaprio) helps man (Djimon Hounsou) to reunite with family [which were separated during a child soldier raid] with help of activist journalist (Jennifer Connelly). Smuggler has motives other than purely altruistic.

Ok, I couldn't even get through this one (thank goodness for Netflix). The dialog was stupid, DiCaprio's "Africaans" accent was all over the place (sometimes sounding British, sometimes Southern drawl, mostly indeterminate) and performance lame, Connelly's activist journalist was stereotypical and worse, phoned-in. I could go on, but why?


Too bad, because there were themes of the barbary of child soldiery, forced labor/slavery involved in the conflict diamond trade, and generally the savagery of man with the absence of rule of law. Compelling issues in the right hands. Painful in the wrong ones. Now I like all three actors above, but not in this venue. Save your time, energy & money on something else; even the Bond film that involves conflict diamonds (Die Another Day) is a more compelling experience.

A little rant

Well, it would seem that a couple of throw-backs to the Soviet era have moved onto our floor in the last few months. What's my support for that assertion? The ever-present, invasive stench of some foul brand of cigarettes (Victory Cigarettes? Get it - 1984?).

Those of you who know me know that I detest cigarette smoke. Usually smokers in this building keep their detestable habit to themselves, ie, in their apartment, so one doesn't smell it in the halls. Well...I know not if this couple smokes in the halls (a no-no) or not, but one can smell the stench upon exiting the elevator and all through the halls. We can even (bonus!) smell the rank odor INSIDE our apartment, coming beneath the door. We've taken to puting a bath towel and other block to keep the smell out. Doesn't work! Even when the couple is at work, the halls smell of STALE Victory Cigarettes. Oh, the joy!

Now, I've complained to the management about this. They've visited the floor and our apartment. They've brought an engineer. They've promised a solution. Well, I don't think it's the air circulation system that needs fixing. They may end up installing a blocking lip to our door threshold. But that means that the halls will still reek.

Those nasty things can't kill our neighbors fast enough.

Drive-by blogging and coffee bail-outs

Just listening to radio Sean Hannity talking about the massive bail-outs & which point he says something like, "what's next - if Starbucks is in trouble, do we have a massive bail-out for them too?"

I think the answer is an unqualified "YES." Starbucks MUST NOT go under! Can you imagine the catastrophe if everyone started falling asleep? New York? DC? Las Vegas? London? Paris? Arggh! Civilization as we know it could come to an end. I think this bailout would be FAR more necessary than any thus far. In fact, take back the other bail-outs and cushion Starbucks. Please, I'm begging.

On other topics: I took my blood pressure today at 9:33am and it was 128/90 - yoiks! Then I took it at 2:30pm after gym, errands, food (fasting blood drawn this morning) and it was 117/80. Curious. I stopped by Whole Foods & put together a "salad" of broccoli, artichokes, hearts of palm, asparagus & white beans - and immediately felt very joyous. Curiouser.

That is all for now.

Bad year for authors

Just found out via AOL that Michael Crichton died of cancer at age 66. Yikes!

Tony Hillerman, writer of Navajo crime mysteries, died recently (obit, remembrance via WaPo) as well.

Bummer.

The change you deserve

I pretty much knew this would happen. For those of you who chose - for whatever misguided reasons - to vote for Obama and the rest of the Dems: you'll now get the change you deserve...mind you, you may not like what you get. Of course I can envision across-the-board blame of Bush for every disastrous decision the new administration makes. It would be no surprise. So gloat, morons.

As for me, I'm going to try to make as little money as possible while still paying the bills. I don't consider confiscatory taxation "patriotic," I consider it punishment for working hard. Heck, I might just apply for unemployment - I've been paying into the system long enough. Maybe I can be an Honorary Poor person. Or maybe I can get a government job - because you know that government will be expanded greatly under the new administration.

Ah well.

Election Day Observations [long post]

Well, I fought my instinct to vote as early as possible and waited to go with DH Jeff mid-afternoon, around 3pm. Two words: 5 minutes. That's how long it took to go thru the line, vote and meet up w/Jeff outside. Awesome. Especially since the volunteers said that early voting was crammed: lines snaked 3-deep in the little school gym and around the block. At this point, the polls in Arlington have just closed, but have no fear, folks who are still in line - you will be able to vote if you're in line at 7pm.

Now, here are some observations about our little polling place:
-we have had electronic voting for several years now.
-first it was these big boards with the contests outlined and with pressure sensitive choice areas. Seemed to work fine.
-then it was pressure sensitive computer screens with a hard-to-miss, big, final red rectangular place that read, appropriately "VOTE." Again, seemed to work fine.
-today, they asked you if you wanted to go with the screen or paper ballot.
-they're going to devolve and go back to paper ballots in future elections.
-however, instead of the computer print-outs of voters to check against, each volunteer had this cute, little mini-computer to look you up. Cool.

Now, here's an interesting pre-election observation: there were skads of young, Dem volunteers to engage "undecideds" -- in downtown DC & Clarendon. Huh? Both Arlington and DC was Dem strongholds. Ok, so I giggled when they asked if I had a moment for the Democratic party, and declared that I was solidly on the other side. I must say, though, that they folks were all very polite. At least that.

Ok, now, I bought a bottle of Bombay Sapphire today, sure, hopefully for celebration purposes, but, I fear, more likely, for solace.

Here's what I fear if Obama wins:
- socialism - enough said? For some of you out there, clearly not. I don't want to relinquish even more of my "wealth" for bureaucracy, social programs, "re-distribution of wealth," etc. Do you realize that neither Jeff nor I own a car and our apt is just below 1000 sq feet? This isn't wealth - it isn't poverty - but it's not wealth. Not complaining, I just don't think others deserve more of my money just because they chose to make financially irresponsible choices and not stay in school.

- a decrease in First Amendment rights - ie, speaking your mind. Yeh, liberals are all for F/A rights, except when those views contradict theirs. How dare we question anything about Obama (his views, his personal associations, his words about his racist grand mother, etc, etc.). Fairness Doctrine, anyone? Uggh.

- a premature withdrawal from Iraq. Disastrous.

- more class and race baiting...yeh, because Obama is a uniter. 'Cause he's done so bravely during his campaign. Yeh.

- Michelle Obama as First Lady. Angry, without any class (different from "class" above. Remind me again how much she's making per year? Uggh.

- One party, liberal rule. Uggh on so many levels.

- what all this comes to is more govt control over us (bigger govt), and less take-home pay. I don't think I owe anyone a living or should be forced (yes, taxation is force) to support folks just because they make less than I do. I'd love for anyone who thinks that there should be a financial "equalization" process or "economic justice" to personally give up most of his/her salary to support such efforts...but don't force it on me.

Do I think Sen. McCain & Gov. Palin are the answer to all ailments? No, of course not, but they're better than the alternative.

Another gin and tonic? Yep. In the words of the Borg Queen, "Watch your futures end." Looks like it.

Why not save?

Indeed. There was this article in WaPo Business Section today about how more people are using coupons now that the economy is in the dumps. My question is: why wouldn't you use coupons? Seems like a no-brainer, but then again, I never claimed to understand the behavior of others. Oh yeh - the article lists some sites wherein one can print coupons. I signed up for this one: Coupons.com.

Hmmm...maybe I should post receipts on how much I've saved...

Now you know

Today in WaPo's Style section was an article revolving around a recent Pew Research Center survey about happiness, and whether Republicans or Democrats are happier. Evidently, R's are happier. The article poses some interesting reasons why. I like this take:

[Arthur] Brooks (incoming president of the American Enterprise Institute) says a lot hinges on the answer to this question: Do you believe that hard work and perseverance can overcome disadvantages? Conservatives are more likely to say yes.

Pew found that Democrats are more likely to say that success in life is mostly determined by outside forces. Republicans lean toward thinking that success is determined by one's own efforts.

Hmmm. Provocative.

Pleasing things

No, not any of the debates.

1. Whole Foods changed their round plastic containers to square ones. In an effort to save the environment, I had already been re-using the round ones, but let me tell you, the square ones are so much cooler. They use space more efficiently. I've used some to store Q-tips. Yeah!

2. Torchwood. Spin-off of Dr. Who, much racier.

3. Iridescent green nail polish - Wet n Wild's Caribbean Frost, 99 cents at CVS. So cool.

4. Playing hookie today...and DH Jeff's working at home.

5. Collapsible mesh containers (Container Store, $8-12 each) - stores in laundry closet, no more eye-sore bulky laundry baskets.

Have a groovy day!

More: Yesterday morning I took my blood pressure: 118/78 with a pulse of 62. Yeh.

Yeh, we'll be watching the debate on Thurs...

...let's hope it goes better than the Couric interview. Groan.

Did anyone else get the impression that Gov. Palin was trying to meld her opinion with McCain's and that's why she sounded so stupid? Alternative response to Couric's question about borrowers being at fault for their own poor choices: "Yes, Katie, the dumbasses are at fault for getting loans they couldn't afford. Did I mention irresponsible?" See, wasn't that easy?

Book review: Kitchen Confidential

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, lives up to its title. Bourdain dishes on his eventful rise through the cooking world, all the stuff that happens behind the scenes in kitchens, his successes and failures, his "adventures." He also regales the reader with the story of how he was attracted to the business - the joy of excellent food.

This is a very entertaining and edifying read. Bourdain is an articulate and compelling writer; his stories, especially of the people he's encountered along the way, are truly absorbing. Although he pulls no punches, Bourdain gives credit where credit is due, and is humble when talking about his heroes and those who have impressed him along the way. He's also self-deprecating and honest about his not-so-savory personal history, namely his shocking (to me at least) amount of drug abuse. I would recommend this book to foodies in general, anyone with curiosity about the culinary industry and anyone contemplating a career as a professional chef.

OK, I need to blog more

Short but sweet:

Sarah Palin rocks!!! I'm now officially excited about this election.

Charles Gibson is an ass.

The Dems show their true colors - hypocritical, sexist, demeaning of any woman who doesn't espouse liberal "values." Fine. They're tightening their own noose. Heh.

I've read a bunch of books that I must review. Yes, I have the time, but am lazy.

Ok, gotta go clean before book club.

See you soon!

Hair today...gone tomorrow

Well, I recently terminated my experiment with letting my hair grow and am now back to "Scooter" (pixi-short hair). Whew! What a relief! Jeff rejoiced. Hairdresser wondered what took me so long.

Book Review: Aftermath, Inc.

Aftermath, Inc.: Cleaning Up After CSI Goes Home, by Gil Reavill, is not for the faint of heart or the weak-stomached. Reavill, who is a crime story writer for Maxim, decided to do a story about a real-life company who does “bioremediation”; that is, clean-up and removal of the biological mess of violent crimes, suicides, long-unnoticed natural deaths. High Ick Factor but the story is told with humor, respect for those who do this work, and a good dose of self-deprecation (Reavill has a very weak stomach). Although the author strays a bit in his narrative at times, he tells an engrossing (heh) and edifying tale.

More: I was tickled to learn that the bibliography listed several books I've read:

Corpse by Jennifer Snyder Sachs
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner by Michael Baden, MD
and how cool is this:
Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation by Barry A.J. Fisher - my forensics textbook!

You would think, but you'd be wrong

Case in point: I was shopping at Whole Foods (WF) this evening and it was pretty busy. Plus, they're re-arranging the layout so things are kind of tight while the changes are in progress. I wanted to grab a couple of bagels for breakfast tomorrow. BUT: this woman was in front of me so I had to wait. She opened the bakery case door and was trying to make up her mind about what baked goods to take. Standing. Deciding. Deciding. Deciding some more. Now, I know she realized that I was there, waiting for her to move so I could also experience the wonders of WF's bakery. This didn't alter her careful and painfully lengthy decision-making at all. By the time she moved out of the way, there was at least one guy waiting behind me. Oy.

Oh, if this was an isolated case! But no - last weekend a couple with two small sons were planted in front of the case. The grown-ups were letting their boys experience the wonder of choosing their own bagels. Again the decision-making that required EXTENSIVE consideration. Again the total "blindness" to my standing there waiting. And everyone else who was losing hope of ever choosing their dinner rolls. Oy.

You would think that these special, special people would understand that there are others who might like a shot at the baked goods and since we cannot pass through human flesh to obtain them, it might be considerate to MAKE YOUR DAMN CHOICE AND GET OUT OF THE BLESSED WAY. You would think that, but you'd be wrong.

Ah, Mondays...the perfect day for fisking

A while ago, I wrote a review of the book Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich, PhD, both here and on Goodreads.com. The premise is that Dr. Ehrenreich (an upper middle class academic) tries to see how "the other half" lives: she works in low-wage, low-skilled jobs in places around the country, then reports on her experiences. Wow - I've received so many wonderful comments on my Goodreads review. The most "inspiring" are the ones that excoriate me for being such an awful person (meaning: I have all the wrong views). You'll see what I mean below. Since this guy voiced his opinion of my "work," I feel very comfortable in quoting him verbatim on my blog.

Reader "David" quotes my words about the appropriate time to have kids: "[when folks have] attained sufficient financial stability." My statement doesn't sound out of the question. I mean come on.

He goes on to opine:

"Major assumption - that they ever will. When being poor is a temporary state, as with grad school, this might be a reasonable thing to say. However, the point is that for many people, being poor is a lifetime prospect. And you've just said they don't deserve to breed."

So...
1. I'm being unreasonable for stating that people who are considering having kids should have enough money to not only to sustain themselves, but also sustain the proposed kids.

2. Is David saying that people having little money now have no possibility of earning more, no matter what, and

3. Furthermore, that even if they barely have enough income or don't have enough income to support themselves, it's fine that they go ahead and reproduce anyway,

4. Because they're only dumb animals anyway, so just humor them?

5. Is he saying that people who currently earn under a certain amount are too stupid to improve their earning potential and/or use contraception to delay having kids they can't currently afford?

6. Isn't he being a little paternalistic by suggesting that the poor dumbasses are so stupid and hopeless that we (Government, taxpayers, the smart ones) must simply allow them to reproduce sans responsibility and subsidize their lives indefinitely? Noblesse oblige much?

"And Ehernreich clearly states why she avoids major cities - the populations filling the low-wage jobs are almost entirely racial minorities, where she would be conspicuous."

Right. Uh-huh.

1. When I first came to DC, I did temp jobs before I got a permanent job. Starting at the bottom - clerical work, answering phones, etc - I made maybe $14k a year. Even when I got a permanent job, it didn't really pay that much.

2. And come on, Dr. Ehrenreich would (and probably did) stick out anyway. It's very difficult to remove all the education, socialization, attitudes of your upbringing and yes, economic class to be thoroughly convincing anywhere as someone you're not.

3. The author really didn't try THAT hard to do a balanced study or she would have lived/worked in some big cities. Also, as I mentioned in my review that she put a lot of other caveats in her study: that she wouldn't share quarters and pool resources, that she would only rent crummy cars (yeh, because as you know, dear readers, "The Poor" are also too stupid to buy modestly priced, fuel efficient, used cars), etc., etc.

4. And just for fun, David, why not spell the author's name correctly [meow]?

"I would _love_ for the poor everywhere (and everyone else) to have good public transportation to use, but that requires public funds that conservatives never want to give. Many poor today need a car."

Bonehead, I'm a conservative and take public transportation (subway & buses) every single blessed day. Neither my husband nor I own a car. Some employers even subsidize public transportation - for all employees no matter what their salary level. And furthermore, it's not all us conservatives' fault about poor public transportation access - there's plenty of blame to go around (I may post more on this particular issue later).

Whew! I could go on, but you get the picture.

Because this is SO important

Well, gentle readers, last evening while waiting for DH Jeff to arrive, I finally sat my butt down and gave myself a pedicure. Now, this involves sitting in one place for a while and allowing 4 coats of polish to dry. Think a LONG time, because I'm the retarded female who always manages to wreck her beautiful handiwork because I don't wait long ENOUGH for the toes to dry. So, I've been putting this off for a while...Like the color? It's called "Dive Bomb."

Weird Science

Last night, DH Jeff & I had sake. This morning, as evidence of how my strange brain works, this memory popped into my head:

Several years ago, DH Jeff (then DBF Jeff) and I were living in what's pejoratively known (for good reason) as "the Arlington Slums" or Howard Manor Apartments, where any semblance of "climate control" is mere wishful thinking. We had heated up some sake in a whistler kettle and finished it, but hadn't rinsed it out the kettle. Yeh, lazy. Then a week went by and I wanted to heat some water for tea. I shook the kettle to see if there was still and water in it (short memory); no water sounds. So, I removed the lid and what do I see? A tiny kingdom of blue-green towers. For real. Jeff had to see this one. Thank goodness I looked before putting adding water.

Reminds me of a Simpsons episode where an entire micro-civilization grows in a petri dish.

Just when I started liking people...

...I read this pair of horrid stories in WaPo this morning:

VA Toddler Dies After Father Leaves Him in SUV. Here’s the low-down: a guy leaves his infant son in his SUV all day long while he’s at work. 90 degrees inside the car. Claims he was supposed to take the tot to daycare, but forgot. All day. Until one of his co-workers asks him – is there something in your car? Indeed. But this story gets richer: this guy had just adopted the boy from Russia a few months prior. Fabulous! So he rescues the kid from a grim life in Russia only to torture the pup to death by neglect before he reaches two years old.

I’m still trying to understand how one can actually forget a whole human being. Guess I’m naïve that way. Plus, if you went to all that trouble to complete an international adoption, would you really want to dump the kid on a stranger daily rather than taking some parental leave or getting a relative (spouse, partner, parent) to ease the child into the family? Not to mention being generally more attentive and remembering you have a child? Hell no, this is America! Buy or birth the toy and put it on a shelf.

In Baby’s Death, a History of Unrest at Home. WaPo kind of soft-peddles this one – “a young couple struggled to rear four [emphasis mine] small children.” The low-down: this unmarried Hispanic woman lives with her children (3-, 2-, 1 year-olds and the 6-month-old) and the sperm donor. She leaves the 6-month-old in his playpen to take a nap (inside) while taking the other three outside to play. The baby dies mysteriously. There’s a history of “turmoil” (possible abuse by the XY). There was a social worker assigned to this “troubled” family…one who never paid a visit to check things out. The breeder seemed overwhelmed to friends and family. Hmmm. I wonder what happened? The ME hasn’t reported yet on the CoD.

I just find it amazing that this woman was essentially continuously pregnant for four years. At some point, don’t you think that she would say, “enough, I’m going on the pill?” Or, maybe "we should get married so these bastards have a name?" So much for Latino family values. She’s a stay-at-home-mom and the sperm donor pays the bills…maybe not willingly. Just around for the trim, really. Or maybe he forbade her to use contraception. I truly cannot fathom the macho mind. Or maybe they’re both too stupid to be proactive. Don’t know. The remaining tykes don’t have a prayer, though, that’s for sure.

Restaurant Review: Vidalia

A few Fridays ago, our social group decided to meet at Vidalia for happy hour and possibly dinner. A draw was the gratis mini-wine tasting in their lounge. Plus, neither DH Jeff or I had been there, so we were enthused about trying it.

The first impression was positive: helpful hostess staff, a relaxing and hip lounge area near the bar, beautiful, calm restaurant interior. We decided to have dinner there and that was when the sticker shock set in – especially with the rest of the group. DH Jeff & I knew that it would be rather expensive and had planned for that…but the prices even surprised us. Yet, we weren’t going to eat there all the time – this was a treat, a novelty. However, even with the complimentary amuse bouche (a little culinary architecture along with a shot glass of soup), the place was over-priced. The quality of food was good but not commensurate with the cost, and the portions were tiny. The food presentation, in fact, impressed me as a parody of snooty, high end French restaurants. Clearly not the intention of the restaurant, but there it is.

I appreciated the serene, well-designed interiors with all the clever Crate & Barrel-style dishes. The service was polite and competent. We didn’t kvetch about the expense like the some of the group, because we expected it. But I doubt we’ll be going back because, let’s face it, there are better, more reasonably priced establishments in the area. Like legions.

Booze Notes: Chardonnay

I'll admit it - I used to be a complete chardonnay snob. I hated what I found to be the prevalent flavors: oakiness and fruitiness. Yechh. But then I had an awakening: not all chardonnays taste the same! You know why? While some are aged in oak casks (thus the oakiness), others are aged in steel tanks (no oak!). What the latter lacks in charm, it makes up for in drinkability (to my palate). Here are my latest joyful discoveries:

Fat Bastard Chardonnay($8.99/bottle, Whole Foods) - France. Mellow and smooth, very relaxing. And you can't beat the colorful name.

Riven Rock Chardonnay ($5.99/bottle, Whole Foods) - California. Crisp, bracing and a little tart. Can't beat the price either.

Oh, and you can check out Whole Foods online wine info/tutorials here.

Netflix rocks!

Ok, I know I'm way behind the whole web-rent dvd thing, so no snickering. I just signed up for Netflix and I just LOVE it! OMG, they make it so easy and efficient! And, they email you when they've received the dvd & also when they're going to mail your next selection. Such good communication skills!

BTW, our next few selections are Season 1 of Lost. No, I've never seen it, but have heard devotees seriously discussing it, so we're going to see what the buzz is all about.

Also, I've put Season 1 of Six Feet Under on my queue. DH Jeff asks, "oh, so what's that about?" (reasonable question) To which I reply, "Not a clue. I just saw the name and thought I should see what it was about." (unassailable logic) He tries to reason that one out...unsuccessfully.

Here's the deal

In July, I'll be working part-time, in a job (and organization) that has lasted a year longer than anyone thought or planned for. So, that is to say, the half-time hours change is good, because even though that means less money this month, I TRULY will have more time to blog.

Really, it hasn't been due to lack of material that I haven't posted regularly, just lack of time. That said, I have tons of movie-book-restaurant reviews, booze notes, other notes, rants and other fun stuff to share with you. So stay tuned!

The scoop

Well, gentle readers, here's what I've been up to:

- Finished shredding all old receipts and unnecessary documents and filing all the needful;

- DH Jeff & I re-org'd the "workroom" for aesthetics and better space usage. It looks SO much better now. Then,

- I tackled the closet...and continue to tackle it. I re'org'd all our clothes & shoes and am now trying to decide what to give away or throw out. And I keep finding more things. Gaack. This weekend, I will finish off that task.

- Perhaps this weekend I can also find time to finally give myself a pedicure, and

- Finish a book for a book club on the 29th, and

- Catch up on my book & movie reviews. And other blogging.

Who said I would have so much free time once I finished with school?

Also, I'm trying to lose ten pounds. That's it. Unfortunately, I love libations and victuals a bit too much. Well, I decided that I probably could shave off a few hundred calories by not drinking alcohol every day of the week. So, it's kind of one day on, one day off and on off days, I just drink water with dinner. No real progress yet, but I haven't gained any weight.

A few weekends ago, we went with a friend to her mountain home (Blue Ridge) to chill and went wine tasting. Lots of fun! I took lots of pictures, some of which I'll share with you soon.

Oh, and I joined Netflix. I figure, I can check out all the movies I want & then MAYBE buy ones with bona fide replay value. The plan I signed up for (after the free 2-wk trial) is $8.99 per month for one movie at a time, but unlimited rentals within the month. I just got The Kite Runner. I think this will be a good deal and I can save some money without foregoing entertainment.

And I need to replace the photo of me on this blog, because my hair is longer now.

Whew!

Scotch Watch 2008: The story continues

Last Friday evening DH Jeff & I met friends for happy hour and dinner at Vidalia (review to come), downtown. Instead of dessert, I opted for a single malt, preferably one I hadn't tried before. I chose Dalwinnie (12- or 15-year, I'm not sure) and was very pleased with my choice. It's very smooth and mellow - a pleasing finish to a good meal.

So, I'd say it gives Glenfiddich a run for its money; however, I'd like to taste them side by side to see which I like best.

For more information on the Scotch and the distillery, go here. Looks like the 15-year is comparable in price to most good 12-years at $50 and change per bottle.

Meaningful ceremony

Instead of focussing on those reports of the cruel knobs who leave their small children and pets in baking vehicles (there were a few reports in the paper today), I'm pleased to highlight something really positive.

Those recently taking the oath of citizenship were treated to a truly meaningful and beautiful ceremony. U.S. District Court Judge, T.S. Ellis III, decided to hold the naturalization ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery, emphasizing the service and sacrifice that has made our country great. Judge Ellis, himself, is an immigrant from Colombia. Read the whole WaPo article here.

Nice to have this kind of news for a change.

Some good things

What's happening...

1. I finally received my Forensic Science certificate. It's official. But come on, folks, couldn't you have made it a little more impressive? It's really kind of boring. I mean, when I worked for a Navy contractor, I used to make & frame 5-year employee certificates - and they looked sharp. That was just using Word to print them. Hmmm.

2. Our "workroom" is looking better and better. Over the weekend, I shredded (literally) reams of old statements and receipts. It's liberating.

3. (This is for you, AJ) I used all those CVS plastic bags I've been stockpiling to dispose of the shredded material.

4. We've been really trying to avoid wasting food. And save money. And lose weight. So, we've been taking our lunches in with whatever's in the fridge (think hummus and lots of veggies).

5. I'm writing to you this morning which is 1) great because this is part of an effort to blog more often and 2) impressive because I'm actually doing something in morning besides dozing and putting off work (ok, I'm still putting off work...).

Have a beautiful if toasty day!

And the outrage spreads

Today in WaPo's Metro section was an article about two teenage girls in Virginia Beach who were killed by - wait for it, wait for it - an illegal alien drunk driver. And what's neater is that he had been convicted before of - drunken driving! Wahoo! Now Virginia Beach residents are getting riled up about illegal immigration. Hmmm.

I guess if folks like La Raza had their way, the whole US would be a lawless cesspool like Mexico. Fortunately not everyone is an open-borders idiot.

Here are five costs of uncontrolled illegal immigration:

1. Crime - including gang activity, rapes, murders, identity fraud and, yes, drunk driving.

2. Healthcare burden - of course they don't have insurance.

3. Education burden - don't speak English, no problem! The taxpayers will pay for more ESL and other "assimilation" programs!

4. Social services burden - welfare and food stamps anyone? No money for children, but what the hell? Everything's free in the US!

5. Increase in US poverty level. Although there's little way of actually knowing how much -to what extent- illegal immigration increases the poverty level but look - the (minimum of) 12 million illegals in this country are generally poorly educated, low-wage workers, many of them with children to support.

Anyway, food for thought. I'm sure to come up with another five costs of illegal immigration soon.

We're ok

You'll be glad to hear that even if the DC area was hit with severe thunderstorm and tornados, DH Jeff and I are safe and sound. All we suffered was a brief power outage and that happened before we got home...so the clocks had to be re-set. Minor.

I impress myself...

...and you're like, "yeah, so what's new?" Well, remember I said I was rising early in the mornings with DH Jeff because of his training? And how I've been organizing? Well, this morning I out-did myself in productivity! I did laundry (and folded it - can you stand it?), unloaded the dish washer, made my lunch, blogged, made the bed, shredded some more old statements, took out the trash and recyclables, labelized some file folders filled with school-ly goodness (yeh, I keep my notes) and made it to work before 5pm. It's only 1pm, but I think I should get some time off for good behavior.

Movie Review: Educating Rita

Educating Rita is the story of a Cockney hairdresser, Rita (played by Julie Walters), who wants more out of life than attempting to make middle-aged matrons look like Princess Di (this movie was done in the 80s). So she enrolls for tutoring at the local august university. Rita's assigned tutor is a washed up, alcoholic English professor, Frank (played by Michael Caine), who wants nothing to do with teaching any more. Rita demands that he teach her and thus the adventure begins.

This gem of a film wasn't available in DVD until recently. So when I discovered it was offered on Amazon, I grabbed it. It is a charming story of how this diffident yet bright and persistent gal struggles to read and write critically, to find a new life of the mind, and to feel "good enough," ie, equal to the other university students for whom a good education is birthright. Along the way, Rita encounters vexing obstacles, not the least of which is her boozy tutor. In less capable hands, this film could have been saccharine, content-light drivel (ie, the typical Hollywood dramedy) or at least sickeningly sentimental, but with a really good script and superb performances by Caine and Walters, it truly warms the cockles of the heart. And it's not strictly a chick flick, DH Jeff liked it too.

What's more, you can get it for a song, so why not treat yourself?

Home progress

DH Jeff smiles benevolently while I race around the apartment, excitedly querying him, "isn't the apartment clean, doesn't it look better, see we have more room?! Shred, shred, shred!" The impetus for this result has been bubbling away for a while, but it wasn't until Jeff had to start these early morning training classes this week, that I've been on overdrive.

Overdrive to what, exactly, you ask? Well, our apartment has gotten pretty cluttered thanks to the fact that both of us are pack-rats and I'm totally OCD about keeping every important document that I might conceivably need some day, going back to, oh, 1985. Well, because he has had to get up really early, I join him for coffee and noshes before he heads out. Then I bound into action, straightening up, vacuuming and in an unexpected burst of energy yesterday morning, dusting the whole apartment (yes, you heard me right). I'm also weeding out my files and shredding the unnecessary, because I just don't need all the time sheets from when I was temping in 1986. I just don't.

The result is that when I come home from work, I feel much better about the place and am provoked into doing more. Eventually, I'll have a neat inbox and a continuously emptied shred box, instead of various piles all around. Life will be beautiful. Then I can work on reorganizing the "workroom" for aesthetics and function. I dare to dream.

Justice?

There was a follow-up article in today's WaPo regarding the illegal immigrant drunk driver who killed a Marine and his girlfriend in 2006. I opined about the original story here.

The scumbag had a blood alcohol level or FOUR TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT (I believe it was around .32) and decided to get behind the wheel. He had been previously been charged with drunken driving but the case was dismissed because of a police screw-up. The Marine had just served eight months in Iraq. Both Marine and girlfriend were in their early twenties.

Today's article tells us that the wetback got only ten years in prison. The original sentence was for twenty years (a more fitting sentence, to my thinking), but the stupid judge suspended ten years of the sentence. The article doesn't say why. So, for killing two Americans, one who managed to not die in a war zone, this criminal only got ten years. My only thought is that the judge wanted to make the sentence shorter, so that the felon could be deported faster and off the U.S.'s dime. OK, but we all know how competent this country is at permanently deporting anyone. [end sarcasm]

A very old disease

This morning's WaPo Health section carried a very interesting article about leprosy AKA Hansen's Disease. This article resonated with me because back in the early 80s, when on post with my family in Mexico City, our Mexican maid, Suzie, was diagnosed with it. It came as a shock that this biblical disease was still around. Indeed it is, and the U.S. has the world's best center for research and treatment in the world, the National Hansen's Disease Clinical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. Some fun facts about this disease:

- 95% of the world's population is thought to be immune to it
- it is actually a neurological disease that comes from a bacteria
- humans and armadillos are the only known animals to contract this disease
- it is not that contagious, but
- it is not known definitively how it is spread

Read the whole article here and more about the disease here.

What happened to Suzie, you ask? Well, we took her for treatment and arranged with a friend to have that treatment continued after we left post. Now, the friend was trustworthy and sympathetic, but unfortunately, Suzie was surrounded by friends and relatives who were superstitious and believed in the "treatments" of the local witch doctors, called curanderos. I don't know what evenually happened to her, but hope that she finished the legitimate medical treatment and did not resort to those purveyors spurious "medicines."

The problem with liberals

I'll confine myself to just five today, boys and girls.

1. Entitlement without responsibility. Defined in terms of "rights." Otherwise known as "freedom to do anything I want and never having to deal with the consequences." And someone else will pay (taxpayers). This can be seen by non-glue-sniffers as "reinforcing undesirable behavior."

2. Racism and other dialog stoppers. Accuse someone of being racist, anti-immigrant, guilty of human rights violations, etc., in order to thwart any conversation about the actual issues.

3. Open borders lobby and "world citizens." Support unfettered, unrestricted migration into and out of the U.S., especially for the little beaners who do low-level work, and then demand and defend the invaders' "right" to all sorts of benefits, public assistance. Then offer them citizenship. Because after all, U.S. citizenship doesn't mean that much anyway. These are the sophisticates who consider themselves "world citizens" and not-so-much American citizens, because patriotism and allegiance is so passé. Until they need their country to do something for them.

4. "Reproductive Rights." This is both the "right" to have your unborn child vacuumed and/or yanked out of you for any reason, at any time, and to have as many children as you want without the means to actually pay for them. This also means excoriating someone (in an outraged manner) of suggesting that "poor people shouldn't have children." These attitudes relate to #1 above.

5. America is always wrong. Whether it be war, foreign policy, border control, you name it. All that freedom, rights, upward mobility, education, relative safety...if you can find a better place, go there.

Progress of demolition

The downtown corner demolition proceeded very efficiently and amazingly neatly. I just had to mark their progress. Evidently, they imploded the building from the outside-in, in stages, so at one point there was this bizarre tower with all sorts of metal and wire hanging out. It looked like some sort of prop from a dystopic future. Anyhoo, here are some pictures...

Eating away at the corner.


Spooky tower.


Extreme close-up spooky tower.


After Armageddon.


And...it's a pile of rubble.


I'm sure you feel edified seeing the very neat demise of a building. Thank you for your cooperation.

State of the union...um, I mean, job

I have extreme ennui. Call it "wage-earner" blues. Yesterday I played hookie from work and hung out with DH Jeff. It was good. But now I'm at work and I'm very whiny. Help.

Rwandan progress

Yesterday in WaPo, I read a story whose outlook was unexpected - good news from Africa. Because of the genocide, many Rwandan women were left without husbands, fathers & brothers, and had to fend for themselves and their children. Coffee plantations which had been owned by their male relatives passed to them. The article tells of how a new female entrepreneurship has grown out of the need to survive: women started running these plantations and improving the quality of the coffee they grew. Now, some of these businesses are so successful, that they export their coffee around the world. The article also goes into how microcredit factors into this commercial evolution (which reinforces my belief that microcredit is the doorway out of poverty). Interestingly, these female business owners are more likely to cycle their profits back into the business for development, but also improve their family's wellbeing (housing, sustenance, education, etc.). What's more, their new economic power is strengthening their political power as well. Read the whole story here.

Movie Review: Eastern Promises

Eastern Promises is a story about a midwife, Anna (played by Naomi Watts), whose teenage patient dies in childbirth, leaving no identification except for a diary. In an effort to track down relatives who could take custody of her orphaned baby girl, Anna must find someone to translate the diary, which is entirely in Russian. These efforts lead her into the cut-throat world of the Russian Mafia. One of the characters she encounters along the way is a mobster's chauffeur (played by Viggo Mortenson), a quiet man with a lot he's not saying.

This is not a movie for the faint of heart. It's very violent but at the same time, none of it is gratuitous. The whole cast is great, kudos especially to Mortenson whose character, at one point, has to fight two would-be assassins in a sauna while buck naked. Watts is a very sympathetic Anna, trying against odds to achieve a happy ending for the baby. I would highly recommend this intense film - it'll keep your attention to the very end.

Economic innovation

You know that I love the concept of microcredit as a direct way to combat poverty in a very tangible way (versus just throwing money at programs), empowering individuals. Well, in the WaPo today an article about a young South African company, Wizzit, that another way to address poverty: banking services to the poor, accessible by cell phone. The idea is that since cell phones are actually much more numerous in South Africa than bank accounts, there's opportunity in providing bank accounts that customers can access through their cell phones without actually having to go to a branch. One can set up an account over the phone, have pay deposited directly into the account instead of in cash, then can pay bills, send money, buy groceries - all through a cell phone. Read the whole, very interesting article here.

If only the Feds had been doing their jobs...

...in the first place, we wouldn't need detention camps for immigrants awaiting deportation. WaPo is doing a series about the EVIL U.S. Government and how it's mistreating the detainees. Today's piece was about how some of those detainees are committing suicide because of inadequate or neglectful mental health care at the centers. Disclaimer: I understand that (as DH Jeff has reminded me) if we're going to have detention centers, adequate conditions should be provided. Adequate. Not lux. My heartless self, though, really doesn't care if a few commit suicide, drop dead, etc. I didn't ask them to come here and at this point, am unconcerned with their wellbeing. Since time is short and I must scurry to work so I can pay for their care, I will opine no further. Besides, my blood pressure rises every time I think about this and life is just too short.

Grousing about grout...

...otherwise known as "the many uses of school glue." Case in point: some of the grout between our bathroom floor tiles has, in recent weeks, started to crumble. I reported this twice as a service request. Each time, the request was "completed" within 24 hours. That's the good part. The bad part is that not only were areas completely missed the first time, but the treated areas immediately started to crumble…both issues necessitating a second request. In the second go-round, all areas were patched but just yesterday I noticed that those areas were crumbling.

My two responses: 1) this burns my butt because we pay a premium to live here and should have handy men/women who actually know what they’re doing…and actually do it, and 2) I retrieved my CVS school glue and patched the crumbling areas. Not an optimal choice of grout material, but hey, I wasn’t going to submit yet another service request. The glue dried clear and secured the crumbling grout. Jeez.

Thoughts on…

…recycling. DH Jeff & my apartment building provides bins for newspaper, cardboard and mixed recyclables (plastic, glass, aluminum) and we are conscientious about depositing our recyclables therein. Recently, though, I’ve been thinking that there are so many things we “use” once and throw into the bins. It does in fact take energy to transport and recycle all these things. It seems a waste not to use some of them more than once, when practical. Case in point: we frequently buy those yummy mini croissants for breakfast and toss the plastic containers in which they are sold. But if one washes them, they’re great for saving leftovers, half-used vegetables, etc and for packing lunch.

So, small effort to reuse these containers, but in the aggregate, I’ll bet it really pays off. For instance, using these instead of ziplock bags. We’re terrible at cleaning and reusing those…so not only do we save money on frequent ziplock bag purchases (not doing away with them totally, though), but we’re also saving the energy that would be used in recycling the containers. Also, I’m not even sure that Arlington recycles the particular type of plastic of which they’re made, so if not, we’re keeping plastic from ending up in the waste stream. Yeah! I wonder why I didn’t think of this sooner!

I’m so sick of…

…this presidential campaign. Obama and Reverend Wright. McCain and Reverend Hagy (sp?). Blah, blah, blah. Can we just vote already and end this?

Book Review: Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, is a tragic tale of a man, Gregor, who wakes up one morning transformed into human-sized cockroach. Before this, he is the capable breadwinner of his aging parents and younger sister, setting them (and him) up in a nice roomy apartment. After the transformation, there is a brief period of sympathy from his family which rapidly turns to disgust, which prompts them to isolate him in his room. Because the family no longer has their sponsor, they are compelled to take in some unpleasant boarders. The situation declines accordingly in light of the fact that Gregor is unable to reverse the unfortunate species shift.

This is my first reading of Kafka. It was a mercifully short read at 55 pages. How long can one read about the disintegration of a once-productive life? The benefactor becomes a prisoner both in body and soul, losing his liberty on multiple levels, and an outcaste, losing his place in the hearts of his family members. He has no clue as to why this has happened to him and even worse, is incapable of doing anything to change the situation. Gregor was both a sympathetic and doomed figure, and even though his family couldn’t actually do anything to change him back, they became very unlikeable by the end of the story.

Movie Review: Duel in the Sun

In the interests of expanding my cinematic horizons, DH Jeff had me watch Duel in the Sun, a 1946 western/melodrama starring Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore, Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones. Jennifer Jones plays seventeen-year-old Pearl who has been orphaned and is taken in by a wealthy Texas family. She is immediately both repulsed and wildly attracted to the brash son Lewt (Peck) and dismisses the decent other son Jesse (Cotten). The story follows the tempestuous relationship of Lewt and Pearl. No good comes of it for them or anyone around them.

The good: beautiful cinematography. Yeh, in my mind that was about it. I guess you could say it was interesting to see Peck play a complete scumbag instead of “man of honor.”

The bad: Lewt can only be described as thoroughly loathsome, and in the parlance of our time, an emotionally abusive asshole. Did I also mention “rapist”? Jennifer Jones looks thirty not seventeen and she over-acts her little heart out. Her Pearl is a trampy big trouble. There are a few sympathetic characters, but neither Lewt nor Pearl fit that category. There are, however, more unsympathetic characters.
Well, there it is.

I'm free! Sort of...

Well, my dears, I've completed my coursework for the certificate in forensic science. I've submitted my paperwork. I wait for the piece of paper. The point is: "yippee!" I'm so glad to have it done! Now I'll have some more time to blog & write! And exercise. Oh, the exercise.

I've also submitted my first my entry in a writing contest, the Washington Post Valentine's fiction contest. This is a yearly contest that requires a short story about love in some respect, inspired by the photo they publish that year in the Post Magazine. DH Jeff has made an entry too. Wish us luck!

Book Review: Predator

Predator, by Patricia Cornwell, will not disappoint Scarpetta fans: it is chock-full of her regular characters with all their attendant idiosyncrasies (neuroses) and conflicts. And, of course, there are the deranged scumbags that keep the good guys on their toes until the last word.

In this story, there’s a convicted serial killer who’s participating in a neurological study, run by Benton Wesley, who reveals some details of an unsolved case. Is he telling the truth or fabricating details of a crime to toy with the forensic psychologist? Then there’s the mysterious woman whom Lucy encounters in a bar. What’s her story? The unexplained disappearance of two women and their young charges rounds out this compelling forensic mystery.

I’m a long-time Cornwell fan and although I always enjoy her stories, this was an especially good one. The tensions between Dr. Scarpetta and her cohorts are wonderfully aggravating as they all try – with plenty of distraction - to get to the bottom of the mystery. On a personal note, the segments that discuss firearms examination and ballistics were especially interesting because I had just had instruction on these areas in class. Regardless, I think anyone who enjoys the Scarpetta storylines will thoroughly enjoy Predator.

The wonders of demolition

There's something so compelling about a wreck site. What is it? It may be the awe at the folks who can actually blow up one building at busy intersection downtown without touching the buildings right smack beside it. Or maybe it's the image of controlled chaos of the floors with all their wires and such slouching down onto each other.

Well, here are some photos that I took with my Treo 680 (gotta love technology) at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue & K Street NW, downtown. Same building from two different views. Kind of incredible. On the street level was a pile of metal scraps that are going to be salvaged, I guess. Maybe I'll go take a picture of that too.

Cry. Me. A. River...Buh-bye! [long post]

In today's WaPo, front page, is a typical bleeding heart article about the hispanic exodus from Prince William County because of the county's new anti-illegals laws, the housing lending issue and other reasons. Waaahhhhhh!!! The wetbacks are leaving! No more cheap labor! No more Spanish-only enclaves! The CCCCHHHHIILLLDDDRRREEN!!! Waaahhhhhh!!!

Read this tearful narrative of (feel the sarcasm) the cruelty of it all:

The man, whose name is Mauricio and who is Salvadoran, zipped his jacket against the wind whipping across the dark, vacant parking lot as he walked out of the store toward a borrowed car.

That morning, his electricity had been cut off. The next day, he and 11-year-old Erica would be moving into the basement of a neighbor's house. On this night, they would make do with candles.

It was the latest blow in a year of calamities: In April, the interest rate on Mauricio's ill-advised mortgage suddenly spiked, more than doubling his monthly payments. In May, he lost his job as a house painter. In June, he had to sell his van. In July, his third child was born, and with no insurance, he started skipping mortgage payments to cover the hospital bills. In October, the bank began foreclosure proceedings. In November, he sent his wife and two U.S.-born children to El Salvador.

December brought the worst setback yet: Mauricio bounced a $460 check he had sent the Department of Homeland Security to renew his temporary legal status, transforming him from legal to illegal immigrant.

In January, he received notice to vacate his house. Two weeks ago, the water was cut off. A week ago, his Virginia driver's license expired, and without legal status, he can no longer renew it.

Mauricio and Erica turned onto a side street pocked with darkened, empty houses and pulled up to a brick house with mustard shutters. A plastic barrel stood under the gutter spout. Mauricio had been using it to collect rainwater to heat so Erica could take baths.(WaPo, March 27, 2008)

Maybe Mauricio should have taken his residency legality a little more seriously. Maybe instead of impregnating his wife (a macho imperative!) with another child he couldn't support, he should have been saving his money to pay for his legal residency in this country. Maybe instead of buying a house he couldn't afford, he & his family should have sucked it up and lived in an apartment that he could. Yet, nowhere in the article does it place the responsibility for Mauricio's "calamities" squarely where they belong: on his and his wife's head. The article only refers to an "ill-advised" mortgage - you know, like he just got some bum advice - not his fault!

I read this article with a sense of disgust (the bleeding heart stories) and glee (the laws are working). What we call this is "attrition" and "self-deportation." Yeah! And as other localities are flooded with the resulting "refugees" and find (various facets of) their areas overwhelmed, maybe they'll rethink the prudence of their sanctuary policies. One can only hope.

Because I must...

...but it makes me feel better anyway. I'm currently going through my files and shredding old account statements in an effort to decrease clutter (one of my new years resolutions). And because I actually DON'T need ALL documentation on accounts going back twenty years. I just don't. I've accepted that fact. I've now shredded several reams of paper. Hah!

More on microcredit

DH Jeff found this article in WaPo this morning about the nascent Grameen America. Curious how I was just mentioning Grameen and now this pops up. Historically microcredit initiatives have been carried out in the third world but why should they be exclusively third world endeavors? Grameen clearly thinks there's potential in the first world. Cool.

Scotch Watch 2008: the story continues

So, we just tried Glenfiddich 12-year ($51/bottle). We really like it. It's smooth and warm with a touch of sweetness. Mmmmmgood.

Oh, here's a site I found that gives tasting notes on various whiskies and details about the distilleries: The Whisky Guide. I checked out the tasting notes on Laphroaig, which if you've been following along, I found to be undrinkable. Here's why: smoke & peat. Evidently, neither of these jazzes my palate.

Oh, DH Jeff & I are thinking of hosting a scotch tasting for our interested/scotch-curious friends. Hoot.

Update: I think I like Glenfiddich more than Macallan. Just saying.

Some [known] bad news, some good news

I'm not going to talk at length about this article in today's WaPo, because I've already talked about how fighting mad it makes me that the DHS can't seem to pull its head out of its butt...and how happy it is to charge that incompetence spectacularly to you and me. Read and weep.

Onto more positive news: Goldman Sachs is bankrolling business education programs for female entreneurs in Africa and the Middle East with an eye to improving local economies in these regions. I think this rocks - focus on the women. We've seen the positive effects on the ground with microcredit/microfinance programs & banks (which tends to lend primarily to women) in the the third world (Grameen Bank, for instance), now Goldman Sachs is taking this thinking to the next logical level: giving female entrepreneurs the educational tools to make their businesses a success. Read the whole article here. And yes, libtards, Goldman Sachs is what you're always howling about - BIG BUSINESS - big raspberry to you!

Everything's money

For as long as I can remember, I've been overly concerned about money. Worried. That one day I'd be without it and on the streets. For a vast variety of reasons, that's HIGHLY unlikely, but this anxiety isn't rational. What is, though, is the solution to the anxiety: savings. I have started a small "crash fund" (emergency fund), but I think I'm going to go a step further: to amass a year's worth of expenses, stick the cash in CDs, and let it percolate interest. Now, this isn't all going to happen this year, but it will happen - I'm on a mission!

5 foods I could eat all day

Hummus - is it the garlic, the consistency, the dip-ability?

Kettle Chips Salt & Pepper potato chips - it's the crunch and the mixture of salt & pepper. These chips are like crack. Really. And really not so bad for you (no hydrogenated oils) unless you eat a whole bag at one sitting...which is a definite possibility.

Microwave popcorn - it's the crunch, the salt, the heavenly aroma, the fake butter!

Edamame - it's the gently salty nuttiness.

Wasabe peas - it's the nasal spiciness & crunch.

So, what foods drive you to distraction?

Interesting pairing

Fat Bastard shiraz with Five Guys cheeseburger (with jalapenos, tomatoes, mustard and hot sauce) & fries. Trust me, it works.

Scotch Watch 2008

In the case of my ever-evolving palate, I’ve decided to find out about the best single malt scotches (to me, that is, of course), experientially. To that effect, I’ve been trying a few and here are my latest (but by no means last) observations:

Laphroaig: I recently tasted this at a local pub-sterant ($10 a drink). Let me just say that the smell of it turned me off right away. Chemical, nasty. Taste was the same. No go on this one.

Macallan 12-year ($45/bottle): Good. Edges, but not harsh. Drinkable.

Glenmorangie Santa Rosa ($80/bottle): Beautifully light and smooth, with just a hint of sweetness. Aromatic. Very drinkable. DH Jeff & my only negative observation: …but is it worth $80/bottle?

Tamdhu 10-year ($20/bottle): I was persuaded to try this by a Sikh liquor store employee who doesn’t even drink. Note to self: don’t trust the advice of someone who doesn’t actually drink the stuff. The edges on this puppy were so hard they could cut. I found this scotch to be undrinkable. Using it for cooking.

More on this story as it develops. There is a dizzying array of scotch choices, even from the same distiller. My question: would we actually be able to tell the difference between a 12- and an 18-year scotch? We will see…

Book Review: The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, is just a wonderful book. Jeff’s Aunt Joan had recommended it to me awhile ago and since then, numerous others have recommended it to me as well. I finally had a chance to read it and was blown away. I said it before when I reviewed A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hosseini’s second novel: he’s a very effective and engaging story-teller. What’s more, Hosseini is really good at characterization: his characters are layered, faceted, flawed, compelling, nasty, selfish, brutal, redeeming, sympathetic and sometimes lovable. Furthermore, he gives us glimpses into elements of Afghani culture that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise.

To wit, The Kite Runner revolves around a certain defining kite flying competition and the events that occur therein. It deals with the relationships between both master and servant, and two best friends at the same time. It’s a story about the lack of courage and loyalty, and yet the possibility of redemption for nearly unforgivable wrongs. Hosseini draws you in and the 400 pages just fly by. If you haven’t already done so, go read it!

Buh-bye!

A hopeful story in the WaPo this morning: Virginia is submitting names of immigrant sex offenders to the Feds so that they (the Feds) can deport them. About time.

But of course you have those who will object...after all, we NEED to import sex offenders, we just DON'T have enough AmCit sexual predators of our own. Diversity and all. Harrumph! [end sarcasm]

Read all about it here.

How can I get a job like this?

No oversight for twenty years. In a government job. Wherein you could just steal $50 million. And conspicuously, brazenly spend it to boot. Much of it gone for good. And only now you get caught. Nope, you can't blame this on Bush. It's the DC Tax Office scam. Investigators are finding it's a lot worse than they thought & went on for a lot longer than they thought. Read the whole thing here.

What I did on my summer vacation...

...i mean, long weekend.

- DH Jeff & I had a zombie movie marathon on Saturday

- my dear husband alsso graciously shared his cold with me

- but we had no plans to go out

- and had carpet picnics

- as a result of the cold & equal measures of laziness, I didn't work out all weekend

- but I made a whole chicken plus veggies in a crock pot

- I put too much liquid in the pot

- but the chicken turned out great

- & we had ready-made chicken soup for lunch the next day

- and what's better for a cold than chicken soup?

- I didn't get to start my Arabic lessons (Rosetta Stone)

- but we moved around our apartment

- and we both went "SNONK!" every five minutes

- the "den" is now a cozy bedroom

- and the bedroom is now the workroom...in progress

- the other night my lamb chops turned out a little bit overdone

- but tasty and moist nonetheless...

- and much better than my last attempt!

My apologies...

...for being such a sad, sad blogger. I've just been letting silly little things (work, school, sleep) get in the way of quality commentary.

Tsk, tsk. I'll try to do better...soon!

Fight the real enemy...sangria?

Yes, folks, Virginia has hit a new low: still on the books from around prohibition times is a law that prohibits the serving/sale of sangria in restaurants because it's wine mixed with spirits (brandy). Too intoxicating! But not only is it still on the books, but restaurants such as Jaleo in Crystal City have been fined for it. They've now altered their recipe so it doesn't include brandy (Jaleo in the District has not changed its recipe because DC doesn't have such stupid law).

This from the state who refuses to pass a smoking ban in restaurants and bars. Unbelievable asshattedness. Read the whole story here.

Just give me a scotch.

Don't you hate...

...when you wake up at 4am and feel like you've drunk a few shots of espresso in your sleep and now your mind won't shut up?

Revolting.

I read a truly appalling article in WaPo yesterday morning about how even though the rate of abortion is generally decreasing in this country, use of RU-486 is on the rise. What’s really disturbing is that women seem to be keenly well-read about this pill, but utterly clueless or callous (probably a bit of both) about pills that prevent the pregnancy – or anything else that prevents pregnancy for that matter. Why bother, after all – you’re progressive! Just kill the offending thing – it’s easier than ever and private! What’s also offensive are some of the comments of practitioners concerning the “normalizing of abortion” and how RU-486 feels more "natural" to the user. What?!

All I can say is for shame! This isn’t modernity or power or whatever euphemisms abortionistas embrace – it’s backward and sad. Read the whole article here.

Happy New Year!

Ok, so it's been awhile since I've posted, after I said I'd be out of commission for a week or so...so I'm back with a few of my New Year's resolutions - some of which I've gotten a start on:

1. Get my credit report. Done - well at least one of three. You can get one free report a year from each of the three credit agencies - Equifax, Experion & Trans Union - and you don't have to get them all at once. It's easy & here's the link on how you do it. Thanks to DH Jeff for sending me the link. The agencies also inform you about what to do if you think you've had your identity stolen. Fortunately for me there were no surprises.

2. Cook more. Well on my way: I tried a shrimp & pasta recipe for Jeff that my mother made for me while I was visiting over the holidays. I also discovered that snow peas are one of the easiest veggies to cook right (still crunchy). On a different night I baked salmon steaks and sauteed a veggie medley. All turned out well.

3. Straighten out and organize the mess of wires associated with my desktop computer and printer. I know - pedestrian - but it's been bothering me for a while and I'm just getting to it. I'll need more of those nifty velcro ties to finish the job however.

4. Lose about ten pounds (ie, get rid of the goo around my middle). I've been a complete couch potato thru the holidays, but now I must get serious & start working out regularly again. Uggh.

5. Get more sleep. I'm really bad about getting to bed before midnight. After I finish this post, however, it's to bed with me!