Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope y'all had a good Thanksgiving. I had a nice relaxing day with the BF. We made chili, drank some wine, had some cake. Not traditional fare, I know, but it was good nonetheless. I procrastinated homework, just like old times.

On another note: am not pleased with one paper I am supposed to write. I feel it will turn out poorly, but for this big huge block in my brain regarding said paper. But alas I must do it, and hopefully all the rest of the classwork will rescue my ass with at least a B. I am being pessemistic.

Help, perhaps?

So I’m on my way to completing my first semester of grad school, and I’ve found it stimulating, challenging, thought-provoking and a nice social atmosphere at that. In other words, it’s a good contrast to my sometimes less-than-stimulating and un-social workplace. Yet, I’m having second thoughts about returning next semester. My reasons are: I’m no longer planning to teach, so I don’t really NEED this master’s degree, although some classes may be helpful for my current professional trajectory that I'm also currently doubting. I’m thinking about exploring new professional options, and class in the evenings plus work during the day don’t allow me that freedom, especially since work and school are both media-related. And now you may wonder “why not go through with it anyway if you enjoy going to class and it’s affordable for you?” I'll tell you how I’d use the time: I'd hone my web design skills (or create some) as a potential moonlighting creative operation. AND, I want to do some volunteer work with animals, because I just love animals so damn much and I want to see if working with them brings me any greater joy in my life. SO… should I just put a semester-long “hold” on the education, should I just drop it altogether, should I take one class instead of 2? I know no one wants to tell me how to live my life, but I’d love any advice or observations.

BTW: Some friends of mine had some cool stuff happend for them and I'm very pleased!!

Movie Meme

Hey look! I got tagged by Mike to do a movie meme. Why in the world would he ever think that I liked movies??

1. Popcorn or candy?

I like both a great deal, but I find that candy is easier to sneak in from outside the theater (shhhh).

2. Name a movie you've been meaning to see forever.

There's too many on the list, but since Mike sent this to me I must admit that I still haven't watched Stroszek. I believe I fell asleep within the first 5-10 minutes and I've been "getting around to watching it" ever since.

3. You are given the power to recall one Oscar: Who loses theirs and to whom?

Too many people in this world possess undeserved Oscars! Who am I to pick one??? Well, I suppose I'd go back as far as last year and give that freaking Best Picture Oscar to Brokeback, where it belongs. Last year was such a fine year for film, I'm ashamed of the disappointing award distribution. Plus I'm lazy and I don't want to think about this too hard.

4. Steal one costume from a movie for your wardrobe. Which will it be?

ooo! This probably works best for me because I'm a girl. Too bad I don't have a memory for movie-fashion. I'd probably pick something from Ginger Roger's collection of long, flowing gowns because they are just so classy, and now they're vintage too. Chances are they even fit.

5. Your favorite film franchise is...

Probably good old Indiana Jones, a staple. I love love love the Harry Potter books as a franchise, but the movies mostly suck (aside from the last one). Lord of the Rings had way too many battle scenes. Indiana has never failed me, though.

6. Invite five movie people over for dinner. Who are they? Why'd you invite them? What do you feed them?

Movie people? Aside from the crew members, I presume? I think I'd like to have Miranda July (You, Me and Everyone We Know), 'cause she seems like she'd be funny and odd in that adorable way. Probably Jeff Daniels so we could talk about Michigan politics and his economic development commercials and CMU. Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton just to see what they are like as real people, and because I think they are both deeply, weirdly awesome. And of course Johnny Depp, no explanation necessary. I don't think they could come to my place because "movie people" are such nicotine addicts (plus there's no room in my little one-bedroom apartment). We'd eat at some nice-but-not-too-nice vegetarian restaurant, of course. Or maybe I'd take them to the little Mexican place down the road. They have great salsa.

7. What is the appropriate punishment for people who answer cell phones in the movie theater?

I'm not cruel, I'd just kick them out, no refund. Maybe break their phones. Who answers the phone during a film anyway?

8. Choose a female bodyguard: Ripley from Aliens. Mystique from X-Men. Sarah Connor from Terminator 2. The Bride from Kill Bill. Mace from Strange Days.

Mystique, because she could disguise herself as a big man when I needed the intimidating thug factor, and otherwise she could go in disguise as a regular person. Plus she's really good at kicking ass. The real question here is why the hell would I need a bodyguard?

9. What's the scariest thing you've ever seen in a movie?

I like some horror films and all, but I just can't recall one that was powerful enough for me to remember.


10. Your favorite genre (excluding comedy and drama) is?

Do I have to pick a favorite? Is dark comedy excluded? Maybe animated movies. They're like candy. Documentaries are another one.

11. You are given the power to greenlight movies at a major studio for one year. How do you wield this power?

Simple. I'd spend the year greenlighting the best films regardless of their potential to make money. They'd probably fire me before my year was up, but at least I'll have made the world a better place for the time being. Also: abosolutely no remakes of old tv shows, and no sequels (unless they are extremely well-written)

12. Bonnie or Clyde?

Bonnie. Clyde was gay, and she was better looking anyway.

13. Who are you tagging to answer this survey?

Three J's:
Jamil, Jeff, and Jax

Blog-crastination and some navel-gazing

What's a girl to do when she wishes to procrastinate on work-work and school-work? She blogs!

I've been enjoying my school semester, despite the amount of work and research and writing that is require of me. It's actually a challenge to balance school with a full-time job, and things like cleaning and shopping tend to suffer. My apartment looks like a clothes-and-scholarly-articles bomb exploded in the living room and the bedroom, separately. I'm amazed at the people who do this with even greater familial responsibilities than I have.

I've decided that a life of academia may not be in store for me. It's not because I don't like learning; I love learning, in fact. I mean, the professoriate seemed so cool when I was in school the first time around, and I can still see myself up there, teaching, maybe in a part-time situation. But I do want to see what else is out there yet. I'm not feeling the academic life right now.

In the meantime I've been trying to figure out what the hell to do with my life, as I've been trying to figure out for years now. I have some ideas: I want to learn how to build websites and do that as a moonlight activity/job. I want to learn more about marketing. I've already talked to my boss about possibly inching in that direction, and she's happy to support. Book after freaking book and celebrity after privilaged celebrity tell you to "find your passion" and "do what you dream" and all that crap. Well, I've spent many years of my life looking for my "passion" and coming up short. I like a lot of things, but I wouldn't call those things "passions" per se. Well, last week I realize I've missed a great love of mine: nature. I've always felt that working with nature, animals, or the environment is beyond my grasp because I lack a science degree (damn you, society, for making me choose my life's path at the age of 19 years old!). But now I see that with my various talents and experiences, if I focus on moving toward that field, I could probably find a job within some environmental organization. I think I'll focus on that for a while... see what I can do.

And so far, I'm staying with school. I doubt I could get a cheaper master's degree anytime in the future. Yet I reserve the right to abandon it if my life takes a turn.

Teleportation Machines

Wouldn't teleporation be great? I mean, we'd be even fatter and lazier, but don't we love stuff that allows us to be more fat and lazy? And no, the travel is not part of the fun when you're talking about a 45-50 min. daily commute amid grouchy hoards of other bleary-eyed people in loud, stinky underground trains.
I think a teleportation machine would be kind of like an elevator. You step in, the door shuts, you program your destination (a receiving end), you probably have to wait in a queue if anyone is teleporting to your same destination before you or at the same time. You wouldn't be able to open the door unless it's unoccupied, like an elevator, and you can enter as people are coming out. Can you get in with more than one person? I'd hope so, because parents with small children would certainly want to teleport together, and of course it would save a lot of time if people could teleport in a group.
Of course there would be public teleportation machines for the people who couldn't afford to have them in their homes, and most offices and businesses would be equipped with several, depending upon the size. There would be long lines, too, but it would be preferable to driving everywhere or taking the bus, although people would still use buses and cars because teleportation machines couldn't take you everywhere. They'd be expensive at first so only the rich would own them right away, much like any new technology, until the cheaper versions come out or people can buy discounted old models. Would people be able to install them in their rented apartments? I suppose maybe the manufacturers would come out with individual models. Eventually new homes may come with a built-in space for the machines.
Each machine would have a number, like a telephone number, and you would input that number to determine where you'd want to go. But you'd probably have to have special access, or authorized access, for most places so that people couldn't just teleport into your home or business randomly. This would be heavily regulated for fraud. But public teleportation would be open to the public, and this would dramatically improve the tourism businesses everywhere. Imagine! Teleporting to the Virgin Islands for the weekend... oh, the poor airline industry would suffer! But our skies would be far less polluted.
Anyway, now to figure out how to make this physically possible. Damn!

About the Election

Obviously, I’m pleased with the results. I’m glad that the Democrats have regained the House majority, I’m thrilled the Nancy Pelosi is the speaker, and the first woman Speaker of the House ever. I’m glad they are closing in on the Senate and I’m hoping that they will point our backwards country in the right direction. I’m still wary; we need to keep an eye on these politicians, because we don’t want more left-wing versions of the right-wing crooks. Yet I was jumping up and down this morning when I heard the news and my stomach is still leaping.
I’m not entirely thrilled with every result everywhere. People are still voting more conservative than I’d prefer, but now is no time to complain! Now is time to celebrate the good news! Hooray!

Voting is one of those activities I heartily enjoy. It’s gratifying to know that I’m doing my civic duty, I’m putting in my two cents, and that it’s one of the few ways I can have any sort of influence. I don’t have a lot of money and I’ve never donated cash to a candidate. I have donated some time. But voting is something real and effective I can do even if I have no time or money. It’s something everyone can do, and should do, as long as we are able.
Voting is especially meaningful to me because if I lived even less than 100 years ago, I wouldn’t be allowed to cast a ballot. I can’t imagine what it felt like to be so powerless and voiceless in a so-called democratic nation. I’m extremely opinionated and if I lived back then, my lack of voting rights would frustrate and anger me to no end. Imagine, not even being allowed to choose one’s own leaders… the leaders that determine the fate of the nation and therefore the fate of the people! It angers me to even consider it. Had I lived back then I think I would have proudly fought for my vote, even risked my own life for it. Seriously. Many women before me have, and many have died so I can vote. I couldn’t possibly take voting for granted.
Also, it just feels good to fill in that bubble or flip that switch that says “here nation, this is who I support; this is what I believe.” And when it’s over I can say “I tried,” no matter what the outcome.