It’s Seattle.
We’re moving to Seattle.
Steve came up for Christmas and jaunted up there for the second interview. They gave him what he asked for, and want him to start on the 19th.
Moving is going to be a logistical nightmare, but I’m very excited. I was resigned to the prospect of moving to L.A., but not utterly thrilled.
Funny thing: Dana and I were walking, and she said, “I knew you’re moving to L.A., but I see you living in Seattle.”
Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the kitchen
Zia was stressing: chopping and mixing.
The groceries were bought, with veggies and a ham
But Dana just told her she hasn’t ordered the lamb.
It’s dinner for fourteen, and possibly fifteen
so back to the store for more grocery lifting.
We’ve got pie and ice cream, meat and potatoes
Gotta get salad stuff with lots of tomatoes.
What was she thinking? Is she insane?
Of Mike’s existence she is the bane.
But all will work out, all will be fine
Since everyone’s bringing plenty of wine.
I would like to quote Tom Ridge in his recent remarks on putting the U.S. on Code Orange for the fifth time since 9/11:
And finally, no matter your faith or your culture, we know that now is the time of year for very, very important personal and family and community celebrations. So I encourage you to continue with your holiday plans. Gather with your family and friends and enjoy the spirit of the season.
There is no doubt that those of us fortunate to live in this country have a lot to be thankful for, not the least of which is the opportunity to live in the greatest country in the world.
America is a country that will not be bent by terror. America is a country that will not be broken by fear. But instead, America is a country blessed with citizens marked by goodwill and great resolve.
We will show the terrorists both during this holiday season goodwill toward our fellow men, and readiness and resolve to protect our families and our freedoms.
Yeah, the season’s important if you come from a Judeo-Christian background. Screw Hindus, Buddhists, Shintoists (is that a word) and Wiccans. Especially screw the Muslims. We’re fighting against them anyway, right?
And the greatest country in the world? I’m getting really tired of this patriotism-turned-rabid-nationalism that has overtaken the White House, and, indeed, the whole country. Especially since it seems to rely on a simplistic fundamentalist viewpoint.
How can anyone possibly say that we will not be “bent by terror” or “broken by fear.” Give me a break.
On my regular jaunts to visit Steve, it takes me longer to get through the damn security than it does to get to L.A. (Plus, anyone who WANTS to can get something through. I travelled to Indianapolis this summer with an unsheathed deadly two-pronged wine opener in my backpack–and no one said a thing.)
There’s a sign at the library that informs patrons that their records can be searched by government officials–and that library staff are not permitted to disclose whether they have been or not.
Visas are being denied to students and workers from certain countries.
And now, visitors to the U.S. will be fingerprinted as though they’re common criminals.
If that’s not showing we’re buckling under fear, I don’t know what does. And what puzzles me is that so many people are FINE with all this.
Does anyone else see the contradiction in the fact that it appears those who are FOR the Homeland Security Bill are also those who tend to be anti-government control, or, in other words, Republicans?
How much better would this country be if we spent some of those financial resources into something that could make a tangible difference, like nationalized or subsidized healthcare?
The fact of the matter is that the 9/11 attack worked: We are absolutely terrified. So terrified, in fact, that the majority of Americans have offered up their privacy and civil liberties on a platter. The voices of those who object don’t seem to matter.
(It IS the majority, right? That’s something to ponder, right there.)
And about Christmas tree lights. Dana and I have been walking at night looking at the displays. Some are pretty, some are incredibly tacky. And far too many people have those horrible head-moving deer …
Well, just finished Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. It was good. It was an interesting read. I enjoyed it thoroughly. BUT. There was something missing, and I’m not sure what.
I have a purely subjective way of determining whether I thought a book was important. Some books, you close the cover and rarely think about again. Others, you find yourself sitting ruminating on what you’ve just read. The former are those I rarely think about again. The latter, I come back to.
I was surprised to find that I just closed the cover on the book. There were some v. interesting themes–themes that resonated with me–and the writing was beautiful. But I felt that halfway through the book, she somehow lost the thread of who Gogol was. He bumbled his way through the second half of the book, and the ending itself was too neatly tied up. She writes most convincingly about the parents; with them, she is on solid ground,. However, when it comes to the adult Gogol her own blurred identity starts to seep through.
All in all, I would recommend this book for the writing alone, but it really can’t hold a candle to Interpreter of Maladies.
Just finished reading Gregory Maguire’s Mirror Mirror–and while I enjoyed, I have to say that Wicked remains my favorite.
“Nickel and Dimed” still out–but managed to pick up Jhumpa Lahiri’s new one. I can’t wait to dive into that one. I’ve read mixed reviews.
Thou still unravish’d page of stillness
Thou foster-child of a missing link
Intrepid Explorer, which canst not express
A web page more worthy on which to think.
What page were your efforts trying–
whether typo, a transposition or both–
On my web site or the internet as a whole?
What page is this? What webbish growth?
What mistaken address? What page dying?
But try again for a page that will scroll.
The L.A. Times is running a series of articles on Wal-Mart. I promise I’m not going to get mouthy … I’ll let this do it for me.
Okay, today seems to be my rant day.
They’re fighting about whether the morning after pill should be made available without a prescription. Opponents say it will make young women rely on the morning after pill as a form of birth control and reduce the number of teens seeing a doctor for birth control.
Now, is it just me, or are those most fervently anti-abortion also fervently anti-pregnancy prevention? Get real: condoms break. And Stuff that Shouldn’t Happen happens anyway. This is a good OPTION after the dirty deed has been done.
Regarding the argument that it would reduce the number of teens going to a doctor for BC, well, that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Any doctor worth his salt wouldn’t send a teen away without a bagload of condoms–which can be bought at any drugstore once they’ve gotten over their initial embarassment. Are they going to try to make condoms available only with a prescription now? Wouldn’t surprise me.
Here’s one thing I simply don’t understand: why people are planning to vote for Nader.
Okay, maybe they like what he stands for, but the fact of the matter is that it just siphons off people who would ordinarily vote for the Democratic candidate. C’mon people! Let’s get Bush out of office. That should be our number one priority. Every time I hear him speak, I just cringe and wonder what insanity got him elected. Oh wait … yeah, that’s right … he WASN’T elected.