I don't really mind the rain, in small doses. But a week of rain is a bit much. And that's about what we've had. It's raining now, in fact. Rain, rain, rain.
Sigh.
On the plus side, Big Bear is getting some snow, so methinks a little jaunt into the mountains for a snowboarding adventure is on the cards in the not-too-distant future. I went a couple weekends ago, and it was quite invigorating, but I'm about ready for another fix.
Another plus: a co-worker who didn't want her fortune cookie (silly co-worker) gave it to me, and I was delighted to discover that "an enjoyable vacation is awaiting" me. Although I did have to wonder: is "enjoyable vacation" redundant? I kind of hope so, because otherwise, what on earth's the point.
In other news, a friend of mine sent me a list yesterday of reasons why I should consider moving to Kentucky. He had a pretty good list, actually, citing the growing literary scene there, outdoorsy activities, and an apparently really amazing fireworks show that happens at some point every year. (And then there was "fried okra", which was rather less of a good selling point than all the rest, in my opinion.) Anyway, I thought the list on the whole was a cool idea. It made me wonder if anyone else might want to make a case for any potential future frogg residence(s). Feel free to post any reasons/lists as comments. I am open to any suggestions.
(Except Minnesota. Last week I got a phone call from a friend who lives there, and he left a voice mail describing, in harrowing detail, his experience of trying to pump gas into his car late at night, when it was 14 below. Anyplace where you have to spend 5 minutes holding onto a pen to warm the ink enough so that you can write down your mileage information, etc., is just WAY TOO COLD.)
Friday, January 25, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
If you're like me, you probably didn't know there was such a thing as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Well, now you do. And today is it!
Also if you're like me, you're probably thinking, "Oh no, another person drumming on about yet another cause that I have to feel guilty about." Well, I admit that my own first response to hearing more about injustice issues like this is to shy away. First of all, because I don't need another reason to feel guilty in my life. And second, because knowledge, after all, breeds responsibility to act. And I don't like to act, because maybe it will be inconvenient. Maybe it will be scary. Maybe I'll make a fool out of myself.
Maybe I'll have to stop being so self-centered.
Ouch.
Please understand, I am not accusing anyone else of self-centeredness. All I'm saying is, whatever fears or struggles you may have about getting involved in an issue like this, or perhaps some other cause that pulls at your heart, believe me, I have them, too. But let's remember, we don't all have to transform ourselves overnight into William Wilberforce or some other heroic figure. We can start small. We can start timidly, and yes, even fearfully. We can start reluctantly and with skepticism.
But hey, we ought at least to start, right?
On Wednesday night, I went to hear Kevin Bales, president of the non-profit organization Free the Slaves, speak about "Ending Slavery" as part of the ALoud LA series. Here are three facts that I learned about modern-day slavery:
1) There are an estimated 27 million people enslaved worldwide today.
2) An estimated 14.5-17.5 thousand people get trafficked into the United States annually.
3) The biggest challenges to ending slavery are threefold: Awareness; Commitment (particularly on the parts of governments, to uphold their laws and resolutions); and Money (non-profit organizations depend on donor support to maintain and expand their operations. Also, from an economic standpoint, slave labor is cheap (free), which translates to less expensive goods, which translates to most people's bottom line).
I think what I liked best about Dr. Bales' presentation was that I didn't leave that night feeling crushed by the burden of how hopeless the whole issue is. There are things that can be done, and things that ARE being done. And one thing that is pretty easy to do is simply learn more about the problem. Here are some links to resources that should help you do that:
International Justice Mission
Polaris Project
NightLight
That is by no means a comprehensive list, of course. There are also plenty of books available, including Disposable People by Kevin Bales and Terrify No More by Gary Haugen.
So anyway, tonight I'll be joining some friends in Old Town Pasadena as part of an effort to raise awareness about trafficking. We'll be sharing information with people we meet on the street. Do I want to do this? Well... yes and no. Remember what I said about all the reasons I don't like to act? This kind of shindig is exactly what I was talking about. Inconvenient and scary, with plenty of potential for making me feel foolish. And while I wish I could say that I was looking forward to it with great eagerness, the plain fact is, part of me does not want to go. Another part of me is making me. The part that tries, often with a great deal of unsuccess, to get me to realize: sometimes, life is not about me.
Addendum: I just realized, reading over this post, that I still somehow managed to make it mostly about me! Hmmm. Go figure.
Also if you're like me, you're probably thinking, "Oh no, another person drumming on about yet another cause that I have to feel guilty about." Well, I admit that my own first response to hearing more about injustice issues like this is to shy away. First of all, because I don't need another reason to feel guilty in my life. And second, because knowledge, after all, breeds responsibility to act. And I don't like to act, because maybe it will be inconvenient. Maybe it will be scary. Maybe I'll make a fool out of myself.
Maybe I'll have to stop being so self-centered.
Ouch.
Please understand, I am not accusing anyone else of self-centeredness. All I'm saying is, whatever fears or struggles you may have about getting involved in an issue like this, or perhaps some other cause that pulls at your heart, believe me, I have them, too. But let's remember, we don't all have to transform ourselves overnight into William Wilberforce or some other heroic figure. We can start small. We can start timidly, and yes, even fearfully. We can start reluctantly and with skepticism.
But hey, we ought at least to start, right?
On Wednesday night, I went to hear Kevin Bales, president of the non-profit organization Free the Slaves, speak about "Ending Slavery" as part of the ALoud LA series. Here are three facts that I learned about modern-day slavery:
1) There are an estimated 27 million people enslaved worldwide today.
2) An estimated 14.5-17.5 thousand people get trafficked into the United States annually.
3) The biggest challenges to ending slavery are threefold: Awareness; Commitment (particularly on the parts of governments, to uphold their laws and resolutions); and Money (non-profit organizations depend on donor support to maintain and expand their operations. Also, from an economic standpoint, slave labor is cheap (free), which translates to less expensive goods, which translates to most people's bottom line).
I think what I liked best about Dr. Bales' presentation was that I didn't leave that night feeling crushed by the burden of how hopeless the whole issue is. There are things that can be done, and things that ARE being done. And one thing that is pretty easy to do is simply learn more about the problem. Here are some links to resources that should help you do that:
International Justice Mission
Polaris Project
NightLight
That is by no means a comprehensive list, of course. There are also plenty of books available, including Disposable People by Kevin Bales and Terrify No More by Gary Haugen.
So anyway, tonight I'll be joining some friends in Old Town Pasadena as part of an effort to raise awareness about trafficking. We'll be sharing information with people we meet on the street. Do I want to do this? Well... yes and no. Remember what I said about all the reasons I don't like to act? This kind of shindig is exactly what I was talking about. Inconvenient and scary, with plenty of potential for making me feel foolish. And while I wish I could say that I was looking forward to it with great eagerness, the plain fact is, part of me does not want to go. Another part of me is making me. The part that tries, often with a great deal of unsuccess, to get me to realize: sometimes, life is not about me.
Addendum: I just realized, reading over this post, that I still somehow managed to make it mostly about me! Hmmm. Go figure.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Semantically Speaking...
I had this thought the other day, that I might be a romantic pragmatist.
Then I thought, "Hmm, that might be semantically impossible."
At which point I thought, "Cool!"
I like being impossible things.
In other, much more exciting, news, I was engaged in a heated online Scrabble game with a friend the other day and played "qat" to the tune of 65 points. The best part is that I still don't know what "qat" actually means. But it's a valid word in Scrabble.
As are "wo" and "li", by the way, but that's just dumb.
Also dumb is the fact that I ended up losing the game, but let's not go there.
Apart from playing Scrabble, I finished a rather long essay this week that is part of my third-semester requirements. I wrote an elegant, insightful piece of analysis, which explained in so many words ( 7,056 to be exact) why one of my short stories sucks. Not that I used the word "sucks", of course. I believe I said it was "unsuccessful."
Semantics is a beautiful thing, isn't it?
Then I thought, "Hmm, that might be semantically impossible."
At which point I thought, "Cool!"
I like being impossible things.
In other, much more exciting, news, I was engaged in a heated online Scrabble game with a friend the other day and played "qat" to the tune of 65 points. The best part is that I still don't know what "qat" actually means. But it's a valid word in Scrabble.
As are "wo" and "li", by the way, but that's just dumb.
Also dumb is the fact that I ended up losing the game, but let's not go there.
Apart from playing Scrabble, I finished a rather long essay this week that is part of my third-semester requirements. I wrote an elegant, insightful piece of analysis, which explained in so many words ( 7,056 to be exact) why one of my short stories sucks. Not that I used the word "sucks", of course. I believe I said it was "unsuccessful."
Semantics is a beautiful thing, isn't it?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
2008 Is Here!
Well, the New Year has officially begun. And while I wish that I could say one of my New Year's resolutions is to be a better (meaning, more frequent) blogger, the fact is that I did not make any such resolution. Mainly because I have finally accepted the hard, painful truth — making a resolution is just the first step to breaking it. And honestly, who needs the guilt? Not me, thanks. I'm already pretty good at feeling guilty. I'm the sort of person who will apologize to someone else when they step on my toe. The single most oft-repeated phrase people say to me is, "Why are you so hard on yourself?" And the second is, "Why do you say sorry all the time?"
So you can only imagine what not living up to New Year's resolutions could do to me. I say, forget it.
In addition to not believing in making New Year's resolutions, I'm also glad I don't believe in omens, or I might have been a little concerned when, on the last day of 2007, I opened the mailbox to find yet another offer for a pre-paid cremation by the Neptune Society. Hmm.
But omens and non-resolutions aside, I'm excited for 2008. I'm in my third semester of my creative writing program, moving toward graduation in November; I might get to do some overseas traveling (yay!) before 2009 rolls around; and just generally I feel like some good changes are on the horizon. (Changes that I fervently pray will not involve the need for a pre-paid cremation, of course. Because those changes probably wouldn't be good.)
I hope that 2008 will be a great year for all of my faithful readers as well. Here's a toast to you... with kisses, as always, from the frogg princess.
So you can only imagine what not living up to New Year's resolutions could do to me. I say, forget it.
In addition to not believing in making New Year's resolutions, I'm also glad I don't believe in omens, or I might have been a little concerned when, on the last day of 2007, I opened the mailbox to find yet another offer for a pre-paid cremation by the Neptune Society. Hmm.
But omens and non-resolutions aside, I'm excited for 2008. I'm in my third semester of my creative writing program, moving toward graduation in November; I might get to do some overseas traveling (yay!) before 2009 rolls around; and just generally I feel like some good changes are on the horizon. (Changes that I fervently pray will not involve the need for a pre-paid cremation, of course. Because those changes probably wouldn't be good.)
I hope that 2008 will be a great year for all of my faithful readers as well. Here's a toast to you... with kisses, as always, from the frogg princess.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
ARGH!
OK, so it's been almost a month since my last update, good intentions very much notwithstanding. (If they really do pave the road to hell, I'm in big trouble right now.)
Here's the 30-second summation of the past few weeks:
1) Went to Louisville to kick off my third semester in the MFA program.
2) Went to San Luis Obispo for Thanksgiving, where I learned how to ride a motorcycle, thanks to a patient lesson from my brother the pod person.
3) Sprained my ankle running the trail around the Rose Bowl—not badly enough to need crutches or anything, just enough to keep me from running for awhile. Grr.
In between and entwined with all of the above are the usual suspects for killing time in my life: piano practice, sleeping, writing, avoiding writing... you know the drill by now. (And if you don't, just browse through the archives.)
One thing I've been noticing lately is how much I really don't like winter. I know, I know... I live in California, what do I know about winter? Well, I may be a baby, but all I can say is, 65 degrees Fahrenheit is COLD. Yesterday I wore a turtleneck under a sweater under a fleece to work. Today I spent a fair amount of time when not actually proofreading hunched over my desk in a desperate approximation of the fetal position as a way to try to retain as much warmth as possible (which turned out to be not much).
Also, I hate that it gets dark at 5pm. Boo!
In short, I really really really miss summer. And I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I should have been a bear.
Here's the 30-second summation of the past few weeks:
1) Went to Louisville to kick off my third semester in the MFA program.
2) Went to San Luis Obispo for Thanksgiving, where I learned how to ride a motorcycle, thanks to a patient lesson from my brother the pod person.
3) Sprained my ankle running the trail around the Rose Bowl—not badly enough to need crutches or anything, just enough to keep me from running for awhile. Grr.
In between and entwined with all of the above are the usual suspects for killing time in my life: piano practice, sleeping, writing, avoiding writing... you know the drill by now. (And if you don't, just browse through the archives.)
One thing I've been noticing lately is how much I really don't like winter. I know, I know... I live in California, what do I know about winter? Well, I may be a baby, but all I can say is, 65 degrees Fahrenheit is COLD. Yesterday I wore a turtleneck under a sweater under a fleece to work. Today I spent a fair amount of time when not actually proofreading hunched over my desk in a desperate approximation of the fetal position as a way to try to retain as much warmth as possible (which turned out to be not much).
Also, I hate that it gets dark at 5pm. Boo!
In short, I really really really miss summer. And I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I should have been a bear.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Run, Frogg, Run
So let's see, kind of a lot has happened since my last post. Let me explain... no, there is too much! Let me sum up:
Arrived on Saturday, October 20, in Oakland, and got picked up by M for lunch. After that, we went to SF MOMA with S, ostensibly to act cultured and high-brow, but really to give S a chance to make fun of modern art and amuse himself (and me) with frequent expressions of amazement that certain pieces of art could, in fact, be called art. (His favorite: a purely blank white canvas. That was definitely the winner of the "why is this in a museum" award, though a close runner-up would be the series of black squares in frames.)
While we were still meandering through the museum, the cowgirl arrived in the city, but she refused to join us at the price of $12.50 for a ticket that she would only benefit from for about an hour, since we had to get to Union Square to pick up our race packets. Instead she fell asleep on the lawn of Yerba Buena park/gardens, across the street from the MOMA. When we finally went out to meet her, I made the grave mistake of thinking that a homeless man (!) was her. Thankfully I saw the real her before I plopped down jovially on the grass and threw my arms around the man. Whew!
The rest of the day was all about picking up our packets, finding the friend's place where we were crashing for the night, carving pumpkins, and going to bed early so that we could be up before sunrise the next day, which was...
RACE DAY!
I slept in my race clothes because I didn't want to waste valuable sleeping time by having to get up to dress in the morning. This turned out to be not that good an idea, because my spandex capris got all stretched out. But at least I had those few precious extra minutes of sleep!
It was pretty cold waiting at the start line in Union Square, seeing as how the sun wasn't up and all. But once we got going, I could tell it would be a rare day in San Francisco; i.e., NOT FOGGY! Instead it was a truly gorgeous, clear day, not too hot but (eventually) not cold) — perfect for running. The race route wound along the Embarcadero, out to Chrissy Field, where we had excellent view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Then inland a bit, before heading down toward Baker Beach and into Golden Gate Park and back out again to finish.
I really enjoyed the run, and came across the finish line with a time of just under 2.5 hours. Woo-hoo! And I beat the cowgirl, but I think only because she got a blister early on and slowed to a walk after the first four miles (even so, she was only 40 minutes behind me).
So that was that. The next day, the cowgirl dropped me off at the BART station, where I caught the train to the airport and my plane... just in time to head back to a southern California that seemed to be going up in flames.
Craziness.
The next few days I spent staring out my window at work at a sky that was covered in smoke. My uncle and his family nearly had to evacuate; meanwhile my brother in San Diego was fine, except for the fact that he spent his day off trying to get CLOSER to the fires, which would indicate some possible mental-health issues... or else just the fact that he is a boy, I guess.
But anyway, thank God the fires are mostly contained now, and now here I am in the midst of packing for my next trip out to Louisville, where I will embark on my third semester in my creative writing program. I leave on Thursday, and if you don't know by now that I am waiting til the last minute to get everything done that I need to, you are clearly new to this blog.
(Of course, I suppose I could have spent the past hour catching up on all the reading I am behind on, etc., instead of blogging. Too bad I didn't think of that about an hour ago, huh. Oh well.)
Arrived on Saturday, October 20, in Oakland, and got picked up by M for lunch. After that, we went to SF MOMA with S, ostensibly to act cultured and high-brow, but really to give S a chance to make fun of modern art and amuse himself (and me) with frequent expressions of amazement that certain pieces of art could, in fact, be called art. (His favorite: a purely blank white canvas. That was definitely the winner of the "why is this in a museum" award, though a close runner-up would be the series of black squares in frames.)
While we were still meandering through the museum, the cowgirl arrived in the city, but she refused to join us at the price of $12.50 for a ticket that she would only benefit from for about an hour, since we had to get to Union Square to pick up our race packets. Instead she fell asleep on the lawn of Yerba Buena park/gardens, across the street from the MOMA. When we finally went out to meet her, I made the grave mistake of thinking that a homeless man (!) was her. Thankfully I saw the real her before I plopped down jovially on the grass and threw my arms around the man. Whew!
The rest of the day was all about picking up our packets, finding the friend's place where we were crashing for the night, carving pumpkins, and going to bed early so that we could be up before sunrise the next day, which was...
RACE DAY!
I slept in my race clothes because I didn't want to waste valuable sleeping time by having to get up to dress in the morning. This turned out to be not that good an idea, because my spandex capris got all stretched out. But at least I had those few precious extra minutes of sleep!
It was pretty cold waiting at the start line in Union Square, seeing as how the sun wasn't up and all. But once we got going, I could tell it would be a rare day in San Francisco; i.e., NOT FOGGY! Instead it was a truly gorgeous, clear day, not too hot but (eventually) not cold) — perfect for running. The race route wound along the Embarcadero, out to Chrissy Field, where we had excellent view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Then inland a bit, before heading down toward Baker Beach and into Golden Gate Park and back out again to finish.
I really enjoyed the run, and came across the finish line with a time of just under 2.5 hours. Woo-hoo! And I beat the cowgirl, but I think only because she got a blister early on and slowed to a walk after the first four miles (even so, she was only 40 minutes behind me).
So that was that. The next day, the cowgirl dropped me off at the BART station, where I caught the train to the airport and my plane... just in time to head back to a southern California that seemed to be going up in flames.
Craziness.
The next few days I spent staring out my window at work at a sky that was covered in smoke. My uncle and his family nearly had to evacuate; meanwhile my brother in San Diego was fine, except for the fact that he spent his day off trying to get CLOSER to the fires, which would indicate some possible mental-health issues... or else just the fact that he is a boy, I guess.
But anyway, thank God the fires are mostly contained now, and now here I am in the midst of packing for my next trip out to Louisville, where I will embark on my third semester in my creative writing program. I leave on Thursday, and if you don't know by now that I am waiting til the last minute to get everything done that I need to, you are clearly new to this blog.
(Of course, I suppose I could have spent the past hour catching up on all the reading I am behind on, etc., instead of blogging. Too bad I didn't think of that about an hour ago, huh. Oh well.)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Slow and Steady Finishes the Race...We Hope!
Well, the big day is nearly here... on Sunday I'll be running in the Nike Women's Half-Marathon in San Francisco! At least, I hope I'll be running. The other night I strained a muscle in my left leg. Then the following evening, I ran on it again, thinking that maybe the muscle just needed to be loosened up, and that it would be no big deal. This turned out to be a mistake.
Yes, I do make them occasionally. But don't tell anyone.
Anyway, the point being, I've spent most of last night and lots of time today icing my leg, and I'll probably have to wrap it when I do the actual race on Sunday, but I think I'll be OK. I was never trying to break any time records, so even if I have to walk some of it, I don't care. (That is kind of a lie.) I just want to finish. (That's true.)
By the way, my sister the cowgirl is going to join me on this little adventure. And she is going to try to run the race even though she hasn't trained at all. I'd give her a hard time about how unwise that is, but unfortunately, she is only planning to do exactly what I did do two years ago. So what can I say, except: "You go, cowgirl!" Who knows, she might even beat me. She's pretty tough. I guess it goes with the whole cowgirl territory.
Uh-oh, look at the time! It's after midnight... better hop off to bed before I turn into a princess! Er, wait, wrong fairytale. I mean I have to go to bed so I can wake up early enough to catch my morning flight to San Francisco!
Have a great weekend, and until I return... miss me, my darlings.
Yes, I do make them occasionally. But don't tell anyone.
Anyway, the point being, I've spent most of last night and lots of time today icing my leg, and I'll probably have to wrap it when I do the actual race on Sunday, but I think I'll be OK. I was never trying to break any time records, so even if I have to walk some of it, I don't care. (That is kind of a lie.) I just want to finish. (That's true.)
By the way, my sister the cowgirl is going to join me on this little adventure. And she is going to try to run the race even though she hasn't trained at all. I'd give her a hard time about how unwise that is, but unfortunately, she is only planning to do exactly what I did do two years ago. So what can I say, except: "You go, cowgirl!" Who knows, she might even beat me. She's pretty tough. I guess it goes with the whole cowgirl territory.
Uh-oh, look at the time! It's after midnight... better hop off to bed before I turn into a princess! Er, wait, wrong fairytale. I mean I have to go to bed so I can wake up early enough to catch my morning flight to San Francisco!
Have a great weekend, and until I return... miss me, my darlings.
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