I missed having this question on the meme I filled in the other day. It's very difficult to choose between two very talented women, so I'll just leave you with my favourite Dawn French sketch, accompanied by Jennifer Saunders (and some other people who may or may not be famous...who knows?)
Monday, 25 February 2008
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Time to Eddit
Well, you caught me. I'm one of those bloggers who throws up a post only to go back and change the wording, punctuation or syntax at a later time. It's a shame I don't edit my posts beforehand, because it likely shows that I have a cavalier attitude, which isn't true, or perhaps it indicates a tendency to say things that later need clarification, which is true. Either way isn't good, and I can only hope to improve my writing in the coming years.
I read more blogs these days than is sensible, really. I fret at times because I'm not one to really post about my deeper, darker secrets, though I admire those who can and are able to infuse a sense of humility through their writings. I think that shows a talent for cutting to the heart of a common, human vulnerability and we all have that, whether we show it or not.
I haven't got a clue as to posts in the pipeline. I think that the ideas I have will have to wait for a while. Maybe I'll finish the list of musical influences (I left off at number seven), maybe I'll have another pub quiz. Any ideas?
I read more blogs these days than is sensible, really. I fret at times because I'm not one to really post about my deeper, darker secrets, though I admire those who can and are able to infuse a sense of humility through their writings. I think that shows a talent for cutting to the heart of a common, human vulnerability and we all have that, whether we show it or not.
I haven't got a clue as to posts in the pipeline. I think that the ideas I have will have to wait for a while. Maybe I'll finish the list of musical influences (I left off at number seven), maybe I'll have another pub quiz. Any ideas?
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Goodbye Katy...
I just got word this past weekend that my paternal grandmother has died. I do not feel sad at this occasion but rather a great relief for her and my family (immediate and extended), who have been unwavering in their care for her and support of each other. Her last decade of life was filled with so many changes that were out of her control: the necessary move from her home and constant companionship of her sister, the eventual diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and its cruel and rapid removal of all of her memories, language and ability to care for herself and finally the heart failure that brought her death, early on Sunday morning.
She was a feisty and independent woman and I am sad to say that I never grew to appreciate that side of her as much as I should have, and my early interactions with her were ones of fear of knocking over glass vases and pricey trinkets that sat on special shelves and in display cases around her sitting room. She had a good eye for design and some of her furniture, purchased in the 1950's, would not look out of place in the design showrooms in London, today.
By the time I grew up and was no longer scared of her, she was already in quite poor health, and so I never had the types of easy adult discussions with her that I had with my maternal grandmother, who had died over a decade ago. I would like to think that other people can remember Kathryn for the true character she was and celebrate her life.
What I do know is that my father, the only man in my life that I love and trust implicitly has lost his mother. I know that my grandmother adored her sons, but it was evident that my father held a special place in her heart - he could do no wrong in her eyes. In his efforts to do things for his mother, she often lashed out at others, blaming them for the actions of my father. I don't blame her, though, she was abandoned by every man in her life, and she really didn't want to alienate any others, I think. For her to be able to love my father without reserve makes me love her more than fear her. The last time I saw my grandmother was about a year ago. My father drove me to the care home where she was living out her last days. There was no recognition of me, nor of my father. However, she did smile when we held her hands and brushed the wispy, cottony hair off her brow. The eyes that twinkled with mischief were cloudy and tired. I wished so many things for her, but mostly that she didn't have to die this way - slowly and very much alone in her head.
It's over. Sadly, gratefully, and wistfully I say goodbye to Katy.
She was a feisty and independent woman and I am sad to say that I never grew to appreciate that side of her as much as I should have, and my early interactions with her were ones of fear of knocking over glass vases and pricey trinkets that sat on special shelves and in display cases around her sitting room. She had a good eye for design and some of her furniture, purchased in the 1950's, would not look out of place in the design showrooms in London, today.
By the time I grew up and was no longer scared of her, she was already in quite poor health, and so I never had the types of easy adult discussions with her that I had with my maternal grandmother, who had died over a decade ago. I would like to think that other people can remember Kathryn for the true character she was and celebrate her life.
What I do know is that my father, the only man in my life that I love and trust implicitly has lost his mother. I know that my grandmother adored her sons, but it was evident that my father held a special place in her heart - he could do no wrong in her eyes. In his efforts to do things for his mother, she often lashed out at others, blaming them for the actions of my father. I don't blame her, though, she was abandoned by every man in her life, and she really didn't want to alienate any others, I think. For her to be able to love my father without reserve makes me love her more than fear her. The last time I saw my grandmother was about a year ago. My father drove me to the care home where she was living out her last days. There was no recognition of me, nor of my father. However, she did smile when we held her hands and brushed the wispy, cottony hair off her brow. The eyes that twinkled with mischief were cloudy and tired. I wished so many things for her, but mostly that she didn't have to die this way - slowly and very much alone in her head.
It's over. Sadly, gratefully, and wistfully I say goodbye to Katy.
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Silly Ol' Meme
This meme ends with the question that really should start it off, so I've simply cut and pasted the final question to the beginning...this doesn't seem so abrupt, does it?
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Ooooo-klahomawherethewindcomessweepindowntheplain...
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? A very precocious little girl featured in LIFE magazine the month before my birth.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? During the last scene of BBC's 'The Choir', just now. I love hearing kids singing.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? It's okay but it's rather inconsistent.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Tuna.
5. HAVE YOU ANY CHILDREN? Yes, non-biological but I gladly claim them.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, but I would bitch about me behind my back. I know I would.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not a lot. I prefer irony.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yes, feet first from a height of two stories where there is a huge pile of sand below me. I've got it all planned out!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Grape Nuts or oatmeal.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Pistachio.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Eyes, smile.
15. RED OR PINK? I like pink, I do.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I snore. It annoys me.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO DO THIS MEME? Sure, what the hell.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black and blacker.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Veggie shepherd's pie.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The sound of a fireworks display at a nearby park.
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Black.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? SO's neck, freshly shampoo'd Wonder Pup, line-dried laundry and clean sheets, magic marker, baking brownies.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU SPOKE TO ON THE PHONE? SO, this afternoon.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO MADE YOU DO THIS STUPID MEME? Aw. Yeah.
26. WHICH SPORT DO YOU ENJOY WATCHING MOST? Cricket. I haven't a clue how it's scored though.
27. HAIR COLOR? Reddish-brown.
28. EYE COLOR? Hazel.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACT LENSES? Daily.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Baguette dipped in hot Camembert cheese, salad with rocket and mustard vinaigrette,
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Neither.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Blade Runner.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Black.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Both.
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Either, especially when caught off guard.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Queen of Puddings or Sticky Toffee Pudding
39. WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU READING NOW? Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
40. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't do mouse. Don't do pad.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? No TV last night. Watched movie (No. 32) instead.
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Tide coming in on Brighton Beach. The sound of water moving all those stones back and forth is fantastic!!
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Stones, definitely.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Whilst living in Boston I travelled to Munich, Germany and Florence, Italy. Whilst living in London I travelled to Krakow, Poland. Whilst growing up in New Mexico I travelled to Calgary, Canada. You do the mileage...
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I pretty much know when to stop...
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Ooooo-klahomawherethewindcomessweepindowntheplain...
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? A very precocious little girl featured in LIFE magazine the month before my birth.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? During the last scene of BBC's 'The Choir', just now. I love hearing kids singing.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? It's okay but it's rather inconsistent.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Tuna.
5. HAVE YOU ANY CHILDREN? Yes, non-biological but I gladly claim them.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, but I would bitch about me behind my back. I know I would.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not a lot. I prefer irony.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yes, feet first from a height of two stories where there is a huge pile of sand below me. I've got it all planned out!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Grape Nuts or oatmeal.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Pistachio.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Eyes, smile.
15. RED OR PINK? I like pink, I do.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I snore. It annoys me.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO DO THIS MEME? Sure, what the hell.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black and blacker.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Veggie shepherd's pie.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The sound of a fireworks display at a nearby park.
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Black.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? SO's neck, freshly shampoo'd Wonder Pup, line-dried laundry and clean sheets, magic marker, baking brownies.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU SPOKE TO ON THE PHONE? SO, this afternoon.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO MADE YOU DO THIS STUPID MEME? Aw. Yeah.
26. WHICH SPORT DO YOU ENJOY WATCHING MOST? Cricket. I haven't a clue how it's scored though.
27. HAIR COLOR? Reddish-brown.
28. EYE COLOR? Hazel.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACT LENSES? Daily.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Baguette dipped in hot Camembert cheese, salad with rocket and mustard vinaigrette,
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Neither.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Blade Runner.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Black.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Both.
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Either, especially when caught off guard.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Queen of Puddings or Sticky Toffee Pudding
39. WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU READING NOW? Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
40. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't do mouse. Don't do pad.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? No TV last night. Watched movie (No. 32) instead.
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Tide coming in on Brighton Beach. The sound of water moving all those stones back and forth is fantastic!!
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Stones, definitely.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Whilst living in Boston I travelled to Munich, Germany and Florence, Italy. Whilst living in London I travelled to Krakow, Poland. Whilst growing up in New Mexico I travelled to Calgary, Canada. You do the mileage...
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I pretty much know when to stop...
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