If you've got a moment

You should be reading a Grace Paley story. I like "Two Short, Sad Stories" and "The Opera Singer", but my creative writing teacher from last year (seems like forever ago) swears that her favorite story is "The Pale Pink Roast". But now that I think of it - how can you possibly choose?

I love this photo because of the contrast between her face and everyone else's faces. Just look at it! Her expression is saying, "Nope! Mhm-mm... not saying a thing!" And she's just casually looking off to the side, like, "Next". And I LOVE the magnifying glass she has attached to her necklace (if that's what it is).

Joni and Chan

I've been thinking about music a lot lately, and what it means me. I feel like my taste is both widening and narrowing simultaneously. These two are important, though, in their own ways, both together and apart. More on them later. I have much to say, but at present not enough energy to divulge it all to you.

why iGoogle is the coolest thing to have happened to my computer since sliced bread

Who wouldn't want to turn on their computer after a long hard day of staining plates and bacterial culture to see this?? I've got Sudoku, the weather, Art of the Day, MSNBC world news, AND an Oscar de la Renta background. iGoogle, you ROCK.

Collaborators

Steve McQueen and Natalie Wood

Guess Who?

Info you get: 1962, the beach, one of her last interviews






















Yes, it's Marilyn Monroe. I can't explain why I like this picture so much. She just looks so natural, I guess. I was going to say "normal", but Marilyn would never, could never have been, "normal". I get the feeling that if she woke up one morning and had to pick someone to "be" that day, this would be it.

um, excuse me, Prego, could you do problem #6?

I don't meet new people very often anymore. For the most part I know who I know and when I get a new acquaintance we usually only talk about the reason we know each other (aka bio discussion class). And that's too bad, because I seriously had such a funny conversation with this guy from my physics class earlier. It was truly ridiculous. And maybe it wasn't fun so much because of the comedic aspect (well, actually, it sort of was), but it was really interesting talking to someone with a new perspective, a different way of speaking. He had different speech patterns, different sayings, and I really felt like I didn't know what he was about to say... which, now that I think about it, was kind of a bizarre feeling. But not unwanted.

Henceforth, I will try to say something unexpected to someone every day.

Happy Saturday?

I think I have a problem taking the sour with the sweet. Sometimes a perfectly great day can be ruined by one little thing... well, maybe not ruined, but definitely dampened. I'm going to practice letting things go more, just letting unnecessary or trivial things that upset me roll right off of me. It'll be like water in the shower. I just need to go with the flow.
So here I go.

My odd obsession with South Carolina

There are many, many obscure reasons why I love South Carolina, but for now I'll just throw one of them out there. This is not the origin of the South Carolina obsession, but it is closely correlated to another bizarre obsession - my secret book lover: Nicholas Sparks.
I know, I KNOW.
But I can't help it... I read 'A Walk To Remember' when I was in the 7th grade and I cried for DAYS. You can't just walk away from something like that.
Anyways, Danielle bought me 'Nights in Rodanthe' a few years ago and I read it... all I can say is... I was a little thrown by how old they were. Not that old love is not beautiful. But. Yeah.
Of course, the location was - duh - South Carolina! And Sparks' description of the atmosphere and scenery is simply fantastic (as it is in all of his other books... which are also ALL set in SC). I would love to go and just BE there for a while.

Some people think Roger Ebert has become obsolete

But I'm not one of those people. Which is why I was pleasantly surprised, but not shocked, to find a pointed description of the presidential debate on his blog. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one noticing McCain's blatantly obvious (and rude) body language.

Guess Who's Not Coming To Dinner
By Roger Ebert

I do not like you, John McCain. My feeling has nothing to do with issues. It has to do with common courtesy. During the debate, you refused to look Barack Obama in the eye. Indeed, you refused to look at him at all. Even when the two of you shook hands at the start, you used your eyes only to locate his hand, and then gazed past him as you shook it.

Obama is my guy. If you are rude to him, you are rude to me. If you came to dinner at my house and refused to look at or speak with one of my guests, that would be bad manners and I would be offended. Same thing if I went to your house. During the debate, you were America's guest.

What was your problem? Do you hold this man in such contempt that you cannot bear to gaze upon him? Will you not even speak to him directly?
Do you think he doesn't have the right to be running for President?
Were you angry because after you said you wouldn't attend the debate, he said a President should be able to concern himself with two things at the same time? He was right. The proof is, you were there. Were you angry with him because he called your bluff?

During the debate, Jim Lehrer repeatedly called upon both candidates to speak directly to each other. Obama looked at you. He addressed you as "John," which as a fellow senator is his privilege. His body language was open. You stared straight ahead, or at Lehrer, or into space. Your jaw was clinched. You had a tight little smile, or a grimace, or a little shake of your head.

I had to do two things at once while watching the debate. I had to listen to what was being said. And I had to process your rigid and contemptuous behavior. If you were at a wedding and the father of the groom refused to look at or speak to the bride, how would that make you feel? Especially if you were the father of the bride?

You made a TV commercial showing the moments Obama agreed with you.
Everybody knows he did. Did his agreement show honesty, or weakness?
It is significant that you said it proved he was not ready to lead.
What is the better leadership quality: (1) Willingness to listen to your opponent, and keep an open mind? (2) Rigidly ignoring him? Which of the two of you better demonstrated the bipartisan spirit you say you represent? Was there anything he said that you agreed with? Could you have brought yourself to say so?

I'm not the only one who noticed your odd, hostile behavior. Just about everybody did. I'm sure many of your supporters must have sensed the tension. Before the debate, pundits were wondering if you might explode in a display of your famous temper. I think we saw that happen, all right, but it was an implosion. I have instructed my wife to exclude you from any future dinner parties.