Swine, Fawkes, Maine

• I haven't written for awhile! Ugh. Too busy, too busy.. and NOW I have the Swine. Yes, you heard me, the Stupid Stinking Piggy H1N1 has hit my house. My brother got it first, then my mother and my sister, and now ME.. But at least it gave me a second to blog, right? I've been doing mostly everything on my phone lately. Checking facebook, and emails, reading a few blogs. But its SUPER hard to post a blog, or to comment on another person's blog on my phone.. so I really have been reading all your blogs, or at least... most of them, even when I wasn't commenting! I promise, after the swine has its time, I will be better.

• Today is November 5th. And no, I'm not British. But I LOVE England.. and its crazy Holiday today. Today is Guy Fawkes Day! So we must remember, remember the 5th of November.. if none of you crazies know what I'm talking about, and I know PinkNic knows, because I borrowed her celebratory picture for Guy Fawkes Day, which hopefully doesn't make her crazy and go blow up Parliament. (that's what Guy and his friends attempted). I think that in my swineyness.. I'm going to watch V for Vendetta today. Since that's the only way for me to celebrate, in England they get fireworks and sparklers, and yummy food. Yeah.. not in Sandy Utah, but I love V for Vendetta.
  
• So, back to the swine.. I don't get to go back to school, or work until November 12th! That's a week from today. WHAT am I going to do for a whole week?! I've been wishing for a "real day off", where I didn't have to go to school or work for a DAY. But now, I won't be making any money, which is just super pleasant.. I don't get to see any of my friends, at work, school, or anywhere else! Because naturally, I can't go ANYWHERE. And, everyone else is going to be in school, while I'm sitting on my ass at home falling behind. How cool is that? Not so much, yeah I agree.
• On a Political Note: I am PISSED off at Maine. Why is it that people think its cool to choose hatred over any kind of love and equality?!? Just who are these crazy people, that I truly do not have any respect for?
• OH and Phoenix was awesome.. I loved it. Pictures to come soon, probably in the next week, one of the days where I have more energy to go get my camera from downstairs and bring it back up here.
  

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I can't believe it.. and some Good Music!

This artwork is very important. I can't believe that it is even an issue, but there have been a few things this last week or so that I've said I can't believe it . Dalia Ziada writes an awesome piece about this very idea: closing Gitmo, and how it truly depicts the United States record on human rights, and how she (and I) are hoping President Obama doesn't mess this one up.

Another thing that I can't believe is the California Surpreme Court's ruling yesterday. They ruled to uphold Prop 8. I think Harvey Milk probably rolled over in his grave. Can you believe it? It made me want to scream when I read this. Its crazy how we tout all these different freedom sayings and beliefs, but when it truly comes down to it, do we really believe everyone is created equal? Ever since I got the news yesterday I have been posting this sign on my blog, you are more than welcome to take it to post as well.

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. Apparently there is only one Democratic Judge in the California Supreme Court. I still can't believe it though. It amazes me. I feel like my kids and grand kids will learn about this time in History, about a different Civil Rights Movement. I want to make sure I did all I could, and believed that everyone is equal, so the struggle will at least be over, and triumphant for my children and grandchildren to learn about. It amazes me. On a positive note, the court did rule that the 18,000 marriages that were performed while it was considered legal will be able to keep their marriages. At least that's a tiny step forward after a gigantic leap backwards. Right? I think this IReport video, from CNN is pretty interesting.

Another crazy thing I can't believe - Jon & Kate Plus 8! Did anyone watch it on Monday? It was so crazy! I feel so bad for those kids. I hope Jon & Kate can somehow come together and act a little bit better. Although, its obvious that Jon really hurt Kate, so I hope he can somehow make it up to her. Argh. So sad. (or is it sad that I care so much?) Oh well.

And last but not least. The Rack. is. laying. off. so. many. people. Its nuts! I was totally pissed that my hours were cut, and super offended that people were picked over me, but now its like at least I have a job! I walked in on a girl being laid off on Sunday, she was bawling. It sucks so bad. Half of our work force is going to be gone. And what I can't believe is usually retail jobs hire more people in the Summer / Fall time to get ready for Summer, Back to School and Christmas. Am I nuts to think that? I will be pissed if they just hire more people in August. It will be so backwards!

But on a happy note, I have been watching a lot of music videos in the morning lately, while I lift my weights. And I keep seeing this music video. I really like it! I love their Irish accents.

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Travel Wish: Cannes

I love movies. I loved the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and I get giddy over beaches. So it shouldn't come as any surprise that I wish I could have gone to the Cannes Film Festival that ended on Sunday.

Brad Pit in Inglourious Basterds

I would have tried so hard to see this man.. I love me some Brad Pitt. Its a disease, I have to admit. {picture credit: Telegraph.co.uk}

Look at that Beach!

Part of the reason that I like Film Festivals, are of course, for the movies. And when we saw the movie stars in Park City a few months ago, I almost died. But, the real reason I love the fests is for their pushing the envelope mentality. For example, this year at Cannes there was a director, Mr. Lou Ye, that despite censor bans in China, has a film at the festival featuring gay Chinese men in a sexual relationship. I'm not sure I would want to see the film necessarily, but I applaud him for standing on a free speech principle. Read his story: Censor-defying Chinese director back at Cannes.

Another interesting film shows the struggle of the people of Rwanda. After the genocide in 1994, the different groups have been trying to get along. The film, My Neighbor My Killer, featured in this article:Rwanda's killers and victims shown side by side at Cannes, shows how hard that must be, and the successes and the failures in the slowly healing African country.

Last but not least, Francis Ford Coppola, the man behind The Godfather , previewed his new film, Tetro ,in Cannes. See story here. I love The Godfather saga.

So I want to go! How cool would it be to be in Cannes when all of this is going on? Some day..

* To see more of my Travel Wishes, click here.

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Out of the tree of life I just picked me a plum

Apparently, if you want to survive and make your name come up in blogger lights, you're not supposed to blog on the weekends. Why? Because most people have better things to do. Well, as you can see, not me. I have today off from work, which never happens - since I work in the fabulous world of retail, where Saturday is the biggest day of the week. I have next Saturday off too. Not sure how that happened, but we'll just revel in the beauty.

I am so excited that this semester of school is over! I really enjoyed some of my classes.. and really didn't enjoy others. I guess its a good sign that I enjoyed my French class, and my Social Work class. Since those are the subjects, and careers I will be continuing on in. At least I didn't hate my social work class and have to rethink this whole major, life plan, purpose thing! {again?}

At work, I am now the bra specialist -- well, this has been true for a few weeks, I just haven't published it on the blogosphere. Bra. Specialist. Ha. I wasn't even sure what to say when my manager asked me to be that. But I like it. I like the responsibility of keeping up with one whole side of our accessories department, keeping it filled in, straightened, and shopable. It makes the never ending closing nights seem just a little bit better. Always bras and panties to put back in size order. Not really sure why people can never put the bras back where they found them. That IS the purpose of the little size rings, to show were the 36A's are divided from the 36B's. Hard concept. I know.

It feels strange though, at work, because not everyone is a "specialist" and so it feels like there are some people that have been left out in the cold, so to speak. We all knew this would happen, it just feels awkward now that it has. We all started working in the department together, so I think we developed a really good healthy, comradery, that we now have to kind of build back up. We also are going to start getting "ranked" on the schedule after our 45 day reviews, which are on May 15th. So we'll see how that goes. I understand the concept, it just makes me feel bad sometimes. BUT at the same time, not everyone works as hard as everyone else, which is just how it is in life, SO I'm glad that my work is recognizing those that work harder. I just definitely want to be ranked high.

I signed up to do this blog improvement in 30 days thing-a-ma-jig, about 2 weeks ago. I haven't done even ONE of the things that it told me to do! Perhaps I should try it again. The tasks just seemed so lame. - sigh -

Last, I will leave you with a few of my favorite things. I love Anderson Cooper.. and I love BONO and George Clooney, so what was better than last night's Time 100 Interviews on AC 360?! Well, its on again tonight, and tomorrow, so if you missed it.. {Man, I should be getting paid for being a CNN promo!} BONO interviews George Clooney, and they discussed life and choices, but mostly their two awesome organizations (George's and BONO's) how they've evolved and everything. Love it.

And.. for the very end, I think this video is awesome. Its pretty cool the way our technology now serves as a political and social issue debate system. Who'd a thunk?
{psst.. they're trying to push down an awful, prejudice video that was made, called the Gathering Storm, I refuse to link to it.. but if you want to see it, search you tube}



*The post title is from a the song, The Best is yet to Come by Tony Bennett.. they play this song ALL the time at my work, and it always gets in my head.

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Fling off Thy Sadness!

I have been reading a lot lately. I got into a few girly~girly novels, and read one of them in just one day! So I have updated my 50 Books in 2009 list again. I've read 11 books now. I'm slowly creeping towards my goal. I hope I can really make it! Eek! At the rate I'm going, I don't know if it will work. Guess we will see. I think since I'm taking the Summer off from school I will have more time to read books and catch up.

Today is April 1st, and it still snowed here most of the day!!! WTF?! So not cool! Its like some sort of April Fools joke, by the Weather Guru or something. I don't know! But it better stop. This poem is perfect for today:

"Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!"
- Thomas Blackburn, An Easter Hymn

Tomorrow is The Grand Opening at The Rack. I hope there's not too many people! Ick. I worked at the Sugar House Rack on Saturday. It was interesting. I got to go with Lindsey from work, and she's pretty awesome, so it was good. I'm glad it was her I got to go with. The manager of that store, Bridget, took us out to a cafe nearby, and paid for our food. Way nice. The actual manager of the Accessories department was totally weird though. Our actual manager from the Sandy Rack called while we were on break and wanted us to call her back, the manager at Sugar House told us not to! She's like "oh, we need you to keep working, don't call her back." WHAT? So so strange. Yeah, here, let us disobey our actual manager, sure that makes sense..

I finally watched MILK the other day with Ashley, my sister. I can't believe how crazy this world is! WHY do some people think they are so important, and that they are so great and religious and wonderful, and think it is their right to belittle people that are "below" them!?!? I don't understand. It made me so mad.. and sad.. and happy that we are actually getting somewhere in the Gay Rights struggle. BUT at the same time, I was like dude! there was a proposition (Prop 6) that had similar arguments to Prop 8, and people are still so super bigoted?! Guess we haven't changed that much. I mean, Prop 6 was almost thirty years ago!! Ah, it just amazes me. My sister wrote more about the whole struggle, and the crazy woman, Anita Bryant that was the voice for the Religious Right during the movement. Click here for her blog post about it. All in all it was a good movie, and I am glad that it was made. We all need to be reminded of the different struggles for equality in this imperfect country.

In other current events, the G-20 starts tomorrow in London. I hope that people will protest for their causes peacefully, so that their voices can be heard, and not be overshadowed by not-needed violence and disruption. Although, I would love for someone to be like HEY Why didn't anyone arrest al-Bashir when he traveled out of The Sudan to Qatar, this past week?! Argh.

But the best news of today, I don't know if I said anything recently but I have been talking to my adviser at school about doing an Internship next Spring for my Social Work degree. It will get me so much closer to graduating. Well, last Wednesday, an opportunity came up in New Delhi. I thought it was a total long shot, but I thought what the hell, I'll apply. My adviser called me this afternoon to tell me I got in. So I will be in New Delhi, India from January 2010 to April 2010! Wahoo!! I've always wanted to go to Delhi! Now we're just trying to get my sister over there doing something, so we can go together. I'm so excited!
Just Kidding! APRIL FOOLS! :)

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Je pense..

Bullets. I like bullets. As long as they are on a computer screen.. Guns are bad - but we will leave that for another time. On to some bulleted ramblings.

• On Friday piece of shit Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir kicked out THIRTEEN HUMANITARIAN AID GROUPS OUT OF SUDAN. because he was so pissed off about his arrest warrant being issued by the ICC a few days prior (see blog post here). I am so mad! If you want to sign the International Rescue Committee's petition to the United Nations about al-Bashir's actions, click here: http://ga3.org/campaign/aid_sud.
• Then as if that wasn't enough, he toured the city of El Fashir, the capital of Sudan's Darfur region... He makes my blood boil!
  
• Proposition 8 is being re-thought about in the California State Supreme Court. They are attempting to overturn the ridiculous proposition that barely passed last November. The argument is one I agree with: The Majority should never be allowed to take rights away from the Minority and call it "democracy."
• I finally watched the Oliver Stone movie W this week. Josh Brolin did such an awesome job at playing President George W. Bush! The movie was good, the plot was interesting ~but I really think my favorite part was how they were able to imitate all those famous faces so well! My favorite was definitely "dubya" but after that Condie Rice and Cheney were pretty good too.
  
• Speaking of Mr. awful former Vice President Cheney, he is on CNN this weekend on State of the Union with John King. Should be very interesting.
• I know it has been said a lot.. and my opinion is probably obvious to everyone who knows me, but all I have to say is Rush. Limbaugh. Seriously?!?!? He makes me SOOO nauseous!
• I also watched Body of Lies this weekend. It was really good. I love me some Leonardo DiCaprio. Russell Crowe.. not so much. But I guess that is why I was so suspicious of his character during the entire movie. It was very interesting though. That, and Eagle Eye, remind me of each other. Sometimes I'm like WOW we really have that much surveillance? That is actually kind of neat. And then I think of 1984, which I just read a few weeks ago and think.. Oh no..

In happier news. I am so excited for American Idol's Top 13 tonight!

* Je pense = "I think" in French*

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