I had this dream that I was watching the Return of the King Extended DVD with my mom, and she was like, "So, what does Legolas do for a living? Is he a ranger that patrols the forest?" and I was like, "No, mom.." In this (nonexistant as of yet) DVD I was watching commentaries where they talk about the scoring of the Gondor theme, and the making of RotK, the video game.
Yeah, I'm so sad that LotR invades my subconscious.
-----
I'm not on painkillers anymore because it doesn't hurt enough to warrant them, but I'm still on antibiotics. I'd like to believe that it's not as nauseating.
Yesterday, Malex came over to visit and brought me smoothies. How sweet! (BTW, I've noticed that "how sweet" is a phrase almost universally used by women only) I thought this was particularly nice of him considering that Elliot is also in surgery (brain surgery (!!!!), so mine really does not compare) and Malex would be forgiven from not worrying about anyone else.
I spent the rest of the day cleaning the house and the room Jeremy will be staying in, mainly by throwing out old magazines, so that my house is now presentable, if not clean.
I called Jeremy in the evening to confirm things... in hindsight it might've been better to have him come next week when I'm not recovering (and therefore am not swollem and can actually kiss him proper), and also because next week is our four month anniversary, and by next week UPS should've delivered my belated Christmas present to New Oxford, but feh. I'll take what I can get.
He's coming at like 1:30 today. ^_____^
Friday, January 09, 2004
Thursday, January 08, 2004
I went to get my (right-sided) wisdom teeth pulled today, and it really sucked. The surgeon couldn't find the vein in the crook of my arm, and when he did and injected IV into it, it hurt like hell as if my veins were about to explode.
"Feeling sleepy?" he said.
"No," I said.
Anyway, he found another vein in my wrist and injected the anesthetic into that, and I spent the next several minutes with my head leaned back in the chair staring at the ceiling wondering what would happen next, since the surgeon and nurse were obviously waiting on something. Then I blacked out, and slept fitfully; I recall waking up a few times in the middle to feel people pulling my teeth out or putting in sutures. I waved to them, then decided not to be a troublemaker and went back to sleep. Something annoying was on my arm, and I scratched at it, and the nurse would bat my hand away. I learned later that I'd pulled out my IV and my arm was swollen and mottled/discolored and hurt (more than my teeth) later on. I put it in warm water, and now my arm is okay, but my teeth hurt like nothing else. I spent some early hours basically drinking my own recycled blood like some kind of environmentalist vampire, despite the gauze on the wound. If I take the painkillers they make be groggy and feverish, so I'm almost not sure what's worse, the painkillers or the pain. Any sort of screen or reading anything makes me queasy and I'm not supposed to do physical activity so there's really not much I can do except sleep when I can, and listen to people talk. I called Jeremy so that I could hear the sound of his voice and had a relatively fun two hours and then my dad yelled at me for being on the phone too long, even though it's my cell and I have free night and weekend minutes. But the good thing is that Jeremy apparently is coming over on Friday afternoon and is staying the weekend.
"Feeling sleepy?" he said.
"No," I said.
Anyway, he found another vein in my wrist and injected the anesthetic into that, and I spent the next several minutes with my head leaned back in the chair staring at the ceiling wondering what would happen next, since the surgeon and nurse were obviously waiting on something. Then I blacked out, and slept fitfully; I recall waking up a few times in the middle to feel people pulling my teeth out or putting in sutures. I waved to them, then decided not to be a troublemaker and went back to sleep. Something annoying was on my arm, and I scratched at it, and the nurse would bat my hand away. I learned later that I'd pulled out my IV and my arm was swollen and mottled/discolored and hurt (more than my teeth) later on. I put it in warm water, and now my arm is okay, but my teeth hurt like nothing else. I spent some early hours basically drinking my own recycled blood like some kind of environmentalist vampire, despite the gauze on the wound. If I take the painkillers they make be groggy and feverish, so I'm almost not sure what's worse, the painkillers or the pain. Any sort of screen or reading anything makes me queasy and I'm not supposed to do physical activity so there's really not much I can do except sleep when I can, and listen to people talk. I called Jeremy so that I could hear the sound of his voice and had a relatively fun two hours and then my dad yelled at me for being on the phone too long, even though it's my cell and I have free night and weekend minutes. But the good thing is that Jeremy apparently is coming over on Friday afternoon and is staying the weekend.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Wherein Angie Pathetically Attempts to Spew Political Commentary in Some Sort of Rational Discourse
Suzannah from the UMBC NOW chapter put a nice little comment on my blog (the November 24th entry)! I'm not quite sure how she found it.. probably by Googling UMBC and NOW in the same search window.
Hmmm... more readers..... UMBC! NOW! UMBC! NOW!
Anyway.
Everybody now... "Hi, Suzannah!"
Suzannah says this:
Wassup. Greetings from the girl in the combat boots.
So what's wrong with this particular woman in combat boots? I would love to know.
Yes - they are the National organization for Women. There is not one woman in this country who has not benefited from NOW. NOW has been a major fighter for women to have equal access to education, job security, health care, housing, domestic violence shelters and countless other things. It isnt the organization for liberal women because NOW's work over the last thirty years has benefitted plenty of racist, bigoted individuals as well. I am constantly amused at the women who throw snide remarks at us while in a university enviornment - while we raise our voices attempting to secure equal access to education funds such as Title IX. Or the women who go home every night and take their birth control and rant about us being too liberal, too vocal about protecting their right to take that birth control, while we fight for their right to take it without shame or high expenses.
I dont get it. You support the cause, but we aren't supposed to talk about it?
For good or bad, we fight for the rights of all women, even you, no matter your scorn. And we will continue to. Thats part of the mission statement, you see - for ALL women.
And when your student loans are cut in half we will still be clamoring Congress to reinstate them. And when the cost of birth control skyrockets we will still be there to fight for family planning funds. That's our job. We are concerned about women who are not necessarily concerned about us.
I am sorry you are so affected by what other people think. I'm not. I'm not because I have heard women who have stood up and talked about rape and domestic violence, women with far less strength then you. I have watched women decide between money for food and money to terminate a pregnancy, and make crucial decisions with far less strength then you. I know plenty of women with less access to education, less access to reproductive health care, less opportunities than you and they are fighting for your rights. Dont worry, you can be silent, eat your lukewarm lunch. We will still be here supporting you. It would just be nice if you cared what we think, instead of what your image might risk.
Before I counter, I should say that I think this is well written, and also a very polite response considering that I had, in my blog, called her a "combat booted broad." I mean, if someone had said that about me I would've torn her a new one. In any case, I feel I should apologize. It's not very nice to go around insulting people you don't know. That particular epithet, I recall, was used for effect more than accuracy. I vow henceforth to amend my ways. It's not that I won't insult people anymore, it's just that now when I insult people in the future, the insult must be true. But I digress.
Now, time for the counter... the premise of Suzannah's response seems to be that I, among scores of American women, hold the same beliefs as the NOW, yet oppose it for being outspoken. This is not quite accurate. I (though I can't speak for scores of other American women) have no issue against outspoken-ness in general; you certainly cannot be too loud in vocalizing opposition to, for example, domestic and sexual abuse, discrimination in the workplace and academic environments, exploitation of women in the media, and a slew of other things. The issue for me is not that the NOW is outspoken in positions with which I agree, but that the NOW is outspoken on things with which I disagree, or at least things which I do not hold a strong enough opinion on to consider myself Right and everybody else Wrong.
For example, I don't understand how "not one woman in this country has not benefited" from the stance that "Bush is an equal opportunity hater who hates everyone who isn't white, Christian, rich and straight," <----- (this is ripped from the NOW rally, not Suzannah's comments on my blog). Also, the statement, "It isnt the organization for liberal women because NOW's work over the last thirty years has benefitted plenty of racist, bigoted individuals as well," implies that Suzannah, a spokesperson for NOW (in UMBC at least) believes that "racist, bigoted individuals" are somehow the polar opposite of liberals. I feel that playing on the fear and stereotype that conservatives are all close-minded redneck bigots is equally, if not more, irresponsible than the stereotype that liberals are all communist, promiscuous, drug addicts, since liberals are the ones that make the biggest deal about the value of tolerance and understanding. Those of you who read my blog and are Libertarians, or any other type of open-minded fiscal conservative might be slightly annoyed at a generalizing brown-washing (the opposite of whitewashing :D) of conservative America. My opinion is that if, by opening its mouth, the NOW makes all liberals and feminists seem like rabid opponents of any and all conservatives* indiscriminantly, then the NOW would be better off not speaking on partisan issues at all. It just gives the rest of us a bad name.
The NOW may certainly help many non-liberal women, but that doesn't mean it's not a liberal organization, in the same way that a Christian organization that provides charitable services and education for non-Christians does not suddenly become non-Christian. Despite what services the NOW does provide to all woman, which are certainly commendable, there are no doubt women like me who do not find certain things like abortion rights or affirmative action in their best interests. It seems rather creepy if the NOW is of the opinion that, "We do what's best for you even if you don't think that's what's best for you." I did not dub the NOW the NOLW (National Organization for Liberal Women) because it is not concerned with, or does not help, conservative women. I coined that nickname because, despite who it helps, it still pursues a liberal political agenda and interests.
*I consider the Christian Right to be a rather odious group. Libertarians and normal Republicans are wonderful people.
Suzannah from the UMBC NOW chapter put a nice little comment on my blog (the November 24th entry)! I'm not quite sure how she found it.. probably by Googling UMBC and NOW in the same search window.
Hmmm... more readers..... UMBC! NOW! UMBC! NOW!
Anyway.
Everybody now... "Hi, Suzannah!"
Suzannah says this:
Wassup. Greetings from the girl in the combat boots.
So what's wrong with this particular woman in combat boots? I would love to know.
Yes - they are the National organization for Women. There is not one woman in this country who has not benefited from NOW. NOW has been a major fighter for women to have equal access to education, job security, health care, housing, domestic violence shelters and countless other things. It isnt the organization for liberal women because NOW's work over the last thirty years has benefitted plenty of racist, bigoted individuals as well. I am constantly amused at the women who throw snide remarks at us while in a university enviornment - while we raise our voices attempting to secure equal access to education funds such as Title IX. Or the women who go home every night and take their birth control and rant about us being too liberal, too vocal about protecting their right to take that birth control, while we fight for their right to take it without shame or high expenses.
I dont get it. You support the cause, but we aren't supposed to talk about it?
For good or bad, we fight for the rights of all women, even you, no matter your scorn. And we will continue to. Thats part of the mission statement, you see - for ALL women.
And when your student loans are cut in half we will still be clamoring Congress to reinstate them. And when the cost of birth control skyrockets we will still be there to fight for family planning funds. That's our job. We are concerned about women who are not necessarily concerned about us.
I am sorry you are so affected by what other people think. I'm not. I'm not because I have heard women who have stood up and talked about rape and domestic violence, women with far less strength then you. I have watched women decide between money for food and money to terminate a pregnancy, and make crucial decisions with far less strength then you. I know plenty of women with less access to education, less access to reproductive health care, less opportunities than you and they are fighting for your rights. Dont worry, you can be silent, eat your lukewarm lunch. We will still be here supporting you. It would just be nice if you cared what we think, instead of what your image might risk.
Before I counter, I should say that I think this is well written, and also a very polite response considering that I had, in my blog, called her a "combat booted broad." I mean, if someone had said that about me I would've torn her a new one. In any case, I feel I should apologize. It's not very nice to go around insulting people you don't know. That particular epithet, I recall, was used for effect more than accuracy. I vow henceforth to amend my ways. It's not that I won't insult people anymore, it's just that now when I insult people in the future, the insult must be true. But I digress.
Now, time for the counter... the premise of Suzannah's response seems to be that I, among scores of American women, hold the same beliefs as the NOW, yet oppose it for being outspoken. This is not quite accurate. I (though I can't speak for scores of other American women) have no issue against outspoken-ness in general; you certainly cannot be too loud in vocalizing opposition to, for example, domestic and sexual abuse, discrimination in the workplace and academic environments, exploitation of women in the media, and a slew of other things. The issue for me is not that the NOW is outspoken in positions with which I agree, but that the NOW is outspoken on things with which I disagree, or at least things which I do not hold a strong enough opinion on to consider myself Right and everybody else Wrong.
For example, I don't understand how "not one woman in this country has not benefited" from the stance that "Bush is an equal opportunity hater who hates everyone who isn't white, Christian, rich and straight," <----- (this is ripped from the NOW rally, not Suzannah's comments on my blog). Also, the statement, "It isnt the organization for liberal women because NOW's work over the last thirty years has benefitted plenty of racist, bigoted individuals as well," implies that Suzannah, a spokesperson for NOW (in UMBC at least) believes that "racist, bigoted individuals" are somehow the polar opposite of liberals. I feel that playing on the fear and stereotype that conservatives are all close-minded redneck bigots is equally, if not more, irresponsible than the stereotype that liberals are all communist, promiscuous, drug addicts, since liberals are the ones that make the biggest deal about the value of tolerance and understanding. Those of you who read my blog and are Libertarians, or any other type of open-minded fiscal conservative might be slightly annoyed at a generalizing brown-washing (the opposite of whitewashing :D) of conservative America. My opinion is that if, by opening its mouth, the NOW makes all liberals and feminists seem like rabid opponents of any and all conservatives* indiscriminantly, then the NOW would be better off not speaking on partisan issues at all. It just gives the rest of us a bad name.
The NOW may certainly help many non-liberal women, but that doesn't mean it's not a liberal organization, in the same way that a Christian organization that provides charitable services and education for non-Christians does not suddenly become non-Christian. Despite what services the NOW does provide to all woman, which are certainly commendable, there are no doubt women like me who do not find certain things like abortion rights or affirmative action in their best interests. It seems rather creepy if the NOW is of the opinion that, "We do what's best for you even if you don't think that's what's best for you." I did not dub the NOW the NOLW (National Organization for Liberal Women) because it is not concerned with, or does not help, conservative women. I coined that nickname because, despite who it helps, it still pursues a liberal political agenda and interests.
*I consider the Christian Right to be a rather odious group. Libertarians and normal Republicans are wonderful people.
Monday, January 05, 2004
Wherein Angie Plays Videogames And Unites Many Nations Under Her Banner
On Sunday, went to John and Sharon's house to celebrate the birthday of Sean, Sharon's son. Sean doesn't speak English and is really into video games, which my mom criticizes in private. "Why do his parents let him play so much after he's done with his homework? They should try to get him to work on his English to catch up!" I think she's being too harsh on him; it's hard being a teenager, especially a teenager in a foreign country. I also found it kind of sad that on his birthday party, he had his parents' friends over but no friends of his own. Well, his present was the newest Castlevania game (Lament of Innocence of the PS2, which I want now) along with a bunch of English grammar books and software, which I think are dumb, miserable presents, like giving a kid a sweater or socks. (I'd like a sweater actually, if it were cute and stylish, since I don't have any.) Your presents are supposed to make you happy, not improve you in ways other people think you ought.
In any case, he took Castlevania upstairs and started playing it, by himself, and I got bored/bewildered by the political talk downstairs among the adults (of which I am technically). My parents said, "Why don't you go play with Sean?" and I wasn't too keen on the idea because he doesn't speak English that well, and my Mandarin is bad, and I don't know him well enough to really care if he's bored or not. But I went anyway, to practice my Mandarin, and actually discovered that playing video games is extremely conducive to conversing in a foreign language. You have a readily available topic to talk about, and if you don't talk you're not being awkward because you're still engaged in something, and there isn't a horrible silence lying about the room. Plus, at least in the case of Castlevania, characters speak often, in English, and slowly, and the dialogue is read aloud for you by the voice actors, so it's almost like a picture book, which is good for Sean and his English. In my case, since the dialogue was slow and relatively simplistic, I could easily translate it into (shitty) Mandarin.
"Your girlfriend Sara is in the castle!"
"Ni di nupengyou Sara shi zai bu lui ni mian!"
You learn item vocabulary as effectively as if you were looking at flashcards; you see something that's obviously a whip, and it says "Whip," so that Sean can learn the word in English. As for me, if I see something on screen and don't know the word in Mandarin, he tells me what it is. It's pretty damn effective. The same goes for actions; swinging, climbing, jumping, hitting, searching, buying items, dropping items, running, dodging, looking at places on maps, opening doors.. they all conduce themselves to simple sentences in Mandarin, as well as desperately trying to translate the instruction manual from English into Mandarin as Sean was getting Leon Belmont beat into a bloody pulp by various supernatural enemies.
"The heart is in in the middle of the room." = "Jege xin shi zai fang zhong"
"You've already passed this place once." = "Ni yijing sheng guo jhege difang yichi."
"You have no more mana" = "Ni mei you mofa"
("Mofa shi 'mp'?" ["Magic is 'mp'?"]
"Dui" ["Correct"] )
"Your whip cannot penetrate his armour. You must use fire magic" = "Ni tiao bien bu keleng da chuen ta di tong jia. Ni yiding yiao yong huo di mofa."
I'm fucking amazed.
Video games bring you such priceless moments as:
-----
"Ni di dian niao tu hua shi tsong Warcraft san ma?" ("Is your computer wallpaper [lit: computer picture, which is best as I can do] from Warcraft 3?"
"Ni wan guo Warcraft 3????!!!" ("You play Warcraft 3??")
On Sunday, went to John and Sharon's house to celebrate the birthday of Sean, Sharon's son. Sean doesn't speak English and is really into video games, which my mom criticizes in private. "Why do his parents let him play so much after he's done with his homework? They should try to get him to work on his English to catch up!" I think she's being too harsh on him; it's hard being a teenager, especially a teenager in a foreign country. I also found it kind of sad that on his birthday party, he had his parents' friends over but no friends of his own. Well, his present was the newest Castlevania game (Lament of Innocence of the PS2, which I want now) along with a bunch of English grammar books and software, which I think are dumb, miserable presents, like giving a kid a sweater or socks. (I'd like a sweater actually, if it were cute and stylish, since I don't have any.) Your presents are supposed to make you happy, not improve you in ways other people think you ought.
In any case, he took Castlevania upstairs and started playing it, by himself, and I got bored/bewildered by the political talk downstairs among the adults (of which I am technically). My parents said, "Why don't you go play with Sean?" and I wasn't too keen on the idea because he doesn't speak English that well, and my Mandarin is bad, and I don't know him well enough to really care if he's bored or not. But I went anyway, to practice my Mandarin, and actually discovered that playing video games is extremely conducive to conversing in a foreign language. You have a readily available topic to talk about, and if you don't talk you're not being awkward because you're still engaged in something, and there isn't a horrible silence lying about the room. Plus, at least in the case of Castlevania, characters speak often, in English, and slowly, and the dialogue is read aloud for you by the voice actors, so it's almost like a picture book, which is good for Sean and his English. In my case, since the dialogue was slow and relatively simplistic, I could easily translate it into (shitty) Mandarin.
"Your girlfriend Sara is in the castle!"
"Ni di nupengyou Sara shi zai bu lui ni mian!"
You learn item vocabulary as effectively as if you were looking at flashcards; you see something that's obviously a whip, and it says "Whip," so that Sean can learn the word in English. As for me, if I see something on screen and don't know the word in Mandarin, he tells me what it is. It's pretty damn effective. The same goes for actions; swinging, climbing, jumping, hitting, searching, buying items, dropping items, running, dodging, looking at places on maps, opening doors.. they all conduce themselves to simple sentences in Mandarin, as well as desperately trying to translate the instruction manual from English into Mandarin as Sean was getting Leon Belmont beat into a bloody pulp by various supernatural enemies.
"The heart is in in the middle of the room." = "Jege xin shi zai fang zhong"
"You've already passed this place once." = "Ni yijing sheng guo jhege difang yichi."
"You have no more mana" = "Ni mei you mofa"
("Mofa shi 'mp'?" ["Magic is 'mp'?"]
"Dui" ["Correct"] )
"Your whip cannot penetrate his armour. You must use fire magic" = "Ni tiao bien bu keleng da chuen ta di tong jia. Ni yiding yiao yong huo di mofa."
I'm fucking amazed.
Video games bring you such priceless moments as:
-----
"Ni di dian niao tu hua shi tsong Warcraft san ma?" ("Is your computer wallpaper [lit: computer picture, which is best as I can do] from Warcraft 3?"
"Ni wan guo Warcraft 3????!!!" ("You play Warcraft 3??")
Angie's Bizarre, Bizzare Subconscious
I had this dream last night, where Jeremy had an evil clone whose name was Mike, who lived with us at Jeremy's dorm. Except in my dream the dorm looked like my room. Being that it was Jeremy's evil clone, Mike looked exactly like Jeremy except that he was a few years younger, a bit more effeminate, and of course, more evil looking. Also, he was a vampire. And he was hyperactive, and bounced all over the place. "Why do we keep him around?" I asked Jeremy, but I don't think I got an answer. Mike tried to bite me to turn me into a vampire, which I did not allow, but I did let him kiss me because it was nice.
I had this dream last night, where Jeremy had an evil clone whose name was Mike, who lived with us at Jeremy's dorm. Except in my dream the dorm looked like my room. Being that it was Jeremy's evil clone, Mike looked exactly like Jeremy except that he was a few years younger, a bit more effeminate, and of course, more evil looking. Also, he was a vampire. And he was hyperactive, and bounced all over the place. "Why do we keep him around?" I asked Jeremy, but I don't think I got an answer. Mike tried to bite me to turn me into a vampire, which I did not allow, but I did let him kiss me because it was nice.
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