I opened Google News this morning and the first headline was 'Bhutto Killed In Attack on Political Rally." I had one of those moments where I didn't exactly process what they were saying, and then I just couldn't believe it. She had just been in the headlines so much these past few months after her return to Pakistan, so many stories on NPR and the Times, that it was surreal to hear that someone had assasinated her. The suicide bomber opened fire on her and her party members before blowing himself up. They said she died of shrapnel wounds at the hospital.
I'm not sure what my opinion of her was before this happened. Obviously, she had some serious balls to go back to Pakistan after years of exile, and she claimed to be committed to bringing democracy back to the country while Musharraf seemed intent on keeping it out. When the stories ran about her return, everyone mentioned the threats against her life, and there was a bomb attack a little while ago that narrowly missed her and killed scores of onlookers, but somehow you it's easy to believe that these famous, powerful figures have some sort of innate protection surrounding them. But they don't. Bhutto was a controversial figure, but she was also that rare thing--a female, Muslim politician in a male-dominated Muslim culture. Now that she's dead, who will take her place?
''One morning, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know.''
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
The Christmas Recap
It was a great weekend to lead up to Christmas--I saw everyone I like, a few people I don't, and not a single family member! We had a dinner party at TJ's on Friday night attended by our Fairfield friends. On Saturday Sara, Rae and I braved the Westfarms mall, Borders, Best Buy, and even Toys R Us (!) in furtherance of certain people's last minute shopping. Actually, the Toys R Us stop was so Sara could purchase a Webkinz, which is a stuffed animal that's part of this online world, kind of like Second Life, but for the anklebiters. Sadly, they were sold out, but Rae, who in addition to being a brilliant med student is also a Webkinz aficionado, was so kind as to introduce us to this charming subculture. Yes, I am being highly sarcastic. On Sunday we saw Sweeney Todd, which further proved my theory that Johnny Depp is just ridiculously awesome. He can play a freaky serial killer with bad teeth and I still want to have his children!
Christmas Eve was spent at Sean's Aunt Michelle's house, where I was treated once again to the full Italian Christmas Eve dinner that is fish, fish and more fish. I have nothing against fish--some nice salmon, trout, cod etc--but I'm not big into stuffed squid, or fried smelts, or scungilli. At least this year I didn't have to see any of the crabs that went into the crab sauce, so I ate that and it was delicious. Linda is the best cook ever, as was proved at Christmas dinner as well.
I think I liked my Christmas gifts the most this year of recent memory--which for someone with my memory skills isn't saying much, but still. Linda and I will be taking a spa trip together soon, perhaps on Sunday...hot stone massage for me!
I know it's ridiculous and corny, but Sean really is the best gift I could ever ask for. I'll even put him slightly above the Pride and Prejudice DVDs I got from Rae (A&E version) and Linda (movie version). Just slightly.
In less than two weeks--three years!
Christmas Eve was spent at Sean's Aunt Michelle's house, where I was treated once again to the full Italian Christmas Eve dinner that is fish, fish and more fish. I have nothing against fish--some nice salmon, trout, cod etc--but I'm not big into stuffed squid, or fried smelts, or scungilli. At least this year I didn't have to see any of the crabs that went into the crab sauce, so I ate that and it was delicious. Linda is the best cook ever, as was proved at Christmas dinner as well.
I think I liked my Christmas gifts the most this year of recent memory--which for someone with my memory skills isn't saying much, but still. Linda and I will be taking a spa trip together soon, perhaps on Sunday...hot stone massage for me!
I know it's ridiculous and corny, but Sean really is the best gift I could ever ask for. I'll even put him slightly above the Pride and Prejudice DVDs I got from Rae (A&E version) and Linda (movie version). Just slightly.
In less than two weeks--three years!
Hide the Chocolate
Imagine my surprise upon arriving to work today, the day after Christmas, to discover that I'm the only one who didn't take the day off. I knew the secretary and two of the attorneys were out, but then I turned on my computer to an email from my boss explaining he'd forgotten to put it in the calendar that he, too, is out, and to 'have a nice wednesday in the office.'
At least it's not like there's a lot I can't do here that I'd be doing at home today anyway. YouTube, anyone? And, no lie, looking at bridal websites. Rae sent me a facebook message informing me that she and Sara spent an hour and a half planning my wedding online last night. Sean and I have agreed to discuss the matter again in April, after we hear about grad school admissions, but that doesn't stop my friends from concocting their schemes of grandeur! It is fun to talk about, but it's also rather frightening to think that you're expected to spend that much time, money and effort on making a single 24-hour period like the best day of your entire life. It seems so ridiculous, and yet who can escape it who does not elope?
Sara came up with a color scheme-brown, cream, and green. She's going to be the resident art director, Rae the on-site medic, and Heather, the master of ceremonies, because really I can only imagine how cracked out on champagne she'll be at that fateful occasion. Rae tells me she has even chosen the song she would like to sing, even though I'm not quite sure I even want singing...nor has Sean weighed in on the matter, but really, how much say do men even have in this process? Sean's already gotten far too comfortable with the word "no" over the past few years. It's time to take bring back the yes!
Jen will, perhaps lamentably, be my maid/matron of honor. But really, for all my griping that it's Sean's latent traditionalism that's forcing me to include her, how could I get married and not have my own sister in the bridal party? It's not like I don't speak to her or anything. She's just going to belch inappropriately, make crude jokes and run around in her underwear, and probably scare the crap out of Sean's brother. I have to know that now and accept it. However, as I told my friends, she is in no way permitted to handle ANY of the actual planning/organizing of showers, bachelorette parties, etc., unless we all want to be eating pigs in a blanket and watching one of Bill's hick cousins dance around in a John Deere cap and nothing else. Seriously.
At least it's not like there's a lot I can't do here that I'd be doing at home today anyway. YouTube, anyone? And, no lie, looking at bridal websites. Rae sent me a facebook message informing me that she and Sara spent an hour and a half planning my wedding online last night. Sean and I have agreed to discuss the matter again in April, after we hear about grad school admissions, but that doesn't stop my friends from concocting their schemes of grandeur! It is fun to talk about, but it's also rather frightening to think that you're expected to spend that much time, money and effort on making a single 24-hour period like the best day of your entire life. It seems so ridiculous, and yet who can escape it who does not elope?
Sara came up with a color scheme-brown, cream, and green. She's going to be the resident art director, Rae the on-site medic, and Heather, the master of ceremonies, because really I can only imagine how cracked out on champagne she'll be at that fateful occasion. Rae tells me she has even chosen the song she would like to sing, even though I'm not quite sure I even want singing...nor has Sean weighed in on the matter, but really, how much say do men even have in this process? Sean's already gotten far too comfortable with the word "no" over the past few years. It's time to take bring back the yes!
Jen will, perhaps lamentably, be my maid/matron of honor. But really, for all my griping that it's Sean's latent traditionalism that's forcing me to include her, how could I get married and not have my own sister in the bridal party? It's not like I don't speak to her or anything. She's just going to belch inappropriately, make crude jokes and run around in her underwear, and probably scare the crap out of Sean's brother. I have to know that now and accept it. However, as I told my friends, she is in no way permitted to handle ANY of the actual planning/organizing of showers, bachelorette parties, etc., unless we all want to be eating pigs in a blanket and watching one of Bill's hick cousins dance around in a John Deere cap and nothing else. Seriously.
Monday, December 10, 2007
White Christmas?
I just finished watching the Bing Crosby movie. I used to prefer Holiday Inn to the color, musical White Christmas, but after watching the former again last week and wincing at all of the awkward racism (Mamie the black servant, the Abe Lincoln song performed in blackface) and the war propaganda that's dropped right in the middle, I'm leaning towards the latter. I don't know when I became such a big Bing Crosby fan, either. Blame it on Sean's bad influence. Last night I saw High Society was going to be on TCM and I was so excited! Although in that case, at least, I can definitely say that I will always prefer the original Philadelphia Story. Bing and Frank make a passable attempt at replacing Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, but poor Grace Kelly can't hold a candle to Katherine Hepburn's Tracy Lord.
It doesn't seem like we'll be having a white Christmas this year, though. Almost the middle of December, and barely a scrap of snow on the ground! But I won't lie--I'm grateful we're not buried under snowdrifts already. This is my first winter without the Tahoe, without her four-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes, and while Prudence is valiant, I'm not sure if she's up to the challenge.
Still, it's a little difficult to get into the Christmas spirit without any snow. I don't have a tree either, since I thought it was a little silly to decorate the apartment just for myself. Also, Jen absconded with every one of our Christmas decorations when we moved out of the house. Even my stocking--the one I had to buy and write my name on in glitter and glue when I was a teenager because no one had remembered to make one for the second child (I had a little green stocking before that with no name on it. Jen had a red velvet stocking with her name embroidered on. I suffered, I tell you.)
Sean told me a cute thing this evening. Apparently, when he needs a smile, he reads my journal entries from years ago, when I was a silly idiot writing idiot things. He didn't say the last part, I'm editorializing, but when he read a few things to me out loud...let's just say the ridiculousness factor was increased by ten to hear them said in his lovely, even tone. Ah, youth.
...God, I suddenly feel old. Maybe because I'm yawning and rubbing my eyes at 10:18 PM. Maybe because I'm going to go brush my teeth and be in bed, probably by the time the clock hits 10:30. Sigh. Like Methuselah.
It doesn't seem like we'll be having a white Christmas this year, though. Almost the middle of December, and barely a scrap of snow on the ground! But I won't lie--I'm grateful we're not buried under snowdrifts already. This is my first winter without the Tahoe, without her four-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes, and while Prudence is valiant, I'm not sure if she's up to the challenge.
Still, it's a little difficult to get into the Christmas spirit without any snow. I don't have a tree either, since I thought it was a little silly to decorate the apartment just for myself. Also, Jen absconded with every one of our Christmas decorations when we moved out of the house. Even my stocking--the one I had to buy and write my name on in glitter and glue when I was a teenager because no one had remembered to make one for the second child (I had a little green stocking before that with no name on it. Jen had a red velvet stocking with her name embroidered on. I suffered, I tell you.)
Sean told me a cute thing this evening. Apparently, when he needs a smile, he reads my journal entries from years ago, when I was a silly idiot writing idiot things. He didn't say the last part, I'm editorializing, but when he read a few things to me out loud...let's just say the ridiculousness factor was increased by ten to hear them said in his lovely, even tone. Ah, youth.
...God, I suddenly feel old. Maybe because I'm yawning and rubbing my eyes at 10:18 PM. Maybe because I'm going to go brush my teeth and be in bed, probably by the time the clock hits 10:30. Sigh. Like Methuselah.