Sunday, April 29, 2007

Markedly disturbing impetus for unity...

Article on plan for walling in Iraqi neighborhoods:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/world/middleeast/24iraq.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Last week's news on the Baghdad walls being built in Sunni neighborhoods (known for insurgent activity) is ironically generating a even more volatile situation. Once opposing Sunni and Shiite activists are now joining in denouncing the pervasive impact the U.S. is having upon them as citizens of Baghdad.

Of course, people want the civil unrest to stop. However, the common ground is now against U.S. forces whose supposed purpose is to quell the unrest.

I am not a person who normally advises for divisiveness -- but is the answer to helping this region an Iraq divided into three separate countries i.e. Sunni, Shiite, Kurd? How will the resources be split if that happens? The complexity truly overwhelms...

Friday, April 27, 2007

How important is sleep?

I almost never get enough sleep. If 7-8 hours a night is normal, then I am, um, not exactly an achiever. Everyone acknowledges the whole "busy" thing...we are all so busy and our world is complicated, and there are always issues that had to be solved yesterday that are still in the proverbial in-box.

Many times I can't shut the thought process down, tho. I just have thought after thought of things going on like some chain-link, free-for-all rumination of my work, or the world, or the universe, or whatever. I haven't resorted to trying to slap myself out of it, or unconscious (whichever comes first) -- since even tho I am quite durable, I do bruise and all :-P I won't do the prescription sleep-aid deal because then I'll obsess over becoming addicted. Besides, I shun lab-made chemicals running through my body. Unnatural chemicals = unnatural side effects -- and nobody wants an eyeful there.

However, when I do get enough sleep, it does feel amazing. It's like being kicked into turbo. And who doesn't love that? :-D

Monday, April 23, 2007

Do you fancy...SOME POETRY?!?

~~~Universal Flow~~~

Under the glow of the sunset
pink, orange, golden-calling sea vision --
the music in the wind reaches
and awakens you.

You swim past the shallows,
down, down, deep.

The tumultuous tide pauses in your eyes,
all briny depth,
as sea shadows
amaze with their reflection.

Ignoring the moon's pull,
you dive in to touch
the shimmer of an abandoned past.

The cusp of dusk, now,
and you draw yourself ashore.

Leaving the sun,
and the sea,
and their song,
you slide through the twilight
and briefly hear the trees whisper in a breeze's sigh --
about the emerging starry night
looking like deep-sea starfish
you remember
from somewhere.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Been trying to come to terms with senseless acts and seeking explanation or reason where none exists...

Life is so precarious.

You can live in fear. Or you can live.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Blink*Tear*Blink...

Actually, I am not about to emote something profound about some crime against humanity, but I did have eyelid surgery today. Yeah.

I had a duct in my eyelid that didn't heal properly from a stye, and was forming scar tissue...and well...there you go.

The Dr. was amazingly gentle and put up with me quite well. I'm a bit of a baby, but at least I know I'm a baby, and I try to be sweet and apologetic about my baby anxieties.

So he does his thing -- that's as far as I'll explain... and I did feel amazing relief when I knew it was over because my olfactory sense knew -- he had to cauterize the incision.

Needless to say -- my eyelid had been pumped full of anesthesia. My eyelid is very droopy now and hard to open. It's quite bruised and swollen and it looks like I need the help of some protective agency, but I feel pretty okay.

The anesthesia is wearing off a bit tho, and my eye kind of aches...but they said no patch. Dang! What self-respecting rabble-rousing girl doesn't want a patch after all this?!? Nothing says, "Don't you be playin' with this crazy mess" better than an eye patch
;-D <---squinty one-eyed me

Thursday, April 12, 2007

You will be missed...

Farewell Kurt Vonnegut -- November 11,1922 - April 11, 2007

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070412/ap_on_re_us/obit_vonnegut

I first read Slaughterhouse-Five when I was thirteen. I was hooked...who was this radical thinker to which nothing was sacred? I felt as though Vonnegut was someone who opened my door to thinking freely and questioning ideas and ideals throughout culture and society.

He cared enough to debate societal norms and trends without seeming bitterly cynical or burnt-out. His high ethical and moral standards pervaded his writing. Issues he raised showed how much he loved humanity, and wanted to see it survive, evolve, thrive.

I will miss his humor the most. Though wickedly dry, it always contained a heartrending undertone of hopefulness.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Taxing to the depths of my soul...

First -- knuckles and a high five to Scott Adams for this quote:

"At this point, the so-called government does little more than provide content for news channels and blogs. I think they should do more. For example, I’d like to see Congressmen and Congresswomen run across a field of rakes every morning to get to work. For me, it would only take a few rakes in the face per day to make me feel as if my tax dollars weren’t a complete waste."

Arrgh...tax time is here and it makes me crazy that I feel I have so little impact on where my tax dollars are being spent. I do not feel that many people currently holding administrative office in our government are the representation of how I feel about life, the universe, and everything, and yes, I voted. At this point, I think the current administration is simply keeping the status quo until 2008 just so a new administration will have to step in to be "the bad guys". If there are any other possible scenarios that you see...please enlighten me because I welcome the idea of feeling less frustrated about this.

Political humor helps me get through the day, and government has, quite frankly, been made fun of since, well, the beginning of government. Even Julius Caesar's life had a dash of irony. There will never be a government everyone is in love with. However, the divisiveness of our country has been at such high levels, partisanship does not even seem like a viable definition anymore.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Bringin' _______________back ...

Things that should be brought back from wherever it is that they've gotten lost in the universe:

Gladiator sandals. Those babies will stay put on your feet when it’s time to haul. Sure, they take some time to tie up, but any saucy merchant can develop skills if he practices long enough. Perfect for summertime!

Full, bushy eyebrows. Plucking eyebrows is stupid. They’ve hurt no one. It’s a moronic aesthetic that needs to go away. Viva la uni!

The monocle. Why did monocles ever go away?!? Monocles are so freakin’ cool.