Happy Thanksgiving!!

Probably won't have much time to post till next week, so just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

An Economy of Words

You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.
No.
Explanations.
Not as easy as you might think...

1. Yourself: wistful
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend: delayed
3. Your hair: soft
4. Your mother/stepmother: brilliant
5. Your dog: slobbery
6. Your favorite item: books
7. Your dream last night: dreamless
8. Your favorite drink: refreshing
9. Your dream car: fun
10. The room you are in: office
12. Your fear: apathy
13. What you want to be in 10 years: published
14. Who you hung out with last night: family
15. What you're not: mean
16. Muffin: blueberry
17: One of your wish list items: iPod
18: Time: fleeting
19. The last thing you did: work
20. What you are wearing: warm
21. Your favorite weather: stormy
22. Your favorite book: Libris
23. The last thing you ate: banana
24. Your life: pause
25. Your mood: pensive
26. Your best friend(S): loyal
27. What are you thinking about right now? life
28. Your car: Xander
29. What are you doing at the moment?: typing
30. Your summer: sweltering
31. Your relationship status: hopeful
32. What is on your TV?: nothing
33. What is the weather like?: perfect
34. When is the last time you laughed?: meeting

Mumble Grumble?

I'm in a blue funk. Or a black mood. Or some other really dark color that denotes pure cranky irritation.

I've been reflecting over life things--the stuff I worry or obsess about, but tend not to write in my blog because I never want to say anything in a public forum that I might regret. In that respect, I am the exact opposite from my sister's webfriend, Trista. Trista is very open and honest and entertaining and messy in the very best ways. I think that level of honesty takes a kind of courage I intrinsically lack. I think I'm too worried about what other people might think about me. That's stupid though--to worry about that. It's selfish, actually, because it tends toward a belief that every interaction I have with another is, in fact, totally about me, me, me. Sort of short-changes the people I spend my time with, doesn't it?

I know a lot of really amazing people. I could start with my sister, Faith, who is good, kind, loving, sweet, and the bestest, most loyal and true friend a girl could have. She has a wicked sense of humor that helps her keep her head above water. She's spent a lot of her life being the best friend and the good sister, but it seems like she's coming into her own now. She's taking much better care of herself than she used to. To me she's always been beautiful, but I don't think she ever believed it herself. Now, though, she's eating healthy and losing weight and it shows. We spent some time together on Saturday and she looks really, really good. Aside from that, she's always taken care of herself spiritually and intellectually. She's a voracious reader and she asks questions. I love her because she's my sister, but I'd love her anyway. She's just that kind of person.

I also have a terrific friend, M, who is quite possibly the funnest person I've ever met. I used to love it when M came to see my shows because she has the loudest, most delicious laugh that carried backstage. You can't hear that laugh and not laugh along with her. She's teaches Italian in both high school and college (as adjunct faculty). She's a great teacher--the sort of person Chaucer was thinking of when he wrote, "Gladly would he learne, and gladly teach." If there's something wonderful and brilliant worth knowing, then for her, it follows that if must be worth sharing. The day we became friends, we both skipped a sunday school lesson in order to commiserate over life's little d'ohs. One hour later we were fast friends. We don't talk as much lately, because she's working on her master's degree, teaching high-school full-time, and teaching an Italian Intro course at a local college. How's that for some natural gumption?

Then there's the people I see every day/week. I work with this amazing person who supports herself and her daughter on a university secretary income, without complaint--uncanny considering how poorly paid most university secretaries are. She's trying to put herself through school one class at a time, so she can be a math teacher. I know a professor who dedicates himself to work with domestic violence offenders--he spends frequent amounts of time outside of his academic work volunteering and trying to make a difference. I know an actor (artistic director) who donates a vast majority of his spare time to community concerns. He's a much beloved local artist who continually goes to bat for his theatre and for the arts in general. As an example, this last season the city cut arts funding, drastically reducing the amount his theatre would receive. He immediately went on the offensive, fund-raising like crazy, and granting interviews to local media, effectively shaming the city into reversing their decision. It's a good thing, too, as this artist runs a youth outreach program that really manages to make a difference. I know another artist who refuses to keep any of her profits. Every single show she's directed and produced has benefitted charities who work with victims of abuse. She's an amazing woman.

I'm saying all this because I get so wound up about little stupid things, that I forget how many people there are who make life beautiful--who give and give and give of themselves and never ask for something in return. They're people who are worth knowing and they make my petty worries and perceived slights look just this side of ridiculous.

So I could mumble, grumble, but instead I think I'll just be grateful for the people who strive to make the world a better place.

I hope all of you have a someone who inspires you. If you do, I'd love to hear about them.

Very Cool People

I just clicked over to my friend, M's blog. She's been the amazing invisible woman lately, mostly because she's been so busy with school and work that she hasn't had much time for gossiping with me on the telephone. There was a post today! Yay!! I miss my friend.

But this brings an entirely new topic to light. You see, after reading M's wonderful post about the beauty of learning and the inherent rewards thereof, and after reading my sister's thought-provoking post of this morning, I feel like a shallow little blah with my Buffy-character-test and my silly reparte.

I am lame, but I do know very cool people.

The Sound of ...?

It's a curious sound. Not at all irritating and heart-thumping, like a 16 year-old blasting his car stero as he drives by. (By the by, what makes 16 year-old boys think we have the same taste in music? Is it the "if it's too loud, you're too old" thing? I clearly am officially too old.) It also does not resemble the dulcet tones of my supervisor, sitting immediately to my right, discussing the ins and outs of certification policy ALL DAY LONG. (I actually really like my supervisor, so it's not that big of a deal, but still--supervisors are much better, by and large, when they aren't peering over your shoulder all day.) The sound--it lacks--what is it? It lacks...sound.

And there you have it. Other than the click-clack of my keyboard, I appear to have been awarded blessed silence today. It's an unusual phenomena. I like.

And now, rereading the above, I have to laugh. A friend sent me a link for a "Which Buffy Character Are You" quiz (results in the post below), and I was really disappointed that I'd scored Rupert. I was hoping for Buffy or Willow, strong female characters I particularly admire. As it turns out, I'm more like the librarian than I realized. That's not so bad. For starters, Tony Head, who plays Rupert, is really, really pretty. S'okay to have things in common with someone that pretty. Plus, hey, Ripper kicks lots of ass.

Anyway, I'm glad for the quiet--all the better since I have lots of work, piles actually, just sitting around waiting to be done! Guess I should do this thing, this job, they pay me for...

That's Right--I'm Rupert to My Friends (Ripper to the Rest of You...)

Rupert Giles 72% amorality, 36% passion, 81% spirituality, 63% selflessness

Utterly calm and resolute in the face of danger, utterly devoted to his loved ones and comrades in arms, and utterly willing to do what is necessary to ensure that good overcomes evil. Giles knows the score, he knows that sometimes virtue relies on good men getting a little messy, and he's willing to take that on himself, largely so that others don't have to. You might share some of that. You most closely resemble one of the most popular heroes in the Buffy universe. Congratulations! If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback! Also, you might want to check out some of my other tests if you're interested in the following: Nerds, Geeks & Dorks Professional Wrestling Love & Sexuality America/Politics Thanks Again! -- THE 4-VARIABLE BUFFY PERSONALITY TEST

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 76% on morality You scored higher than 2% on repose You scored higher than 84% on spirituality You scored higher than 71% on selflessness

Link: The 4-Variable Buffy Personality Test written by donathos on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

NaNo NoMo

I'd signed up with NaNo to write a novel in the month of November. I did pretty well the first week--got up to 5K words by Saturday the 4th. And then...

I got sick. Frackin' upper respiratory infection.

I spent the better part of last week huddled under blankets in bed hacking and coughing like a little old woman nursing a 60-year, three pack-a-day habit. Went to the doctor on Tuesday afternoon. He prescribed a Z-pak (antibiotics) and this horse-sized pill that caused much pain every time I took it.

Aside from the cough that will not go away, I'm feeling better now, which is good, but I seriously doubt I'll be able to catch up enough to fulfill NaNo. On the other hand, I did get 5K words in and I have a nice start on something I think is pretty good. Silly. But good fun. So I'll work on it as much as possible and see what happens.

Have lots of work to catch up on, so I'm outta here!

It's A Good Day (but not in a squicky television medical prescription ad kind of way)

It was cold this morning. Don’t mock me, Yankees. In Texas 38 degrees is cold. It’s sweater weather, and as a side effect, I was seriously craving some hot chocolate this morning. So I left my apartment early and drove to QT. When I got there, an employee was cleaning up the coffee/hot chocolate station, taking out the garbage, etc, so I politely stood aside and waited for the employee to finish—no rush or anything. Gradually a little line built up behind me and the moment the employee had finished, we rushed as one large caffeine-deprived mass to the coffee. It was like 6:00 a.m. at Wal Mart the day after Thanksgiving. I was scared for my life.

Anyway, I noticed this man watching me out of the corner of his eye. When he noticed me noticing, he blushed, looked the opposite direction, and appeared to engross himself in reading the ingredients of the dairy creamer packet he was holding. I wondered if there was perhaps something wrong with my appearance. Any toilet paper stuck to my shoe? Nope. Fly undone? Nope. The hair was okay. I actually styled it this morning instead of throwing it in a ponytail and calling it a day. The skin is even okay at the moment—nothing bumpy that would in any way remotely resemble a zit. After the quick self-check, I looked up and again noticed him watching me. He gave me kind of a goofy half-smile and wave and then ambled out of the store.

And then it occurred to me that maybe he thought I was cute. Now see, I’m not unattractive, but I live in Texas, where all the women are really coiffed. I’m not the sort of person who coifs. I wear blue jeans as much as possible and have a long and proud history of making virtually no effort on my hair beyond the basic wash/condition/brush regimen. This isn’t false pride. I’m not a babe. So the thought that maybe some stranger thought I was sort of cute, sort of makes my day.