Winding Down / Gearing Up

We can close the books on 2007, and I am so glad that it is finally over. It seems that most folks are using this as a time of introspection, to recount all that has happened in the past year and to try to make sense of what has happened. On reflection, though, I believe that a lot of what happened in the past year has made no sense at all.

Oh, wait – let me rephrase that:

What happened this past year has made sense to all of those who set the wheels in motion for the larger events, and as a person affected by those events I can muster an appreciation for the thought processes in other people’s minds that went into their decisions. I also know that I can choose how I react to these events and in doing so help set the stage for positive or negative personal outcomes. I am the captain of my fate and the master of my soul, you know . . .

Dealing with these events caused me a lot of stress and worrying. I have to learn how to not let things get to me so much, while at the same time acknowledging that my propensity for wanting to take care of the world is part of what makes me the unique individual that I am. I love volunteer teaching, I love doing things for other people, I love trying to affect change in my little corner of the world. So I know that on some level, I will always be a bit stressed out and emotional.

On one of the other blogs I read, the writer said that for the next year she should remember to be mindful:

“Instead, my goal for the coming year is mindfulness - to be mindful of what I'm doing when I'm doing it, and to ask myself if it's really what I want or need to be doing right then. . . . I'm thinking that right now, my biggest problem is not doing or failing to do any specific things, but just not thinking about what I'm doing at all.”

I think that it is a pretty admirable goal. I do think that my problem is that I tend to OVERTHINK things, but in being mindful I should think about how what I am about to do relates to what *I* ACTUALLY want as opposed to what I think other people would think I should want. There IS a difference and only in the last few months have I started to really think about what I am doing and who I am trying to make happy and why . . .

My main goals this year are to get farther in my schooling, see more plays, take more pictures, have more excursions, be a better teacher, and generally try to enjoy myself. If I feel happier in general, everything else should follow. If I am enjoying myself, I will feel better about myself. If I feel better about myself, I will feel more confident in other areas and hopefully some other successes will come from that. I will be less of a miserable, moody person and be able to have more positive interactions with family, friends and co-workers.

As regards to my work situation, I will take it one day at a time. I will try to maintain my current schedule and keep my eye out for other interesting opportunities to get involved in that may be a better fit for me at this time of my life. This year has proved that working my tail off for the Random Non-profit will not net me any professional gains or martyr points, so I only need to do what is needed to be done each day in the time allotted and then let the rest go.

As for the blog . . . well, I’m always lamenting my crappy posting and writing here . . . and so I resolve to do much more of it in 2008! I will no longer beat myself up about it because – Hey! – the title of my blog says it’s OK . . .

“A snapshot is popularly defined as a photograph that is "shot" spontaneously and quickly, most often without artistic or journalistic intent. Snapshots are commonly considered to be technically "imperfect" or amateurish--out of focus or poorly framed or composed. Common snapshot subjects include the events of everyday life, such as birthday parties and other celebrations, sunsets, children playing, and the like.”

My blog is a snapshot of what I am thinking or feeling at a given point. It is usually dashed off in an odd moment, usually with some forethought but little time. But the cool thing about snapshots is that they document moments in time that existed and will never again. Some are gems and some are not, but they are all out there. And what one person may consider “amateurish,” another person may consider art . . . so I’ll keep going, doing as best I can to document the randomness which is my life and share it with you all . . .

******

OK, now I am a bit more optimistic and excited about the New Year. I really wasn’t when I started writing this morning, but putting words on the page has helped me focus and realize that continuing to look forward is the best course of action for me. Whatever happens, happens.

Happy New Year, Everyone! May your 2008 be full of adventure and discovery and happiness!

Isn't It Romantic? . . .

As seen on Scrivener's blog today . . .

I am rather pleased . . .

You Are Romanticism

You are likely to see the world as it should be, not as it is. You prefer to celebrate the great things people do... not the horrors they're capable of. For you, there is nothing more inspiring than a great hero. You believe that great art reflects the artist's imagination and true ideals.

What Art Movement Are You?

Seasons Greetings . . .

. . . from the Random Family! (and dig those funky Winnie-the-Pooh PJs of mine . . .)

Random Blog Post of Note

This post at Scrivener’s talks about one of the most beautiful and meaningful Solstice observances that I’d ever heard about. Like many of us, he and his family are going through a rough time of transitions and I think this ceremony would give many of us meaningful space for thought and reflection. Also, his Unitarian Church sounds like it is just awesome . . . the Random Church could probably learn a lot from it . . .

. . . Anyway, December is a month of observances for a number of reasons and I hope that whatever you celebrate, you know I wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year. I will continue to cling to the hope that 2008 is going to be a wonderful year for ALL of us!

. . . And I send a special shout-out to Virginia Gal, Mommanator and CS for being such cool, faithful readers this past year. Just knowing you are all out there has been such a comfort for me and I really appreciate your support as we all work through our lives.

Much love to you all!

A Christmas Meme

(Found at Terminal Degree’s blog)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! Gift bags are expensive and often stuff doesn’t fit, especially if the box is big.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Which sucks because we live on the top floor of a walk-up condo and dragging a real tree up and down all those stairs would not be fun. I love the smell of real pine and I miss it . . .

3. When do you put up the tree? At least a week before Christmas, but usually don’t decorate it until a day or two before.

4. When do you take the tree down? Shortly after Epiphany – usually the next weekend.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but not too thick – I hate thick egg nog, it just gets the gag reflex going . . . so if you make thick egg nog, warn me beforehand and I’ll try to cut it with some milk or rum or something . . .

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Books! Always books!

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a teeny one. I’ve always meant to start collecting them and get some ones of diverse backgrounds, but I never get around to it until it’s right before Christmas and too late to get a decent one.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Me – because I hate asking for things, and I’m usually happy just to get stuff for other folks.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My mom. She loves any type of puzzles and loves old movies.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever got? I’ve received a lot of really unfortunate sweaters.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail . . . when I remember. I actually did send out cards this year, but usually I intend to send “New Year’s” cards and fail miserably . . .

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Scrooged. Oh, and there was once a Christmas movie on the Family Channel that starred Andy Dick (yes, seriously!) that I adored the couple of years that they played it . . . I should have taped it. I must find it, if I could ever remember the title . . .

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November, online.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? To Goodwill? Oh, yes . . .

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Freshly baked cookies, with egg nog, on Christmas eve.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored! Must. Have. Colored. Lights. Non-negotiable.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Pretty much most of them. Especially all of the ones we sing in the choir for the Advent/Christmas season. Least favorite? Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. Christmas in Washington. Christmas Shoes. (I have a rant about this song which is several layers of sacrilegious, otherwise I would share . . . but darn, that song is SO schlocky, and I’m usually very forgiving of Christmas music.)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home. Mr. Random always threatens to want to travel across the country to visit his mom and sister, but then I remind him of how this time of year is travel hell. I’m not budging. Besides we have our own traditions now, after 10 years, and I’d hate to give them up.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Only if I say them as part "Night Before Christmas."

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A big red bow. To match the smaller red bows sprinkled around the tree.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve, and the rest on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Shopping in crowds. But I hate that any time of the year.

23. What I love most about Christmas? Everything! The Music! The Food! The Time Off! What’s not to love?

Random Sunday Afternoon Tree Trimming Music

In the CD player right now, on “shuffle,” the following Christmas albums are on to try to get me into some sort of Holiday mood:

Charlotte Church – Dream a Dream

The Cambridge Singers directed by John Rutter – Christmas Star: Carols for the Christmas Season

Harry Connick, Jr. – Harry for the Holidays

Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas

Diana Krall – Christmas Songs

A Note to a Newborn Girl

A friend of mine is about to give birth to her first child. Her and her husband asked all of their friends to write little letters to the soon-to-be-arriving little girl on how to be a confident, well-rounded, young woman. These letters will be assembled into a scrapbook, which will be held until the girl is a bit older.

I was having a bit of trouble with the assignment, since I'm not exactly a poster-child for well-adjusted-ness, but I thought I would share what I wrote . . .

If anyone has any other advice to add, please feel free to do so in the comments!

****

Dear [Baby Girl]

First, I want to say that you are very lucky to have two of the most awesome parents in the world! They love you very, very much. You may not realize how much now, but you will when you get much older. There may be a lot of bad things going on in the world at the moment, but there are also a lot of amazingly wonderful things going on too, and your parents will help lead you on that journey.

Your parents asked many of us to write a little note to you before you were born on how to be a confident, well-rounded, young woman. At first, I did not know what to write because it took me a REALLY long time to figure that out myself . . . and in many ways I am still learning how, even after 37 years on this earth.

So my words may be a bit of a cliché, and have probably been written by many other people, but I learned them the hard way and sometimes the oldest words are the truest . . .

Be open.

Always be open to learning. Read EVERYTHING you can get your hands on. Travel. Learn about other cultures and religions. Be a sponge. Find out how things work. Know how to fix things by yourself (or know where to take them to be fixed.) Talk to cool people. Ask lots of questions. More information is always better than less. The world becomes a wonderful and interesting and fascinating place when you do that, you will very rarely be bored, and you will always have fascinating stories to tell.

Be yourself.

You are a unique individual. You will grow up to like certain things that other people may not. You will not like other things that other people do. That’s OK. Don’t do something just to fit in if you don’t like it, even though it may seem easier at the time, because it will make you miserable. People will love you for just who you are, and if they don’t . . . that’s OK too. It is always better to have one or two REAL and TRUE friends, than have lots of people that you call friends who don’t care as much about the real you.

Be a friend.

Like people for who they are, not who you want them to be. Care about other people and their situations. Be generous with your smiles and your kindness – you never know when someone who is having a horrible day may take comfort in your small little act. Sometimes people are happy and want other people to share in their joy. Be happy with them. Sometimes people are scared and lonely and need someone to listen to them. Be a friendly ear (. . . but within reason. Your Mom and Dad can talk to you about that . . .) Know how to refer people to get more help when they need it. Be the kind of friend that you would want people to be for you, but also don’t expect people to always be a good friend back. Unfortunately, that happens sometimes, but most of the time people will surprise you with their generosity.

Be one with your common sense and intuition . . . Don’t take crap from anyone!

Sometimes a voice inside of you will tell you that something doesn’t seem right, that you should be wary of a situation. Listen to that voice. Don’t let anyone try to talk you out of it. You should always be able to walk away and take time to think about things if you are uncomfortable. Seriously! No one should pressure you into ANYTHING on the spot. Good intentioned people will always understand and let you have that space to decide on your own. Not very nice people often will try to rush you to do what they want. If you are uncertain, ask your parents or a trusted adult to help you decide. Even if they don’t have the answers, they can help you talk through things and think about things a bit better. Then, once you’ve thought about things and made a decision, people should respect that decision. They may not like it, but they should respect it.

That is my advice to you, my dear. It may not be the best advice, but it is what I have for now.

It is given with much love and affection from my heart and soul. Welcome to the world, young woman!

Sincerely,
Random Kath

Cloudy and Snowing Today

My word! It’s December already. Here’s my update on stuff so far – I’m going to start with the happier stuff first.

The Holidays: I’m trying to start purchasing presents now – which is a bit early for me. I have to get stuff together for my sister by the middle of next week to send a box over to her in Iraq. Also, the Random Non-profit partners with an elementary school to buy gifts for low-income families. Mr. Random and I are going to buy gifts for two kids, a 3 year old girl and an 11 year old boy, which now looks like a LOT, but I always get overly generous at this time of year. I mean, Even though Mr. Random aren’t doing great financially, we are very lucky in a lot of ways, and this is the least we can do.

Back in the Choir: I’ve started back up in the church choir for the Advent/Christmas season because this is the best time to be in a choir, you know? All of the hymns and carols, all of the lush harmonies – I couldn’t miss it for the world. The church also has a new interim minister who is very, very nice – very warm and engaging.

Layoffs at the Random Non-Profit: A higher up was let go in a shockingly crappy manner on Friday, which we found out in a staff meeting hastily put together early Monday morning. The news was greeted with eerie, angry silence. This person was one of the few people left here who actually had some institutional knowledge and cared about what was going on with the rest of the staff. A very drunken happy hour was held at the end of the day. I think this was a tipping point in a lot of our minds that we really need to get our fannies out of there. Person who was let go will be able to come out of this very well, and we aren’t worried about them, but we hate how it was handled and the screwed up rationale, which also leads to our absolute mistrust of anything that our CEO has to say from this moment forward. The CEO says there won’t be any more layoffs, but they have lied about that in the past and a number of things about our financial situation and organization don’t add up. Very unhappy at the moment . . . lots of people very unhappy at the moment . . .

Final Exams: Next week are both my final exams and I am in the crappiest mood ever to try to study for them, but study I must. I was going to do some studying last night, but I felt so disgruntled and horrible that I went to bed at 9:00 instead. I do that because otherwise I would just make everyone miserable and I can always use the sleep. There is a lot going on in my brain and I just can’t stand it anymore.

Home Front: I’m still highly annoyed about the bookcase collapse. Our condo looked decent for two whole days before everything came crashing down. I’m also not happy about a lot of other things, I really kind of need some sort of break, some peace and quiet, but none is really forthcoming. I'm not real fun to live with right now, and I know that and I'm trying not to be, even if that means going to bed at 8 PM. There is a play I’m going to on Friday night which I was hoping would lift my mood, but even that may not . . .

So I’m ending kind of grumpy and trying to not let it take over, but it is. I need a hug. I need a vacation. I need more sleep . . .

Wading in Knee Deep

I am surrounded by piles again.

It happens every so often – I look up and there are piles of papers and magazines and books, all waiting to be sorted and/or read.

Over the weekend, one of the shelves of one of our bookcases collapsed rather suddenly, breaking glass in the pictures frames that sat on one of the shelves and bringing several other shelves down with it. Many books thudding to the floor.

At first Mr. Random thought “Earthquake!” when he heard the noise, being from Southern California and all, but then thought better of it. My first concern was for Random Cat – luckily, she was sitting in another room at the time – and then my concern was for the pictures.

The pictures that sat on the bookcase shelf are family photographs, the kind that are collected over the years and can never be replaced. Pictures of Mr. Random and his family, when his father and both sets of grandparents were still alive. Pictures of his grandmother and grandfather on their wedding day. Pictures of family moments sprinkled from a span of about 30 years. Whew! The frames were broken, but the pictures were intact. Hooray! Hooray!

But after the collapse we looked at the bookcase, and then looked at its partner a few feet away and decided to would be best to take all of the books out of them and eventually get new ones . . . and not cheap Ikea ones either! We just bought those a few years ago, when we bought the condo – you would think they would be able to handle lots of, um, books. So we’ve learned our lesson, no more cheap bookcases. And now we have about roughly 200 or so paperbacks and hardcover books sitting in piles in our living room. Lots of history and politics and law and philosophy. Many, many hours of reading and studying and learning sitting on the floor. I try to quickly walk past those piles – if I pick up a book, I will start to read it again and many hours will pass. Too much to do, but they call out “read me!” I have to persevere . . . I hope one day to be able to have the luxury to sit with them again . . .

So lots of piles. Piles that mock me. Piles that make me proud. There’s something about a house full of books . . . It just feels like home. You can pull one down from the shelf and curl up in a chair and be comfortable. Of course, our chairs and couches aren’t that comfortable which is why I don’t do it much any more. But if they were, say, nice comfy couches and chairs – if we win the lottery some day – my joy would be complete.

I have walked into homes that didn’t have any bookcases around and I immediately feel cold. Like, well, what do you all DO? What do you all read? What do you talk about? You can tell a lot about people by the reading material they have around. Yes, I’m judgmental that way. I guess you can call me a snob.

But when I was little, my parents didn’t have much, but they always had books around. Lots of worn paperbacks. My mom loved to read and always had a book in her hand. My dad always read the paper. Reading was a big thing. Reading is what you did at home. It was a safe thing. A comfort thing. Your day could have sucked royally, but you could come home and lose yourself in a book. A blanket and a book.

So piles of books I have. Piles of magazines and newspapers and stuff printed out to read. In fact, right now I have next to me a copy of the new NEA report on reading, To Read or Not to Read, that I am about to dig into. I have to read it myself to get a sense of what it is saying, whether I really am part of a vanishing breed or not. Right away, the coolest thing about it is this quote from Virginia Woolf at the end. It speaks to me for some reason:

I have sometimes dreamt, at least, that when the Day of Judgment dawns and the great conquerors and lawyers and statesmen come to receive their rewards – their crowns, their laurels, their names carved indelibly upon imperishable marble – the Almighty will turn to Peter and will say, not without a certain envy when he sees us coming with our books under our arms, “Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them here. They have loved reading.”

Virginia Woolf, “How Should One Read a Book?”

Grandmama Drama

When it rains, it pours. There is a bit of family drama going on at the moment concerning my Grandma and lack of family involvement in her upkeep. I’m not quite sure I should blog, even vaguely, about a lot of the particulars, but let’s just say that I am in a very awkward position all around. It has a lot to do with the general dysfunction and lack of communication between all of the family members involved and I am square in the middle – trying to do the best that I can without placing blame, but finding it very difficult to do so. I am tired, sad and angry about the whole thing, and it causes even more stress because I HATE confrontation and some will be needed here.

All I can say is, if this is how people treat their mother, how will they expect to be treated when they get to be her age, huh? I mean, I am just one of a large number of children and grandchildren – how am I the only one who is keeping in regular contact here, and worried about her well-being?

See, this is where I try not to place blame. There are many sides to the story and I am only hearing a few. All I know is that there is a very guarded, but unhappy 89 year old woman who needs more looking after than she is getting now, as much as she doesn’t like to admit it. I wish I could do more for her, but I can’t right now – Mr. Random and I just don’t have the resources. I know she really appreciates all that we do try to do, such as our visits every two weeks for Sunday dinner, and bringing her little fun things that she loves, but I wish . . . I could do better than that.

My friend, J, always tells me that it is the ones who try to do the most who often feel the most guilty, and J is very right there . . .

Just please send happy vibes as I try to navigate my way through the minefield that this Thanksgiving holiday is becoming. I send happy vibes back out to all of you too!

For I Am He Born to Tame You, Kate

Last night, Mr. Random, J and I went to see the Shakespeare Theater Company’s version of The Taming of the Shrew.

Raise your hand if you remember watching the Moonlighting episode, “Atomic Shakespeare”. OK then, you know the plot . . .

It is a very problematic play to put on, what with all of the blatant misogyny and all, but I found a very interesting essay on the subject.

I was not bowled over the play. It was entertaining, but there was something about it that put me off. The woman who played Katherine was “ACTING!” in the full Jon Lovitz on SNL sense of making it so very obvious she was “ACTING!” with full emoting and affected speech. Very annoying. She was also very tiny, so some of the scenes where Petruchio was abusing her and overpowering her seemed downright creepy. All of the other actors were top notch, especially Petruchio. I also like how the actor who played Baptista, the father (who actually was the usual understudy), came off as a type of Mafia boss – it really worked given the mercenary nature of how he dealt with his daughters’ suitors.

I am very glad I saw it, but I would not put it in the top 5 of the Shakespeare plays I have seen. This one was not as memorable to me. However, I bet that this version will be redone next summer as the “Free for All - Shakespeare in the Park” play, due to it’s entertainment value and accessibility.

Next year, the Company is going to be doing both Julius Caesar and Anthony and Cleopatra, which should be awesome, I hope. I can’t wait! I’m going to definitely have to save up my money for it though – the tickets to this particular theater are pretty pricey.

My quest to be a sophisticated theatergoer continues!

Putting Up

I have had a horrible past few days. They are over now and I am just trying to forget everything and move forward in a positive manner. This is going to be a shorter work week and next week will be even shorter. Yippee!

My sister and parents went to NYC this weekend and had a wonderful time. They went to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular (75^th Anniversary), which opened on Friday. It was one of the few main Broadway shows that were still running despite the Stagehands’ strike. My family’s seats were up in the nosebleeds, and the snacks and drinks were an outrageous amount of money, but they still really enjoyed themselves. They then went to Chinatown and had some awesome noodle soups, and at some point they went to Canal Street where there are ridiculously cheap bargains on clothes, jewelry – you name it, they have it.

My sister goes back to Iraq on Wednesday, instead of yesterday, so I am happy she got some extra time at home . . .

For my birthday, an awesome friend gave me a set of books on the photographer Gordon Parks, which I have been slowly plowing through each night before I go to bed. His story and his works are very inspirational to me, and I’m very glad to be reading them at this point in my life . . . they are just what I need at the moment, so I don’t spiral off into despair . . .

There’s been so much going on, my NaNoWriMo output has been very small so far. I will try to catch up in the next few weeks.

Mr. Random’s grad school classes are going swimmingly and he has well settled in to his new job. It’s always nice when you know someone who isn’t having a sucky time . . .

I hope everyone is doing well!

You Make Me Happy When Skies Are Grey

Hey, everyone! I know it’s been a quiet week here on the blog, but much has been going on:

Hanging out with my sister. I took this week off in order to be available to spend some time with my sister, who is here on leave from Iraq. We hung out on Monday and Wednesday, going to various malls, doing window shopping and eating lots of yummy food. I do believe I’ve gained some tonnage, which I’ll have to work on over the next month. (Yes, Thanksgiving is going to be a challenge.) My sister is going to New York City with my parents for the weekend and will return on Sunday evening, after which she’ll be on a plane back to Iraq Monday morning. Even though she was hopping around the universe this visit (splitting her time between all of the family members) I am still quite grateful for the time we were able to spend together. I will be beyond worried once she goes back – so please send many protective vibes her way as she makes her way back . . .

School stuff: I’ve seen the class schedules for next semester and it looks like things are not going to work out well for me. I am either going to have to miss more work or give up the classes. I can’t reduce my hours any further in my current position – I’ve already missed a lot of important things going on and my boss has been beyond flexible as it is – but the way the classes are shaking out, they are all at odd and random hours and some are on different campuses. I have a lot of thinking to do about what I want to happen next year and how it will proceed. We need money, you know? But at the same time, I feel like I’m on a roll and need to see this through – if I don’t continue with school now, it’s never going to happen. I’m not ever going to finish. I KNOW this deep in my soul. And I don’t want that at all . . . I am just . . . really confused and sad . . .

So that’s where I am right now. It seems like there are constantly things coming up to worry about, which isn’t making me happy right now. I was hoping to have the luxury of having my schedule set for next semester, allowing me time to work out my employment situation satisfactorily, but of course, that ain’t going to happen. I am going to try to enjoy the long weekend and try not to stress so much over the next few days.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Sleep Deprived . . . and Giddy as a Schoolgirl

I have a 4 page paper due for my International Relations class this evening and, of course, I put off writing anything until last night. I HAVE been doing research for the past week or so, so I’m not a total slacker, but for some reason I just could not get myself girded to write anything until last night.

Last night was my sister’s birthday, so we took her out to a very yummy sushi place in Woodley Park (DC). Of course, we did not get there until about 8:30 and didn’t leave until about 9:50, which means we didn’t get home until well after 10 PM. And, you know, it takes a while to settle in once one gets home, and then I had to flounder around in panic because I couldn’t figure out an angle from which to write my paper . . . so, long story short, I didn’t start writing in earnest until after 1:30 AM and I didn’t get to bed until 4:30.

I really hope that the argument I put forth in my paper holds up – I have Mr. Random reviewing it to make sure I don’t sound deranged. I really bit off more than I could chew with the topic I chose, since any one part of it could be made into a 50 page report. I *think* I picked a manageable part . . . but I could be totally wrong. I already know in my heart that I probably bombed my econ paper, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this one was rather sucky too . . .

So now I’m exhausted and running on Starbucks coffee and Diet Pepsi. I’m not quite awake, but too wired to be asleep. When I am really tired, I tend to get very silly and my mind goes a million miles an hour while my reflexes dwindle down to next to nothing. Today is going to be an interesting day at work, and I know that I shouldn’t try to do anything that will require lots of thought or talking or things will just be ugly. On the good side, at least that means I should be able to sleep like a rock this evening . . .

In other news, today starts NaNoWriMo! My goal this year is to have at least 10,000 words written in 30 days. Given my paper output in the past few weeks, I do believe that it is a reachable goal. I will get this year’s icon up when I get a chance. Unfortunately, it looks like I’m not going to be able to get one of their cool mugs this year because they are already sold out . . . bummer!

I would write more but my brain is totally fried. I wave a cheery hello to everyone!

One Man in His Time Plays Many Parts - His Acts Being Seven Ages

Last week, my friend J and I saw the Shakespeare play, As You Like It, at the Folger Theater.

I was a bit wary, given that I wasn’t thrilled with their staging of The Tempest this past spring, but I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was pretty consistent, although sometimes a bit on the hammy side, which can be expected. They threw in a little more gender-bending than it is usually staged, but it definitely worked in the spirit of the play. There was also a semi-celebrity playing Jaques – Joseph Marcell, who had played Geoffrey on the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”

We went to a preview performance of the play, so it was a little cheaper than normal. Yay! The set was very bare bones, but creative. A large part of the audience consisted of a busload of middle-school girls – I think it was a class trip- who looked like they had dressed up for the occasion. Oh, I’m so glad not to be 12 again . . .

For a full review, you can go here. Next up in a few weeks: The Taming of the Shrew.

Scenes from the Mall - Part II

The reflecting pool and the Washington Monument, seen from near the Lincoln Memorial.

The Vietnam Memorial

The World War II Memorial

Pictures from the excursion to see the Monuments a few weeks ago . . .

Scenes from the Mall - Part I

By the Korean War Memorial

Inside the Lincoln Memorial (Below: Outside the Lincoln Memorial)

What's the Buzz? Tell Me What's A Happenin'

Tree of Knowledge tagged me for a meme, and normally I would be all over it, but the problem is that my brain is having trouble with the concept at the moment and it seems WAY complicated for my little brain right now. I do thank Tree for the lovely mention though!

The Birthday Party – Mr. Random and I decided to get little P a fuzzy soft rabbit hand-puppet and a set of “Elephant and Piggy” books by Mo Willems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_Willems). We LOVE Mr. Willems’ work, being fans of his sadly long departed “Sheep in the Big City” series. He also wrote for Sesame Street from 1993-2002.

The party . . . well, it was a one year old’s birthday party. P was oblivious to what was going on, didn’t care about the presents, was just happy to play with his ball and his trucks. These sorts of parties are just for the grown-ups, I think, although C & L did not seem to be having that great of a time, running around after the 4 little kids and making sure there was enough to eat and everyone was happy. L especially did not have time to finish any of her sentences. We will have to go see them again in a less frantic environment . . .

My sister is here! Yay! She has not done much besides sleep the past couple of days, but it was a rough trip over here. We drove down to visit my grandma yesterday, and my grandma was so happy to see her. We will play each day by ear. Her birthday is on Wednesday, so Mr. Random and I are going to take her out for some sushi – which is stuff they definitely don’t have in Iraq . . .

I have more to post, but if I don’t post now, it’ll be DAYS. I hope everyone had wonderful weekends!

Catching Up with My Random Life

Here are my “Random Bullets of Crap” to catch everyone up on what’s been going on with me:

Updates of the College Thing: I got a 97 on BOTH my Economics and my International Relations exams. Wooo Hooo! Rock on! However, I still have SO much work to do and can’t get complacent. I have a 5-7 page Econ paper due on Friday, and a 4 page Int’l Rel paper due on November 1. Econ homework problems due tomorrow. Econ exam coming up in three weeks. Much reading to be done. But at least I know I’m on the right track.

Speaking of the college thing, usually in most schools if you have part1 of a class at a certain day and time in the Fall semester, part 2 would be held at the same day and time for the Spring semester. Well, not at this school! Bummer! I have to take the next class either earlier in the day or much later, which will screw up the delicately balanced schedule that I have constructed around work and school. Not happy. I may just have to bite the bullet and reduce my work hours in the Spring, which while that would be great for my mental health, it will be quite lousy for the pocketbook.

Back to the Bard: The new theater season has started which means it’s time to go see some more plays! Tomorrow night I’m going to see Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and in a few weeks (have to pin down the date soon) I hope to see “The Taming of the Shrew.” I LOVE being a “sophisticated theatergoer,” which is what my friend J and I like to call ourselves sometimes. One day, when I get my act together, I need to keep a list of all of the Shakespeare plays I’ve seen.

Movie Review: Saw "Rendition" on Saturday. It was OK, but it seemed like the writers should have just focused on one or two characters rather than having so many threads. Jake Gyllenhaal was pretty good, Reese Witherspoon did not seem to fit - in regards that she didn't have much to do except stand around and look indignant. Not enough Meryl Streep or Alan Arkin for my tastes. All of the actors who played in the North African parts were excellent, and as much as they were integral to the plot, I would have liked to see more about them and how they got to that point, instead of just all the hinting . . . I'm thinking that this is more a of rental in the future.

Pictures: I still have pictures to put up from the sightseeing we did last weekend. I did take the time to make the files “web ready,” I just need to figure out a better, easier way of posting them.

Observation: There is a young couple in my IR class, they can’t be more than 20 or 21 years old. Adorable. Quite smoochy. Sit next to each other when they show up to class. Last week, I noticed that the guy wasn’t taking any notes, but the girl was. I wanted to yell at the girl, “Don’t take notes for him! Make him do his own work!” I mean, I was kind of upset by that . . . my inner Feminist was not pleased.

Work Angst: I don’t know if I should talk about my work angst anymore. It’s hard to adequately convey the situation without you all knowing the place and the players. There’s a reason that most people who leave are hard and bitter for years afterward. I don’t want to get to that point, but I AM getting there . . .

National Novel Writing Month starts November 1st. Thirty days – 50,000 words. I’m in! I’m going to try. I’m setting my own mini goal of 10,000 words this year. http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Send Happy Vibes: My sister should be coming back to the states this week from Iraq for two weeks of R&R. Most of the time she is here she will be staying at the Random Condo with me and Mr. Random. Yay! She is supposed to fly out Wednesday night/Thursday, but it may take until Saturday for her to get here, since she is flying on a space available basis and has to change planes in Atlanta. I just want her to get here safely. I miss her a great deal and will be so happy to see her. Please send many happy vibes her way so that she has a safe trip here . . . anything can happen, you know. I’ve read too many stories about bad things happening at the last minute . . .

Status of the Random Condo: It’s a gosh-awful mess. It will be a miracle if we can get the place presentable in time for my sister to arrive. Need to at least get the bathroom and the guest room considerably neatened up. This also means that I will lose the use of my new desk/work area, but I can easily suck it up and work on my bed again for the next few weeks.

Updating of Wardrobe: Been going on a tear the past couple of weeks, getting some new clothes. Still haven’t found boots yet, but I do have a new winter coat . . . for once winter actually gets here. Get COLD, darn it! I’m trying to upgrade my wardrobe and have some nicer casual things that I can wear to school and on weekends, while at the same time upgrade my work wardrobe so at least I’ll feel like I look good not matter how lousy it is there . . .

Child’s Birthday Ideas: Have to go to a one year-old’s birthday party on Saturday. This child is not hurting for anything, so I am at a loss to know what to get him. He has very well-to-do parents, so I’m kind of feeling intimidated. Any ideas?

Overwhelmed: Yup, I’m there! There are a lot of wonderful things going on in my life right now, but are being outweighed by one really lousy one. It’s a big mental bummer. But I press onward, trying to stay optimistic.

I hope everything is going well for you, my lovely readers! I’m waving cheerfully at you through cyberspace and sending many happy vibes your way.

Going to the "Mall"

Mommanator duly noted that there are a ton of changes going on in my life right now, and maybe it wouldn’t be the wisest decision at the moment to dump the job, too. This is also advice that I personally would give anyone who came up to me with the same “symptoms.”

However, I’m sure you all have figured out by now that I suck at taking my own advice.

My horoscope over the weekend said something to the effect that I should start enjoying the "now" moments and that will make me feel better. The Sunday job section had an article about how leaving your current job in an emotional huff may not be the wisest thing in the world.

OK, OK, OK, UNIVERSE! I get the hint. Thanks! Kisses! 8^*

I had a wonderful Saturday. My friend J had a friend come into town who wanted to do touristy things, so touristy things we did.

Now there were a ton of things going on this weekend in DC that were quite noteworthy – the Solar Decathlon on the Mall, the opening of the Annie Leibovitz exhibit, along with an Ansel Adams exhibit, at the Corcoran, and an Edward Hopper exhibit . However, these are Random Kath-type activities, which normal people with only a day to spend in the Nation’s Capital don’t usually choose at first blush . . .

So we started the afternoon by having some yummy barbeque at Red, Hot and Blue. The friend is a sort of barbeque connoisseur, and he pronounced his ribs to be very good. Then we rode up to the National Mall, where we spent a bit of time trying to find a parking space. We found one nearby the Washington Monument (which as it turned out was a permit spot where we later found a $20 parking ticket on our windshield) and proceeded to visit several of the popular memorials.

We visited: the World War Two Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. Whew! Quite a few people around, since it was such a gorgeous day, and quite a bit of walking.

To see DC through the eyes of an honest-to-goodness, un-jaded, Midwestern American, is refreshing. Living around here all of the time, it is so easy to get so used to all of these iconic buildings and monuments and start viewing the huddled masses who come to the city on a daily basis as PITAs who are only here to tie up traffic, stop short and stand in the middle of sidewalks, and keep us regional residents from reaching our appointed rounds in a timely manner. But there are a lot of gosh, golly, gee and awe-inspiring things here, and playing tour guide reminds me of just how fabulous it is to live here so close to so much.

After the whirlwind tour, we stopped in Alexandria and got some ice cream at a local shop. The friend then went back to the hotel, which allowed J and I to head over to the Salvation Army for a little bit to do some thrift shop rummaging. I found a very nice, usually expensive wool sweater for only $4, an Asian-inspired black velvet vest for $10, and a flowy sort-of house/day dress for only $5, so I only spent $20. Yay!

All-in-all, good times were had. Being out and about always makes me happy and I’m hoping I have another fun weekend outing very, very soon . . . they do a soul quite well . . .

Friday Random Song in my Head

This is a song that my Mom said she used to use to quiet me to sleep when I was a baby. It was the only one that would work, she says.

Even today, I still think it is a beautiful and comforting song, especially with Art Garfunkel’s voice . . .

Here’s a little history of the song.

Paul Simon was right: you CAN tell that the third verse was tacked on later. I still love all the verses equally though, and agree that the song probably did need a third verse. It’s also interesting to see the names of everyone who has covered the song – that sounds like a future project, to collect all of the different cover versions of the song!

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon and Garfunkel (1970)

When you´re weary, feeling small

When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all...all...

I´m on your side, oh, when times get rough

And friends just can´t be found

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

When you´re down and out

When you´re on the street

When evening falls so hard

I will comfort you (ooh)

I´ll take your part, oh, when darkness comes

And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

(brief instrumental interlude)

Sail on silver girl

Sail on by

Your time has come to shine

All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine

Oh, if you need a friend

I´m sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

What's New, Pussycat? Woe, Woe, Woe

The Random Non-profit is wearying me to no end.

Sometimes you know that you have to make a change, but you don’t because there are always 8 million excuses – many very legitimate – but excuses just the same.

I think I am done freaking out about school for a while. Now I know how stuff works, what my schedule needs to be, what to expect, where I need to shore up my deficiencies. I can DO this! I am excited and confident. It may not go as perfectly as I hoped, but I can get through it pretty well I think. I have to keep in mind that the goal is to learn a lot and enjoy it . . . and get the piece of paper at the end so I can say I have one. Oh, and eventually get a Master’s degree. Because, that’s what I’ve wanted to do all along, but there’s the pesky thing about finishing undergrad. Mr. Random says I would do just as well as or better than the people in his program, and observing his work I’m like, “I can TOTALLY do that!” So I persevere.

The Random Non-profit? Not so much . . .

Since Mr. Random has moved on to another job and I have started school, I’m not as willing to suffer foolishness gladly anymore. I have other stuff to worry about. I’m not finding the same commitment or ardor in my work. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I am still very committed to the cause for which the organization labors and I still hold highly my interactions with the field and my determination to do my very best to provide them with the information and guidance that they need in an efficient and professional manner. It’s all this internal BS – all these roadblocks and layers and randomly annoying meetings – that has just pushed me to my limits. To use my favorite metaphor, I’m like a vacuum that can only suck up so much crap. The organization keeps going through the same cycles and questions and angst – which way do we want to go today? – and I’ve been here enough years to have been through three or four of these things, and each time the process was very long and drawn out and soul-killing.

I’ve worked in a number of places and I know that each place has its own problems and very special brands of dysfunction, but man! This place takes the cake. And I need to leave before I get so frustrated and angry that I damage my own reputation in a fit of pique. And it is getting to that point . . . getting wicked sick last week showed me that.

My life is more than my job. Yes, the job provides money which comes in rather handy, but it is no good if I spend every day with my stomach tied up in knots or crying out of utter frustration.

Parameters: Need flexibility to go to class two mornings a week. Can glom onto Mr. Random’s health insurance, but I can’t earn too much less than I’m earning right now, just because of the mortgage and stuff. Could freelance but no one I know is in need of any help right now, or they don’t have any money to hire me.

I have no idea what to do though . . . where do I begin? That is my question of the day. Need to figure it out fairly quickly . . .

Ten Second Random Movie Review

Photo by James Devaney - © WireImage.com - Image courtesy WireImage.com

Saw the new George Clooney movie, Michael Clayton, over the weekend. It was playing in only one theater in the area – I read that it only opened in 15 theaters in the country this week - and it will open wider within the next few weeks.

I don’t see that many movies, but darn it, I really liked this movie. It is a really gripping drama and you have to pay close attention through the whole thing. It isn’t violent, but in some ways it is disturbing and it will make you think a bit. If you like fast-paced action movies, this isn’t one of those.

I can’t really talk about the plot without giving some stuff away, but you can easily search for info online. George Clooney and Tom Wilkinson were awesome and Tilda Swinton was very believable as a General Counsel who is in way over her head. I identified with the insecurity way too much . . .

The scene that most disturbed me in the film, was a scene that happened much too quickly – but that was the whole point of it, I think . . .

If you like this kind of movie, please do go see it and support this sort of thoughtful film. And George doesn’t look too bad in it either . . .

Momma Needed A New Pair of Shoes

[Girly post alert: The below post contains a discussion about shoes. If you aren’t into that sort of thing, you can just read the first two paragraphs and consider yourself done. I promise it won’t hurt my feelings!]

So my exams are over now. One I know I did pretty well with, the other one . . . well, not as well. For the second exam, my brain just sort of gave out on me, and afterwards I was kicking myself for missing obvious things. I don’t know if it was because one exam was at 7:30 to 9:30 in the evening and the other was at 9:30 in the morning – I didn’t have enough “refresher time” for the second one, I guess. Plus, I had worked myself into a tizzy about both exams so I was bound to psych myself out on one of them. It kind of sucked that they were scheduled one right after another, and it’s going to happen that way for the final too, so I’m going to have to figure out an efficient way to handle studying for both at the same time . . .

So, being despondent when I left my exam today, I thought it would be a fine time to go look for some new pairs of boots. I usually wear my boots and shoes into the ground (I hate shoe shopping!) so I definitely feel the need for a couple of pairs of dress boots before the true cold weather sets in.

I went to a semi-famous shoe outlet and was rather disappointed in both the short and tall boot selections. Either the heels were too tall and I could see myself (a) tripping and falling a lot or (b) looking like I should stand on 14^th street, or the heels were too low and the boots looked pretty dumpy. I’m pretty short, but I’m also pretty picky and I don’t feel the need to add another 4 or 5 inches to my height. It is also a terrible time finding shoes in my size – usually my size is snapped up pretty quickly. I also have the problem of wearing one size for one type of shoe and another size for another type of shoe, so I really have to try EVERYTHING on and walk around in them – no “off the rack” shoes for me!

Feeling even more grumpy, I moved around the store to look at other stuff and then these two pairs of shoes caught my eye. They were actually sitting right across from each other and seemed to call out my name.

I was very excited to see the Mary Janes – They are black suede with patent leather trim. I have a very, very old pair that are black suede that I bought about 7 years ago and I could never find a pair in that style to replace them. I have been still wearing the old pair, even though a lot of the suede has rubbed off – see, I told you I wear shoes to death!

The other pair are black leather oxfords – I’d been looking for a nice, normal looking pair for a while to wear with suits and dress pants. They were not too high and not too big or small.

And both pairs had sizes available that actually fit me. Yay!

So while the day started off pretty lousy, I now have two nice pairs of shoes which I can wear into the ground until this time next year. Retail therapy is a good thing sometimes . . .

Random Hunkering Down

I have two exams this week so in theory I shouldn’t be writing anything at all until after they are over on Friday afternoon.

This means that this week I’ll either write nothing or, in many fits of procrastination, I will write many of the longest, most well thought-out posts I’ve ever done in the history of this blog.

We shall see . . .

In the Land of the Orange Construction Cone

Right behind the Random Condo, construction of some set of residential buildings is now underway.

The days that I am in class in the morning, I work from home in the afternoon. My new “den” is in the guest room, since Mr. Random has hogged both desks in our tiny den with his grad school work. I DO like my little office of sorts, I have this awesome dark wood, tall, expandable table with a faux leather pub chair that is very comfy to sit in for long periods – perfect for writing and studying . . .

Anyway, my new desk looks out of the guest room window, so I can see the men moving dirt back and forth all day long.

I have no idea what they are doing now, but whatever they are doing is making our entire building shake – and it is the most disconcerting feeling in the world to be sitting at your desk typing and feel this constant low tremor . . .

It IS fascinating to watch the plows and tractors and rollers go by . . . to watch the bricklayers and vinyl siding guys and roofers doing their work. I don’t get very distracted by their work – I’m pretty good at focusing on the screen before me – but occasionally I will look up and there is this wonderful ballet of sorts going on outside . . .

I have to take these odd moments as they come and appreciate them for what they are . . .

Now Accruing Diminishing Marginal Returns

Bummer, my post count is going to be terribly low this month, and I had just started churning them out on a regular basis before all of this school stuff started . . .

So much to do, much to think about.

I got a “B” on my first Econ paper, which I was very happy with considering I hadn’t written a true school paper in about 16 years. Yay! Have two exams next week though, one on Thursday night and one on Friday morning, which will not be fun at all . . .

I am still having a bit of trouble feeling like I fit in somehow in the whole school environment. It is a bit lonely when leaving class sometimes – I’m not a grad student or a teacher or even one of the young undergrads at this point – and sometimes I think, my, it would be nice to hang out with someone or a group to have lunch, rather than just grab my bags and make my way home. There really isn’t a “returning students’” club on campus either, which probably would be a great idea for me. But I don’t want to be the one to start one . . . I know too well how much work that takes, starting a group from scratch and trying to nurture it long enough so it will run on its own. I just don’t have the energy for that right now, even though I could desperately use it . . .

I am lucky to have Mr. Random and my friend J and you all to talk to, but I would like to expand my network of folks again, even though I have even less time to do so . . .

Life at the Random Non-profit continues to be not fun at all, but it gives me enough flexibility to go to class 2 days a week, so I must hold on for at least another year . . .

Just wanted to check in . . . I hope you all are doing well!

My Anniversary Bouquet

Mr. Random sent me some very lovely flowers for our anniversary on Wednesday. Thought I would share them with you all, since I haven't been posting as much this month.

We went out and had a nice dinner after work, and then straightaway came home to our respective desks and dug into our homework. Romantic, huh? . . .

Still Plugging Along

School week 4 – I have no idea what I am doing and I am super tired. I am really wishing I had had a proper vacation before all of this started . . .

On Saturday, my friend J and I walked a 5K. It was very much fun, but neither of us has done anything like that in a while and I am still very sore today. Instead of T-shirts, the 5K organizers gave out these awesome nalgene water bottles with the 5K logo on them. I’m now keeping it at my desk at work to remind me to drink at least one 32 ounce bottle or more a day.

Meanwhile, Mr. Random went to the anti-war protests downtown to record what was going on for grad school assignment. He taped a lot of interesting footage and got some interesting interviews with some of both the “pro-war” and the “anti-war” folks there.

The thing that annoys me about protest marches these days are . . . they are usually such an unfocused mess. I mean, there are always random people there with their “Drums for Peace” and the odd “puppets of elected figures walking on stilts” and the random people on the podium railing about things that have nothing to do with the topic at hand. Mr. Random told me that the protest events started a half-hour late because the yoga guy who was going to offer the beginning “blessing” was late. First of all, a yoga guy? Secondly, are you trying NOT to have people take you seriously? I know the movement is all about inclusiveness and all, but please . . . can’t we introduce a little rigor and professionalism into the proceedings. Are puppets REALLY effective as a protest tool? There is so much unfocused dissatisfaction out there, why can’t we have a grassroots organization that actually harnesses all of that energy into something a bit more productive and that affects real change. I don’t know what that organization would look like, but it would help if it banned the stupid puppets and drums, and just focused on getting masses of people to speak with one voice . . .

Ok, that’s enough of my ranting . . . It’s also a bit disappointing that more people weren’t there, but I believe there is a bit of protest fatigue going on, and there are thoughts of whether anyone really pays attention to those things anymore anyway. All I want is for my little sister to come home, safe and sound . . .

Wednesday will mark the 9th wedding anniversary for Mr. Random and me. I think we are going out to dinner . . .

Did everyone have good weekends? The weather was so lovely here . . .

Random Wednesday Update

****My life has been pretty blah this week so far. I turned in my first paper for my economics class on Tuesday and I have no idea if it was any good or not. I’m leaning towards the not . . . I feel it in my gut. I had Mr. Random edit and proofread it the night before to make sure my statements sounded logical and that my paper answered all of the questions that were assigned. He seems to think it didn’t suck, but I do have my doubts.

****On the ESL front, it looks like I will end up being a substitute teacher at my old site for when one of the main teachers has to go out of town. This way I will still be able to teach once in a while, but won’t have to worry about lesson planning or anything and I can still be kept in the loop. Yay!

****On Saturday, I’m doing a 5K walk with my friend J. We both have determined that we really need to do start doing some sort of exercise regularly, and I thought that this would be a low pressure way to start. This way, if either of us gets tired it isn’t such a big deal, since we aren’t being timed. It’s also great to get the lovely free t-shirts!

I do miss running a little, but it was such a pain to find a running buddy. There have been too many incidents on the local trails for me to feel comfortable just tooling along by myself. Also, it usually happened that I felt most like running at the oddest hours of the day. Now that I am in class for two mornings a week, I think I should probably make it part of the routine to hit the gym before heading home. Even twice a week is better than no times a week. It will probably help my mood a bit too . . .

****Note about the comedy pictures for CS:

All of the comics were funny, but not all of the time. Some folks brought their “A” game and were pretty consistently good. Some of the guys brought to the stage some new material that they tried out towards the end of their set, which did not work out too well. But that’s the thing about comedy open mikes – you have to take the good comedy with the bad comedy. Some of the jokes that people try out are pretty good, others need a lot more work . . . or need to be dumped entirely. However, by working out jokes in front of people, you get instant feedback, which is great and doesn’t happen with a lot of other art forms. The whole thing is about being open to the process artistically, and you have to be aware of what you are getting yourself into when going to an open mike. It IS incredibly brave to go up there, I think, and I applaud them all for trying.

Now the fact that there wasn’t one FEMALE comic on the stage . . . well, I need to do some more investigating about that . . .

****You know, I haven’t posted a poem in a while. I really need to get back into that. I really liked this one that I saw today:

Auroras
By Joanna Klink

It began in a foyer of evenings
The evenings left traces of glass in the trees
A book and a footpath we followed

Under throat-pipes of birds
We moved through a room of leaves
Thin streams of silver buried under our eyes

A field of white clover buried under our eyes
Or a river we stopped at to watch
The wind cross it. Recross it

Room into room you paused
Where once on a stoop we leaned back
Talking late into daylight

The morning trees shook off twilight
Opening and closing our eyes auroras
Beyond groves and flora we followed a path

Dotted with polished brown bottles,
Scoured furrows, a wood emptied of trees
It was enough to hollow us out

The evenings left grasses half-wild at our feet
Branches with spaces for winds
The earth changes

The way we speak to each other has changed
As for a long while we stood in a hall full of exits
Listening for a landscape beyond us

Comedy . . . Last Monday! (Part 2)

More pictures from the open mike.

Comedy . . . Last Monday! (Part 1)

Here are the pictures I took at the open mike I went to on Monday night. It was the final night of comedy open mikes for this location, so I wanted to take pictures of the occasion - as practice, but also as a nice record of the evening.