Is to write a novel. Fifty thousand words. One thousand seven hundred words a day for the next 30 days.
This will be interesting.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
My Goal for November...
Is to write a novel. Fifty thousand words. One thousand seven hundred words a day for the next 30 days.
This will be interesting.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Notes
Lesson Learned: Never wear my Penn State sweatshirt in Pittsburgh on a Saturday in the fall. People have trouble understanding why a person would wear the name of a big ten team emblazoned across a piece of clothing simply because it was the warmest item of clothing close at hand when dressing in the morning.
This is what I have done in the past couple of weeks:
Last Weekend
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C.
The National Shrine sits on the Campus of Catholic University. The lower part of the shrine has some truly amazing mosaics, pictorial representations of Mary from all over the world.
The upper part of the shrine, containing the church proper, is a different story. The area behind the alter is dominated by one of the kitchiest mosaic representations of Christ I have ever seen in my life. This is Jesus Christ sitting in the lotus position (or, as my BIL the priest calls it, the “Power” position) with flames shooting out of his head (in the shape of a cross) and a rainbow curving behind him.
Penguins at Capitals, Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
Great seats, great game and I witnessed Jordan Staal's first NHL fight. In which he was a most reluctant participant.
This Weekend
Saturday evening was spent trying home brew beer and watching the rain fall while wistfully dreaming of the bonfire, mountain pies and s'mores we would not be cooking that night. J unwittingly put his foot in his mouth when he remarked to the female half of a couple we know “Sometimes you just have to pick a fight,” unaware of the reason behind the couple's extremely late arrival – a fight.
Today was spent exploring the Eliza Furnace and Pittsburgh heritage trails.
This is what I have done in the past couple of weeks:
Last Weekend
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C.
The National Shrine sits on the Campus of Catholic University. The lower part of the shrine has some truly amazing mosaics, pictorial representations of Mary from all over the world.
The upper part of the shrine, containing the church proper, is a different story. The area behind the alter is dominated by one of the kitchiest mosaic representations of Christ I have ever seen in my life. This is Jesus Christ sitting in the lotus position (or, as my BIL the priest calls it, the “Power” position) with flames shooting out of his head (in the shape of a cross) and a rainbow curving behind him.
Penguins at Capitals, Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
Great seats, great game and I witnessed Jordan Staal's first NHL fight. In which he was a most reluctant participant.
This Weekend
Saturday evening was spent trying home brew beer and watching the rain fall while wistfully dreaming of the bonfire, mountain pies and s'mores we would not be cooking that night. J unwittingly put his foot in his mouth when he remarked to the female half of a couple we know “Sometimes you just have to pick a fight,” unaware of the reason behind the couple's extremely late arrival – a fight.
Today was spent exploring the Eliza Furnace and Pittsburgh heritage trails.
Friday, October 26, 2007
FYI
Still Here
And exhausted from working massive overtime four weeks in a row. I have a cat clinging to my left arm (actually he is now sitting next to me with an injured look on his face because I pushed him off) and I am struggling to stay awake.
I have gone places and taken photographs, but I have not made the time to download the new pictures. Most of my free minutes have gone to sleeping.
Updates soon. For now, have some photographs from a ruin of my childhood. The owners have been slowly tearing the structure down in the past two years. Soon there were only be an empty field where there was once crumbling brick buildings.
I have gone places and taken photographs, but I have not made the time to download the new pictures. Most of my free minutes have gone to sleeping.
Updates soon. For now, have some photographs from a ruin of my childhood. The owners have been slowly tearing the structure down in the past two years. Soon there were only be an empty field where there was once crumbling brick buildings.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Into the Frying Pan Again
My mother called at 2:00 PM this afternoon. I was sitting in the car, excited to be out in the fall sunshine and ready to ride the Eliza Furnace Trail. J was taking the bikes off the back of the car.
My twin brother has been re-activated and must report for duty on January 5, 2008. He is being shipped off to Fort Benning, GA to serve another year of support in whatever-the-hell-we-are-calling our current adventure in Iraq. My brother, who all ready served 13 months in Kuwait, who was due to be released from the reserves in 2008 after serving 15 years.
I was told that my brother's second activation will be served state-side, but I don't believe it. And I am, not to put too fine of a point on it, PISSED. So angry that I kicked the car multiple times, precipitating an exchange of angry words between J and myself for almost damaging the car. A ten mile bike ride, homemade clam chowder and two cherry vodka's with Coke has not calmed me down.
I'm pissed because my brother was supposed to be married in December 2008. I'm pissed because his last deployment turned my mother into a utterly joyless basket case, unable to take pleasure in even the smallest thing in life. I'm pissed because my brother, who does not believe in this war, does believe in honoring his commitments and WILL join his unit on January 5 while legions of white, middle class conservative republican supporters in their twenties sit behind desks and spout about Bush's nobility instead of getting their lazy privileged assess to the recruitment office and actually serving.
So instead of writing about a beautiful fall day, the interesting graffiti, the dream trip I never knew I wanted and that Butler Street in Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh) made it into the New York Times I have only these words left:
So once again, Suck it, Bush.
My twin brother has been re-activated and must report for duty on January 5, 2008. He is being shipped off to Fort Benning, GA to serve another year of support in whatever-the-hell-we-are-calling our current adventure in Iraq. My brother, who all ready served 13 months in Kuwait, who was due to be released from the reserves in 2008 after serving 15 years.
I was told that my brother's second activation will be served state-side, but I don't believe it. And I am, not to put too fine of a point on it, PISSED. So angry that I kicked the car multiple times, precipitating an exchange of angry words between J and myself for almost damaging the car. A ten mile bike ride, homemade clam chowder and two cherry vodka's with Coke has not calmed me down.
I'm pissed because my brother was supposed to be married in December 2008. I'm pissed because his last deployment turned my mother into a utterly joyless basket case, unable to take pleasure in even the smallest thing in life. I'm pissed because my brother, who does not believe in this war, does believe in honoring his commitments and WILL join his unit on January 5 while legions of white, middle class conservative republican supporters in their twenties sit behind desks and spout about Bush's nobility instead of getting their lazy privileged assess to the recruitment office and actually serving.
So instead of writing about a beautiful fall day, the interesting graffiti, the dream trip I never knew I wanted and that Butler Street in Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh) made it into the New York Times I have only these words left:
So once again, Suck it, Bush.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
Busy
First:
One of the blogs I read regularly opened a thread about bumper stickers. A few I never heard of until tonight:
Republicans for Voldemort.
Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints....
Bush/Cheney 1984
Second:
Writing will be sporadic the next couple of weeks. I'm too tired to be funny or coherent right now. I'm filling in for a vacationing project manager. Last Friday evening I came home so tired that if someone had pulled a gun I probably would have begged him/her/it to put me out of my misery.*
Third:
I don't know what it is like in the rest of the world, but it is October 8 and a sweltering 78 degrees outside. J and I have resisted turning the air conditioner back on because it is supposed to get cooler any day now. Except that any day does not seem to be coming anytime soon. And the feline inhabitants are as miserable as the humans right now. *
Fourth:
The Penguins won their home opener!
*Staying up until almost 1:00 AM to read Dexter in the Dark probably did not help much. And gave me seriously funky dreams.
One of the blogs I read regularly opened a thread about bumper stickers. A few I never heard of until tonight:
Republicans for Voldemort.
Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints....
Bush/Cheney 1984
Second:
Writing will be sporadic the next couple of weeks. I'm too tired to be funny or coherent right now. I'm filling in for a vacationing project manager. Last Friday evening I came home so tired that if someone had pulled a gun I probably would have begged him/her/it to put me out of my misery.*
Third:
I don't know what it is like in the rest of the world, but it is October 8 and a sweltering 78 degrees outside. J and I have resisted turning the air conditioner back on because it is supposed to get cooler any day now. Except that any day does not seem to be coming anytime soon. And the feline inhabitants are as miserable as the humans right now. *
Fourth:
The Penguins won their home opener!
*Staying up until almost 1:00 AM to read Dexter in the Dark probably did not help much. And gave me seriously funky dreams.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Animal Meme
Tagged by the Fabulous Foilwoman...
1. An interesting animal I had.
None of the animals I have owned, either as a child or an adult, have been terribly interesting to anyone else but myself except for Axel, two-legged kitty extraordinaire. And technically, he is J's cat, not mine.
2. An interesting animal I ate.
Ostrich, on a pizza.
3. An interesting thing I did with or to an animal.
What a creepy question.
I used to take my cat Squeak for rides in my car. He loved to ride in the car.
4. An interesting animal in a Museum.
Dinosaurs. Because some people think they are a hoax.
5. An interesting animal in its natural habitat
Polar bears, although I've only seen them in National Geographic.
1. An interesting animal I had.
None of the animals I have owned, either as a child or an adult, have been terribly interesting to anyone else but myself except for Axel, two-legged kitty extraordinaire. And technically, he is J's cat, not mine.
2. An interesting animal I ate.
Ostrich, on a pizza.
3. An interesting thing I did with or to an animal.
What a creepy question.
I used to take my cat Squeak for rides in my car. He loved to ride in the car.
4. An interesting animal in a Museum.
Dinosaurs. Because some people think they are a hoax.
5. An interesting animal in its natural habitat
Polar bears, although I've only seen them in National Geographic.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Tonight on the 46D
Dear Steelers Groupie,
It is really sweet that you are such a devoted fan of the Steelers' organization. And good for you for somehow managing to get yourself an “in” with the team.
However, I posit the suggestion that pimping out one of your girlfriends to Casey Hampton via a cell phone conversation on the 46D at 7:30 PM is probably a bad idea. As is disclosing numerous and easily verifiable facts about his personal life.
And what kind of friend are you anyway, hooking up a girlfriend with a man in a committed relationship? Don't you want better for her? What is wrong with Charlie Batch?
It is really sweet that you are such a devoted fan of the Steelers' organization. And good for you for somehow managing to get yourself an “in” with the team.
However, I posit the suggestion that pimping out one of your girlfriends to Casey Hampton via a cell phone conversation on the 46D at 7:30 PM is probably a bad idea. As is disclosing numerous and easily verifiable facts about his personal life.
And what kind of friend are you anyway, hooking up a girlfriend with a man in a committed relationship? Don't you want better for her? What is wrong with Charlie Batch?
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