The beginning and the end

So, here it is:

Peace Corps app was going okay, until my iron test showed I was iron-defient anemic. The medical folk in Washington, D.C. decided that anemia, coupled with a low heart rate, migraines and chronic insomnia, was just not a good thing to have when travelling to Africa. When I should have been getting a letter of invitation, I instead got a letter saying, 'sucks to be you, but keep us updated. Maybe you'll get a postcard.' I called Jeri, my recruiter, and she confirmed there were no programs for me until January or so.

The downside:

*I'm not going to Africa, at least... not for 6 months or so.

*I'll be here for the opening of our new Walmart, which I've been dreading since I first saw the sign at the construction site.

*All the new fall television I didn't want to get sucked into? Yep, I'll be here, rotting my brain.

*Winter. In Detroit, no less. Could there be an uglier place for such a great season?

*Major postponements in the graduate school situation. (but perhaps that's a perk?)

*I won't get to learn an obscure, but still cool, African language *6 more months of *this*.

The upside:

*Jeri said the January program was to Latin America, not Africa, so I'd get to use my spanish, which is great.

*I have time to take part in a sleep study at WSU, which, if it goes well, will net me some hard cash

*More time to work, again with the money thing (did I mention graduate school? that stuff ain't cheap)

*ummm....

*Don't need to rush on my GRE's, so maybe a better score, and time to retake if I really f-up.

Bottom line: I'm not happy. I was really getting geared up, eager to leave, excited to start the journey. And now I have to wait a minimum of 6 months, while paying all sorts of lab fees to keep monitoring my iron levels.

And that's it. Maybe there will be more to say in December. But, until then...

The End.

Ani, My Ani

Wednesday night was a great night in the history of my life. I *finally* got to an Ani DiFranco concert. A pal and his pal (a first pal once removed?) came down from the arctic to join Huguito and I for a night of jammin' guitar, which made the whole thing better.

The tickets were for lawn -a bit cheaper, a bit more comfortable, and since I haven't figured out how to dance to Ani's music, a bit more practical. We were there early enough to have a close parking spot and a real good lawn spot, save the chatty cathys next to us. The atmosphere was excellent, and that can really make or break an event. It was chock-full of women, and yes, to fit the stereotype, most were lesbians.

Erin McKeown (or some spelling like that) opened, all by herself with only an electric guitar to help her through. She was quite good though - I liked her voice, she plays well, the music was fun. Then Ani came on with Todd (?) who plays an upright bass. And damn, does he play! His addition to the whole thing added so much depth, it was really great.

At one point, S commented on the perfection of the night, on how there are times in life when you just feel so serene. Lying on the grass, under the darkening sky, with Ani DiFranco a short distance away, playing her fabulous music, and good friends with you and a crowd of good, mellow people.... I'm not entirely sure there are better ways to spend an evening.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

In and out.

Mum and I went to Meijer last night at 11p to wait for the 12:01a release of HP #6. A decent line when we arrived, good atmosphere, nice. At precisely 12:01a, the line began moving and we got our copy. It's thinner than #4, at only 652 pages, which I admit was a bit of a disappointment. Books this good... it's such a pain to reach the end.

12:34a I began reading, curled in a chair in the basement, away from the blare of the TV. Immediately, I was sucked in. Unlike the previous 5, Rowling dove right in to the story with hardly a beat missed. There was no recap -you either knew the story or you were to remain confused. And with that was an aura of urgency. It was a more dramatic story than any before.

5:20a I took a break to sleep. Awake at 10a, I got back to reading as soon as I got a mug of coffee. Potty breaks and one food break, small opportunities to refuel for the journey. 5:30p and I was finished. 17 hours from beginning to end, if you don't stop the clock for sleep.

Should you read it? Well, yes, if you are an HP fan. Be prepared, though. This is not the children's book it is claimed to be. This is a book for adults; a dark, heavy, and difficult book. Reviewers themselves note #6 to be "the darkest and most unsettling installment yet." [New York Times reviewer Michiko Kakutani]

The light in all the gloom: "You get a lot of answers in this book," Rowling [sic] said as she arrived at Edinburgh Castle for a special midnight reading before thousands of adoring fans. A lot of answers that open the door for new questions. This is going to be a seriously long year, awaiting HP#7.

Angry Day

Today was odd. Emotional. I HATE emotional days. It started with me positively dreading the idea of going in to work. I mostly like it there, but I can barely tolerate the hour commute. No, truthfully, I can barely survive the commute. I'm so damn tired in the morning it always shocks me when I pull on to Main St. Complete auto-pilot. Not so safe, I'm sure. Once there, I feel trapped. It's an hour from home, so I can't just flee when my stomache turns and twists and makes me want to vomit.

I was stressed/upset/angry about the Priority Post letter I had mailed last week. It was postmarked the 6th, before 1p. They claim, but do not promise, 2-3 day delivery. The letter was aimed for D.C. A common, high-traffic, close place. Not Abu Dahbi. Not MQT. Not Fargo. The capital. 6 days later, it's still not there. How do I know? The 45cents extra for delivery confirmation. If I knew that f*ing thing would take this long, I would've sprung for the Next Day. This is time sensitive people!!!!!! I went to the P.O. to bitch nicely. The ladies there are sweethearts, for sure, but she told me it was likely delayed as it needed to be screened for Anthrax. What?!?! I'm trying to get a job from these people, not kill them!!

I was mostly okay again when it came time to drive home. Traffic amazes me though. I nearly got oreo-ed when the car in front slammed (and I do mean slammed) on its brakes. I did likewise, heard my poor tires squealing, and looked up in time to see the car behind me start swerving and nearly ram the wall in its attempt to stop. Damn. She drove about 3 car-lengths behind me after that, like it was my idea to stop for no reason.

Then there is the way that, on 24 and 696, all traffic goes about 70 in the 55, 65 as a minimum. You do the limit, you will be smushed. Hop onto 75 from there, and people can barely manage 60 in the randomly marked 65s!! Certainly they don't notice the change back to 70mph, as they continue to drive under 65. HELLO PEOPLE!! You don't have to speed, but you do have to drive the posted, as you are a hazard when you don't. And really, it was dry, sunny, perfect. We haven't had rain for days.

It's not good to come home angry. Kinda makes you dread the next day, which just cycles me back to the top of this whole thing....

I'm Too Macho for Myself

I feel like such a badass! I *finally* got to work reupholstering this armchair I bought... a year ago? Two? I think it was shortly after the big X hit the Fitch house, which was a year ago now. Anywho.. I borrowed a handy do-it-yourself book that is almost foolproof (hence, perfect) when I was in MQT. On Saturday, I got to work on the last bits of stripping before really working on the rebuilding.

It has been FUN! I bought some spiffy tools for half of what they were marked for (which means I paid close to actual value) with my kool-kid 50% off coupon. My hammer is half magnetic to pick up and knock in the little tacks. And I have a scary looking web-stretcher, some curved needles and an 8" needle. My dad found some old (as in 1960's) tacks in the basement, so that was awesome. AND the craft store had a half-off sale on fiber fill and batting on Sunday when I went to stock up. Just happened to be that way; it's not like I was smart enough to read the advert.

I'm at the last stages, with most of the final material put on. I miscut some of it, so I need to redo, but, that's no biggie. As soon as it is all complete, I will attempt to post photos to show off my handiwork. In the meantime, rest assured, It's a waycool and waycomfy armchair!

Feeling a bit POSTY today, are we???

I found this GREAT website. Well, really, I found several. A couple were British, so now I have BritSpeak in my head. But yea, anyhow... Bust is damn fine entertainment **and yet** it is informative, as well! WHOA! Yes, indeed ladies, there is much to be learned here. Gents, you may be inclined to visit and develop some empathy and understanding, OR, as I read at another site, if you are an M2F transfer, it may be of some assistance. Did you know there are classes for that?? Learning the culture of the other gender? Crazy good fun, I imagine...

I'd tell you all what I was reading about and searching for, but... Of my 3 readers, 2 are male and the other is my mum. *sigh* Maybe I should advertise.....

Another Choice

Some of you aren't as much of a feminist as I am... so, for you, I offer People for the American Way (PFAW), which at a quick glance seems to be a general leftist organization. Take a look around. Perhaps there will be more here that you can identify with.

It's Time to Get Active

Well.. the first one has stepped down. Sandra Day O'Connor has officially retired. We've (and by 'we', I mean political activists) known for a while now that several of the Supreme Court judges would be leaving us. They are old, they've served a long term, and they tried to last long enough to see another Democrat in the White House. That would have been an assurance that their succesor would not be a right-wing conservative. Unfortunately, we have Shrub, and he is aiming exactly for a strict conservative who will swing the votes on so many important social issues.

I've gotten emails from Planned Parenthood, NARAL, NOW and the Human Rights Campaign today asking for action. I URGE everyone out there to do the same. Fight hard for a moderate judge who will be fair and logical in their decision making. Fight hard for a judge who will protect your rights and freedoms in the United States, the land we consider to be the home of the free. This issue goes beyond abortion, so don't let the Right trick you into thinking that's all this is. It includes gay rights, affirmative action, and protecting the people. Even just looking at reproductive rights, there is access to accurate and comprehensive sex education, birth control, and emergency contraception and even basic medical care for poor or uninsured women -all ways to PREVENT the need for abortion.

The Human Rights Campaign has pointed out 2 very bad options for judges, and I know the other groups will have their own lists. For your information:

**Michael McConnell, a U.S. Court of Appeals judge. Here's what he has to say about GLBT anti-discrimination statutes, which he opposes: "At bottom, the problem is that anti-discrimination statutes label anti-homosexual feeling as 'discrimination' -- akin to racism. The law thus contains an approval of homosexual behavior."

**Michael Luttig, another U.S. Court of Appeals judge, who has upheld the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy criticizing fair-minded judges for even discussing the issue of whether the military had the right to exclude openly homosexual individuals from service.

I'll keep you posted on any others. Until then, start emailing or writing or calling (or all of the above) your senators and tell them they'd better fight tooth and nail to stop the Right from placing a conservative judge.