Sunday, March 30, 2003

Where Have I Been?

A week of work, PMS, and too long of meetings to even want to think about the overtime I racked up (and will never really be compensated for) kept me from this. And I'm just tired enough, still, that I don't have much else to say.

I will say that Matt, Richard, and I went to the AIDS Community Services fundraiser last night, "A Cause For Celebration." I bid on a Pride Quilt at the silent auction. I won. Truthfully, it's very subtle and I didn't even notice at first glance that those pretty colours were all pride flags in a repeated pattern. It's quite colourful and beautiful. I have to figure out where I'm going to put it (wall hanging v. bed covering). I have to snicker a little when I think of all of the people at the event who know me (aside from one or two details), that will find out I got the quilt, and then will wonder if I know what it symbolizes and all. Sometimes it's a little fun to be in the closet in this town.

Monday, March 24, 2003

The Makings of a Potential Sci-Fi Geek


I had so much potential to become a sci-fi geek when I was a kid. Example: I was so obsessed with The Tomorrow People that I refused to sign up for a swimming club as a kid because the group met at the same time as The Tomorrow People (6pm on Nickleodeon). Naturally I was into the 1970s version. I heard about a new version of the show being made in the 1990's, but never saw it. I also had this thing for Dr. Who but darnit if I can't remember much else other than his scarf and the thing that looked like an old-fashioned elevator (the Tartis I believe). Many years later I finally devoured all of Douglas Adams' books in the Hitchhiker series along with the Dirk Gently books. I have a few friends that are surprised that I never got into Star Trek. Tough breaks I guess.

Dam.. That's Cool

Matt and I took a mini-Sunday drive down into Warren, PA to look at the Kinzua Dam. I had never been down there and decided it was a must-see due to all the snow melt we've had along with rain this past week. If you follow the link above, you can see a picture of the side of the dam where the water output is. When we were there yesterday, four gates(?) on the bottom were open with water shooting out with incredible force. It was like Niagara Falls horizontal. That seems like an exaggeration, but there really was quite a bit of water being let out. The other cool thing near the dam was the cliff that rose up next to the road. First there were signs to watch for falling rocks, and then signs to watch for falling ice. The latter was self-explanatory once you saw the huge slabs of ice still clinging to the rock wall. There were several streams running off the top of the cliff, forming mini-waterfalls. It was quite breathtaking since I didn't expect to see anything like that. I told Matt we need to go back when the Visitor's Center is open in the summer. I guess we're just geeks after all :-)

Sunday, March 23, 2003

Nesting

This being one of the first weekends I've been home in about a month, I decided to clean. I mean, get up at 9am on a Saturday morning and clean. The kitchen, the bathroom, the living room, spare bedroom, our bedroom, and other miscellaneous items felt the power of my sponge and vacuum. I haven't really tackled the computer/entertainment room since it's not in too bad of shape. Matt calls this my "nesting phase" of the month. Once I start cleaning, it becomes almost compulsive since I can't seem to stop. I always see something else that could be tended to, like that dirty baseboard by the front door. The good thing about this is that I can go through the rest of this busy week with a house that's in some sort of order. Now if I can only keep up on dishes *gives pointed look to coffee cup left on desk by Matt*

Thursday, March 20, 2003

Once a News Reporter.. Always a News Reporter


I have this bizarre curiousness about stuff. Some of it's connected to current events, some of it is related to random information. I've lived in Jamestown for nearly 4 years, but I still read the on-line version of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle everyday. I also catch up on the Irondequoit Post when I can. I also have a habit of Google-ing everything and everything. Wondering what happened to that friend from college? Google. Can't remember that song or the band? Google. Wondering if your best friend can be tied to any websites? Google. Call it boredom, innate curiosity, or stalker-like, but that's me. It also goes along with this crazy memory of mine. I'll forget short terms things that I just heard, but I'll remember details from two days ago to 20-some years ago. My earliest memory is of my mom and me looking under my crib for my binky (pacifier) and being horrified that it was lost. Turns out she had thrown it away, but I didn't know that at the time. I think my memory-recall and general curiosity tends to freak out people occasionally, or just make them think I need to get a life. It was handy when I was in news.

Wednesday, March 19, 2003


And It Begins...


Because Even I Have To Laugh At This...


This is some funny shit. Seriously, you know you could use a laugh: Emergency Signs

Armageddon Days (Are Here Again)

I dreamt that Armageddon had come last night. I was at my parent's house in Rochester, calmly waiting it out. I considered listening to some of my favourite music one last time and even picked up some pamphlet in an attempt to pray, but decided against it. My mom came in the living room and asked if I was going to the 8pm church service with them. I think I considered, but then decided against that as well. A scene later I was driving in my car, watching it start to hail. The storm that preceded the end had begun with dark clouds filling the sky. Huge bolts of lightening were hitting electrical poles and trees as I drove down the road. I stopped at one point because a tree had fallen near this couple standing by the road. I got out, even though I knew it was pointless, and helped them. My car was full of stuff, but I made room for them so that we could get away. The dream ended there.

I think the impending war is the cause. I've resigned myself to the fact that the appointed one (Bush) is going to lead us on a path that many don't want to go down. I'm convinced he will ultimately destroy this democracy. Then again, he is up for re-election next year so there's always hope that things will change. On my way to work, I popped in one of my The The cds and listened to some timely tunes. Here's the lyrics for you to enjoy:

Armageddon Days (Are Here Again)
Are you ready for Jesus?
Uh huh
Buddha?
Yeah
Muhammad?
Ok
Well, I like this
Let's Go

They're 5 miles high as the crow flies
Leaving vapour trails against a blood red sky
Moving in from the East towards the West
With Balaclava helmets over their heads, yes

But if you think that Jesus Christ is coming
Honey you've got another thing coming
If he ever finds out who's hi-jacked his name
He'll cut out his heart and turn in his grave

Islam is rising
The Christians mobilising
The world is on its elbows and knees
It's forgotten the message and worships the creeds

It's war, she cried
It's war, she cried
This is war
Drop your possessions all you simple folk
You'll fight them on the beaches in your underclothes
You'll thank the good Lord for raising the Union Jack
You'll watch the ships sail out of harbour
And the bodies come floating back
Watch the ships sail out of harbour
And the bodies come floating back

But if you think that Jesus Christ is coming
Honey you've got another thing coming
If he ever finds out who's hi-jacked his name
He'll cut out his heart and turn in his grave

Islam is rising
The Christians mobilising
The world is on its elbows and knees
It's forgotten the message and worships the creeds

"Get the gun, get the gun, get the gun"
"Stay away from the gun, stay away from the gun"

If the real Jesus Christ were to stand up today
He'd be gunned down cold by the CIA
Oh, the lights that now burn brightest behind stained glass
Will cast the darkest shadows upon the human heart
But God didn't build himself that throne
God doesn't live in Israel or Rome
God doesn't belong to the yankee dollar
God doesn't plant the bombs for Hezbollah
God doesn't even go to church
And God won't send us down to Allah to burn
God will remind us what we already know
That the human race is about to reap what it's sown

Islam is rising
The Christians mobilising
The world is on its elbows and knees
It's forgotten the message and worships the creeds

The world is on its elbows and knees
It's forgotten the message and worships the creeds
The world is on its elbows and knees
It's forgotten the message and worships the creeds
The world is on its elbows and knees
It's forgotten the message and worships the creeds

Armageddon days are here again
Armageddon days are here again
Armageddon days are here again
Armageddon days are here


The Beat(en) Generation
When you cast your eyes upon the skylines
Of this once proud nation
Can you sense the fear and the hatred
Growing in the hearts of its population

And our youth, oh youth, are being seduced
By the greedy hands of politics and half truths

The beaten generation
The beaten generation
Reared on a diet of prejudice and misinformation
The beaten generation
The beaten generation
Open your eyes
Open your imagination

We're being sedated by the gasoline fumes
And hypnotised by the satellites
Into believing what is good and what is right

You may be worshipping the temples of mammon
Or lost in the prisons of religion
But can you still walk back to happiness
When you've nowhere left to run?

The beaten generation
The beaten generation
Reared on a diet of prejudice and misinformation
The beaten generation
The beaten generation
Open your eyes
Open your imagination

And if they send in the special police
To deliver us from liberty and keep us from peace
Then won't the words sit ill upon their tongues
When they tell us justice is being done
That freedom lives in the barrels of a warm gun

The beaten generation
The beaten generation
Reared on a diet of prejudice and misinformation
The beaten generation
The beaten generation
Open your eyes
Open your imagination


Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Another Note on "Home"

The weather rocked my socks this weekend. I can't tell you how happy it made me to see sunlight and feel nice warm winds. There's also something about having such nice weather when you're home (in terms of the childhood home). Even driving by Kodak Park and smelling the chemicals made me so happy that I could have spent my savings on Kodak stock. Crazy stuff.

Saturday Review


I spent the weekend in Rochester. It was a semi-short visit mentally since I got in late on Friday. I was also pretty tired. Being tired can make any time away from work seem short.

Saturday morning my parents and I got up "early" to go to the Chase-Pitkin Home Show at the Convention Center. My main goal there was to see Vern Yip of Trading Spaces fame. He was late due to air flight problems and ended up just talking about the show. He was greeted like a rock star with women/girls cheering, wavings signs, snapping pictures. A few men cheered as well. It was a good time (he's so petite!), but my mom was disappointed that we didn't get to see him do the fabric wall covering project that he was originally scheduled to do. My battery in my camera died, so no pictures.

After the homeshow, we had a late lunch and then my mom and I went off to try on wedding gowns. If you're ever getting married and can avoid Dave's Bridal (chain in Western NY), please do so. It was utter chaos!! Thank god my mom is making my dress! I tried on three and the one I liked best was surprising. It's a little more fancier than the patterns I had been looking at. On top of that, our "consultant" at the shop plopped a tiara on my head and I nearly swooned. My mom said I looked like a "Princess Bride." I certainly felt like it too! Ah well... so the girly girl is going with brocades, sweetheart necklines, off the shoulder straps, a tiara, and god knows what else!

That night I hung out with Anne & Sean at Monty's Crown on Monroe Avenue. Sean was friends with the guys in the band playing that night, so it was all good. The band, Veluxe, was pretty tight. You could tell that they had musical training since some bands that are self-taught just don't have a polished sound either performance-wise or music-wise. Good times, but loud and smokey.

After that, I headed back to Irondequoit and stopped at Tim Horton's for a cup of coffee. While waiting at the drive-thru window, I looked inside and saw my friend, Ryan, so I yelled "Ryan!" Ended up going inside and drinking my coffee with him and just hanging out for another hour or so. Got home late. Phew, my clothes stank. Ick. But had a good Saturday. No complaints.

Monday, March 17, 2003

I May Not Like Country...

I may have to buy the latest Dixie Chick's cd. I don't like country. Let me emphasize that. I don't like country. However, I feel the poor girls are getting a bad rap for doing something very regular. Speaking their minds. Here's what's causing all the controversy:

From the Dixie Chicks with respect to statements being reported in the British media
3/12/2003

"We've been overseas for several weeks and have been reading and following the news accounts of our governments' position. The anti-American sentiment that has unfolded here is astounding. While we support our troops, there is nothing more frightening than the notion of going to war with Iraq and the prospect of all the innocent lives that will be lost."

Maines further stated, "I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world. My comments were made in frustration and one of the privileges of being an American is you are free to voice your own point of view."


So now people are burning cds and slamming the group. Naturally, I believe in free speech, but to condemn these women for speaking their minds? Then again, we are being led by the right at the moment. I don't suppose too many people noticed that the Senate passed a bill banning partial-birth abortions last week? Hmm? Of course not.. there's a potential war to worry over! Who cares about women's rights?? Not your leaders. I'm a proud American, but I do not support our leader(s) in their efforts regarding Iraq. Hell, the president's Father isn't quite sure about his son's actions.

Friday, March 14, 2003

Tori Tori


Matt and I headed up to Buffalo last night to see Tori Amos at Shea's. Here's the set list and some audience reviews. I was so happy to hear "Father Lucifer". Got a cute little t-shirt as well. I'm not into buying concert t's as much, but it was just too cute. It'll probably end up being a nightshirt for when I'm on vacation.

Wednesday, March 12, 2003

Black Hawk Down

I admit I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the list of soldiers killed when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed. I didn't know any of them. I hope. The youngest was 18 years old. How incredibly tragic.

Making Up For Lost Youth

Matt and I are going to three concerts in three months. I'm pretty excited about that. The variety is pretty good too. Tomorrow is Tori Amos at Shea's in Buffalo, April 7th is Def Leppard in Erie, PA., and May 15th is Fleetwood Mac at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo. Now if any of my other favourite bands decide to make an appearance in between (They Might Be Giants.. hinthint), my life will be quite happy.

Tuesday, March 11, 2003

When Politicians Speak Without Thinking

There seems to have been a wave of politicians who don't know how to keep their mouths shut.

It started with Trent Lott (Republican who lost his title of Minority Leader).

Then, Monroe County Executive Jack Doyle (Republican who will not be running again for his seat) was accused of saying something with racist overtones.

This past weekend, Erie County Executive Joel Giambra (Republican who is up for re-election this year) slipped up.

This State representative in Minnesota has caused an uproar after saying his bill to strip gays and lesbians of state human rights protections would save America from becoming "another African continent."

Now Congressman James P. Moran, Jr. (Democrat) of Virginia has stuck his foot in it.

Well, you can't say the Democrats aren't at fault now. People are just stupid sometimes. It amazes me how stupid politicians can be as well. It's also pretty frightening that there are people out there who will elect and re-elect these people.

Not a War Blog.. I Promise

With all the stuff going on with Iraq, it seems like my blog topics have been leaning more toward war blogging than Julia blogging. No worries, I'm still all fluff and stuff. I just like to link items that interest me and that I think others might be interested in as well. I'm not one of those types that watch the ticker at the bottom of the cable news channels with baited breath or constantly scan Google news for the latest updates on whether the UN was going to vote to scratch their butts or what. When I see something interesting, I see it. Otherwise, the anti-newsy in me comes out when it comes to this stuff. Pretty odd for someone who used to report the news.

Monday, March 10, 2003

My Mom's Prophetic Professor

When my mom was in college circa 1968-71, she had a professor tell his class that World War III would most likely start in the Middle East. I have a bad feeling he will be right, especially when you see stories like this. Not that that should come as any big surprise to anyone.

At the same time, it seems like Former President Bush may be disagreeing with his son on some parts of going to war with Iraq (Courtesy of Eschaton). Here's the link to the text of the speech. Interesting, no?

What is a crocus?

I woke up this morning to cold winds blowing snow around. At 7 degrees outside I feel a little bit like the song February by Dar Williams:

"And February was so long that it lasted into March
And found us walking a path alone together.
You stopped and pointed, and you said, 'That's a crocus,'
And I said, 'What's a crocus?' and you said, 'It's a flower,'
I tried to remember, but I said, 'What's a flower?'"

Friday, March 07, 2003

He's soooo cute!


The girly-girl in me came out last night while watching Clueless. Paul Rudd, who plays Josh AKA the eventual love interest of Cher, is so hot in that movie! I mean, seriously, I just about swooned on my couch. I think it's his eyes. Matt came downstairs while I was watching and rolled his eyes. When the movie came out, a girl I ran into and a guy I knew in college (PJ) told me they thought I looked like Alicia Silverstone. I think it was my long hair. It was super-long back then. A year later, a friend of mine told me he thought I looked like Rene Russo. I had chopped my hair to chin length by that point. Hmm.. long hair makes you look young I guess. Guess I'll keep growing mine.

Thursday, March 06, 2003

Speculations About Bush's Speech Tonight


The Drudge Report is reporting rumors that Bush will announce that they have caught Bin Laden. The BBC says the White House is denying those rumors. It would be great news if it was true. My co-worker pointed out that it pulls the rug from under Bush in terms of his war on Iraq if rumor becomes truth.

Another note on our appointed-one: the latest Quinnipiac Poll says a "as-yet-unnamed" Democratic presidential nominee has a slight edge over President Bush in the next Presidential race. Polls have Hillary Clinton winning that race even though she says she will not run. I never cease to be amazed. Today is turning out to be decent afterall.

Promotion of War by The Media


The President will give a press conference on prime-time tv tonight to sort of pre-empt whatever comes out tomorrow when Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector Hans Blix delivers his report on Iraqi efforts to comply with arms demands. I'll probably watch it since Friends is a repeat.

It has come up time and time again that this potential war with Iraq is being pushed by the media. I agree with the thought. You watch CNN or any of the news channels/national newscasts and there seems to be this leaning towards a war or the assumption that it's going to happen. It's as if peace is not an option. And from a monetary standpoint, war is profitable. If and when Bush decides to drop the bombs and set our troops loose, I'm sure it will be broadcast on any and every news source available. The owners of these newstations must be salivating at the thought of captive viewers. So why not promote war? Why not increase the hysteria? Most television stations are concerned with the bottom line these days, not unbiased reporting. My opinion at any rate.

Sleepy


After coming in an hour late yesterday, I went home for 3 1/2 hours so I could sleep. I had to come back later in the afternoon to lead a tour around our government buildings and then go to a meeting at 6pm. It was one of those could-have-slept-all-day days. Bleh. I think it all caught up with me, finally. I feel better today since I slept in again, but I have a sinus headache. Thank god for pms pills. I'd be in much worse shape otherwise. We're looking at two more reception halls this Saturday. That will bring the grand total to 6 halls we will have looked at. I'm hoping the one place (Lily of the Valley) will work out since their prices look good and the food is supposedly good there as well. The cheapest place (with good food reputation) is a Falcon's Hall that looks like a school gym with low ceilings. Not my idea of a good place for a wedding reception. I don't care how many decorations you put up, I know it will still look like an all purpose room. Ah well. Hopefully we can rest a little easier once this is all settled. I'm at wit's end right now and I don't think I can take much more.

Gabriel. You're most like the ArchAngel of
Communication, in charge of things like
telephones, libraries, internet, and the 411
phone menu. You're organised and are not shy
about inflicting that organisation on others.


Which ArchAngel are you most like?
brought to you by Quizilla

Tuesday, March 04, 2003

PMS is a Bitch


You know you're in the midst of the monthly pre-menstrual syndrome and general stress when you sob over stuff that might just make you sniff a little on a normal day. I think the stress from work and wedding preparations combined with the approaching red devil just got to me. Then again, it was a rebroadcast of a special from 1990 on Mister Rogers. Near the end of the program, when Mister Rogers was singing "It's You I Like" to a handicapped boy, I lost it. Matt was sitting with me and had to get me tissues and give me hugs. Bleh.

On top of all that, a Great-Aunt of mine died Sunday and I have to decide whether I'm going to brave the weather and drive into Buffalo tonight so I can go to the funeral tomorrow morning. I wasn't close with her, but I had seen a lot of her "kids" lately. I'll probably go just for that reason. I also know they would come to the funeral if my dad or mom (god forbid) died.

Cutting to the Scene with the Pixie

Ten years ago, I decided to do one of the most drastic things I had ever done to my hair. I went from a long style (below collarbone) to a p...