Things my friends aren't remotely interested in
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Sunday, June 7, 2009
10:21PM
march 20
Alissa: ok-look. I know you love Pitt, aso I do by proxy. But it will be gonzaga. Bet me.
A: Yes, the whole thing. Ooo-stakes. Movie night- all selections picked by the winner? Or money?
A: Oh shit. Yes? Do you also place a bet?
A: Ok. I say gonzaga wins it all. Movie night of my choice if I win.
A: You fight dirty. I'll take it. Menu of your choice. But same for you.
A: Deal!
A: Nope. Just like how it sounds and it feels right.
A: Me too.
March 24
A: I love pitt cause you do, but you're going down.
A: Ain't even trash talk, I just speak the turth. I can taste the grilled steak and mashed potato now. I want to eat and drink like a man when I win.
A: You would deny me steak?? And I knew them last year too! Always liked the sound of it.
A: Wait, I have to stop laughing. Ok, breathe. Specialties? You are talking to someone who has used her oven three times.
A: Won't have to. You know why? Wait- what's that? Yep, that's right, I'm gonna win.
A: Mmm. Steak.
A: I know what vaginas say when they monologue..
A: And steak.
A: So bad you'll make me steak?
A: Well shit- that's no problem. I'll just think about the time you said we weren't friends for two years. Slam! On that note- I need bed. Kids kick my ass.
10:02PM
Some drunken Oregon texty fun. March 1, 2009
Tanya: Whatever, I bet you didn't hear that I got alcohol poisoning, did you? That's how bad it was and now I will NEVER drink again.
Brian: I got pull! My buddy is dj at the titty bar. They don't take requests but he only played what we told him to. Bartender found out we were friends and the drinks got stronger. Dancers tip the dj then he would run down and throw cash on the stage in front of us and would hollar at us over the pa, hw we tried to get up. Tanya and Kim puked on the way home. Got in at 5 am. Tanya still in bed.
Brian: Tanya is just now starting to sober up.
Tanya: I am in bed and haven't got out except to puke all day! I am now starting to feel alittle better. Brian has been taking damn good care of me too.
Brian: Forgot best part. Left the club in Portland and was walking around. Girls had to pee so we went into the first open bar. It was a gay strip club.
Brian: We was all scared. I didn't want to get raped and the girls were scared cause they said that there was a lot of good lookin guys. I went to pee and ran.
Brian: Kim was so drunk outside the titty bar that she was trying to get into a tow truck and sit in the driver's lap. Then a cab pulled up and the driver got out so she got behind the wheel.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Bri: There is a line outside the bar already(3 hours before the game)
Ash: Shut up. I have heard it all day. I'm at steelhouse. With everyone else. Where are you?????
Bri: What took you so long
Bri: Crazy! Drunks stumblin around, singing, honeys in steelers gear
Moore: Get my photo?
Moore: At game. In end zone.
Bri: We need proof first
Bra: How did that happen?
Bri: Awesome start
Moore: In end zone they just scored.
Ash: Unreal! Woooo
Bri: We got robbed.
Ash: Got for it is right.
Bri: Got to love 3 and out!
Bri: Awesome play!
Bri: I like the way we set the pace right off the bat.
Ash: 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7.
Ash: Love it!!!
Bri: Parker is really steppin it up
Alis: Uh oh- touchdown for cardinals might be my fault. I just said the game needed excitement.
Alis: I am so sorry- will not say another word.
Ash: Wish you all were here. We are beating the system hardcore. Free everything!
Alis: I'm offended.
Ash: Yepp. Someone gave us their bracelet.
Alis: Holy Shit!!!
Bri: That's a td baby!
Ash: Mv fucking p.
Bri: Is he tryin out at running back?
Alis: It's cause I stopped talking.
Moore: that was unbelievable
Alis: Mmmhmmm.
Alis: Mmm!?!?
Ash: Love him. Exactly. Why I wanted his jersey.
Bri: Drinkin iron city on tap
Bri: good stuff.
Bra: Not doing good in the red zone.
Ash: Um did they really just run that play?
Bri: We are doing awesome on not being called on many penalties.
Tan: Here we go, Pittsburgh gonna WIN the superbowl, here we go!
Ash: Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.
Ash: We have to prove right now.
Ash: Line its up to you.
Bri: Why would you run it with the ball on your own 1
Ash: Tears. tears.
Ash: One more time.
Alis: I swear I did not talk!
Bri: Can I place my order now?
Bri: Sweat Jesus tht was awesome
Ash: Welp he just proved himself
Alis: Wheeee!
Bra: 2 super bowl champ hats please
Bra: the great team in the history.
Bri: Ok 2 extra large and 1 large
Ash: Um. Yes. We won!
Tan: We did it. 6 time superbowl champions.
Tan: I agree.
Ash: you have no idea. Going to buy my shirt right this second. Literally. Why do I have to work tomorrow?????????????
Ash: too obvious. A lot of our kids will come in on the delays. We don't delay though.
Alis: Sleeping. Beat. I know, pathetic. Talk soon.
Bri: downtown pitt goin crazy?
Alis: Pyro. Have fun! Talk soon!
Ash: Am I missing his press conference? Left bar. Went to buy shirt. Trying to get home.
Ash: Aw man. What ch? I knew I would miss the good stuff.
Bri: Just enjoying the moment on the way home. Guess you not workin tomorrow?
Bri: Stuff on fire? Got your marshmellows ready?
Bri: Drunk and naked?
Bri: Naked cause a fire is hot and clothes would not be necessary
Bri: DON'T want pictures
Bri: Oh you crazy girl, such the metro sexual
Ash: Haha. Thinking back to his trophey speech. He said "this football game is 60 mins long" everyone went nuts like he just said something. Noone knew.
Bra: Nice.
Ash: oh I know. So cool!
Bri: Did you mana-whatever come with a "happy ending"?
Bri: Crazy kids
Bri: Poor kid I feel horrible for you
Bri: Liquor before beer have no fear beer before liquor you get sicker and sicker or is it the other way around?
Bra: getting ready 4 bed
Bra: crowded
Bra: Yes, we all did. I lost my voice.
Bra: Fires?
Bra: 4 realy.
Bra: Wow. crazy.
Bra: I wish i could be there. When is it?
Bra: If I could only be there. Did ash get home safe?
2:49 am the Moore pic from the Super Bowl finally shows up.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Brad and I were having a conversation about voting, he asked me who I voted for and I told him and then I asked him who he voted for
B: A write in for brad hall
I told Ashley
Me: Brad asked me who I voted for and I told him. Then I asked him who he voted for and he told me he wrote in Brad Hall.
A: Ok jokes over. Who did he vote for? 9:06
Me: That's our Brad!
Me: Fwd a write in brad hall
A: OMG. Why would he waste a vote. Oh My. I need to educate him on this. 9:08
Me: I think he just doesn't want to say who he voted for. Want me to ask him again?
A: Yea. I just did too. Why wouldn't he want to say. He should be proud of who he voted for President. Geeze. 9:12
Me: Did you just ask him who he voted for?
A: Yea. No answer. 9:32
Me: He's worried he voted different than I did.
A: Please. I bet we all voted different Guess who I voted for!? 9:46
Me: This is Brad we are talking about. I told him Obama and that's when he came up with his write in vote.
A: Hahaha true story. He won PA! Our vote counted! I'm still nervous though. 9:54
Me: If he wins Ohio it's over. Funny story, listening to the radio driving to vote they said Pa was too close. After I voted they called Pa for Obama. I did it!
A: He won Ohio! That is a good story. definitely because of you. Brad still hasn't answered. 10:12
Me: You won't hear from Brad until TGIF.
A: Haha I'm just going to keep it up until he answers me. 10:23
Me: Good idea, give hima taste of his own medicine. Or, win Obama wins, shoot him a TGIW!
A: (from Brad) McCain. Lesser of 2 evils. U? 10:45
Me: MSNBC was just projecting that Oregon could put him over 270.
A: No thanks to Brad! Lol 10:50
Me: In college, Mike(Browns fan friend, so he's already shaky) is a big republican and Ohio put Clinton over the top, he threw the remote and went to bed. It was like 10:00. Hillarious.
A: Oh goodness. That's Brad sooner or later. I responded Obama baby. No response! 11:02
Me: Have you seen Chicago? 70,00 people in a park!
A: No! I feel like the steelers are about to win ring 6. 11:07
Me: I feel like I need two TVs to see everything.
A: So true. Just across the screen. Most votes: Obama. Lowest number of votes: Brad Hall of OR 11:10
Me: Some college girl in Philly got in line at 7:30 am and voted at 6 pm.
Me: I can't wait to see the wikipedia entry for this election Obama 65,245,009 McCain 61,397,022 Brad Hall 1
A: Hahahaha you hear about Mahoney! McCain won fayette 49 percent 11:16
Me: Where did you get the Fayette results from?
A: I'm going to the inauguration! 11:19
A: Across the bottom right after the highest and lowest votes announcement 11:19
Me: good speech by McCain. Well I mean it started off really good...
A: Haha until he said the name: Sarah Pallin 11:25
Me: Yeah at the start it seemed like he really wanted to turn the page and do the right thing for the country. Then he kept talking.
A: Yea right. Mahoney 68 BO better talk too. I can't stay awake. Btw fell asleep last night missed 4th quarter. 11:30
Me: This may be the only time I say this, but this more important. By alittle.
A: true. Glad this didn't carry on for a day or so. 11:35
Me: Yeah, that one was torture. especially who won.
A: Oh no kidding. 11:40
A: Woo! Did you see Oprah waving to me? 12:23
Continued Wednesday
Me: Is it wrong that I'm still a bit peeved that McCain won Fayette?
A: Is it wrong that I'm just leaving school? But no I'm quite upset as well.
Me: 7am meeting and just leaving now? That sucks.
A: I showed my kid Obama's victory speech from last night as a closure to the election unit. It was so awesome to watch their faces.
Me: Cool! That had to be awesome. hear from Brad? Is he okay?
A: it gave me chills. It was almost like I could see them thinking wow that COULD really be me one day. He sent some email that I didn't read did you get it?
Me: Oh yeah, some thing you were supposed to forward for freedom or something. As if voting didn't do that.
Me: I can't get over seeing the old guard of the civil rights movement, the ones who fought just to be able to vote, seeing them so chocked up they couldn't speak.
A: Wow that is amazing. I just hope he doesn't disappoint.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
More text fun, these are all from the Steelers-Browns game a few weeks ago
Sat., night before
Bri going to the game, you bum
Bri Nice, don't put to much shame on him
Bri Need a pic of the sad and depressed brown fan. Since I will be working it will brighten my day. Even though we are fishing today
Bri A couple in the 3ft range, but they have to be 42 to 60 inches to keep
Bri Nope, they take about 8 years to get that big and don't spawn until they are about 25 to 30 years. they are about 10 ft plus.
Bri Why catch or put back?
A So I watched the OSU game and it was 3 loads of fun!
Sun.
Br Did u all start the tailgating?
A I'm jealous
Bri sounds correct to me
Br go to the 16, u will last longer.
(responses to me saying that we started with 16 ozers and moved up to 24s)
A do you have lots of Steeler gear on?
Br Are u ready for some football?
Br Would that be kill croqute AE
Bri Sounds like you need more beer
Br We are looking 4 u. Do u have a Steeler shirt.
Bri To rub it in his face later?
Br Can u send a pic?
Tim Have fun, don't say or do anything I would, but give Dillon grief when appropriate
Bri Snap him with the terrible towel
Br wave next time the camera is on u
A you staying dry
A why aren't we running the ball?
Bri Nobody here wants to drink beer and playold school video games.
Bri Need superglue on your fingers. Yea we are special, little yellow bus special
A Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!
A Phew! I'm personally going to go crazy on the O line.
Bri I am really happy that we can all stay in touch, how come we never did before? We really miss yall
A Haha exactly!
Br Is ur nose bleeding yet?
Lis She said it's too early to be running your mouth.
Lis Kasey said to say- makin' our comeback.
Br that kicks ass
Lis shes says you're an ass.
Lis Ha! It wa jfk! Now you're an ass and dumb too. :-)
Lis She said good game! getcha next time!
A Poor guy. When will he learn?!
Tim Tell him to breathe. HIs grandchildren may someday see the Browns in the playoffs.
Bri Buy him a beer, pour it on his head to drown his sorrow. Tell him we all said "Haha"
Br Good idea.
Bri Ugly ending but it's a win.
Lis Not true! going to bed-talk to you later!
then a drink guy did a backflip at the bar afterward, but those conversations are lost to history. Darn 50 sent message limit.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
8:24PM
As I sit here watching the US men try to hang on for an improbable silver in gymnastics, I can't stop thinking about the 4X100 free relay last night.
Jason Lezak did what we all dream about, what we all want to do, he came up big on the biggest stage.
Our biggest stage may be very different, a college intramural league, a high school game in front of your entire town, the grudge match at your family reunion, beer league softball, playing your weekly card game, a bar somewhere playing darts. We all want to be the man, to celebrate a win that we helped.
So congratulations to Jason Lezak, to be able to erase the go
Friday, July 11, 2008
3:20AM
Senator Obama,
As of the very few people who voted for you in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, I was very disappointed to read of your recent vote to provide telecom companies with immunity in the suppposedly new and improved FISA bill. I do not see a reason for this, I don't understand why they(and, in a way, the Bush administration) are being rewarded after breaking the law. As I understand it, a warrant under the previous FISA bill was not hard to recieve, as a matter of fact, I believe that I have read that the government has never been turned down, so I don't understand why we should reward this behavior, again, from both the government and private companies, with immunity before a complete investigation has been completed. Are we. as a country, to just blindly follow the federal government because they say it's good for us? I expected more out of you, as you have been campaigning as an agent of change in our nation's capital, I believe this would have been an excellent opportunity for you to show just how you would have begun to change the way of doing things in Washingon, D. C.
Dear Senator Casey,
I was very disappointed to read of your recent vote for the VISA bill. When I voted for you, I believed that the Sanatorum brand of politics needed to leave Washington and that you would be an effective advocate for Pennsylvania. I do not see any beneifts out of giving telecom companies immunity agasint potential lawsuits, if they didnt break the law, they wouldn't have anything to worry about, would they?
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
12:40PM
I'm watching the end of Sleepless in Seattle on TBS just to see the elevator scene.
That scene was my best movie theater moment ever, just nudging out the Serenity preview, and seeing the final Star Wars and second Harry Potter first night they were out.
And here it comes, he just took off his backpack, sitting on the observation deck heartbroken, DAMN YOU TBS and penchant for inserting commercials at inopportune times.
Anyway, as everyone who has scene the movie knows, as he and his dad have their reunion, he leaves it on the deck, it's subtle, but you notice it as they get on the elevator just as Meg Ryan enters.
As this was all playing out on screen, someone somewhere in the theater, in the sweetest, most excited, happiest voice stage whispers "he left his backpack", so excited that there would be a meet cute for Tom and Meg. It was so pure. Best movie theater moment ever.
And it's got me watching again to just to see it on the screen so I can hear those words in my head.
Okay, the memory has faded a bit as the elevator shot didn't really show that he didn't have his backpack, or else this edit didn't. But I know that's when she whispered, or I know it as well as I can know something that happened when I was in high school.
And there's the meet. Still magic, even without the reaction of a half filled theater.
9:42AM
I'm watching ESPN's Outside the LInes on Becky Hammon's decision to play for the Russian Olympic team.
First off, where does Anne Donovan get off questioning her patriotism? Nancy Liberman-Cline worrying about Hammon's image? That didn't come off very well to me, seemed like two people who wanted to take some shots at her for no real reason, if Lisa Leslie can be relatively gracious, why couldn't they?
As for her decision, I still don't know what to think. One place I think OTL missed was the political angle, well, they beat the old cold war analogies into the ground, even showing the final seconds of the '72 final, but where was the question of the erosion of civil rights in Russia under the past 8 years of Putin. Should Hammon appear to approve of their government, however slightly? Should that even come into consideration? One one hand, no, we don't hold other Olympic athletes to that higher standard, but on the other, most Olympic athletes don't get to choose another country. I know choose isn't the probably the proper word choice there, but she is in a way approving of..., no she's not, again would we say that every American athlete competing approves of the Bush administration? But again, she had a choice, they didn't? Okay, I could go back and forth on that for awhile and not get anywhere(like most of these entries).
Oh, and the US coach, whose name I can't remember(Anne Donovan, thanks Google), saying that they wouldn't have invited her if they didn't think she had a chance to make the team, that doesn't really ring true when you had an initial list of 23 for 12 spots, then you expand it to 30+, no, I don't think the athletes who didn't make the first list, of which HALF will be cut, have much of a chance.
This entry is just like my thoughts on the matter, all over the place. Kevin Blackstone had a good point on the discussion part of OTL, when he talked about the large number of foreign athletes(especially in distance running) that have become American citizens in time for the the past two Olympics. I would argue that that is somewhat different because they, or the majority of them as I recall, came to the US for the opportunities. But isn't that what Becky Hammon did? She had an opportunity in Russia that she didn't/couldn't get in the US, so she took advantage of it.
After all of this, with my head saying one thing and my heart the other, I don't know, everyone who can compete at that level deserves their own Olympic shot(see my love of Kathryn Bertine's quest), I guess I'm just too much of a homer to want people to find their glory in another uniform.
That said, I'll be rooting for the Russians to score silver.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
11:28PM
The story I'm about to tell you is almost a year old, I'm pretty sure the Pirate game I will speak of was the night Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released. I remember walking away from the park saving text messages as drafts so I wouldn't miss anything, and now, almost a year later, it's time to finally tell that story and, more importantly, get rid of those damn saved drafts.
I think the drafts speak for themselves:
During shiprtless YMCA crowd chant put your shirt on
He took offense told us to stay in our office while he was in the navy protecting us
Friend out of jail for public pee called us out in office serving us in navy
Sex swimming bathing shirt5ess YMCA hand around that turns into a carress
Apparently shirtless is the most difficult word to spell after a few drinks. And, okay, maybe they're not as funny as I thought without context or a coherent narrative, so I'm going to try;
As we sat down, we noticed the people right in front of us were pretty drunk, very distinguishable from our somewhat drunk by 1.9 beers. I don't remember how it started, but they were loud, we were talking about the "hand around that turns into a caress" part, I do remember the particularly drunk one with his hand around his friend. Then YMCA came over the PA and he stood up and started dancing, I don't remember if he started out with his shirt off or it came off mid-dance, but that's when the put your shirt on cheer started. I know we, and the people behind us were quite animated in our conversations by now. That's probably when they heard us and he started to tell us that "while we are sitting in your offices, he was serving us in the navy".
Then there was a break as he went on an extended beer run. I believe it was about now that one of our friends went to get an usher. And his friends started to talk to us, which was where the "friend out of jail for public pee" came from. They were all pretty cool, actually, I know the "sex. swimming" part pertains to a story one of them told us, but I just can't place that one.
Darn, I remember it being good.
I guess that's as good a place as any to stop a story like this, I remember it being good. I don't remember exactly how, but I do.
Monday, April 28, 2008
10:33PM
Heard Frank Warren from Postsecret talk tonight. He was excellent, though it took me a few minutes to warm up to him, I don't think he's a great public speaker, but he has an honesty, an authenticity, just a way about him that is inspiring, he makes you want to open up and let people in, to see the error of letting things fester.
I accidentally spoiled myself as to his secret that he shares at his talks, but we did get a wonderful candid moment when he was asked what his teenage daughter(who he had mentioned previously) thought of the project. He said "good question" and called her, interrupting her viewing of Gossip Girl at a friend's house.
The "banned secrets" were pretty cool, but in thinking of the evening, I go back to Frank and his presence. he comes off as someone who truly wants to change the world and found a simple way to help people. Plus his dedication to Hopeline is sincere.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
11:29PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=olympianpart10
Sentences like these are the reason I'm rooting for her:
The airport in Newcastle, Nevis, has a single runway used for all planes on the island. Through the window of our turbo prop, the first thing I see is a sign advertising pizza. It is a wooden sign. On a post. Next to the landing strip. Behind it is the ocean. There appears to be no restaurant accompanying the signpost, but any country that welcomes its visitors with the promise of pizza is my kind of country.
and
Time, the second-greatest obstacle to my Olympic project (behind talent)
It all goes back to the fact that she's not going to medal, heck at this point, she'll be lucky to even make it, but she wants too, she'll do anything to make it, to have an Olympic experience. How is that different than Becky Hammon? I'm not sure, just the idea that she wants to take the shot against the US, she had a chance to try out for the US(not a good one as the USOC blew her off and she couldn't try out because of her overseas commitments, so she didn't really have a chance. I just can't, can't do it.
Why can't I root for Becky Hammon in her pursuit of her Olympic dream? Is it because she's playing for Russia? Is it because they're a threat to the USA's(our) medal hopes? Do I want to us to medal at any cost?
Saturday, April 26, 2008
11:10PM
So there's a girl at work, it's not going to amount to anything as she's driving from an hour and a half to two hours one way, lives probably an hour and a half from me and is actively looking to transfer somewhere closer, but she's cute and we've had a couple of fun conversations. Plus I always need flirting practice, so it's been alittle bit of fun in some long days.
But after lunch Thursday in the break room, I have one question, could I ever be attracted to someone who laughs, out loud, repeatedly, at Just Shoot Me?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
10:10PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=olympianparteight
and
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=olympianpartnine
I understand this better now. I went off the handle a bit, reacting to the idea that she could just start looking for another country, but after reading the two newest articles in the series, I fell slightly better about it. I still don't know if I'm on board, but she's trying her darnedest to not screw anyone else out of a spot and make it a good thing by building a cycle program in the country.
Plus there's the monkey in the room. She's not going to medal. Probably. Well, she's a long shot at best. So her Olympic quest is just that, an Olympic quest, she wants to be in the village, participate, test herself against the best. I have to believe in her ideals, why else would you throw yourself into six or seven different sports, all just to have a shot at the Olympics.
I guess I'm more sympathetic to her because that would be my dream, spending the two weeks in the Olympic Village, competing in whatever sport I could make it in. I think the two weeks in the Village would the experience of a lifetime.
Then there's this:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=3336490
I was speechless. She's ready to take the shot in the gold medal game to beat the USA, but insists she's "100% still an American". How could you take the shot to hear the Russian anthem, how could you stand on the podium and hear something other than the Star Spangled Banner? Does she even know the language?
I really don't want to seem too hard on her, because I'm a Becky Hammon fan, enjoy her style of play, but now? I also don't want to paint it as player spurned by team USA goes to another country to play. I just don't understand how you could do it, which I know puts me totally at odds with the paragraphs above these, but I don't get it.
The problem probably lies with me.
Monday, April 21, 2008
2:27PM
Hillary Clinton was in my little corner of Pa. Saturday, which was deservedly front page news in our local paper yesterday. There were
two articles, one a more straight forward piece about the rally and the other a little local flavor piece with interviews of local rally attendees. That's the article that got me a bit worked up. They interviewed five people, three of whom were ages 9, 7 and 11. That's the best they could do? The second time a presidential candidate(Hillary made a trip here a few weeks ago) is in the area since Hubert Humphrey in '68, the first time the Pennsylvania Primary has mattered in years and 60% of the people interviewed for their article are years away from voting.
But it got better, here are the a couple of the quotes from the article(the names are changed, I don't really know why, no one reads this, but they are kids, so changed they will be):
Also showing their support for Clinton was 7 year old Child One and 11 year old Child Two. The brother and sister duo from Uniontown wore t-shirts with the words "Kids 4 Hillary" stamped on them. Child One said he liked Clinton "because she's smart" while Child Two said she preferred Clinton "because she's a woman." Their mother, Adult One-Two*, said her children have been Clinton supporters since day one.
I don't know where to begin, I guess I got through most of it until the part about the 7 and 11 year olds have been Clinton supporters since day one, huh? What does that mean? The nine year old supports Clinton because "she'll be a good president".
I want to make clear my love for kids at their ages to know who's running for president, let alone have choices and reasons for their choices, but for the newspaper article to put their stories next to a woman who chartered a bus to bring 40 people to the rally to hear Clinton because she believes in her.
I guess I can't figure out why this wasn't a separate small article about the kids and them being active in the political process instead of being the focal point of the man on the street article.
*They all had the same last name, I just thought that was kind of funny, I didn't want to give the impresssion that I was attempting some sort of crack at blended families.
Monday, April 7, 2008
11:16AM
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/07/oly.torchrelay/index.html
I don't know what to make of this, I remember following the students protesting in Tiananmen Square in 1989 the best one could in those pre-interent, only CNN cable news days. I remember thinking that they weren't much older than I was and look at what they were doing.
Then the news came of the massacre, of tanks rolling in, of one unknown man staring down a tank. I couldn't believe what was happening, that a government would do that to it's own people(I guess it's good that I didn't know what I know now of the civil rights movement in the U.S.).
Writing that paragraph made up my mind, well mostly, I'm still very sympathetic to the wheelchair athlete who was carrying the torch didn't deserve this, and I still stick on that point, all this person wanted to do was celebrate the Olympic spirit, and has to experience this.
I blame the IOC for so desperately wanting the Chinese market that they caved to pressure and gave them the '08 games. Couldn't they see this coming, even 10 years ago, that China would do things the same way they have done them for centuries before. All they are doing by bringing the world spotlight to China is, either, showcase the temporary changes they've made to redd up before the Olympics(kind of like the recent press tour to Tibet, which was interrupted by chanting monks) or forcing them to make permanent changes, unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, China has chosen the first path.
I just feel for the athletes carrying the flame, can you turn down the opportunity of a lifetime because of China?
Sunday, April 6, 2008
7:05PM
Book number 7 or 8 of 2008, Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi.
Amazing. The idea of a book club holding together such varied personalities under the Iranian government, each book they read reflecting hopes and dreams that can not be fulfilled in Iran is fascinating.
You find yourself rooting for them, to get out of the country, paradoxically to stay together, to find happiness, to gain some measure of control over their own lives, their own conditions, but it's not meant to be. The book club can only be a one day respite from life in Iran, it can do no more. But yet they keep coming, keep searching for that one thing that they can only find in this group, freedom. Not the freedom that I think of, but their own freedom.
I only wish that I had read more of the books they concentrated on, as there was a long stretch, in the second to last chapter that was more book and theme than book club and I was a bit lost, but the last chapter went right back to the heart of the women in the club, delving more deeply into their lives, though I wish there could have been a more happy epilogue. I'm a sucker for a happy ending, for birds singing and little scroll at the end of the movie saying they all lived happily ever after. But that's not going to happen in a story like this, in lives like this, people lose touch, can't communicate even if they want to. So we are left to wonder if all of the book club participants even know of the book, how people in a world so different from what they read known of their struggles.
I don't want to get into the religious aspects much, only to say that it is a brutal, murderous regime that flaunts civil and human rights in order to force their ideals on the population, but one of the more fascinating religious asides was the idea that, closely after the revolt, as wearing the veil became mandatory, the author points that the woman who were wearing it of their own volition, as a testament to their beliefs, did not like being forced to wear it, did not like their sacred choice to make being made for them.
12:43AM
Finally getting a chance to watch the second hour of CNN"s special on Dr. King's assassination. They were just talking about RFK's couple of month later assassination and John Lewis broke down attempting to discuss it. Could barely hold his head up. Powerful.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
10:52PM
Wow, that is one screwed up family! Between the lying, the drinking, more lying, the scheming, Brick still drinking and lastly, the lying, I don't know what to say, every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening in tonight's performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
As I think more about it I see the pattern of how this (nameless I believe) family dealt with any type of friction, you can see how they ended up celebrating Big Daddy's birthday in one room of the plantation. As Brick and Daddy talked about, as a family, they never actually spoke, they always spoke at each, never looking any deeper, never wanting to. It makes me wonder if there is a prequel out there somewhere, showing how we got to Big Daddy's 65th birthday. But that would ruin our imaginations. We can invent a history that leads us to that night and that's part of the beauty of fiction, we can fill in the blanks.
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