I believe that today more than ever a book should be sought after even if it has only one great page in it: we must search for fragments, splinters, toenails, anything that has ore in it, anything that is capable of resuscitating the body and soul. It may be that we are doomed, that there is no hope for us, any of us, but if that is so then let us set up a last agonizing, bloodcurdling howl, a screech of defiance, a war whoop! Away with lamentation! Away with elegies and dirges! Away with bio...

I have spent the afternoon lying in bed and reading a good book. It has been a long time since I’ve had the opportunity or the desire to do that, and I forgot how fantastic it feels to finish a very good book, especially when you have no other duties that HAVE to be done just then. It seems like my problems are a little more reasonable, when pitted against some hero figure who must save the world, the universe, or the woman he loves from the ravages of some evil. I wish I could hang on to the...

SO, YOU’RE A FAILURE. Congratulations! You’ve realized that you are a f***ing failure. Most people go through life never becoming aware that they a losers and should go die somewhere in a corner, and thus they perpetuate the cycle of losership. You, on the other hand, have suddenly woken up and cried your eyes out one day because you have failed at life. Good.  Chances are you will continue to be a loser, but since you are now conscious and aware you will fight the system – unless y...

Hmm. I don't even know what just happened. Over the holidays I was wandering around the internet and found a local community college that was hiring a screenwriting instructor. I applied, knowing it was ridiculously late for this semester but what the heck? I also sent an e-mail to the chair of the department because that seems to usually work out better than just applying in the regular way. They called me on my cell phone today to say that their current screenwriting teacher won't b...

LeapingLizard gave us all a link to this quiz on religious beliefs. It's pretty interesting, actually. Here are my results. 1.     Unitarian Universalism (100%) 2.     Secular Humanism (86%) 3.     Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (78%) 4.     Nontheist (76%) 5.     Libera...

Sometimes I just have to take a break from reality. Or whatever I'm doing that passes for reality at the time. If life were a musical what would your theme song be? Mine is: People are Strange by the Doors

New Year’s Resolutions It may be early to begin talking about New Year’s resolutions as Christmas has not yet stampeded me, but I think it’s important. This has been one of the worst years of my life. Actually, January was ok except for being a little chilly, but the rest of it stank. My husband had taken a job across the country, and I stayed behind to sell the house and to finish my teaching contract. I lived in a house with no insulation at all. It was southern California and the...

The voters have spoken and they have said they do not support gay marriage. I must say, I am shocked. I did not realize I was so far out of touch with the rest of the country. Personally, I don’t think we have the right to infringe upon the freedoms of any one group of people. Whether you think being gay is a choice, or whether you think people are gay for biological reasons, whether you think that being gay is right or wrong , they should be allowed to marry. I know quite a few gay p...

Today I both joined a gym and a tanning salon. Paul and I are going to Cancun for 8 whole days over Thanksgiving, so I wanted to be tan for the trip. It feels weird, because I am usually opposed to tanning in general. However, I'm usually opposed to wearing bathing suits as well, but since I will be wearing one 24-7 in Cancun I was hoping to offset some of my flabbiness with a tan. The gym part is just because I want to get in shape in general. Our local rec center only charges 125$ for a ...

Uh...hmmm. It would appear that our house has now closed, and except for some minor details that albatross is no longer around my neck. Hmm. Not sure how to feel about this. Why hasn't the President of the USA gotten on TV to make an announcement? Why hasn't a national holiday been declared? Why haven't they called for 24 hours of peace in the middle east to commemorate this moment? I must say, there is a part of me that NEVER wants to buy another house again. That house was nothing but a ...

I've always known that JoeUser is a blogging community , and when I hear about things happening in other bloggers lives I'm often interested. A baby is born and I'm thrilled for those parents I've never met in the flesh. When someone looses a pet or a loved one I mourn for them. When someone has a good or bad day I genuinely like hearing about it, and I'll leave a comment if I think I can be of any use at all. My mother has been ill. Your comments and good thoughts have helped me through ...

I've been tagged, dang it. Now I'm supposed to write about 5 embarrassing things from my childhood. The first question that immediately leaps to mind, of course, is "when exactly does childhood end"? The when is irrelevant, though, because I'm going to dig up 5 embarrassing things but they certainly won't be the most embarrassing things. Just causing a mild blush, not a desire to pack up and leave the state from shame. 1) One of my earliest memories was from kindergarten (I think). The...

[Sorry for those of you who clicked on this expecting something good. You won't find anything like quality here. Just trying to keep in touch with the people who care about the minutia of my life. Move along please.] Today I've made a terrible realization. I've fought against it all my life but today I can no longer deny what I now know to be true about myself. I officially like coffee. It took me 33 years, but what was once a bitter flavor to be abhorred is now some...

Dear TLC’s “What Not To Wear”:   I admit it; I watch your show quite often. It’s one of the few things I do that I can classify as exclusively indulging my feminine side – the side that wants to look pretty.   Previously my philosophy has been that the way I dress has no bearing on the way I work or interact with other people, yet I also believe that they way I feel inside makes an enormous difference in my chances of success in work and relationships. Since I st...

It is snowing. It started yesterday morning and it continues now. It is sticking. The weather guy says it will continue for the rest of the day, but should turn in to snow tomorrow. And here I thought it was spring, what with the leaves coming out on the trees and flowers blooming. Silly me. In other news it was my anniversary yesterday. We've been married for 6 years and together for 10. What a guy he is. I could write long articles and sonnets devoted to him, but he'd just be...