This blog is on a light publishing schedule for the summer.
A Drivel Runs Through It
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
This blog is on a light publishing schedule for the summer.
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After my last headline, arguably one of my lamest ever, I thought I'd try to hit one out of the ballpark this time. But seriously, I'm in love. I watched Ralph Nader's new movie, "An Unreasonable Man," twice this week. I grew up knowing about Nader, at least peripherally, and voted for him in 2000, and even got to meet him last January when I was on the set of Up To The Minute in New York. I was delighted to shake his hand, of course, but not particularly star-struck.Now, though, having watched this documentary -- which, by the way, makes a good effort to be objective, even quoting his detractors liberally -- I'm blown away by how principled and dedicated this man is. He has devoted his life to serving the (often ungrateful) public, in the interest of bettering humankind and the planet. (And doesn't he have the kindest eyes?) Regardless of what you think of Nader personally or politically, anyone with an interest in democracy should see this movie.
Oh, and Ralph: Thank you! (And, hey, the next time you get to Missoula, look me up.)
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Despite my bravado, it was a strange week, and I'm feeling more than a bit out of sorts. Some potentially scary health stuff going on -- nothing I want to talk about at the moment -- although most likely it's nothing. Beyond that, I'm ridiculously tired all the time, and tired of being tired. After a consultation with a local herbalist, I've started on the flowery path of herbal tinctures and teas and fancy vitamins. I'm doing my best to eat better, and trying hard to get excited about exercise. Last Monday I worked out so hard at the gym that I was sore for the rest of the week. No brain, no pain, right?
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Several of my Bloglines email accounts have become "clogged," as the error messages so charmingly put it, and I have 130 messages I'm unable to read. The Bloglines engineers say they're working on it. Grrr.
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I discovered a comment on a Montana blog by someone apparently impersonating me. My name, and a ridiculous exaggeration of my feminist leanings. It's disturbing, but not really so surprising. There is a price to pay for being a woman who speaks her mind.
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I've just responded to yet another comment on my more-than-two-year-old post about automatic litterboxes, which remains among my most-read and most-commented posts. Maybe I should give up blogging about politics and focus on weird-gadget reviews instead.
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I'd like to nominate this headline, from the San Jose Mercury News (!), for the least give-a-shit factor: "Paris Hilton prosecutor's wife lost business license for failing to file tax forms." Good Lord, can the media sink any lower?
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Anyway, summer is here, Missoula is beautiful, I'm cranky, and life goes on.
Until next time ....
Friday, June 15, 2007
This blog is on a light publishing schedule for the summer.
But for your entertainment ...
Bumpersticker du jour: Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.
I hereby dedicate the above bumpersticker du jour to all those who are trying so hard to ruin the Sopranos' grand finale for me. I have to wait till it comes out on video, people. Despite my best efforts, I have already accidentally learned that (blank) killed (blank) and that (blank) is dead. Enough with the spoilers, already.
Look at the pretty top I made.While you're at it, admire my awesome filing system.
Then, if you haven't already:
- Check out my photos on Flickr.
- Read the cover article I wrote for the current issue of the Montanan, "In a New York Minute."
- Check out New West, the Missoula Independent and Missoula.com.
- Visit Montana.
Wait. What are we doing inside on a beautiful day like today? Turn the computer off. Go outside and get some fresh air. Sheesh.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
This blog is on a light publishing schedule for the summer.
I've canceled my satellite Internet service at home. It quit working, probably because of trees -- trees too distant and tall to trim. I will live without Internet at home till I move. I'll still have my Palm Treo -- though it's too small and slow to accomplish much -- and Internet at work and wi-fi cafes. (The latter is where I am right now.)
It's kind of a bummer, because there's so much I want to share, but it will be good for me. I might actually accomplish something.
In the meantime:
- Check out my photos on Flickr.
- Read the cover article I wrote for the current issue of the Montanan, "In a New York Minute."
- Check out New West, Outside Missoula, the Missoula Independent and Missoula.com.
- Visit Montana.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
It's only paranoia if they aren't really out to get you.
My satellite Internet has been wonky for weeks now. I keep climbing up the ladder with pruning shears (heights and sharp, pointy things, not the best mix) to trim branches, but it's still only working sporadically. It's extremely frustrating. I'm half-tempted to ditch my Internet for the rest of my time
here in the cabin.
Over at GreaterFalls.com, I'm getting roundly stomped on for my efforts to explain why allowing pharmacies to pick and choose which prescriptions they fill might be a bad idea.
My final words on this subject: When I was a 14-year-old girl, the only thing standing between me and an abortion was access to birth-control pills. Think of me what you will.
Twenty-five years and 100 pounds or so later, though, times certainly have changed.
Yesterday I finally got around to asking a longtime friend if he had feelings for me. I had been fine with our just-friends status for some 12 years, until a few months ago when he sent a mix CD, then another, filled with songs of waiting and wanting. Lest you think I'm totally imagining things, a sampling:
Dan Hicks, "My Cello": Check what's on page 92, there's a recipe for loving you. It's a cookin' little recipe, all you're needin' is a fellow. Why couldn't that boy be me? I'm as mellow as a cello.
Dan Hicks, "By Hook or By Crook": Well, listen close if you really wanna hear what she does to me, each time we're near. Come this July I'm going to put it in a book. I'm going to get her by hook or by crook. Yeah, I'm going to get her, it's just a matter of time, I'm going to lay it on the line ....
Nick Drake, "Man in a Shed": ... This story's not so very new, the man is me, yes, and the girl is you.
Maura O'Connell, "When Your Heart Is Weak": What's the matter with the way we look? Surely it's not the end. I've only meant to make my emotions clear. You worry too much if it's understood. Should we be seen as friends? Seems like a real good beginning right here. When your heart is weak, I'm going to pick the lock on it. ... I'm mighty patient when I have to be -- you have given me that. Still, I look forward to the day you let me in.
Maura O'Connell, "I Don't Know Why": I don't know why the sky's so blue, I don't know why I'm so in love with you.
Lou Reed, "What's Good": ... That's what life's like without you ....
Kenny Loggins, "This Is It": Are you gonna wait for a sign? Your miracle? Stand up and fight. This is it. Don't be a fool anymore. The waiting is over.
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, "They Say It's Wonderful": They say falling in love is wonderful. So wonderful, so they say.
Hot Tuna, "Hesitation Blues."
Yeah. Well, I had some internal wrestling to do -- this guy would be perfect for me in some ways, not so perfect in others. I'll leave it at that. But I finally decided that any man who harbored such apparently romantic feelings about me deserved a chance.
Oops. Turns out he had no clue. Says his only romantic feelings are toward himself, although he did mention an ex-girlfriend .... He's properly chagrined and apologetic, of course, because he is a decent guy.
I can't help but feel humiliated and stupid. Again. I've shed a few tears of self-pity and righteous indignation today. I do get tired of being the sexless fat friend, the one guys like to bounce their romantic troubles off of because I'm "safe."
Fortunately, my serotonin levels are cranked so high that I don't care nearly as much as I otherwise might.
Let's just hope they don't decide to quit filling my Prozac prescription.
Friday, June 01, 2007
I posted the following as a comment in response to Dave's post on GreaterFalls.com about the drugstore's denial of service to a woman seeking to fill a prescription for birth-control pills. Dave said: "the real right at stake here is that of a business owner to own and run his business."
No, Dave, the REAL right at stake here is that of a woman to own and run her body.
Let's remember that it hasn't been all that long since WOMEN were property. Throughout much of history we've had about the same legal status as cattle.
These anti-abortion, anti-birth control tactics are part and parcel of ongoing attempts to control women's reproductive choices and thus, their lives.
Please try to put yourself in our shoes -- if YOU were denied an important prescription that helped you control your destiny, would you not be offended? Particularly if it was part of a larger, 2,000+ year effort to deny you and your gender self-determination?
This morning I went to my doctor's office, which happens to be Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula. Among the many services this full-service, family practice medical clinic provides are abortions. As a result, Blue Mountain is routinely picketed by anti-abortion protesters. In fact, one of those protesters went so far as to firebomb the place in 1993; it has since been rebuilt from the ground up.
I've been harassed by these protesters on my way into the clinic. They've shouted at me, "Don't kill your baby!" and "Don't go in there! They kill babies in there!"
I have never had an abortion. I hope I never do.
However, I sure as heck want the option. And I find it extremely offensive that these people would like to take that option away from me. They don't even know me, yet they presume to make a decision for me that will affect the rest of my life? And my potential child's life? I don't think so.
There were no protesters in sight this morning, but they left an old truck parked on the street outside the clinic, plastered with anti-abortion bumperstickers.
"God is Pro-Life," huh? No way. If there is a God, she performs abortions all the time. We call them miscarriages.
On a related topic, yesterday Shane Mason at Montana Netroots brought to our attention that a Great Falls pharmacy is refusing to fill prescriptions for birth-control pills. Salon's Broadsheet blog picked up the story today.
The pharmacy issued a statement that they are refusing to sell birth control out of "concern" for women's health. Yeah, right. I'd like to see how men would react if I were a pharmacist who decided to quit filling Viagra prescriptions -- you know, out of concern for their health.
While the debate in comments on Shane's post is focusing mainly on the private property rights of business owners, the bigger issue really is that the anti-abortion movement is also anti-birth control, anti-pleasure and anti-woman. It's pretty simple: If they control our reproductive choices, they control our lives.
Here's an easy-to-remember slogan: MY body, MY choice.
Update: Planned Parenthood has launched a petition. Sign here.
