Christmas Eve

And so. It has been some time, I know, I know. Since my last post much has happened, which is mostly why I haven't posted. So busy! I landed a job - FINALLY! Doing crisis work. Not what I want to do in the long term, but I am so greatful to have a job, and a salaried job at that, that - well, life is just good. I've left K with her family for the evening while I'm at work. I'll meet up with her in the wee hours of the morning and spend Christmas Day with K's entire family clan. Hopefully the evening will continue to be quiet and I will get out of here on time - so for anyone who happens to live in Western Massachusetts, let's not have any Crises tonight, we'll all be much happier.

So far I've only gotten two phone calls from the same woman tonight: in the first one she told me how upset she was about a Christmas letter she gets every year; the second one she read me the sarcastic and bitter response that she was in the process of writing and asked my opinion. I explained that while hearing from someone only once a year can be frustrating, I'm sure that the letter is sent with good intentions, and that to send a bitter response would really only sour their feelings towards her, and finally, if she really knows that reading the letter is painful for her, maybe next year she should just be greatful that the sender thought of her and leave it unopened. Op. The third phone call just came in: the guy has to miss Christmas Eve dinner because he has been having pain in his belly and the doctor ordered some blood tests for him this evening to rule out problems with his Gall Bladder or Pancreas. Listened for awhile and wished him luck with the testing. He's a regular. The other lady is too.

In other news. We are moving on Jan. 1st. Actually on Dec. 31st, so we can be out on Jan 1st. We have a grand total of 4 boxes packed. Actually, it might be better to say 2 boxes because K had to open up the other 2 to lend some books about unfriendly family members re: being gay to a friend. [Poor girl. She came out to her parents over Thanksgiving and they have gone completely mad: stalking her, researching personal info on her friends, calling her girlfriend, etc. Supposedly they are planning some sort of grand intervention to make her straight over Christmas. They have already offered her $50,000 plus full tuition to grad school if she would just move back home and stop being gay. She of course refused to do any such thing. It could get ugly.] Anyway, we've got a lot to do in the next week. I've got tomorrow off, but I exchanged Saturday, when I'm normally scheduled, for Monday - sounded good at the time, but now that I think about it... well, I'm feeling a little stressed to say the least. Maybe if we have coverage, I'll be able to take Wednesday or Thursday. That would help a lot.

Mmmm, stomach is growling. I suppose I could eat dinner. I made chicken piccata the other day and have left overs. I will do it. Hope all is well with everyone and you are having the kind of holiday you hoped for. And Dad, on the off chance that you're checking this while you're on vacation, Happy Holidays to everyone in Oregon!

The media and Katrina

I'm having a problem with the media. Ok, so that in itself is not new, but as I watch coverage about Katrina I'm just bothered. Last night on the news one of the reports said that it's hard to believe such destruction could happen in America. Ok, what's wrong with that? Have we Americans become so conceited as to believe that we will not be affected by the life on Earth? Did we think we were so invincible? We certainly thought that we were invincible to being the target of large scale attacks until 9/11. And when it did happen, do we begin to understand that we are not so high and mighty, or do we go and attack a relatively unrelated country? Oh, yes, the powerful America will not be insulted. Well who are we going to attack now? There is no one to blame - well, unless we blame ourselves for abusing Mother Earth - who will naturally strike back.

One weather guy said that Katrina was so devastating because of the rise in temperature of the ocean waters - just like when the Tsunami hit. But you didn't hear anything global warming or about needing to curtail our abuse to the environment from the media. And our government only added insult to injury by refusing to sign the Kyoto Agreement. Their reason: because it might damage our economy. So because we like our SUVs and materialistic ways, we'll just keep on our little trend until something really big happens and we're forced to pay attention. Well is this big enough? How's our economy now? Yet, I'd venture to say that we won't hear anything about global warming in the aftermath of Katrina either.

So that's pissing me off. And another thing that is pissing me off is the way the media people who are down there are not helping. They are reporting on all of the damage. Great footage of people stranded, hurt, hungry, and thirsty. Even great footage of plenty of rescues. But are they helping??? They have boats. They have water. They all look neat and tidy for their cameras as they coast on by person after person screaming, begging, and pleading for someone to help them. They have the resources to help, but do they? I only saw one clip of a camera man give in and help once, but only with the comment, "We're not supposed to let anyone on the boat." What are they afraid it will upset their producers if they join in the effort instead of just filming it. Dammit they have the resources, so why aren't they chipping in? What that wouldn't make as good of a story?

Back when Des Moines was flooded our local TV station in Minneapolis organized a help effort and sent bus loads of us down to help with the clean-up. The people of Des Moines got much needed help, I felt good that I could help, and it made for a great story.

feeling compelled to do something

I called the Red Cross today and filled out their volunteer form. I figure as long as I have so few obligations now, I might as well be put to use in some productive way. And besides, it's hard to watch the news and not be able to contribute any money. This way maybe I can help out in some way. I just started to feel like it was all too overwhelming and maybe the reason I haven't found a job yet is because I need to help out down there for awhile first. Well, we'll see.

Pie for breakfast!

Why do I do it? Yes, I know the invitations are all well-meaning and, really, I love going to parties - but why would I agree to go to THREE of them in one weekend. Oh, but I just couldn't say no! Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and finally Sunday evening! And all pot-lucks. But, alas, I came up with a fantastic solution. Last weekend our talented musical friend brought us blueberry picking and it was just delightful. So, after securing the recipe for my very favorite blueberry pie from Mom, I headed off on Friday morning for another round of blueberry picking. Two hours and ten pounds of blueberries later I was on my way back home for the baking. Well, it's not baking really, but by 2pm I had three pies ready to go. When K got home and inquired where our pie was I whipped up another just for us - by that time I was a pro! They turned out to be a grand hit! And by the time the weekend was over I had the recipe memorized so it could be shared. So, if you want to try the best blueberry pie ever here it is:

Mom's Most Wonderful Blueberry Pie Ever!
One open-faced baked 9 inch pie crust.
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup honey
2 1/2 Tablespoons of cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon of salt
2 Tablespoons of butter (optional for richness)

Simmer 1/2 the blueberries, the honey, cornstarch, and salt until the mixture becomes thick and translucent. If your going the rich route add the butter to the blue-goo mix. Then fold in the rest of the fresh blueberries. Now put the entire thing into the already-baked pie crust. Refriderate until cool and bring to a pot-luck or enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

So it was a hit! And because I made that extra pie we did have blueberry pie for breakfast! And hey, why not?!? After all, it's more nutritious than any breakfast cereal you'll find out there!

Lazy day ideas

While it may be a bit early in the day to proclaim it, I would very much enjoy having at least one lazy day during my week off. I hope that today will fit the bill. Yesterday K and I went to Boston to meet up with friends and bum around. It was great seeing people and seeing parts of Boston that I've never been to - which, really, is most of Boston. Oh, but it was exhausting though! We must have walked 10 miles through the day. We did, however, meet up with a high school friend for a fantastic dinner at Panang - Malaysian food, yum! In the end we did get home before midnight and fell into a blissful slumber. For myself, I was actually quite surprised I could sleep at all. After the full day of walking and being generally zapped of all energy, Lucinda made me a HUGE cup of coffee so we could make it home in one piece. Woke me right up, all the way home, but once home and that pillow was in sight, well, it was all over really.

In other news. We've been thinking about our wedding and K's been especially into dress shopping. At first we thought we were going to go the more casual route and we would both were non-traditional dresses of different colors. Then as we started planning other aspects of the big day, we decided we want it to be a little more formal, so we thought two traditional dresses. But it's funny, since we decided that, my inspiration to look for a gown for myself diminished greatly. As someone recently said, it's hard to picture two brides in full traditional regalia walking down the aisle. Of course, when I heard this, I said we can do anything we want to - after all there are no standards for lesbian weddings, so we get to make our own rules - and if we want to both wear traditional gown, we'll both wear traditional gown. And I stand by that. But, the thing is, I just can't picture us both in a traditional gowns. Neither can I picture myself wearing a tux. I mean, I've dressed up for Halloween the past couple years in a tux and top hat, and I must say that I do look rather dapper and it was loads of fun:


But honestly.

This is me playing dress-up.

I'm not really butch.

I like dresses.


And I don't want to make light of our commitment.







So. I think we've decided on an interesting solution. K actually came up with it. She really wants to wear the traditional gown, so she will do that. And to create a balance, I'll wear a formal black gown. Not poofy, but sleek and elegant - preferably satin. I've found a couple designs that I like, but nothing perfect yet. So what do you think???

Before the day passes by me

It is now the second day in a week free from classes. Aaaaah. Yesterday, I began to sort out the mess that has become our apartment over the last five weeks. Slowly but surely, I am beginning to see the tops of various dressers, desks, filing cabinets, and other surfaces. It is amazing how quickly they become cluttered. In the midst of the clutter, I began to organize (because finding clean surfaces is definitely different that organizing!). Oh, it feels sooo good! With all this learning in the past five weeks, my brain has gotten a little cluttered itself, and this organizing bit has begun to help it get back to its normally anal-retentive self. Now, things to do today: shower, it's noon and I've only really lazed about thus far; take a long walk on the trails and splash around in the river; finish updating my resume; maybe watch K-Pax, maybe organize some more, maybe just go to bed early...

The frustrations of beginnings

So I want to get this up and going, but the thing is I can't figure it out. Like for instance, how do I change the header that I put up there at the top??? How do I post photos without losing my message? I have spent yet another hour with the logisitics of this thing. Perhaps I will find these things out sooner than later, most likely when I am not quite so brain-tired, and when I do it will surely be more representative of me :) With that, good night. For real this time.

Post One - And we're off...

So last night I sat down to post a reply on River-Tree Whispers. Little did I know that in order to do that one must have a blog of there own. So without really trying, I set this up. If the universe would have given me just a touch more time, I would have begun this journey in, oh, say September - when I will have graduated and found gainful employment. But there must be some reason for this happening now. Life has a way of pushing me along where I need to go, even if I don't quite know I need to go there. I will learn all sorts of things on this blog, I'm sure. Much about myself, computers, and hopefully with any luck, I will learn about other people as well. So, I'll end for the moment. I've got to be rested for my last day of classes tomorrow morning. Mind you I start up again in a week, but small accomplishments mean everything sometimes.