In the meantime, poor Hugo feels my stresses. I think I was a bit more aggressive than usual last night at dance. I went with a chip on my shoulder and, unlike the week before, was unable to Hustle it off. We are Finally moving beyong swing to ballroom moves, just in time for me to be gone. But, the partner in groove has sworn to attend class and learn and teach me many a move when I return.
Until next time...
It's been Bjorkapalooza here on the island. (yes, it IS an island!!) They swarmed in and made themselves at home- which is good, cause this family doesn't cater. But, man! They can be LOUD and talk a LOT and, whooo, you better keep close tabs on the wine bottles... I'm tellin' ya.
Damn good times though. Thursday night the first 3 arrived, so we had 2 bottles of wine in honor. Friday, we got another, so there went a bottle. Saturday was the party and... yea. wow. Half !surprise! and half 'this is your life'. Add in the bottle of wine that was consumed in the preparations... All night long we partied. Sunday.. there was more.
Oh, yes, and with half the folks coming from southern states and being afraid of weather below 60*, of course we got snow. What's that? Snow? Yes. SNOW. And it STUCK. The baseball game got snowed out (darn). Just rain since the weekend, so the snow is gone and the blossoms and flowers have recovered.
They'll hate me for saying this, but... why do old people luv to talk about their butts?? I haven't had this much butt talk since I lived with Arlene. My god...
AND! I am leaving for Italy on Saturday, so I have to spend the rest of the week packing. Yipes!! A lot to do in a little bit of time. (I don't handle packing well, btw) But I am so so so so so so so so so so excited to go!
Once again, the Northern Neighbors have shown themselves smarter than U.S. They've gone ahead and allowed emergency contraception (EC) to be given by a pharmacist without a prescription.
One lady in the article is upset there will be no counseling to the moral side of using EC, but, I wonder... How many doctors take the time to counsel a woman who has come in for a prescription? Doctors all seem so overworked anymore; so rushed to get through the patient list. It is a bit sad, though. I met a woman who told me about her 5 abortions and how sad she is now about them. She feels she kept going back because of the way the nurses would take care of her, so motherly, making up for her own distant mother. She, too, feels there should be counseling for women, especially when they keep returning.
I really forsee better access to EC reducing the abortion rate. And that, really, is the deeper issue here. Prevention first, of course, but Plan B when prevention fails. We just can't keep letting the conservatives teach our children about "the evils of" sex with their 'abstinence only' campaign. Good, thorough, accurate information at the age-appropriate time.
Today I had a job interview at Walden Books. It was alright. The fellow interviewing didn't seem to think I have enough customer service experience. I tried my best to convince him otherwise. When asked why I applied to Waldens, I mention sales exp. and wanting to work in a quiet environment. He makes a face and explains the impending Border Express transition, where the bookstore will become brightly colored, louder and more enthusiastic. Uniforms will be required. *sigh* I must be one of a small number who prefer my bookstores to resemble libraries -quiet, peaceful, help available, but leave me alone unless I ask for assistance, let me just *be* with the books. He says they have tested out this new thing, and it must have worked. He didn't seem to Wow-zered at the end, so my hiring will more likely depend on the rest of the people sucking.
But, it is 80* and gorgeous out. That should make me happy, right?
I was so upset when I first heard, several months ago, that pharmacists were refusing BC and EC, because they 'morally' opposed it. The first story I read was about a woman in the rural south who was refused EC. While most of us could go next door to a different pharmacist, she didn't have one for some obscene amount of miles.
Aren't pharmacists supposed to be well-educated? I thought so. My disgust at the situation only doubled when I found out states were creating laws to protect those pharmacist. Backed by 'right to life' groups, most of these laws have passed.
So now the pro-choice side has gotten a bill way up at the top, the kind of bill that could be the Rock to those states' Scissors.
My favorite line in the whole article? "Brauer told Reuters she believes doctors will eventually begin ordering women to abort disabled children [...] They'll force women to kill their children... it will be like China. It's the next logical step."
Logical?? What kind of logic are you working with, lady?? 'Cause that is no type of logic to me! First, that whole 'choice' issue... if laws are protected a Dr cannot 'order' a woman to abort. A Dr can strongly advise one, generally on the grounds that the dead fetus inside you will rot and kill you, but not on GP. Secondly, why is it wrong to hypothetically abort disabled fetuses, but it isn't wrong to hypothetically abort a homosexual fetus? I mean, that's why we are hunting the 'gay' gene, isn't it? So we can better discriminate? Third, How kind of the radical right to use scare tactics to achieve their goals. The whole point of 'Choice' and our so-called 'Freedom' is the ability to make our own decisions about our own bodies. Drs are there to help guide us, but are by no means infallible. Just like, uh . . . you know.
3 cans of black semi-gloss spray paint later... It is basically done. There are sneaky places that refused color, and entire bottoms of shelves, but, it is basically done.
So, you know how people on TV always wear face masks while spray painting? For safety or whatever? 24 hours later, I'm wondering if I should have done that... My finger, the Master Commander of the Spray Paint Can (formerly known as "pointer" or "index"), is still numb. Uncomfortably so. Well, the tip of it anyway; the last joint, or, more specifically, the distal portion of said joint.
Not cool.
I also am feeling more stupid than usual. I'd say we should be having a funeral for all those brain cells that were massacred yesterday. I'm hoping for some regeneration, but, I'll admit there's some trepidation there. In the meantime I'm abstaining from Alcohol & Other Drugs while upping my consumption of h2o. That's good, right?
My toes are a deep, irridescent blue.
Nine of my fingers are hot pink. One is baby blue.
I threw away three bottles of gunky polish, so I feel that counts as cleaning. Which means I cleaned my room 2x today.
Do I get a prize?
On my way out the front door I spotted a mourning dove in the hanging flower pot. "Odd place," I thought. Upon closer inspection (aided by her flying away in panic) I notice 2 perfect little eggs. Eggs! Baby birds!!
I am quite pleased.
We got to the city, parked in a free (scary) lot, walked through an (scary) alley, and arrived on a sunny, cloudless, warm springin' campus. I'm sure I looked like a twit with such a big grin on my face, but, I don't think I've ever been so pleased to see spring arrive! After some loitering, I interviewed with Ms. J.T. of the Peace Corps. I was nervous until I met her -what a fabulous woman! We talked for an hour, and she said, if I keep at the pace I'm at, I could be departing by fall. Yowza! We discussed where and what until our hour was up, and agreed to talk again soon...
I had to scoot back over to the 13th to get a signature. What a bunch of quacks. They all stare at me, as though I don't know what I am doing. But, in the end, all was well.
And, Huguito took a photo of the baby crocuses (crocii?) that were popping up on campus. Fabulous little things, they are!
After all of this excitement, it was time to head off on another adventure -travelling north to hunt the great white civic. Dear Hugo got some new wheels! No more of this silly 12 mpg bullshit. No sir! He has moved into the modern age, the age of global warming, fuel emmission standards and alternative energy sources! I wish I could say he was so enlightened as to buy a hybrid, but, do to Plan M.O., he had to conserve the finances. The good news? He has declared the money saved on gas will be put aside, to be saved up for a plane ticket to visit dear me in some far-away land. Ain't that the sweetest thing?
Top it all off with traffic disaster caused by a bridge that won't close (coupled with a second bridge closed for repairs), trapping it's residents on and off the island, and I had myself one hell of a day.
Whew! Naptime, indeed.
I saw that dude, again, the one I SWEAR is from NMU. If only I had the ability to walk up and ask him, 'hey, dude, did you go to NMU just a lil' while ago?' Except, where does it go from there? He says 'yes' and I say, 'yea, thought you looked familiar. Thanks for clearing that up. See ya' ? I mean... I didn't actually know him. I just knew of him, as he stands out a bit in the crowd. Okay, he's tall. I notice tall guys. Really tall, about 6'2"? So... yea.
I got fingerprinted at the 13th precinct. This was fabulous for 2 reasons: a.) the 13th precinct is apparently the setting/inspiration for . . . ? some movie, I believe. I don't remember. Hugo, fill this one in, would ya? and b.) it's really fun to walk into a cop shop and ask to be printed. They all just stared at me like I was a nutter, then looked around at one another, clueless. That stuff is seriously sticky and messy though... the copper (who was shorter than me) lets me into the bathroom to wash my paws and I had the choice of boiling or freezing water. Naturally, the boiling is better for removing fingerprinting goo. And, naturally, I spent a good part of the rest of the day with fingerprinting goo on my hands.
Hugo and I went to the DIA to get cultured. Good stuff there. Going with the Detroit theme, the DIA has remixed their art. It's more stimulating that way, and I daresay I like it. Mostly, though, I liked the new exhibit in the back, "Big". That's not the title, it was a two-worder, but that's the summary of it. Yea, the summary. It was quiet in there, with only 3 other viewers, one reporter gal, a worker gal and a cute dude that seemed to be a blend of both. There were some really impressive pieces in there. To any of my devoted readers in the Detroit area, I highly advise you get on down and groove to the art.
Groove on, my friend.
Keep your fingers crossed for me, please.
I get emails from a friend in Swaziland right now, and it's so odd... I always try to imagine myself in her place, living that life, and it's exciting and scary all at once. But I believe I can do it. I want to do it.
I WILL do it.
So, yea, it's been a while. Nothing exciting happening, though. Let's see....
^I saw Million Dollar Baby. Quite good, but no one had warned me about the sad ending, so that was a bummer to encounter. It aaaaaalllmost inspired me to buy a set of gloves and learn to box, until I quickly remembered that getting hit in the face hurts, and things like broken noses totally gross me out. In the beginning of the movie, when Swank is practicing, it shocked me a little to see how much she reminds me of E.P., the Kool Kid Kickboxer. E.P.: if you ever get a match south of the bridge, let me know!
^My grandfather just turned 80, which is crazy. The fam got together last night for dinner. MMMM Roadhouse. Let's go eat at a place that serves only meat, and listen to country music while we're there! Yee-Haww! At least I enjoy being with the family...
^I'm applying for a couple of jobs. Some are better than others, but all will result in a paycheck. And that's cool. If anyone has some good, interesting and legal ways to make money in the Detroit area, let me know! I'm always open to suggestion!
2 hours later, I am finally called into a group. We attempt to get upstairs, but, despite having 5 elevators, the going was slow. Once there, we sat, sat, sat, took an hour and a half lunch, sat and sat some more, until getting called inside the courtroom. The handsome judge lectured us on jury duty, then called 14 to fill the box (I was #3). We met the lawyers, the clients and found out the charges, and were sent home.
Day #2 I return. We all hang out for a while and then learn the penalty for skipping jury duty (Mr. #7!) is a stint on the Alternative Workforce -cleaning the highway in a colorful orange vest. There was more lecturing, some garbage by the lawyers and then questions. I made it through the first round of cuts, but got axed in the second by the prosecutor. *sigh* The best I can figure is I didn't keep my poker face, and the inner dialogue was just too much. What can I say...
Afterwards, I was so sad... I wandered through Greektowne, settling in a shop where I tried to drown my sorrows in coffee. Hugo, my Pick-Up Blocker, joined me, and we walked through town for a while before settling in for lunch. More walking, exploring, etc. and my mum came along to join me. We gambled (I made $15 in nickel slots) and watched a lot of the card tables, trying to figure out the games, before dining across the street. Mmm... Greek food! It's been a while since I've had it, as mostly it's meaty. These sweet people, though, they make a meaty-free version! Yippee!
Thanks dude. You are indeed a special friend. For, who else could be my stand in man, providing the silent threat to my Artifial Sweetener Daddy? Muchisimas gracias.
It's a fairly new museum, and so it's not as filled out as it could be, but it's pretty cool none the less. The building is spiffy, with a huge glassed dome over the atrium. It's mirrored on the inside, so when you look up, you see bunches of reflections of the visitors. Large, bright, well made.
The museum had a special exhibit focusing on the American history of lynching. It seems that those people who participated in this wretched activity liked to document it with photographs, which were then sold to the crowd/participants who often mailed them to family and friends with notes regarding who was being lynched, why, and, occasionally who was responsible for the act. Even beyond the bodies -naked, burned, scarred, mutilated or raped- it was the faces of the crowd, looking toward the camera, smiling, proud, pleased, convinced of the appropriateness of their deed, that tore at my heart. I just cannot fathom how any human could be so cruel to another human, often repeatedly, and be so unaffected as to want photos of the event.
The other main section of the museum was a walking timeline, starting with ancient Africa and the first tribes of people. According to them, all humans share a piece of mitochondrial DNA that traces back to one woman in Africa. So, we really are all sisters. From Africa, they show migration patterns, tribes, trade routes and the birth of slavery. As slavery builds, the visitor sees the holding cells in the forts, the boat and travelling conditions, and life upon arrival in America. Significant people and events, especially Detroit-based events and people, are highlighted until modern day. It was really fun and interesting to have the interactive tour, as opposed to just seeing artifacts and placards on the walls.
The only part of the museum that I was really disappointed with was the last section, the one about the role of African Americans in the progression of music. There were paintings with large cards next to them describing the types of music (jazz, blues, r&b, hip hop, etc.) and the African roots of that music. When you think of it, the role is just huge, amazingly significant, undeniable. But, there were... 8 paintings? It was so brief, that I don't think credit was properly given. You could make an entire museum dedicated to the evolution of music...
...oh, wait... Been there.... the Experience Music Project in Seattle, WA. Now that was a hip museum..!
I was just trying to help.
Huguito and I went to a hip bar last night, downtown. Several beers later, Hugo remarked on how he should color his hair red. Somehow he didn't realize he had said this aloud, to me, with a straight face. After some discussion of color (the Muse's hair was pink, not red, and I thought blue would be more pleasant, though green would also be appealing, etc.) and a few more beers, we split the bar to shop, shop, shop! The blue, green, purple and yellow were all temporary, so we went for red -and a bit more natural of a red, really. Not as electric as I might have liked.
With our new purchases, we headed home to the Salon to get started. 45 min. later, not quite blonde, but closer, we mushed on the red dye. [I realized this morning, we should have double applied the blonde, to get it lighter like we needed. oh well] 30 min after that, he was a new man! Got the tops, the burns and I tried so, so hard to get the chest tufts. Wimp.
I, myself, am now sporting an odd red streak in the center of my forehead. He has promised green for St.P's party, and I am looking forward to the occasion.
WSU has security issues, and so a passcard is required almost everywhere you go. (Un)fortunately, the guards don't look closely enough to realize I am not the man on the card I waved as I entered the unusual building. Nor do they seem to enforce many of the rules they post, including the "Silent 3rd floor -no talking, no noise, nada" or the "No bags in the bookstore" policies.
I spent time searching the internet for graduate schools -I've about 8 right now, reading magazines, observing the diversity of the city, studying for the GRE and generally flexing my brain. It was amazing -12 hours later, on the ride back home, I could actually feel a difference. I could feel my neurons snapping and crackling with electricity, like the wires of a city home whos power has just been reconnected.
Next week, I plan to see art! I will find and visit the student art gallery and, if time permits, take in what little the DIA has left us, in this time of reconstruction.
Mmmm..... Aarrrrrt.
The theatre was full of knee-highs who had to chatter through the whole thing, but... at least I only paid a buck. Can't complain about that price. Felt like I had to wait forever for the film to come back to theatres... too bad I missed it the first time, eh?
If you haven't yet, get out and see it! Take a pal and have a good giggle, already, would ya?
