Umm, hello?

Excuse me, but am I the only person that noticed the GLARING absence of what should be the most important topic on the policy table today??? Where were the questions about global warming in the debate last night??

They're Democrats. They can't win without pledging an end to the war. They have already said a thousand times that they are planning to draw down the troops in Iraq and put and end to this war as soon as possible. Making them promise to do it by a certain day when Bush still has over a year left in office is just ridiculous. Let's get past that idiotic line of questioning, shall we?

Okay, universal health care is important. Let's keep that on the table. So is same sex marriage. But neither of those are really going to matter much in a decade or so when global warming has gotten a lot worse than it is today. It's not going to get better. Our only hope is that we can maintain the level of damage we are already doing in lieu of increasing that level with each month and year that goes by. We need policy NOW. Not later. It's already later.

Awful Rita, Meter Maid

On Monday I worked a double shift at the restaurant. In order to understand this story you have to understand the difficult parking situation all restaurant employees on Federal Hill suffer from. There are a few small parking lots in the area, but they are all designated solely for either valet or employees of nearby businesses. So the only option we have when we work is to find street parking. But street parking is only available for two hours at a time between 8-6pm. So you actually have to leave work every two hours to trya nd find a new parking spot in this busy area. It's a pain in the you-know-what. The hardest part is just remembering to do it, especially during a busy lunch rush.

So I got outside to move my car, and dammit, there's one of those dreaded bright orange envelopes on my windshield. This one was for being too close to the end of the designated parking area, which I really didn't think I was, but okay, they're the experts. Bam, $30 down the tubes. So I move my car. That was at 3pm.

At 4:30, not even two hours later, I go outside to move my car again, and wouldn't you know it, another ticket!! Except this time it's for exceeding the two hour parking limit. But wait! I wasn't! I didn't! I was only there for an hour and a half!! (Can't you picture me whirling around in a circle, desperately searching for the parking ticket lady so I can give her a real piece of my mind)

Well, she was no where to be found. So now I owe FIFTY DOLLARS in parking tickets. I didn't even make that much money during my lunch shift! I was so upset I almost cried.

So I went back into work and ate a double fudge cookie and a glass of milk and that made me feel better.

Bush v. Dems

I walked in the house just in time to catch the last five minutes or so of Bush's speech on the war, and the subsequent Democratic response (given by our own RI Senator Jack Reed I might add).

Sheesh, talk about intense. How the heck does anyone know what side to be on and what the real repercussions are either way?? Although we might agree that the original reasons for going into Iraq were not good, blatant lies even, but that's not the point anymore. We have to agree that we're in it neck-deep now. To pull everyone out at this point would no doubt bring consequences that we can only pretend to be able to predict.

So is the answer to stay there in great numbers for many years to come? I really hate that idea. But what's the alternative that the Dems propose? It's kinda vague if you ask me. If there's a way to get international support and have a very minimal presence over there while still pursuing the same broad objective, then by all means, let's do it! (And then afterwards we can try to explain to the entire world why we're willing to bring democracy and 'save' the Iraqis, but not the North Koreans, Sudanese, etc..)

Am I siding with the Republicans? No. And not just because I'm afraid of the wrath of my democratic boyfriend if I do... but because I think we need to right the incredible wrong that has been done to our own country and our own soldiers. How? I have no idea.

The whole subject is exhausting enough as a bystander, I can only imagine what it's like to be any of those key players in this war right now. But we did it, we're there, and it needs to be fixed. The sooner the better.

Desperation, Boredom, & Sexism

written/doodled in desperation for something to occupy my mind between about 7 and 8:30pm last night, during one of my courses....

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I really want to be interested in this class. I'm going to be paying for it for a long time, plus I have to be here for three hours a week for the next 13 weeks.

Her voice is annoying. Her Power points look like high school assignments. Didn't anyone ever teach her the 5x5 rule?

I'm bored and I'd rather be at home. But then again if I was at home I'd probably just be sitting around, eating something fattening. So I might as well be here and maybe even learn something.

Talking about gender discrimination is like beating up on a dead horse. It's a boring topic for me. Maybe just because it's been talked about in so many of my other classes. Are there really any graduate students here who need an introductory, in-depth discussion of this topic?

We don't live in the 50's anymore. Women are successful and have opportunities these days. If we insist on being completely equal, does that mean that we have to give up the disparity in relationships too? I don't want to start paying for dates and holding doors open for men. That's just weird. I still want to get out of traffic tickets and cover charges.

I'm not a feminist. I like being a girl and being different from boys. Then again, if I become a senior level manager someday I sure am going to want to make the same salary as a male manager in a comparable position. I guess that's not the case in our society right now. Okay, maybe it still is an important topic... I guess.

the look

the way he looks in a suit and tie
catches me off guard every time
masculinity
gentleman-like in his pressed white shirt with kind eyes
the scruff on his face giving away a hint of a naughty side
his nearness makes me feel beautiful

my favorite moments of the weekend

happy hour martinis with a handsome man in a business suit

eating lunch with the whole family

fishing on the beach

finding thyme in the produce section

relationship firsts..

babies blowing raspberries

drinking wine outside with live jazz

model marathons

homemade gyros

morning coffee

best goodbye kisses ;)