Parables in Possibility

Know a good body shop and/or good auto mechanic?

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:34:25 GMT

Interesting way to start 2009. After a few days away, I returned to find my car with half its front fender hanging off. Apparently, hit and run is covered under collision which I dont have, so.. I'm going to attempt to mickey mouse this as best I can so it will be, while surely not pretty, functional and pass inspection which is now overdue.
So two questions...

1) Anyone know an honest body shop? I am fairly certain what they would do with insurance coverage is say to replace the front quarter on the passenger side (with a huge cost I'm sure). It does need to pass inspection. Lights are still working which surprised me, but I"m hoping it will at least pass if I maybe do some kind of minor repair (Duct tape?)

2) Anyone know a good regular car mechanic? (Separate problem - long story - Readers Digest Version --- Check Engine Light nightmare -- have spent $600 so far to replace various things -- symptom still same, light going on and off, can't get car inspected which is now overdue.)

signed,
At Wit's End but still hopeful for a good 2009

Something is Wrong with this Picture

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:17:53 GMT

What is going on in this city? Is there all of a sudden a shortage of therapists? For over a month now, I've been trying to get some help for a family member who is having a hard time. She is generally an upbeat, energetic, bubbly young woman who has become over the course of the last month an anxious, panicked at times, depressed person who spends hours playing w/ her hair, crying, and staring into space. She has moments where she seems almost ok and then seems to sink back into herself. It's really awful and so hard to watch for those of us who love her.

She applied for one of the new low cost health plans (Network Health I believe is the name of the insurance) in July. It took until the end of August for them to process her application. Good news? She is qualified. Bad news? The earliest they could start her was October 1 (luckily around the corner now) Also bad news-- it would appear that very few therapists are accepting this insurance. Even worse news -- Every single therapist and agency we've contacted has "no openings for new clients." That woudl include places such as Prescott Place, Jewish Famiy Services, UMASS outpatient clinic, Cedar Associates, another agency whose name I forget now, and several individual therapists. At one point, when she was really struggling, I considered taking her to Emergency Mental Health at the UMASS ER. I called and talked to a very nice man who explained that it might not be helpful as what they do is evaluate someone in terms of whether to hospitalize them. Unless it was a truly dire emergency, I'm not sure how that woudl work with no insurance.

I cannot understand this. I keep trying to reassure her as well as the rest of the family that we'll find someone, but as we've been around and around this redtape loop getting nothing but more referrals, she's gotten progressively worse. She went and sat for over an hour at Prescott Place, was charged $140 to be "evaluated" only to be handed a page of agency names and told there was a several month wait for therapists at their place. (And now having called nearly every name and agency on this list, most of them have waiting lists. There is something seriously wrong with this picture. Our state allegedly has a "mental health parity" law. I dont see any evidence of that. What I see is that esssentially you had better be rich or have exceptionally good insurance if you're planning on having any kind of mental health needs

If anyone knows any therapists or agencies who they liked (and who might accept Network Health or use a sliding scale) , please contact me either thru here or at my email catherama@yahoo.com . Thanks

Looking for Good Doctor

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:38:05 GMT

Having recently changed insurance (to Blue Cross), I am looking for a primary care doctor. Does anyone have a recommendation for someone they like and think is good?

Comedy Panels/Workshops at Nationals?

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:18:53 GMT

Does anyone have more info about the comedy stuff happening at Nationals? I think it's a very cool idea. I'm intrigued, but there isn't much written about it, and I'm just wondering what they're about, who's hosting etc? Anyone know?

wondering.. if anyone is out there

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:02:15 GMT

If a tree falls in the forest and that tree has a blog, but no one is there to hear the tree or read the blog since most trees don't read much - being that it's of a suicidal nature for trees to read... anyway.. does anyone hear it?

Create your own visitor map!

Providence Improv Festival Now through Sunday night Jul 1

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:44:17 GMT

If you are into comedy improv (short form like "Whose Line is It Anyway?") or long form (essentially like one act plays created on the spot from audience suggestions), check out the Providence Improv Festival. http://www.providenceimprovfest.com/Index.html It started Wed night and continues through this Sunday night.

I'm planning to be there for a show Sat night and possibly Friday night as well. These groups are from all over the country and it's fairly cheap. There are workshops offered during the day as well on various improv topics - character development, musical parody etc. It's a fun way to spend an evening, and you never know what's going to happen. I took some improv classes a few years ago in Boston where the motto was "Perfectly comfortable not knowing what the *&^%$#$# is going on" hmm has kind of become a life motto for me of late!

Call Your Reps Now - Marriage Equality at Stake

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:42:51 GMT

Representative democracy?? Hah! I just got off the phone with my state senator's office. I called Senator Richard Moore's office where I felt the classic cold shoulder from his secretary. She told me in no uncertain terms, that Senator Moore's vote will remain the same as it has been on the marriage issue. She did not even take my name. I can only imagine that the calls he is getting are far greater on the other side of this issue. I often wonder if I am the only person in Webster contacting him on this side of the issue.

On Thursday, the legislature will meet to decide whether to advance the anti-gay marriage amendment to a ballot vote. This is the last vote on this measure. If it passes (and it only needs 50 votes this time), it will be voted on via a ballot question. The text of the amendment defines marriage as between a man and woman and would effectively reverse the Mass Supreme Court's decision of 4 years ago allowing gay and lesbian citizens equal civil marriage rights under the laws of the state.

I was the videographer at my friends Esther and Susan's wedding last summer. They've been together 31 years but were strangers according to the laws of Massachusetts. They now have the same rights and responsiblities as other married couples and can feel some relief that if something happens to one of them, the other is protected. It was a wonderful, loving event to be part of. I have two other friends who moved their wedding date up based on their concern about this amendment. If this passes, it will be a first. Usually the constitution is used to extend rights not to take them away and forever bar a certain minority group from having them. The idea of people's civil rights being up for popular vote is just abhorrent to me. It's going to be ugly if this goes to a ballot vote too. Imagine the ad campaigns.

If you are within the sound of this Live Journal entry, call your reps today. If you are living in Central Mass especially, it's important you call as most of the reps who want this to go to a vote are from right here in Central Mass. 50 votes are not many, and as of now, they have them. I know there are many more fights to fight, but let's hope that we dont have to fight to not go backwards.

Really? 74%?

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 04:03:51 GMT

So, Catherama, your LiveJournal reveals...

You are... 6% unique
(blame, for example, your interest in whos in whoville)
and 10% herdlike
(partly because you, like everyone else, enjoy writing).
When it comes to friends you are normal. In terms of the way you relate to people, you are keen to please.

Your writing style (based on a recent public entry) is conventional.

Your overall weirdness is: 34

(The average level of weirdness is: 27.
You are weirder than 74% of other LJers.)

Find out what your weirdness level is!

Wed, 30 May 2007 04:40:40 GMT

Happy birthday a little late to Dave Keali_i :-)

Dilemmas in Auntdom/Sisterdom -

Sat, 26 May 2007 05:53:31 GMT

Wondering if any of you have had this kind of dilemma .... you're an aunt (or uncle) who loves your nieces (or nephews). You have a close family and are on good terms w/ your sister and her kids. Your sister is married to an asshole, who in addition to being a kind of all around asshole, is a rather angry and controlling man who is, in your opinion, hurting his children (your nieces) with his angry outbursts and inappropriate ways of dealing w/ the kids.

What do you do? Do you say something to your sister? Do you say nothing? Do you say something to him independent of your sister? Do you try to support the kids without saying anything to your sister? Do you respond to him in kind?

I babysit for my nieces every Friday afternoon. I babysat today. We had a good day together. At the end of the day, we were watching "The Wizard of Oz" on video when my brother in law arrived home from work. Generally the first thing he does when he arrives is criticize something or someone. "Why is this out here?" "Get this stuff off the table." "Why is this door open?" (That was the comment today -- why was the door open. I think one of the kids shut the door coming in from the outside, and it bounced open a crack). We were all in the living room having some pizza and watching the end of the movie as he was doing whatever he was doing in the kitchen. About 15 mins go by, next thing you know there is a loud crash in the kitchen - loud enough to startle both me and the kids. I go around the corner saying "What happened?" He mutters "That's the second time I've had to shut that door." He had slammed the microwave door. The slamming was loud enough that I thought something had crashed to the floor. I didnt see the microwave but I wondered if the glass had broken it was so loud.

Skip up about 10 minutes and this is the conversation he has w/ his 8 year old daughter -- (names changed)

Daughter - (excited 8 year old voice) I cant wait to see Auntie Susie. Grandma said she's coming over after dinner with her.
Father - (matter of factly) Auntie Susie's not coming here.
Daughter - But Grandma said...
Father - Did you talk to Grandma? I talked to Grandma.... unlike some people (looking at his 8 yr old daughter).
Daughter - (getting upset) I want to talk to Grandma. She said after dinnner..
Father - You calling me a liar? I don't lie.

This may not sound very bad. Maybe it's not that bad. All I could think throughout this conversation though is -- who is the 8 year old here? I probably have not adequately conveyed the tone. Her tone was just what you woudl expect - excited followed by disappointed/upset. His tone was agressive and sarcastic - he was out to "win" the argument, proving that he was right. He likes being right and thinks he is all the time (which under other circumstances might be just annoying, but his tone with this kid was adversarial, full of sarcasm and for want of a more descriptive word -- attitude)

Go back in time about 4 months - another Friday afternoon. Father arrives home. He says very little. Kids are thrilled to see him, run up to him, "Daddy, Daddy.." He responds "Is the living room cleaned up?" Kids start picking stuff up. I go and help them do that. 10 mins later.... crash. He has taken a child size chair and thrown it across the room hitting the living room wall with a loud thud. The chair was placed next to a gate. (They keep the gate up to prevent the dog from entering the livingroom.) The 4 yr old daughter uses the chair to climb over the gate and had left it next to the gate. I go ask what happened. He says,"I told her not to leave that here." The kids did not see him throw the chair... thankfully. They were just around the corner when he threw it and all of us jumped.

Yet another Friday this winter -- About 7:00, not long before he is due to arrive, the power goes out. Both kids are scared as you might expect. I take both kids with me to find the flashlight The three of us sit together on the couch w/ a flashlight as we tell funny stories to take our minds off the scariness. Father arrives home. Older daughter says immediately "I'm not scared." He says, "Good. Come down w/ me to get the camping light." Younger daughter stays w/ me. I assure her it's going to be ok and that it's scary sometimes w/ the lights out but that we were going to be ok. She asks if I'll stay. I tell her I will. Father comes upstairs to set up this camping type light. After setting up this light in the kitchen, he tells the kids to go upstairs and put on their pajamas. Younger daughter tears up and says "It's dark upstairs." Older daughter says "I'll go daddy." He says, "Good. At least someone around here is not a baby."

Each time this kind of thing happens, I struggle with my response and responsibility. I am appalled and really disturbed by his behavior. I think it is childish, hurtful and has potential for long term damage to his kids -- belittling, consistent use of sarcasm with children who are too young to distinguish literal and figurative language, angry outbursts with throwing things.

Sometimes.. I'm appalled at my own lack of a response. What I've done so far is to talk to my sister after the fact. She will often call to ask me how things went. Today I told her the kids were fine but that that her husband needed a time out. I told her about the slamming. I asked her if he was having a hard time at work lately or something? She said yeah... and then said she'd talk to him. I can hear the stress in her voice, and I feel awful. I believe she needs to know this, but I also know it must be hard to hear. I dread telling her things like this. I think about not telling her. Maybe she knows and she's trying to work w/ him on this. Maybe she feels trapped or stuck and doesnt know what to do about him. I wonder if I should just shut up. After all, I'm the aunt here, not the parent, not even a parent. I have no kids of my own -- all grounds for being told to stay the hell out of it. When I've talked to her about things like the conversation when the power went out, she assures me that "Joe is joking. He jokes around w/ the kids." I saw the look on his daughter's face. It was not a joke to her. Her father was making fun of her, and she knew it. He praised the older daughter over and over for not needing a night light as his 4 year old teared up about wanting a nightlight and then called a 4 year old child "a baby" in a tone quite similar to one you might hear from a 10 year old bully on the playground.

So... what's an aunt to do? I'm ashamed to say that in retrospect, I think what happens is his outbursts intimidate me as well to an extent. The suddenness of them catches me off guard. Also.. this is one of those things that some would consider grey area -- He's not throwing things at the kids. He's not hitting the kids.. at least not w/ me there (and I've never seen evidence of any physical abuse).

At the moment, I'm thinking that maybe I should plan a response ahead of time so that if/when this kind of thing happens again, I'll be able to say something in the moment. I hate the fact that these two girls are watching an adult woman let herself be intimidated by this jerk. I dont want that to be what they see from me. At the same time, they adore their father, and I dont want to make the situation worse by responding in kind to him.

Any of you who feel like writing -- any/all responses welcome. I love my nieces and my sister. I don't want to add to her stress, but... I worry for these kids. Kids are resilient and hopefully, they'll end up fine. Maybe as someone w/out kids, I'm just failing to understand how stressful it is. I know everyone can have a bad day or lose their temper, but .. I don't really think that's what this is -- there's a clear pattern here I think. I'm reading a book now that talks about asking yourself the question "What's the loving action?" What is the loving action here?

I appear to be addicted to these things

Thu, 24 May 2007 18:34:29 GMT

Your Score: Katharine Hepburn

You scored 11% grit, 42% wit, 38% flair, and 21% class!

You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the Classic Leading Man Test.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Gotta write more and stop w/ these things but they're fun (and quick!)

Tue, 22 May 2007 19:01:58 GMT

Bob G inspired me w/ his discovery of being a centaur so...

You Are a Chimera

You are very outgoing and well connected to many people.
Incredibly devoted to your family and friends, you find purpose in nurturing others.
You are rarely alone, and you do best in the company of others.
You are incredibly expressive, and people are sometimes overwhelmed by your strong emotions.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 04:50:19 GMT

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Catherama sent to me...

Twelve pbs drumming

Eleven whispers piping

Ten enfp's a-teaching

Nine beginnings learning

Eight words a-swing

Seven bubbles a-writing

Six lilacs a-reading

Five blu-u-u-ues

Four snow days

Three challenging fears

Two etta james

...and a santana in a slam poetry.

What Dead Poet are you?

Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:02:22 GMT

Which Dead Poet Are You?

Your are Dorothy Parker - a cute little smart-ass, armed with rapier wit and agile hands. You run with the foremost minds of your generation. You are appreciated in your own time, as well as after your death.
Take this quiz!

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Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 04:59:56 GMT

Notes from Austin

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 01:00:24 GMT

I dont really have time to write this now. It is getting dark & I want to catch the bats. Isn't that an odd thing? I want to rush this so that I can go see a lot of bats. I see out the window of the Hideout that it's getting dark. I just finished a rootbeer float w/ that lovely Mexican Vanilla. I thnk I shall have to write a haiku about that vanilla.

Too many good lines to have time to post now but here are a few of the haikus from the Head to Head Haiku.

Snufalupagus
unceremoniously
circumambulates

I love the snufalupagus.... "... Bird..."

Self Centered Ego
God help me escape
the crap I built myself

Sometimes I wish I were blind
So I could feel the love
on your face

Half Catholic Half Jew-
ish, I feel guilty all
day every day

Couple of fabulous lines I wrote down in the last couple days ---
From Sonya Renee (I think) (That woman rocks!) "... I am easy bake over easy, easy like a sunday morning easy" These were all from the women's showcase whch was sooo good! I'm not sure whose pieces these were from. If anyone reading knows, comment ok?

"YOu say my name like a dangling modifier,"

"To be a princess, I'd have to remove the ribs, lengthen my waist, and get rid of the child bearing hips whch make me a queen" <--- love that one!

"Not only the beat of my heart but the heart of my beat"

"YOu have been given a direct order to rock out..." That is from Anis' winning set from the Idie finals. Erin did well but lost some points on the time thing which is too bad because her pieces were great. I think that piece Anis did was from a year ago becasue I heard that at last year's finals, but it's stll a great piece,.

Notes to self --
Look up Karen Frinnyrock? I am not sure of her last name but she was a riot.
Get Sonja Renee's chapbook.
Write more bad haiku but consider ... the level of publicness of them. :-)
Here are a couple I wrote

You can tell when she
writes haiku 'cause she counts on
her fingers like this

I wrote a haiku
walking to the post office
but I forgot it

When I look into
the future what I see is
lots and lots of now

Wish me luck w/ the bats.

Highlights from Austin

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 01:31:48 GMT

Austin rocks! This city is great, but it needs to be air conditioned!

Quick highlights to follow..

* So far my fave cofee house is the Hideout. Cheap net access, good food, relaxed atmosphere and i think one of the waitresses flirted w/ me this morning :-)

* The bad news was the workshop on Poetry Podcasting was postponed. The good news was I got to see a number of fabulous readings -- the Jewish 12 Tribe Reading, the Legends Showcase part 2, and the Asian Reading -- all of which were terrific. I shot a little video of diff readings w/ the little CVS video thing my mother gave me for my bday.

* There were a number of great poets reading at the Jewish reading -- good lines that i was able to jot down ----
"I wasn't raised orthodox political."
" You ask me what 'my people' think, and I will tell you, my people-- they're praying,":
a really lovely piece about walls and stones... i got most of it on the video -- hopefully it will come out. Sue, if you're reading this, what is a shem? I"m thinking a prayer shawl? Is that right?

A new thing this year (I dont remember this from last year;s nationals) is the addition of DJ's to many of the readings -- this woman was a hoot -- she played the Rapping Rabbi and Neil Diamond. -- thankfully no Barry Manilow.

The Legends Showcase was AMAZING. This whole community is amazing -- I want to sit down and have a long dinner with each of the ppl who read today -- find out who they are and how they came to use the language so artfully and beautifully... Bill Macmillan's piece about poetry rocked as did Tony Browns as did Taylor Mali's about teaching and snow -- which I have to look up,. Loved the Sara Holbrook piece too. There were largely too good -- too many good lines to write many down quick enough but.. here are a couple

* "Miracles do not blossom in the intense heat of skepticism. "
* Some pain is torture; some pain is pleaure. The only difference is how I ask for it,"

Went to a fabulous workshop put on by the Louder Arts project in NYC. Picked up some new revision strategies and a couple of new exercises to try, The title a certain reader is sure to appreciate --- "The Death of Nice: Moving Beyond the Expected in Your Poems"

Ok signing off -- off to bout 2 and then the Slam Decathalon which is sure to be an adventure.

Quotes of the Night from the Erotic Reading at Nationals

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:30:49 GMT

I wasn't sure whether to share these or not but .. what the hell. The reading was pretty amazing w/ a wide variety of pieces - some that made you want to laugh and some ... that didn't. ;-) They had a fun format too -- kind of American Idol meets Poetry... They had three "judges" who gave feedback to poets on the quality of their pieces -- haha. No really, their written pieces I mean. It was a riot.

I didn't write down many but here are a couple.. (Lynda these are for you. Happy blushing and hiding :-)

From the Erotic Reading at the National Slam...
* "What I love the most is the way your tongue dances with the alphabet."

* "It's true - I have been compared to your favorite egg/pocket rocket attached to a car battery."

* "We'll go at it like vandals.. till you're thankful I've got handles."

* "I will make love to you until we look like a war zone... surfing your crimson wave..." You can guess what particular time of the month this guy is referring to.... the kind of poem where you have to admire his guts to write it but you don't quite know whether to clap or cringe at certain lines. He ended it w/ something a bit more romantic/less graphic -- something about being closer to your life blood and the moon rising w/ the tide of your heart..

And one last one i thought was a largely true observation ;-) -- "Poets don't have groupies; they have to fuck each other."

Ok that's it from here for now.. Catch you later,
Cath

A few Haikus

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 02:57:15 GMT

You just cannot be at Nationals without getting inspired.... even if it's only to write bad haiku....

The L Word Haiku #1
We should soooo not be
saying the "L" word yet so
let's watch it instead.

The L Word Haiku # 2
Your laugh lit me up
my lofty lens saw lucky
How did I lose you?

The L Word Haiku # 3
Lingually gifted
you lavish your language on
all the wrong people

The L Word Haiku # 4
Your luscious looking
lips lure me, leave me
longing for lasting

The Haiku Writing Haiku
You can tell when she
writes haiku 'cause she counts on
her fingers like this

Follow that Red Dillo

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 00:04:48 GMT

Coming to you live from lovely Austin, TX where the weather is hot and so are the poets. ;-) It is now Wed just shy of the first bout. I am at the Ruta Maya http://www.rutamaya.net/ using their public access terminal. This may have to be uncharacteristically short.

Have had quite a day and it's still early. Saw the opening ceremony today at Austin CIty Hall, which is really lovely -- lots of cool art work etc, and mercifully cool literally.. at least once we got inside. The Austin based group Up Rising was fabulous doing a spoken word/musical blended piece to Wade in the Water. Beautiful. They also had a nice tribute to a poet who passed away this year (whose name I am sorry to say I dont remember... I will make a note to find out though. They read one of his poems asa group and it was a really good one. )

I did some shopping this afternoon and picked up a couple of things for the nieces which I think they'll like and found this fantastic music store. Wondered around -- checkedout the children's musesum store and a couple of great art galleries etc.

The thing about adventures is you can't plan them.. they sneak up on you...when you least expect it. So here i am walking around downtown Austin having a great time for myself. I stop in to this little deli called Schlotzsky's and had a muffin and iced tea, left there to head back to the hotel and then to the Legend's Showcase. I sat down on the bench to wait for the bus (they have the world's best public transport here --- $1.oo for a day pass -- I rode the bus 8 times since last night. For those paying attention to cost, this means you dad, that would be 8.5 cents/ride. ) So anyway... I sit down on a bench to wait for the bus. I get upto ask a driver about how to get someplace and leave my camera apparently on the ground next to the bench. This would be my new digital SLR which I havent even had for a week! My bus happens along a couple minutes later. I start looking around frantically for the camera. "Where the (*&%^$ is it?" I mutter to myself searching through my backpack. I don't get on the # 1 bus as I am realizing, horrified, that the camera is not in my backpack. I let the bus go by and try to retrace my steps, still muttering obscenities to myself.

Meanwhile, the guy sitting near where I am searching noticed my muttered obscenities (which is kind of surprising as two other ppl were also muttering various things to themselves on that same bench) and says, "What are you looking for?" I say, "a camera. I just had it." He says," They gave it to the bus driver on the red Dillo." "The red Dillo?-- is that the one up there?" I point to this "Dillo" about 600 yards away. The Amardillo is a free line of trolleys that run in the downtown area. The guy says he thinks it's the one just in frontof that one. 'OH MY GOD!" He says, "You should callt he Metro right away." I nod and then notice the cab sitting a few feet away. I say" Thank you so much! I'm g onna grab this cab and find the red dillo"

I run over to the cab and tell the driver that I need him to follow the red dillo. I try to explain quickly thatI need to get up tothat red dillo bus because the driver has my camera. He nods although with the kind of a sigh that says "Lady, your camera is gone." He pulls up behindthe first dillo.. which is not red. It'sthe gold one. I jump out and tell the driver I'll be right back. I run to the dillo driver and ask about the red one. He is able to tell me he turned down 3rd. The driver takes a quick right down 3rd. I look through my backpack for the number for themetro.I have it in here somewhere. Finally, I locate it and call the metro number. After 5 torturous minutes of automated bullshit, I finally get to t areal person and explain the situation. The cab driver is following whathe thinks is the route but isnt sure if it really is or not. He thinks the red one goes 3rd ave and ends somwhere around the high school. I have no idea. The woman on the phone is helpful. She says she will call the driver and that indeed he ends at the highschool. I think wemight be ok. We get to the high school after what seems like an eternity. The driver of the red dillo is sitting reading a book. I see my camera beside him as I come running up the steps of his bus. He doesnt seem like he wants to give me the camera -- no name on it ==- they're supposed to turn everything in. I havent had time to even put a name on the camera case. I tell him it'sgot pictures of jessica and rebecca and me on the porch. He isn't convinved. Just then, he gets the call from the ppl at the phone line and they ok giving me the camera.

There are certain phrases you don't hear often (or say often) in this life. In the top 5 of my personal trip on the planet, I never thought I'd beat my former # 1 least uttered line "Yes, I am the dancing gorilla." But now...I think it has been beaten by "I need you to Follow that Red Armadillo!"

Ok I have to go now --- this bout is about to start and if I'm gonna catch Worcester next door, I've gotta hustle. So far, the best line I've heard is the following -- there will be more best lines to follow ---
From Big Poppa E (I think) ---- "This body does not pump iron; this body pumps irony."

National/ Austin

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:08:35 GMT

Maaaaan.. so it's just me going to nationals? What's up w/ that?

Nationals - Show of Hands

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:16:02 GMT

Show of Hands.... who's going to Nationals?

Worcester County GLBT Online Survey

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 14:20:34 GMT

Just wanted to pass the word. There is a needs assessment survey being done in the Worcester County area. It includes Worcester and all of the surrounding towns. It's an online survey and only takes a few minutes. I think it's worth filling out. Maybe someday there will be a bit more of a community in our area. This is the website for the survey. Check it out... http://www.greaterworcester.org/survey.htm

A poet in ESL class

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 05:14:02 GMT

My dad teaches ESL to adults. He has started a blog where he and they write back and forth about lots of stuff. They've involved various other people outside their class too -- children of people in the class etc. My father frequently drives me crazy about this blog. He forgets on a regular basis how to "do the thing with pasting." He just called me now at 11:45 pm to ask why his recent entry is not showing up. What can I say? He drives me crazy.

But... truth be told, I am so proud of him. The blog is great. The writing from the students is rich and real. He's got a real bond with his students. I would like to hope that I've gotten a little of that ability to bond with a class from him.

This was written by a student in his class. They are practicing using the subjunctive tense (a son of a gun of a tense to use!). I thought this was lovely.

Making Wishes
I wish Joana were here in our class.
I wish I had known about her yesterday.
I wish she would come back soon.
In truth, I didn't speak English when I was in my country.I like it.I wish I had spoken it.
In truth , I wasn't in the summer in my country.I wish I had been in my country in the summer.
Did she go to Boston yesterday?
Yes, she did, but I wish she hadn't.
My friend was sick.
Do you know about the prepositions? No,I don't, but I wish I did.

Sat, 03 Dec 2005 06:08:25 GMT

This song is beautiful. Just got back from a concert and am listening to the CD I bought. This band, Vox One, is amazing. I love this song and their arrangement of it is gorgeous. "Pure Imagination" -- I think it's from Willy Wonka? The innocence in the lyric combined with these lush harmonies... beautiful. My favorite line from the song... ..."If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it..."

Check out the free audio file of the song at this link http://www.acappellanews.com/archive/001009.html