Miles to Go Before I Sleep

2011-11-08T08:47:00.001-06:00

The countdown had begun. A hush swept over the crowd as the truck came into view pulling its massive load. They had waited generations for this. Families and travelers, friends and strangers stood shoulder to shoulder, huddling together to conserve heat. A cheer started at the fringe of the tightly packed group as the twenty person crew came into view. The cold and damp displaced by hope.

9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-Lift Off. The ISS Argo burst toward the heavens and was on its way to the Rens system at the edge of the Universe. Humanity's last chance.

Wow...

2009-11-16T12:19:00.002-06:00

It's almost been a year since my last entry. I haven't forgotten just haven't had the time or anything important to say.

The DC metro is home now. I can't dream of living anywhere else in this point in my life. School is going and work is going. Just the daily grind I guess. I do miss my family, but that's the way it goes when one decides to strike out for themselves. Oh well.

OOOOHH....there have been new shows though! Of course there are always new shows.
So you have to watch Glee on Fox and Castle on ABC.
Dollhouse was a bust, but V looks promising.

just an fyi....
< src='http://www.fancast.com/tv/Three-Rivers/104635/1332241573/Three-Rivers---The-Luckiest-Man/embed?skipTo=0' width='420' height='382' scrolling='no' frameborder='0'>

New Places

2008-10-11T11:49:00.002-05:00

It's been about a month since I moved here. It's different, but not.
There are a lot more people here. The morining commute can be hellish, especially if one takes the Metro. I now understand what people mean when they say "packed in like sardines".

I haven't really had a chance to go exploring. I've gotten lost plenty of times, but not in any fun neighborhoods. I have had plenty of ....wait someone just ordered a 'quad shot, very dry cappucino" what is that? What does very dry mean?

Okay, I was going to write that I have had plenty of 'huh?' moments. At times when I've seen something interesting I've taken pics with my phone (if it wasn't too intrusive or rude), but most of the time I take too long processing a moment so by the time I think of taking a picture it's too late.

Musings

2008-02-21T02:37:00.001-06:00

Here's the thing...

It's almost 2.30 in the morning and I'm no closer to falling a sleep now than I was at 10. I can't sleep, but I'm not being very productive, either. I blame it on the weather. Then again I blame everything on the weather.

For most people discussing the weather is a desperate refuge when a conversation is verging on the un---comfortable. Not in good ole Oklahoma though. In OK the weather is headline news and the fool is he who leaves his house without first watching the weather report. A day with a high of 60 degrees can drop to below freezing in the amount of time it takes a regular person to enjoy a triple grande non-fat caramel macchiato at the local Starbucks.

Hmmm...maybe that's why I can't sleep. All of that caffeine. Yet, if I didn't have at least two cups of coffee a day I would not be able to function. And there begins the slippery slope to addiction.

Oh well, at least the writers strike is over. I'm glad they got something, eventhough it's not exactly what they wanted. They can renegotiate in three years. In the meantime, I won't feel guilty over watching my shows on the interwebs.

Nope...still not sleepy....

in a handbasket

2008-01-22T17:17:00.000-06:00

In todays 24 hour news cycle, watching the news gives more of a sense over doom and gloom instead of just a sense of getting the news.
what i learned today: THE WORLD ECONOMY IS ABOUT TO COLLAPSE, MRSA CANNOT BE STOPPED,THE BRITISH GOVCERNMENT HAS JOINED THE RANKS OF NATIONS THAT DON'T TELL THEIR EMPLOYEES NOT TO LEAVE THEIR LAPTOPS IN THE CAR, MUSHARRAF IS LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE, THE OSCARS MAY BE CANCELLED DUE TO THE WRITERS, strike, and ITS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE.

Life as we know it

2008-01-04T23:45:00.000-06:00

Here's the thing.

I like the way things are going. The thesis is coming along nicely. I'm involved in the community both through work and through the organized religion thing.
I keep busy. I'm going to teach two classes tomorrow. I'll be leading both assemblies. I'm going to the student council with the time line pics.

I'm feel like I'm making a difference through work, but I feel like there is still something I am meant to do. Something huge that is missing.

that or it could just be the fever talking...

The break that wasn't

2007-12-26T21:18:00.000-06:00

Here's the thing...
Winter break between semester is supposed to be a time to recharge. I know this, but this break has been anything but restful. First there was the "ICE STORM OF THE CENTURY". My parents and sisters (who have moved back to the city) lost power on Monday and were forced to spend the night in my little apartment. My finals were cancelled, but my sisters still had to study for and take theirs. Imagine trying to do that in a crowded one bedroom apartment. Having my family over wasn't bad at all. It was kinda fun. When I was very young I remember living in a tiny one bedroom apartment. It didn't seem tiny then, but looking back it couldn't have been much bigger than my apartment now.

No, having my family over was no big deal. On Friday I received an emergency call, " All available personnel were needed at the shelter." Huh? Then it hit me. I had signed up for the medical reserve corps months ago, and then forgot about it. I had never attended any of the meetings, and had put MRC out of my mind. So the call was kinda out of the blue. Anyway they needed volunteers at the shelter so I showed up.

I was not prepared. Everyone from the homeless to middle class families who ran out of money for hotels were camped out next to each other. All races, all classes, all temperaments. People were checking in and checking out. Everybody anxious about when they could get home.

The convention center was turned into a makeshift shelter for four hundred people. Cots were lined up in rows. Families in the center, single men on along one wall, and single women along the opposite wall. Another huge hall was set up as the common room/ cafeteria. Four flat screen tv's were on at all times. There was a child care center set up by the Baptist Convention. They also provided all of the food. There was a police command center with computer banks and squawking radios. The Red Cross had set up the actual shelter and were checking people in and out. MRC and EMSA shared another room there curtained exam rooms, a makeshift dispensary, paramedics, nurses, mental health workers, doctors, medical students, and general volunteers (like me) taking turns responding to any challenges. Rounds were made. Minor and major emergencies were taken care of. A lot of people getting breathing treatments, needing things for minor aches and pains. There were diabetics who hadn't taken their medications for days, and who had blood sugar levels over three hundred. Broken arms and fractured legs. Elevated blood pressures. A stroke. A heart attack. A girl went into premature labor. A woman hadn't moved for a day and a half ( she was fine). Bipolar boy who was definitely in the manic phase. Infections for which we did not have and could not get antibiotics because the infections weren't considered life threatening (yet). A few people who needed new clothes, because of incontinence. (Guess who had to clean all of that up.) All of that in the first two hours I was there. The shelter was in it's fourth day.

There were many people who had run out of their medication, and the shuttle service that was set up took some home or to a pharmacy if they had their rx and money. There were a lot of people that didn't have the money and they went without. Went without necessary but not really necessary medications. I mean how much harm can going without your blood pressure medication for a few days do? There were some that went to the ER.

There were doctors volunteering part of the time, but there were only nurses and paramedics when I was there....well there was that first year medical student. Yeah.
The volunteers were awesome and many of them knew one another. I was very impressed by the way things were being run.

Everybody was surprisingly calm and gracious. People were nice to each other. Friendships were made. Apparently romance was also in the air I know of two couples that met at the shelter and subsequently left together. There was one lady who tried to guilt me into running errands for her talking about mysterious illnesses and what not....I'm so past being gullible.

I was exhausted by the end, but it was a good kind of tired. The tired you get when you feel like you actually did something to make a difference.

But.....that was just the first week of break.

Friday in my haste to get to the hospital to see a client I did something stupid, but she died right there holding my hand. So my stupidity doesn't matter.

Malls opened early and stayed open late the weeks leading up to Christmas. I had promised to help my mother at her store. Compared to what she does day in and day out, open to close my little contribution was paltry. I was falling asleep on my feet by the end of all of it.

Christmas day was spent in meetings for Golden Voyage. Today I went to work and did work for this Sunday. I can't wait for school to start.

Oh yeah I finished my Thesis survey.

But i feel useful for the first time in a long time.

2007-08-31T16:31:00.000-05:00

This is what I get for being all poetical the last time.

There is a 1 billion lightyear wide 'void' of nothingness in the universe!

Radio astronomers have found the biggest hole ever seen in the universe. The void, which is nearly a billion light years across, is empty of both normal matter and dark matter. The finding challenges theories of large-scale structure formation in the universe.

That sound? It's me crashing to earth.

You can't take the sky from me

2007-08-31T00:30:00.000-05:00

Ever look at the sky? On a clear night it's a blanket of sparkles. I'm not much for constellations and naming stars. I know the sun. I know the moon. I can usually tell the difference between a star and a planet.

I look out and see the infinity. I can see the past, y'know. I can see the possiblities for the future. We may be here or not here, but that vast beyond that cannot be described as nothingness or a void, will always be there. Some may speak of an elastic universe or a finite universe, but that doesn't matter. It won't end. It's God and Creation.

I have a strong belief that there is life out there in the vastness. We can't be so very self-centered and believe that we are the only ones in all of creation.

So no matter where I go, I'll can look up and get away.
You can't take the sky from me.

Wal-mart

2007-08-26T23:42:00.000-05:00

I was the only shopper at walmart today. Yes I'm serious. It was surreal. It was also 4.30 in the morning, so it felt like just me and the dedicated employees of the 24 hour mega mart. They're not very friendly first thing in the morning.

Also, I've fallen into the cultural black hole that is "Desperate Housewives". I tried to hold off for as long as I could. I remember being appalled when I first learned about the show. The title sounded so vulgar and crass; so Soapy. I avoided it at every turn. Then I heard that one of my favorite actors, Nathan Fillion, was going to be a regular on the show next season. So I tuned in tonight and was surprised. It was funny, it was layered, it was weird, and maybe just maybe there is something to all the hype. I mean I gave Gray's Anatomy a chance didn't I. Currently I'm watching season 3 online. (Don't judge)

Going back to the thesis.

the good and the bad

2007-08-24T14:12:00.001-05:00

Here's the thing.

Good news: the transcript thing got fixed. I'm applying to medical school. All of the people I love in my life are doing well.

In other news
I have severe writer's block. I cannot seem to get the story I have in my head onto paper!

I can not be motivated to do anything at all. Not school work not housework, not reading or writing....

This lethargy thing feels so debilitating.

oh well maybe next time i'll be more peppy!

Yaad

2007-08-22T21:27:00.000-05:00

Here's the thing.

I've been doing this HIV presentation thing for almost a year now. One would think that I would have the giggles and slips of the tongue under control. Yeah one would think. I still feel like a complete adolescent when someone asks what a dental dam is and I have to explain. Ugh the agony...or when I'm being totally completely serious and telling the crowd that they must take charge of their lives. Being HIV free is their choice. If they don't get educated they are playing with themselves and their lives...this got a really big laugh...they rolled on the floors y'all and it took me a while to get it.
I thank God for MAC, and that I'm not fair complexioned. Meanwhile, I think this is one my best presentations.

Other things that have gone wrong? Well there was that tire of mine that blew out. That was fun. My transcript thing isn't settle even thought I've been assured that it's an A I got in the class and not an F (an F in and ethics course what does that say about me?) ...there's also some stuff about betrayal and what not but then you'll accuse me of being all drama.

Thesis research is coming along nicely. Applications to my various schools have been sent out. After a wicked busy summer, I'll be settling into a wicked busy fall. Serenity Collectors Edition is out and I should get mine soon! I've two copies so if you want one just ask and I'll give it you.

Get onto facebook and add me as a friend if you are serious about keeping in touch. I'm excited about Golden Jubilee. Hopefully I will be able to serve this year. It doesn't matter in what capacity as long as I can do something useful.

This is a magical year, y'all. Let's make the most of it.

Ye dil tum bin kahee lag ta nahi hum kya kare?

Summer TV

2007-08-02T13:59:00.000-05:00

Remeber when summer tv was a wasteland of reruns, infomercials, reality tv, and mini series by the big three networks? Well not anymore my friends. Thanks to the advent of cable tv and the creativity one must put into cable programming so that people will watch, shows such as Eureka, Psych and Monk make summer tv so much more bearable (sp?) and watchable. They are all available on itunes,too.
Like light summer novels these shows are not all dark and angsty. Neither weighty nor too deep. They are plain fun escapist entertainment. Great to wind down after a long summer day full of fun or not so fun stuff.
I highly recommend all three.

Disgruntled? Of course not! I'm completely gruntled.

2007-05-03T01:00:00.000-05:00

OH MY GOD! How much am I hating my job right now? Now don't get me wrong. The job in and of itself is good. I like what I do. The actual job, when there is something to do is great. I like working with people. The counseling and the testing and the educating...great. What I am completely HATING is the coordinator. A friend once told me that I was passive-aggressive, that I never just came out and said what I was thinking or feeling or whatever. I agree that at that particular time with that particular person I exhibited passive-aggressive tendencies. Fine. I own up to that, but my behavior was nothing compared to that of my supervisor. Seriously, it's as though there is always something that can be done better or was not done correctly...by me. Case in point: I had failed to check a specific box on a form in a particular chart. She was entering the chart into the system. When she came across that she called me away from my ACTUAL JOB for me to fix it. That may not seem bad, everybody makes mistakes right? Right. I'm not perfect, and neither is she...which she would know if I ever pointed out all of the slight clerical errors in her paperwork. Now this may seem childish, but she is forever ragging on everybody else. So and so did this wrong. So and so can't fill out a form. Ugh! Sly and manipulative. I thought I had met every sort of person, but I had never met anyone like her. I learned yesterday that she has been complaining to our supervisor about my lack of work ethic. ME! Seriously! I cannot believe this. There is such a strong possibility that this woman will get me in trouble that I get stressed out! I haven't been able to move my neck for the last two days! Yes, I'm using exclamation points! Don't even start! Also, she is forever trying to show me how smart she is. Ummm....I don't care! I so cannot wait until I get my degree and move onto what I am really supposed to do with my life.

It's karma.
I should have told my sister how much I love and respect her, but I never did. Now, it's too late. I should have told my friends the importance they held in my life, but I didn't and now...well...

Oh...Lord...please let this my acceptance come soon! I also want to win the lottery, and get my book published.

Oh, and to complete this week! Yes. The whole wedding, getting married thing is a go. I don't know how I can get myself out of this one.

to you moms

2007-04-25T19:02:00.000-05:00

This is just to let you know that when you come up to me and ask for a favor because your kid won't "learn" from you I don't believe you and I think that you are totally not doing your job as a parent. There I said it (in the anonymity of the interweb).

Your kid learns from you all the time, especially when you aren't looking. So if your kid is acting up, it really is your fault: because in my experience most kids are very understanding if you treat them like people and talk to them rather than yelling at them all the time. Of course the kid won't sit still when you forcibly have her sit with you then try to drill some boring bit of "knowledge" into her brain. You're not being any fun and are scary, so the kid will try to get away. Also, comparing your child to someone else is not going to make him try harder, so quit it. Your kid is friggin' unique for a very good reason. Let him be that way.

That being said hugs and great big smiles work wonders, as do words of encouragement and appreciation. A "good job" , 'thank you', 'your so special' work wonders on most kids. But see you have to know when to praise and when to teach. If your kid is doing something wrong don't yell at her, but don't praise her for being your perfect princess either. Teach her in a gentle, understanding manner.

So, no, I will not teach your kid manners and I definitely am not potty training that monster you call a two year old. But if I see your kid doing something stupid I'm calling him and you on it. So heads up!

Good luck with everything!

Bismillah

2007-04-23T01:11:00.000-05:00

Bismillah

It's the habit of yours to walk slowly.

You hold grudge for years.

With such heaviness, how can you be modest?

With such detachments, do you expect to arrive anywhere?

Be wide as the air to learn a secret.

Right now your're equal portions clay

and water, thick mud.

Abraham learned how the sun and the moon and the stars all set.

He said, No longer will I try to assign partners for God

You are so weak. Give up to grace.

The ocean takes care of each wave till it gets to shore.

You need more help than you know.

You're trying to live your life in open scaffolding.

Say Bismillah, In the name of God,

as the priest does with a knife when he offers an animal.

Bismillah your old self

to find your real name.

It's time to start again. Can't go forward until the past is let go. I just found my Rumi book o' poems, Bismillah struck a chord. So...

Let's move forward....Bismillah

Cultural Sensitivities

2007-03-07T18:32:00.000-06:00

Lately I've had an opportunity to interact with all sort of different people. From my experiences I have learned that not everybody has a sense of humor. Not everybody understands my sense of humor. In fact, precious few actually 'get' what I say. That is just depressing. And, NO it is not a cultural thing. This spans cultures, ethinicities, and sexual orientation. Oh well I guess I'm just destined to be misunderstood.

My job has me doing a lot of field work in places I never thought I would ever visit. Last night was a presentation and testing at rehab in the middle of nowhere. There were eighty men six months into an eighteen month in-patient treatment schedule. It was interesting. Okay, it was other things than just interesting. It was a learning experience. There were all types of men there: professionals, minorities, guys that just seemed down on their luck. There was boy that had just turned 18.

After the initial education presentation, there was a private and confidential one-on-one. The stories were just heartbreaking, but ultimately they all had realized that they needed help and they had found their way to this treatment center in the woods ( which does not have many outside lights. A difficult time was had in getting back to the car.)

I also learned that the guys at my old school are more conservative than the girls. Frat boys that came in talking the talk, obviously didn't walk the walk. I know no judgement, but hey I'm still learning. And NO I'm not stereotyping...gah...you should hear what they talk about when waiting for a test. Disgusting. Collecting data and whatnot. Health Fairs are the best for collecting data and learning about the human condtion. *g*

Tomorrow night: Health Fair at a charter school. This should be fun.

And speaking of culture and background and experience how does one plan a successful wedding that incorporates aspects from different cultures? Is it a good idea have friends and family from different cultures at the actual wedding ceremony or should they just be invited to the reception? What about all of the pre-wedding ceremonies? Should there be programs with descriptions of the ceremonies? Or am I just over-thinking this? Eesh!

Also, I think my gaydar's broken.

Until next time

everything that changes stays the same

2007-03-06T00:39:00.000-06:00

I went on my first field test today. All by myself. It was at my old school. I never miss places, because I know that I can still have contact with the people I have met at those places. This was different. I don't keep in contact with anyone anymore. Not from there, and when I drove into the parking lot I was hit with such a feeling of longing that I was a little queasy and unsteady on my feet.

It's funny what a place can do to a person. The place is still the same, and if you don't pay attention the people all look the way they did way back when, but it isn't the same. The kids are all different. Trying to get somewhere, but ending up looking back at what was. Looking to the future, while forsaking the present.

It took me a few minutes, but I figured out who I was and what I was supposed to do. My time there was unremarkable. I went back to the office, and it was like I had crossed over into another universe. That ever happen to you? It has never happened to me before today, and I'll make sure it never happens again.

Little Mosque on the Prairie

2007-01-17T22:41:00.000-06:00

So someone finally figured out that muslims and all of our problems are universally funny.
The CBC in Canada premiered "Little Mosque on the Prairie" last week and I finally found clips. Check out the link. It is so very funny.

And it's the scientist guy from " My Secret Identity", so it has to be cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu2-lXDe2to

Free at last!

2006-12-15T18:25:00.000-06:00

It's over! This semester is officially done. Now I concentrate on the more important things in life: sleep and finding a suitable job. Not neccessarily in that order.

so much to do so little time

2006-10-22T01:53:00.000-05:00

It's getting later and later. I've been functioning on about four hours worth of sleep a night for the past few days and it's wreaking havoc on my system because a few days before that I was averaging around nine. Now I cannot fall asleep.

The elections are coming up and as much as I try not to listen to the politicos and not have an opinion I can't help but hear sound bytes and then have go do research on the topics that interest me...that in turn eats into the whole getting enough sleep thing...oh well...Miles to go before I sleep...

I should feel lucky that I have time to do anything at all.

A longtime ago we used to be friends...

2006-09-22T16:16:00.000-05:00

That is the first line from a song by The Dandy Warhols. Ever have a song or a line from a song just kind of loop in your head and you don't know what to do about it... until you do? Well, my thinking is that if I write about it and how it's making me nostalgic for things and people I have known I could rest in peace...well not Rest In Peace...I'm over that...really!
It's also the theme song from Veronica Mars. If you haven't seen the show now is the time to begin watching! A whole new season, a whole new mystery. Escapist TV at it's best.

Don't forget Firefly!

I don't know exactly which Sufi teaching this is...

2006-07-31T15:36:00.000-05:00

“Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten. And seeing them...he cried, 'Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?'... God said, 'I did do something. I made you.' -Sufi Teaching

Okay Fine!

2006-07-12T03:11:00.000-05:00

After receiving countless e-mails from y'all I want to say that you, my friends know who you are! So stop fretting and making snarky comments, cuz I will post them and then laugh at you and your insecurities! ( wait...don't go away!!! I won't I promise! =D)

Nothing much going on this week. There is a guerilla ad campaign going on for Serenity the sequel or the re-launch of Firefly.

Of course most of you heard about the building in NY. How can you hate a person that much that you would destroy not only yourself, but play with the lives of others just to get revenge? Then there were the bomb blasts in Mumbai. The group has 'loose connections' to Alquaida. What does that even mean? I have 'loose connections' to Warren Buffett because my computer runs on Microsoft Windows.

I know that it seems that the world is going to Hell in a handbasket, but we have a tendency to sensationalize the scandalous, because that sells. We haven't heard about the people that help in homeless shelters or who donate their time to free clinics, because who cares about philanthropy?
But don't despair the world has gone on and it will continue, we just have to continue not to fight the good fight, but to help as many people that we can.

Friends, Romans, countrymen

2006-07-11T00:02:00.000-05:00

Did anyone else have to memorize that soliloquy from "Julius Caesar"? I was sitting in class today and drifted off into a daydream and all of a sudden I was in the play as Marc Antony.

Ever meet people who you think you'll be life-long friends with, but they just end up as "some person I hung out with in college" and then you meet people who you think will just be " some person I hung out with in college", but they become dear friends? Isn't it strange the sorts of people TPTB bring into your life. Some people you're grateful to have gotten the chance to have known and others, when you think about them you wonder what you were thinking when you spent so much precious time with them. Just musings...that's all this is.

I've been in a contemplative mood of late. Looking back, I could have done a lot differently, but your experiences make you who you are right?

An ode to Cadbury dairy milk fruit and nut chocolate bars

2006-07-07T23:25:00.000-05:00

(Okay, so it's not really an ode)

Cadbury fruit and nut bars are the best candy bar in the world. I'm talking about the ones you get overseas or from the duty free shops in airports. The Cadbury found in the US does not compare to the chocolately goodness found in the original.

Okay, now that I have shared my love. I can sleep in peace.
My living room is complete today. I can now officially have guests over. Yes the dining room chairs look like old office furniture, but it is still a place to sit and all. And it's all about the family and friends and stuff right? Right? Fine, be that way, but I'll still be hospitable even if you sneer at my furniture.

de-Motivated

2006-07-05T23:33:00.000-05:00

I have so much to do. Papers to write, languages to learn and I simply cannot motivate myself to actually sit down and start. I love the idea of finishing things before deadline, but I always do things last minute, just because I can't get motivated early enough to finish things.

For those of you wondering the table tennis tournament was a success, snaps are up.
Happy belated fourth to all. We missed the fireworks this year due to technical difficulties that I will not go into, because it will just upset me.

ugh...MOTIVATION? ARE YOU OUT THERE?

Shukar Al-Hamdullillah

2006-06-29T09:51:00.000-05:00

I finally got my car back. By the grace of God it wasn't too damaged. My pocket book is lighter, but because I have wonderful parents who offered to pay half it's not so much lighter. It was indeed the radiator, but what can you expect from an eleven yo car.

I've been mulling over some things for the last few days. I'm delighted that Warren Buffett has decided to give a large chunk of his fortune to charity to fund education and public health. My two main causes (equality and empowerment for women is also one, but I believe that if you give women education and good health the rest will come naturally). So it makes me smile.

And....(edited to add: Yes it is a huge rumor!)
Y'all also know that I'm a huge Joss Whedon fan and have been eagerly awaiting news on his Wonder Woman script and casting. In addition to being a Joss fan I also love Bollywood films (That's Indian film musicals for those of you who don't know what bollywood is. Do a google search to find out more. I'm sure there's a wiki somewhere.) So imagine my surprise when I found this.
I understand that it could just be a huge rumor. In fact it probably is. When I first saw it I was against it, because the girl's beautiful and all, but can she act to the satisfaction of the Whedonverse? Then my bollywood fangirl jumped up and started squeeing 'cuz a desi Priyanka Chopra in a Hollywood film!

Enough of this I better get back to studying.

tales from the ER

2006-06-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

The next time a cockroach crawls in your ear while you are sleeping, be sure to stick your finger in your ear and plug it so it can't get out then run to the ED for us to take it out. Then, as I squirt viscous lidocaine into your ear canal, tell me how gross that feels!
~Courtesy of SDN

Something similar happend at HFF...or was it ER?

So you want to take healthcare away from children?

2006-06-27T12:19:00.000-05:00

Yup, you read it right. Some California lawmakers don't want to make healthcare available to any immigrant not matter what his age...because you know they're all felons and breaking the law by being in this country.

What next? Are we going to stop allowing them in public schools? Or...gasp...will we make them pay for education? So much for pursuing "the American Dream".
What happened to
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Are we taking it back? Or was that only for those that came via Ellis Island?

Two A-holes at a Crime Scene

2006-06-27T00:27:00.000-05:00

Here is the latest Two A-holes skit. I normally don't like Kevin Spacey (except for the Usual Suspects), but he did a good job here. I now tune in to watch this skit. My sisters and I pray that it will be as big as the Spartans, Coneheads, two guys, etc. Hi-larious!

Got this as an e-mail...

2006-06-24T23:21:00.000-05:00

and thought to post it rather than e-mail it to everyone I know.

As you might know, the head of a company survived
9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was
his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her
alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike
because of an auto accident.

One of them
missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take
time to change.

One's
car wouldn't start.

One went back to
answer the telephone.

One had a
child that dawdled
and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn't
get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man
who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,
took the various means to get to work
but before he got there, he developed
a blister on his foot.
He stopped at a drugstore ! to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am
stuck in traffic,
miss an elevator,
turn back to answer a ringing telephone...
all the little things that annoy me.
I think to myself,
this is exactly where
God wants me to be
at this very moment..
Next time your morning seems to be
going wrong,
the children are slow getting dressed,
you can't seem to find the car keys,
you hit every traffic light,
don't get mad or frustrated;
God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you
with all those annoying little things
and may you remember their possible purpose.
Pass this on to someone else, if you'd like.
There is NO LUCK attached.
If you delete this, it's okay:
God's Love Is Not Dependent On
E-Mail !!
(that's the cool part)AMEN
I get a lot of these and rarely post them or forward them, but this caught my attention.

I sometimes have the same thought that even though I didn't plan on ending up where I am today it probably means something and that it is the best place for me to be right now.

I won't give up the good fight. I know in my heart what I really want and I'll achieve that goal. Who'll stick it out with me?

On a similar thread

2006-06-17T14:32:00.000-05:00

Okay so after my early morning rant on fanfic I came across this article which talks about how the author of "Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today's Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter" states...well just that. So I guess fanfic is just a what you get when you have increased mental capacity and a lot of time on your hands.

Fan Fic

2006-06-17T03:03:00.000-05:00

Have any of you read fanfic or filk? I don't really know what filk is, but fan fiction make me squint my eyes and shake my head in confusion. Now, I'm not talking about something I know nothing about. I admit that I have read my share of fanfic. I know certain people (you know who you are) that absolutely love the stuff and they are always sending me links to the newest story that they just loved because it "captured the characters so well". I wonder what some people are thinking when they decide that it would be a good idea to have a "Honeymooners/Battlestar Galactica" crossover (No, I haven't actually read such a cross-over, but you get my point).

From the considerable research that I have conducted. I have found that most fanfic writers are teenagers with a lot of time on their hands. They write for their friends. They write for themselves. They think they are talented. They want to put various pairs together i.e. Simon and Jayne from Firefly. Some writers like to insert themselves into the story, become the hero or love interest.

There are fanfiction contests out there. There are entire databases. You can find comedy, drama, angst (there's a lot of angst), parody. Some are a few paragraphs long. Others would rival War and Peace for length. There are ratings, just like the movies. G through the adult content that's mostly well...smutty. Most of it is ridiculous.
I'm sure that there are some great writers in the webverse that like to write about their favorite characters, and I recently, reluctantly read one that was recommended to my by a friend that wasn't half-bad. For the most part though...meh.

Now this isn't is quite a rant against fan fiction, because..hey...whatever floats your boat, but put your creativity to some good use. If you want to be a writer make up your own characters, your own universe, etc. If you insist on writing fanfic, take a writing class, stay true to characters...heck you can get a list of fanfic rules out there on the web. Be sure that you have someone (good) edit your story and be sure to remain consistent and coherent. But most importantly please, please, please, don't ask me to edit. Please?

Also, who thought up fan vids?

New Job

2006-06-09T14:19:00.000-05:00

So, now I'm officially looking for a new job. Even though I have hope for this one I think that looking won't hurt. I think that now I want to work at a hospital, maybe as a unit clerk or something to that effect.

It's surreal, but what can I do about it? This isn't the first time in history someone has lost a job through no fault of her own and it won't be the last.

On another topic...
Ding Dong the witch is dead... after two bombs were dropped on him. I wonder if the flying monkeys will be able to regroup. I hope not, but with the situation as it is who really knows anything. I notice how the admin isn't declaring victory and popping champagne corks as they did before. It's heartening when people learn from their mistakes.

And the FIFA World Cup starts today in Germany.
Even though I want the US to win Brazil's got Ronaldhino

Until next time

so I can add a pic

2006-06-03T15:49:00.000-05:00

The Hero of Canton

2006-05-24T15:42:00.000-05:00

As I sat here at my wonderful job completely bored out of my mind (yes, I know there aren't boring situations only boring people...) I answered the phone. The person on the other end asked for info and I gave her the regular we help-you-get-medication spiel. She asked for an application and went on to give me her address. When she got to her city (Canton) it took everything in me not to start singing "He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor/Stood up to the Man and he gave him what for/Our love for him now ain't hard to explain/The Hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne!"
But I was giggling and I'm sure that potential client thought me quite mad.
I had to get this out or else it would have just looped in my mind all day.

The Plight of Models in Milan

2006-05-22T12:28:00.000-05:00

Models Strike

This week models, photographers and other fashion industry workers were striking against lack of government control of the Fashion Industry in Milan. What is the world coming to when even the fashionistas aren't getting what they deserve? We really must begin setting things right. This is unacceptable! Never mind child labor in developing countries, the war in Iraq, immigration issues, the bird flu, Madonna's new tour, healthcare in the US, or the atrocities in Darfur...no, no, no get the fashion industry in Milan under government regulation! STAT!!!

Crossroads of life

2006-05-20T01:22:00.000-05:00

You don't have to live in the big city to see that the world is a terribly small place. We people mix with each other and are constantly taking and learning from other cultures and societies.
It may seem that in the world today we become more and more isolated as our fear of the unknown grows.

We are human beings and that of which we have little or no knowledge scares us ...a lot. We lash out like wounded animals, but we aren't merely animals. We are human. Being human we are very resilient and very flexible. We take what works for us and leave the rest.

I have been working at the mall lately filling in while the owners are away. I look across the counters and see that even though at an international level we seem to be isolated we are very much connected at a local level.

Upon entering the mall you see South Asians working side-by-side with North Africans. Actually its a veritable rainbow. You see everybody. I met a Ukrainian the other day. He was walking around the mall with his Vietnamese girlfriend.

Interracial couples are everywhere. It's no big deal. Goths and preps share the same table. Rich and not so rich shop at the same retailers. People from all walks of life (what does that really mean) love gyros.

Some people you will see in the mall every weekend. For others a trip to the mall is an event that they plan. I talked to a family who had driven 'in from the country' to shop for a prom dress.

All that said ,this is just an observation of what I'll call the microcosm of the mall. An ecosystem, of sorts. Self-contained.

It's not much, but looking out into the mall across the counter I feel a sense of hope that not all is lost. We still have a chance. No matter what happens people will figure out a way to stay people. We all have our ups and downs, but in the end no matter what our color or nationality we are people. We deal. We learn. We adapt. The unknown won't stay that way forever, especially with all the mixing we can't keep ourselves from doing.

We'll be alright. The world may not become a better place, but we human beings will keep the monsters at bay.

More Firefly/Serenity Love

2006-05-02T22:37:00.000-05:00

Even now people are discovering one of the best television shows ever made. Seriously people if you haven't seen the show and the movie you have to get going! Time's a wasting!

SNL- Two A-holes

2006-04-27T11:00:00.000-05:00

I've been watching Saturday Night Live intermittently for years, but the 2000 elections made me a true fan. They have some awesome skits and digital shorts. Everyone loved the "Narnia" Lazy Sunday short with Chris Parnel and Andy Samberg. You can't forget Sean Connery parodies on Jeopardy, Debbie Downer, Two Wild and Crazy Guys, the Coneheads...I could go on and on.
I would like to add Two A-holes to the favorites. They are a married couple played by Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis. The two have a tendency to be completely removed from reality. What makes the skits hilarious isn't necessarily the situations or even the writing. It's all in the delivery. Jason and Kristen know how to deliver. Here is a link to the skit with Jack Black ( second from last). You'll need a Quicktime player.

The last skit with Matt Damon wasn't as funny as the initial one with Jack Black, but it wasn't because of Jason or Kristen. I can't wait for more of the Two A-holes.

Students Turn to ADHD Drugs, Caffeine to Study - News

2006-04-25T23:44:00.000-05:00

Students Turn to ADHD Drugs, Caffeine to Study - News

Family is Awesome!

2006-04-11T21:34:00.000-05:00

So today had been going great! Actually it still is great save for one hiccup earlier today. After leaving work I headed to UCO to take an exam. All was well up until I parked my car and turned off the engine.

I usually put my keys directly into my purse or keep them in hand until I get out of the car. I don't lock the door until I check that I have my keys and my cell phone. I don't know what got into me today, but when I took my keys out of the engine, I put them on the seat next to me! I didn't realize what I had done until I had locked the doors and slammed them shut.

I had popped the trunk so I had access to my books, and access to the backs of the seats. I had the the great IDEA that I could get into my car through the trunk so what did I do? I climbed into the trunk to get it open. Of course it didn't work and what happened instead was that I suddenly realized that if a gust of wind (it was very windy today) happened to close my trunk I would be stuck in the trunk of my car. So what did I do? I got out and then proceeded to lean into the trunk my legs sticking out while my torso was wedged under the back hood thingy..so why was I not worried that a gust of wind would force the trunk closed and chop me in half you might ask. I don't know.

Well nothing came of that so I then did what I dreaded. I called my mother and told her what happened. Thankfully there was no screaming or yelling...I don't know why I expect that. I haven't been yelled at in ages. ( I probably just jinxed myself.) Well, my mother directed me to my beautiful Mei Mei who proceeded to save my hide. I didn't know it at the time ...I was taking a test, but my baby sister went home and found the spare key to my car. When I got out of the test (which in itself was weird) I called her. She was on her way. Forty-five minutes later there she was saving me from myself and a locksmith fee. What did she want in return you might ask? Not a thing. She hadn't eaten so I took her to the StuU and she ate cafeteria fastfood.

That was it. I know she won't hold this over my head or bring it up in the future. You only get this from family and those friend you have chosen to be family.

I feel so blessed.
sam

I should know better

2006-04-10T11:49:00.000-05:00

I hadn't been to this site in a while so I didn't realize what I was reading until nearly the middle of the article. It's hilarious and it just seemed kinda probable. So I didn't get the sarcasm and parody until the zygote part. Hee hee hee!

Danse a Bougival

2006-04-09T19:31:00.000-05:00

I love art. I love artistic people. I love impressionists. I love Renoir's work. I love Danse a Bougival.

I think I have loved this painting since I first saw it in a Trade magazine in the 8th grade. He has two other paintings with couples dancing, but they don't hold the same mesmerizing power that this one does. This one seems just so full of life and light.

I cannot say exactly why I like this painting. There is more to this than just the life and light. I don't know why this painting gives me such joy. It just does. I may appreciate art, but I guess I cannot verbalize what in a painting grabs me.

I smile each time I see this and am currently looking for a good quality affordable print.

Maybe it's the orange beard...or maybe the red bonnet...or ...I don't know....

2006-04-09T13:47:00.000-05:00

AOL has recently added In2TV to its services. It offers old tv shows, new movie trailers, and current music videos as well as recent tv clips. The concept of tv on the internet, free and legal tv on the internet, was intriguing; so I decided to check it out. If you want to watch in hi-def you need to install a plug-in and then things are very clear. You can't rewind or forward with the tv shows that you download, but that's okay because the shows they offer are those that I have loved since childhood.

They have cartoons like Histeria and Pinky and the Brain as well as old sitcoms, sci-fi, action adventure, and dramas. As I explored I had this sinking feeling of an obsession forming...drat!
They had nine episodes of one of my favorite shows, Scarecrow and Mrs. King!

I think I first started to watch on reruns, and looking back I don't think I actually understood all that was going on. I just knew that I really liked the idea of spies and good guys against the bad guys. I loved that Mrs. King was a normal person and wasn't cowed by the whole business of espionage, much to Scarecrow's chagrin.

Scarecrow aka Lee Stetson, what a cheesy name, but suitable for a world class spy. Hee! As I rewatched episodes I realized how completely hilarious the dialogue was. I laughed all the way through the pilot. After years of watching very good comedy on tv and honing my taste to what is funny and what is merely mundane or a lame attempt at comedy, I found myself greatly entertained by SCAMK. The delivery and use of dialogue measures up to what I find funny today, which for a show that many consider campy is odd.

The show often seems to poke fun at itself and Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson seem to be having so much fun in their roles. It's as if they know that the show gets cheesy, but all they want to do is to entertain you.

I find that I still love this show which is set in a time similar to ours, we were at war then too. The Cold War, where the bad guys were Russians that could look a lot like us, but have no fear our land was protected by likes of the world-class spy Scarecrow and his partner super mom, Mrs. Amanda King.

I hope they add more eps.

The world forgetting by the world forgot

2006-04-08T23:48:00.000-05:00

So I just finished watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and I was floored. It's late and I'm tired, but I cannot believe how I loved this story. Jim Carey is such a versitile actor. This is very stream of consiousness, but stay with me. The cinematography just captured me, as did the directing itself. It was as though I was the one dreaming with all of the strange settings...it was one of those ...hey this doesn't go here...why am I in my pj's at the Doctor's office kind of thing.
The emotions...oye...so well played...its a good movie when the actors don't look like they are acting, and in this movie it was as if I were looking into someones memories as they were being earased...isn't that what they wanted? Well mission accomplished.

I felt pulled out of the movie only two times. Once when Joel first went to Clementine's apartment and the Indian music was on, and that was only because the songs were some oldies sung by my favorite singers, so my brain was trying to work on Urdu and English at the same time. The other time I was pulled out of the movie was when Kirsten Dunst came on screen the first time, only because I don't think she can act and she reminds me of a volunteer at HFF that I always felt uncomfortable around.

So that is my take on ESOTSM...I highly recommend it.
Going to sleep now...

Oh, what a beautiful day!

2006-03-10T14:13:00.000-06:00

After the chilly, bleak gray day that was yesterday, today is a truly drop-down-on-your knees-and -thank- God -for- giving- you -senses days. It is beautiful outside not too hot or too cold. Not too windy or too still. The people are smiling and the birds are chirping and life is wonderful.

But then one stops and wonders about the plight of those less fortunate, whether they are here, in the US, and cannot afford their medications; or whether they are stuck in the strife in Darfur. I pray for them, but what good is prayer without true action. We could get the word out. Talk to people and open their eyes to what atrocities go on under this beautiful sun. What happens though when the people refuse to let their eyes be opened. They live in chosen ignorance and that cannot be a good for a people that live in a global village. I hope to someday go out into the world and help those that need help, but hopefully while I'm here I can help locally. Maybe you will, too.

This doesn't make today less beautiful, but it makes me more thankful for what I have and how much I can potentially help.
sam

Hee hee hee hee

2006-03-06T12:14:00.000-06:00

Now the NRA and those 2nd amendment lovers have one more statistic in their arsenal, but there go doctors. Just watch those malpractice insurance premiums jump...maybe I should switch career paths...hmmm

The World Outside My Window

2006-03-02T21:51:00.000-06:00

The World Outside My Window

How could I forget

2006-03-02T21:26:00.000-06:00

So I completely forgot to talk about the best part of the history museum. They have on loan from the Smithsonian the Gemini Capsule!!! When I saw the exhibit I almost...almost...jumped up and down like a little kid. The capsule itself was so small. It was smaller than the front seats of an average car. Not only that, but two grown men were strapped in it for weeks at a time. I couldn't contain my awe. There were so many buttons and switches. I know I was talking to myself by the time I finished with the exhibit.
The age of space exploration would never have happened or would have been slow to come had it not been for the space race and the subsequent missions such as the Apollo mission that got the US to the moon. Check out the online exhibits to the at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.
In my opinion the rest of the museum paled in comparison. I even bought little astronaut figures from the gift shop...hee hee hee.
sam

Medicine Day

2006-03-02T14:47:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was medicine day at the capitol. Medicine Day at the Capitol is sponsored in part by Pharma who sponsors us. My boss, a coworker, and I set up a booth thinking that all of these doctors would love to know how they could help their patients get free medications. I was so wrong.
First of all I noticed that in the room of at least 150 doctors and staff there were so few minorities that I could count them all on one hand. Second I noticed how everyone seemed so full of themselves. Humility was in short supply. I hope I don't end up like that...Please God I don't want to be a pompous jerk.
We set up before the lunch presentation and during lunch we watched a presentation by two lobbyists urging doctors to contact their senators and representatives on important legislation that concerned medicine, a presentation on tort reform, and a presentation on how the law makers should not allow certain professionals to perform procedures that they didn't go to school for. For instance optometrist (who have never been to medical school) should not be performing eye surgery and psychologists (same thing, never been to medschool) should not prescribe drugs. The speaker for tort reform was a man from Texas where tort reform has come a long way and has helped reduce malpractice insurance for physicians there. I was impressed how he included medical and osteopathic doctors in his speech.

So I learned a lot and the Museum of Oklahoma History is a very interesting building, but only three doctors stopped and asked about our program. It could be because we were set up in the back of the room or because their brains were full of other things. It may be best to contact their office managers and nurses.
I heard that the second shift was same.

After leaving the History Museum I decided that I was in a museum mood and headed over to the art museum. They had an exquisite temporary exhibit on Mexican masters and I was so moved by the opening piece that I had to actually sit down and stare at it for a few minutes. It was so beautiful and moving. ( The link doesn't show the entire piece, and I don't think that is the actual name, but you can continue looking if you wish)

I also saw the Chihully Exhibit and I know that in the past I have been critical about the museum spending so much to get such an exhibit. I was basing my opinions on the monolith of glass found in the foyer and that did nothing for me, but I have changed my mind because the exhibit itself is so exquisite and beautiful. The glass seems to be lit from within. The most breathtaking set-ups were the hall and the what I call the 'dr suess' vases of flowers. I take back every bad thing I've said about Chihully. If you have a chance go see the exhibit, and don't miss the chandelier made of waterford crystal that is tucked back by the theater.

Now, the Assani family is an odd lot of people, but I,Sam, am considered eccentric because I like museums....go figure.

That's it for now,
samola

Ports, Dubai and Security

2006-02-24T14:21:00.000-06:00

Recently, there has been a great uproar over a takeover of a British firm that controls certain ports in the United States. This in itself shouldn't be something to go batty over, but the takeover/merger is by the Arab emirate of Dubai. Ports all over the United States are handled by foreign companies and no one has yet to say anything about them, but the moment an Arab company buys the British company ( the Brits will still be controlling the port, their parent company will just be in Dubai and not England) everyone is screaming about national security.

It is understood on many levels that the ports of our country could stand to be more secure, but we mustn't be so closed minded as to think that this one merger will put our security in any danger.

The Washington Post and the New York Times have opposite stands on the issue. Make up your own mind.

I agree that we need to take steps in being more secure, but maybe we should not be picking on one of the few allies we have in that region.

Sam

Big Damn Heroes, Sir

2006-02-23T10:52:00.000-06:00

Those of you that really know me know that I am a closet scifi/action adventure fan. You know that I love shows like Buffy, Angel, and Fire Fly...and even some of the Star Trek series like TNG and DS9.

I also love TV in general, and I owe my very generic American accent and general inane knowledge to American television. I am never ever ever going to rag on TV. How can you not like something that gives you CNN, E!, Disney's, Discover, and the History Channel at your finger tips. I can learn about the world, history, celebrity gossip, and family friendly this is not the real world stuff. With satellite TV, I can even watch foreign channels!

There have been times in my life where I have been without TV access. (horrors) At that time I had to rely on recaps from a wonderful website called Television Without Pity. It is an awesome site and the recappers really love the stuff they do. Recently they put up a recap on the movie on the movie Serenity which is based on the show Firefly. Firefly was prematurely cancelled from the Fox Networks line up. The fan base was strong though so they came out with the movie. I saw the movie and it was enjoyable. TWOP has been kind enough to recap it here. I was so excited to see this, so I thought I would share. They have included just the right amount of snark and reverence.
enjoy,
sam

2006-02-22T13:59:00.000-06:00

I just came across this. It made me stop and think...maybe it will you too.

The winter Olympics

2006-02-21T13:17:00.000-06:00

It's sad that the winter Olympics doesn't get any respect (to channel Rodney Dangerfield), but seriously people...Curling? I understand that it is a traditional Scandinavian sport, but should it really be an actual competitive sport? Isn't it just like ice hockey but slower?

Also, ICE DANCING!!!!???!!!
I watched a few minutes of ice dancing as a friend and I were waiting for Grey's Anatomy to begin and I just don't understand how it figures into Olympic Sports. Granted the competitors were very fit, but the dancing was just that dancing. It would be like having ballroom dancing as a competitive sport for the summer Olympics. I love figure skating and I think that they are some of the most talented and gifted individuals I have ever seen.
To those of you who prefer Ice dancing to Ice skating I apologize for this rant, but I'll take a triple Lutz over a hot pink number danced to besa me mucho any day.

I still cringe when I think about our extreme snowboarding loss...sigh

sam