Sunday, June 18, 2006

Sunday, June 18, 2006 Blah I have not been feeling well this weekend. I haven't exactly been sick, but I've had absolutely no energy. I'm not sure what is wrong, but I wish it would go away and I could feel normal again. I'm usually quite an energetic person and I just can't seem to muster up any enthusiasm for anything. I went to a party on Friday, nearly fell asleep there, didn't talk much, and came home before midnight. Last night I went out to dinner, came home, talked on the phone, and generally felt rotten. I woke up this morning feeling like I hadn't gone to sleep at all. I don't feel tired, just devoid of strength and energy. I'm wondering if I'm not eating right, if I'm not getting enough iron or something? All the meat eaters are telling me it's because I'm not eating meat. I don't know what it is, but I'm not feeling right. It's always the weekends when you're feeling rotten that things are going on. I have people in from out of town (from Iraq on military leave) and it's Fathers' Day, so I have to do stuff for that. There truly is no rest for the wicked. Anyway, I just thought I would have a little moan and groan. 9:44 AM - 2 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Tuesday, June 13, 2006 Sex is Dirty (warning: I'm potentially being controversial!) Current mood: frustrated I've been meaning to write this blog for a couple of days, but I think I needed time to digest what I saw on Sunday. I had just finished working out at the Y and decided to drive straight to Harris Teeter to buy groceries. I drove past the Hustler store on the road that feeds into I-40. Outside, sitting on the pavement in the glaring afternoon sun was a collection of teenagers, probably ranging in age between 14 and 18. They were accompanied by two middle-aged men wearing blue t-shirts. The teenagers were all wearing royal blue blindfolds. The blindfolds had white writing on them and although I strained unashamedly to read them (they couldn't see me, right?), I couldn't figure out what they said. However, I had a hypothesis about what was going on. One of the men walked up to the teenagers and as he turned towards the street, I could read some of the wordage on his t-shirt: P.U.R.E. I never did find out what the acronym stood for, but I got the point. (Interestingly, the teenagers wore blindfolds but the men did not). Sometimes when I see things like this, I get angry. I got angry ten years ago when fundamentalist Christians burnt copies of art books outside Cool Springs Barnes and Noble. My comment at the time was, "hasn't the Christian religion had enough of burning things in its history?" I guess nothing really changes. I didn't get angry this time. As I continued my drive to the grocery store, I felt saddened and frustrated for the fate of those teenagers. I am extremely libertarian in most of my viewpoints. I wouldnt deny anyone the right to wait until marriage to have sex. I also wouldnt deny anyone the right to celibacy. You may also reserve the right to have really boring sex for your entire life, if thats what you want. My point is its up to you. Because I extend those freedoms, I expect some in return. I expect the right to do whatever I want, in whichever way I want with another consenting adult. I may not exercise some of the freedoms I expect (according to my preferences and comfort level) but I nonetheless expect them. I am an adult. I can make my own choices about sex. However, I worry about the teenagers protesting on the hot pavement outside the Hustler store. While they have the freedom to protest what they think is right, I wonder how many of them are under pressure from their churches, parents, and friends to protest sexual expression. I havent yet explained what really upset me. Whichever church the protesters are connected to, Im guessing it preaches the doctrine of no sex before marriage. I have no problem with that message, and if those teenagers make that choice and stick to it through their early adult lives, fine. What I wonder though, is whether the church is really indoctrinating the message that sex is dirty. I am sure married people go to the Hustler store. I am sure some of those people either did not have sex before they married or they married their first partner. Is this church trying to tell those people that enjoying sex is wrong? I have to assert that those people have as much of a choice as the protesters do. People have been protesting various aspects of sex throughout the ages. And as I hate to reveal to the members of this church, they've actually been enjoying it too! Yet without it, we wouldnt be here. It is a natural part of our lives as human beings and not something that should be regarded with shame. I think sometimes we forget this simple fact. Sex is generally considered an expectation in marriage. People differ in opinion as to its importance, but it generally comprises a major part of the relationship. If you regard sex as dirty and you enter into a marriage (or any relationship) with another person uncomfortable with the idea and ashamed of expressing your feelings for that person in a physical way, this can potentially put a huge and unnecessary strain on the relationship. And what relationship needs unnecessary strain? 10:23 AM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Monday, June 12, 2006 Live Things So I pretend to be a tough nut. I profess my love for power tools, dump construction garbage with my dad, paint my own house, strip paint, fix the plumbing and the lawnmower - you get the message. However I am brought to my wussy knees when live animals are chirping in my bathroom. My roommate's cat, Zoe, has a habit of bringing in "pets." She doesn't kill them. We have had bunnies, mice, lizards and SNAKES. My roommate, fortunately, is fearless when it comes to collecting these critters and depositing them back outside. My cat brings things in dead as presents. I don't know which is worse. Both scenarios give me the heebie-jeebies. Currently listening : Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches By Happy Mondays Release date: 13 December, 1990 9:59 PM - 3 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Wednesday, June 07, 2006 Why I Love Nashville Current mood: Grateful Sometimes people who live in, as I like to call them, more "high profile" places ask me why I live in Nashville. Sometimes I have an answer all lined up and sometimes I am too seduced by the art galleries, music venues, swanky restaurants, unusual ethnic food, viable transportation systems, nice weather, ethnic eating joints and liberal attitudes of these other places to come up with reasons. However, on my return from San Diego (which by the way is one of the aforementioned seductive places) I received validation for my choice to live here. I was not happy to leave San Diego. My best friend lives there, by the beach, I love the weather, and I love how it has the offerings of a big city without any of the brash attitude. So flying into Nashville on the last flight at 12:30 at night when I had to find my car in economy parking, drive myself home and get up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (whatever that means) early the next morning, did not make me too happy. The plane gated at C-25, which for anyone who knows Nashville Airport, is about as far away from Ground Transportation as you can get. I shuffled through the airport with my huge backpack and roller case and as I did, the sneaking realisation dawned on me that I didn't have a clue where my parking ticket was. I tried to calm my fears by telling myself it was in the car. I knew, deep down, it wasn't. I boarded the bus and began to look frantically through the enormous and Mary Poppins-like stuffed backpack for the ticket. Random things spilled out - sunscreen, earrings, souvenir surfboard keyrings, Computers and Writing, A History: 1970-1994, lipgloss - you name it - but no ticket. Two youngish business type looking Indian men sitting across from me gave me friendly but piteous oops-she's-lost-her-ticket looks as I dug around. I got out, first, at the wrong bus stop. I quickly realised my mistake and found the right one. I had a vague idea that my car was near this bus stop, but in my confused state couldn't remember if that's where I'd parked it or if I was confused with the last time I flew. I began to think my car had been stolen. I trundled around the dark car park rolling my loud bag behind me. The Indian men had had more luck than me and drove up and asked me if I'd lost my car. They drove around the parking lot for about 20 mintues looking for a car matching my description, but alas, couldn't find it. I was convinced it was either stolen or playing hide-and-seek at this point. The Indian men tracked down the security people who paged somebody who apparently tracked the license plates in the car park. They couldn't find my plates. Just as they were telling me this, I saw my car - I recognised its IRL sticker. I thanked the security guys and rolled off gratefully to get in it. As I approached, I noticed, crestfallenly, that the inside mirror light was on. "Oh shit," I thought, it's been here for six days and it's not going to start." I love my Volkswagen, but I know it cannot acheive impossible battery life despite my stupidity. Sure enough, nothing.... but clicking. By the light of the still-on mirror light, I searched the car for the ticket. No ticket. "Double shit," I thought, "I'm going to have to track down those security guys again and tell them I am now a triple idiot." Sure enough, I had gone for a hattrick of stupidity. I left my stuff in the defunct car and walked through the prickly bushes to the ticket kiosk. I knocked on the glass and frightened poor Bruce enough for him to gulp down and inordinate amount of his ham and cheese sandwich. He opened the glass and I explained to him what had happened, prefaced by "I'm not usually this much of an idiot - I'm really outdoing myself tonight." Bruce was so sweet. He called security and told them to look out for my car and bring some jump leads. He told me "don't worry about the ticket, sweetie, we'll just look you up and check when you came in. It's no problem. We'll sort it out. You'll be able to go home to your bed before you know it." Sure enough , Bruce and the security guys had me on my way within half an hour. I drove through the ticket gate truly grateful that I live in a city that, although growing at an alarming rate, hasn't lost its small town roots. I know we hear that in real estate sales cliches and country songs, but a cliche becomes one because it has an element of truth. It's true and I'm glad I live here. Currently listening : Some Devil By Dave Matthews Release date: 23 September, 2003 7:10 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Sunday, June 04, 2006 It just comes with grits Many years ago, my best friend in the world, Orla, flew into Nashville from San Francisco on a redeye that got in around 6 or so in the morning. She had been living in California for a while, and missed, naturally, one of the South's most famous institutions - The Waffle House. Now, usually we went to Waffle House late at night (in our pre-legal drinking days) so it was kind of unusual for us to be there early in the morning. I ordered my then favourite (bacon egg and cheese sandwich on one make it a plate, scattered, burnt) and she ordered some kind of plate and asked the waitress to hold the grits. The waitress said "but, Honey, it just comes with grits." We have laughed about this over the years - she said it was a fitting moment to herald her temporary return to the South, but now, every time something isn't going quite the way either of us want in either of our lives, one of us will inevitably say to the other, "but Honey, it just comes with grits." Sometimes you can't control everything and sometimes things in life are just going to come with grits whether you want them or not, but you always have a choice - you can always choose to order the things that don't come with grits. Currently listening : Singles 45's and Under By Squeeze Release date: 22 August, 1995 12:07 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Saturday, May 27, 2006 A Horse Between Two Breadvans Current mood: lethargic While we're on the subject of best food, I thought I would post my five favourite non-meat (one has fish) containing sandwiches. Here goes (no particular order): The Ned (Frothy Monkey) - Tofu, Hummus, Red Peppers, Spinach, Cukes, Sprouts. Yummy Boulder Veggie (Bread and Company) - Advocado, Red Peppers, Yellow Peppers, Sprouts, Cukes, Tomatoes, Some kind of flavoured spread. Falafel Sandwich (Fattoush Cafe) - Falafel (the homemade kind that they make in front of you), Tabouli Salad, Hummus, Cucumber Yogurt Sauce. Mahi-Mahi Sandwich (Dan McGuinness) - Mahi Mahi, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Dill Spread. This one needs dressing up a little - ask for a lemon and some Louisiana Hot Sauce. Cucumber Cream Cheese Bagel (Star Bagel) - Everything Bagel with Cucumber Cream Cheese and Cucumbers - sounds simple, but don't knock it 'til you've tried it. Currently listening : Eyes Open By Snow Patrol Release date: 09 May, 2006 10:31 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Piggyback I'm totally copying someone else's idea for a blog, but imitation is the best flattery, right? Here are my top five menu items right now: Rusan: Vegetable Futo Maki (mixed vegetable and tofu and egg sushi) and the Smoked Scallop Maki. Both phenomenal - Rusan's best non-fried options. Frothy Monkey: The Ned - Tofu and hummus sandwich with red peppers. I gushed about this sandwich so much the owner gave me a free one to shut me up. Fiesta Acapulco: This Murfreesboro Mexican place has not only killer margaritas, but also a seafood chimichanga containing crab and shrimp in a creamy sauce. To die for. Miss Saigon: Vegetarian Spring Rolls. I'm not keen on anything else on their menu, but I could eat these competitively. They have deep fried, seasoned tofu in them. Dan McGuinness: House Salad. It has so much cheese, egg, and if you eat that sort of thing, bacon, it can barely be called a salad anymore. Their honey mustard dressing is yummy. Oh and it has crispy potato "stix" in it too. What more could you ask for? Currently listening : Collected By Massive Attack Release date: 04 April, 2006 10:46 AM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 Use the Latest to Play God Current mood: productive Below is a copy of the e-mail I wrote to Governor Bredesen this morning. I know he'll probably never read it, but I wanted to be a good (newly appointed) citizen and make my voice heard. I'm not going to get into my views on the death penalty. Indeed that's not really the point at hand. After reading the articles in the Tennessean over the past few days, I don't understand how people can end a man's life without consulting the best technology available. I would think twice about climbing into a twenty-one year old car or boarding a twenty-one year old plane. Can you imagine using a twenty-one year old computer? Why then do we rely on technology this old to determine a man's guilt or innocence? The newspaper article yesterday listed blood type and possible hair matches as evidence. The vagueness and uncertainty of the words "type" and "possible" struck me as a stark comparison to the term "DNA match." I don't even understand why people would fight against something that could indeed bring justice to a case, either way. It could prove the man's innocence or prove the man's guilt. I really don't understand what the counter-argument is. Don't we all sleep easier knowing the truth? People cite the victim's family as a reason to not test for DNA, but wouldn't they sleep easier too knowing the real killer has met his punishment? Without sending this e-mail, I would have felt like a co-conspirator against justice. Dear Mr. Bredesen, Please consider allowing DNA testing to be conducted in the case of Mr. Alley. Without the kind of unrivalled certainty DNA testing provides, how can the state be sure it is not killing an innocent man? Without DNA testing, the state carries out its justice reliant on twenty-one year old technology. Mr. Alley may indeed be guilty, but if the choice were up to me, if I held a man's life in my hands, I would want to be sure I had the best evidence available to enable me to make the correct decision. People often view technology with disdain, but here lies a chance for science to be used for good -- to determine a man's guilt or innocence and decide whether the state does indeed have the right to take his life, according to the law. 6:51 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Sunday, May 14, 2006 My New Fantasy My new fantasy (well, not really new, more like resurgent) is to visit Iceland. I have spent my morning (sad person that I am) trawling through the Reykjavik website: Reykjavik Tourist Page. Check it out. 12:03 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Severely underrated romantic movies I've had this movie listed as one of my favourites since I started my Myspace profile. I have it on VHS, but my VCR has been broken for quite some time (I inherited my parents' 16 year old JVC, which finally kicked the bucket when it began unceremoniously eating tapes around Thanksgiving). So, I haven't watched it for a while. If you've never seen the movie Yanks, you must, NOW. Especially if you're an undying romantic (not that I am, of course, I am a cynical bitch who does not have a romantic bone in her, so it's totally uncharacteristic of me to like this movie) but, if you are romantic, I guess you might like it. This movie has so many layers, I could write a dissertation on it. It deals with culture and romance (how culture affects romance), racism, nationalism, national pride, war, lack of contraception and romance, cancer, guilt and romance, adultery, love and guilt, the lack of chocolate, fruit and nylons during the war..... etc... etc... And to top it all off, it has an amazing swing dance soundtrack. If you've never seen it, you must - Now. Plus, it stars an extremely young Richard Gere. I'm not a big fan of him with the silvery hair, but young - oh my goodness, that's a different story. Watch it. It's damn good.