Inspire Emotion

There is, in fact, a Great Wall of China...

“No, there is not a thin line between love and hate. There is, in fact, a Great Wall of China with armed sentries posted every twenty feet between love and hate.”

Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, from the television series, "House"

Image source Wikimedia Commons.

Another Year; the Mandatory, Ubiquitous Resolutions

New Year resolutions are said to be rarely kept. Something like 3% of them are actually ever acted upon according to a news report on network tv.

But, think about it. If we don't even bother to make these resolutions, how much less likely are we to act upon them? In my opinion, setting goals is always a good thing. And, so I am setting my goals for the new year.

The order isn't relevant, however, hopefully, the resolutions will be. I won't pinky swear though.

1. I am going to make a concerted effort to live more green.
Currently, I participate in the local recycling program, and have for at least 12 years. But, this really is a minor thing, and I believe that we all need to do more.
- I plan to cut out fast food completely. Our landfills, are overflowing with containers from McDonalds, Taco Bell, etc.. Enough already. If they can't be compelled to be more responsible in their packaging, then I will not buy from them.
- I will begin composting.
- I am going to buy organic as much as possible.
- I am buying an old-fashioned push mower.
- I will walk more, for example, to the drugstore, which is only a mile from my home.
- I am changing all of my bulbs to energy efficient bulbs.

2. I will forgive that group which brought our country to the brink of fascism, and economic annihilation. But, I will watch them. And, I will continue to speak out. I will never again retreat in to the comfort and complacency of my lifestyle. This matters.

3. I will spend more time on my art, and less time on things that shouldn't matter. For myself, for my family, for my own sanity.

Anais Nin Quotation re Chaos in Human Growth

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.”

Anais Nin

Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Happy New Year!!

My sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of you who read here, drop your ecards here, and especially, those who comment here, and have been so supportive through all of my travails this past year!

For all those reading, my wishes for you in 2009:

Good health for you and your entire family.

Love. It is second in importance only to your health.

As much happiness as you can possibly grab with both hands!

Dreams to keep you going; money to keep you safe, snug, warm, and solvent.

Peace in the world, for all of us.

That your 401k recovers from the disaster that has become the US economy.

That your blogs achieve a PR of 6. And mine too. :)

A really, really fabulous year, above and beyond all others!

                Happy New Year!

 

Musical Weekend: Duffy - Warwick Avenue

Yes, that smoky Welsh lady again, Duffy. Another of her hits from "Rockferry".

Remembering Jimmy

Shortly before the Christmas when I was twenty, one of my best friends died at the age of twenty-four.

Jimmy was the kind of man liked by everyone who knew him. He was a man's man in that he loved sports (he had been a quarterback at a big 10 school), and women loved him because he was not only super attractive, he was unbelievably sweet.

Growing up, Jimmy was the son of a well-known lawyer and a mother who had serious, ongoing problems with depression. When he was ten years old, he found his mother hanging in his grandfather's studio. She left behind a long letter about her religious views, a letter that made her sound completely crazy. Jimmy was of course, compelled to read it.

It is not quite womanly....

“The fact is, you have fallen lately, Cecily, in to a bad habit of thinking for yourself. You should give it up. It is not quite womanly... men don't like it.”

Oscar Wilde

EDIT: ps...... My Mother once told me that I should allow my husband (hubby no. 1, at the time) to believe that he was the ruler of the kingdom, because I would be lost without him.

I have always thought that if one had to behave like a brainless, simpering kiss-ass to get or keep a man, that man was not only very likely to be a lousy lover, but a dead bore, too.

Ban the Xmas Gift Lists

In recent years, the advent of the holidays always brings with it the advent of mild depression, and I know that this is the case for many people.

In my case, I think it has the most to do with a lack of small children in the house, and missing family members, as well as a deep aversion to “the list”.

I used to totally shopping for gifts for the kids, along with decorating, baking a zillion kinds of cookies, and all those other things that are traditional.  But then, the time came when the freaking list became the foundation for all things Christmas, and there went most of the JOY.

When kids are young, you can get away with out a list from them. You pretty well know what they are craving, and you have the fun of shopping for not only those things, but the things that you know they will love but really don't expect. Once they get older, it's a very different matter indeed, and the Xmas list becomes de rigueur, a mandate from the kids, and shopping for Xmas becomes a boring, unsatisfying chore.

I hate the freaking lists, and to my three guys, let this post be my proclamation of independence.

No more bloody lists. You have been forewarned.

Hugh Laurie Rocks

Ijust finished watching "House". I don't know if you saw it tonight, but it was good. Except, I was thinking that if I were Lisa Cuddy,  I would have to teach that man a serious lesson. The way he plays with her mind just infuriates me, even as I enjoy watching. On the other hand, I suppose it's better than dealing with a man who is just too easy. Heh.

Seriously, I just love that man, or his character anyway. As incorrigible as he is, he does have that strikingly sarcastic way about him which is hugely enjoyable to listen to, unless of course, it's aimed at you. Have a look at this episode, and see for yourself.

EDIT: Be sure to check out a post by Anna of A Rose by Name. She wrote a terrific post about what character the Dr. House character is based upon. Really interesting stuff, so do go check it out!

You can call me, call me, anytime

Another of my fav songs, "Call Me" by Blondie. The video was shot in 1979.