My neighbor has started listening to music while he is in the bathroom in the mornings. Now I have absolutely no proof that my neighbor is a he but based on the type of music being played I'm going to assume it's a he (loud, heavy metal sounding or strange African drum songs). And for a guy, he's in there a really long time. I can usually get done what I need to in less than 30 minutes but the music is playing in there for an hour at at time. So with this addition to my morning ritual I realize that as I am getting older I have a better appreciation of silence (especially in the bathroom). Don't get me wrong, I love music and always have but it's now noise that I'm having a hard time tolerating (example: I spent almost two years wearing ear plugs to bed every night because my neighbor would play music from midnight to 5 a.m.).
I digress...
As a young girl I would spend hours listen to albums like Donny and Marie, K-Tel disco albums, and the soundtrack to Mary Poppins . My sister and I would sing along (as the older sister I was always a little bit country and my sister had to be a little bit rock and roll) and performed dance routines to Shaun Cassidy's Da Doo Run Run Run in the backyard (I still remember the moves to that one).
As I got older, my tastes changed and expanded. As a teenager I loved Duran Duran and the Go-Go's but a friend also introduced me to jazz and expanded my taste in classic rock (thanks Jim). Back then I listened to music all the time: in the car, doing chores, cooking, studying, or just lying on my bed. I could spend hours just listening to music, sometimes the same song, over and over again. The times have changed. Just a few years ago I had a car that didn't even have working radio or a stereo system. And while I still have all those vinyl albums I don't own a turntable to play them on. The car I drive now has a radio and CD player and I still have all my vinyl albums, cassette tapes and CDs but most of my music is now on a MP3 player (everything for Simon and Garfunkel to Mozart to P!nk) and I can hook it up to some speakers if I don't want to use ear buds.
Sometimes I listen to music at work but I don't get radio reception at my desk and am not allowed to stream music on my computer. Plus I get interrupted a lot and am out in the open so I don't listen all that much. These days I don't put music on when I'm cleaning or cooking and I find that I don't just lie on my bed and listen to music like I did as a teenager. I could be listening to music while I'm writing this but I'm not. I kind of like the silence better (that is until someone's car radio starts blaring outside like it did just now). I still love music but I like silence a lot more than I used to (especially in the bathroom - did I mention that?). Wait, did you hear that? It's silence.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Kissing the Blarney Stone (And Other Tales from Ireland)
I’m half Irish and about 8 years ago I got to go to Ireland with my sister. It was May and we arrived in Dublin on a Sunday. Our taxi driver couldn’t take us directly to our hotel because the streets were closed. We didn’t know why but walking a couple blocks we saw hundreds and hundreds of people in the streets. We got to the hotel and were told that because of Foot and Mouth Disease, St. Patrick Day celebrations had to be postponed until that weekend. We had arrived the same day as the St. Patrick’s Day parade and it was happening right in front of our hotel. We stood at our hotel window and watched the parade. How cool is that, to be in Dublin to see the St. Patrick’s Day parade? Pretty cool.
Another highlight of the trip was kissing the Blarney Stone, several decades after my
grandfather had done it. The stone is in the ruins of Blarney Castle, about five stories high. It’s not an easy thing to do. The stone is actually in the wall and, as you can see from the photos, you literarily have to bend over bac
kwards to kiss it (did I say it’s five stories high?). There is a man there to help you and I think the one who helped us might have been then same one who helped my grandfather all those years ago.
Why do we kiss the Blarney Stone? According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery not the gift of blab). According to legend Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle, was involved in some sort of lawsuit so the goddess Cliodhna told him that on his way to court he should kiss the first stone he found that morning. He did, and pled his case with great eloquence and won. MacCarthy then took the stone and incorporated into the castle.
The Blarney Stone has been names as the most unhygienic tourist attractions in the world. When we were there they sanitized the rock after each kiss. A little thing like that wasn’t going to deter me. You’re can’t be a true Irish person if you don’t kiss the Blarney Stone when you have a chance.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!
Another highlight of the trip was kissing the Blarney Stone, several decades after my
grandfather had done it. The stone is in the ruins of Blarney Castle, about five stories high. It’s not an easy thing to do. The stone is actually in the wall and, as you can see from the photos, you literarily have to bend over bac
kwards to kiss it (did I say it’s five stories high?). There is a man there to help you and I think the one who helped us might have been then same one who helped my grandfather all those years ago.Why do we kiss the Blarney Stone? According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery not the gift of blab). According to legend Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle, was involved in some sort of lawsuit so the goddess Cliodhna told him that on his way to court he should kiss the first stone he found that morning. He did, and pled his case with great eloquence and won. MacCarthy then took the stone and incorporated into the castle.
The Blarney Stone has been names as the most unhygienic tourist attractions in the world. When we were there they sanitized the rock after each kiss. A little thing like that wasn’t going to deter me. You’re can’t be a true Irish person if you don’t kiss the Blarney Stone when you have a chance.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
On Pins and Needles
Yes, that is my arm. Today was my second appointment with an acupuncturist. Sorry it's not a better photo but I realized you really shouldn't move too much once the pins/needles are in you cause it tends to hurt.
Anyway, 2010 was a year of medicine and minor medical procedures that had either no success or very limited success. So before the next step (which is probably surgery) I decided to start 2o11 by trying things that might be unconventional, like getting acupuncture.
Before last week I had never been to an acupuncturist before. I ask my doctor and PT if they thought it would work for my problem and got mixed responses. It's not that I didn't believe in this stuff but I never felt a need for it and to be honest common sense kept telling me that it just isn't right to purposely stick needles in you. But after last year I decided to give it a try, if it worked, great, if it didn't, at least I tried.
I was a little apprehensive at the first visit. A friend had told me of her experience but I was still nervous. It turned out to be really nothing. The needles (or pins?) are very thin and flexible. I didn't feel them going in at all. After they were in (about 17 of them in my feet, legs, hands, arms, neck and ear) I just had to lay there for 20 minutes and then they were taken out. I didn't really notice a difference after that first visit and it was hard to tell if I felt better after today's.
Anyway, 2010 was a year of medicine and minor medical procedures that had either no success or very limited success. So before the next step (which is probably surgery) I decided to start 2o11 by trying things that might be unconventional, like getting acupuncture.
Before last week I had never been to an acupuncturist before. I ask my doctor and PT if they thought it would work for my problem and got mixed responses. It's not that I didn't believe in this stuff but I never felt a need for it and to be honest common sense kept telling me that it just isn't right to purposely stick needles in you. But after last year I decided to give it a try, if it worked, great, if it didn't, at least I tried.
I was a little apprehensive at the first visit. A friend had told me of her experience but I was still nervous. It turned out to be really nothing. The needles (or pins?) are very thin and flexible. I didn't feel them going in at all. After they were in (about 17 of them in my feet, legs, hands, arms, neck and ear) I just had to lay there for 20 minutes and then they were taken out. I didn't really notice a difference after that first visit and it was hard to tell if I felt better after today's.
So I'm going back again next week. I'm feeling hopeful thought.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Best of the Worst
If you are a movie buff like I am, tonight is THE NIGHT of the year, because tonight the Oscars are awarded. There seem to be a lot of awards being given out since the beginning of the year in the movie industry, highlighting the best of the best in films. But last night the best of the worst was honored.
Every year, the night before the Oscars is the annual Razzies (http://www.razzies.com/) are film industry awards given by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation to the best of the worst in
the movies. This was started in the 1980s by John Wilson and the first ceremony was held in his living room. It’s grown and is now held in a Hollywood auditorium. There isn’t a red carpet outside and the nominees usually don’t show up, but the press is there and the “winners” are always well publicized. Of course, there are some exceptions when it comes to the nominees attending. Just last year Sandra Bullock claimed her Golden Raspberry for her performance in All About Steve (I saw the movie, it was a well deserved award) and the very next night won the Best Actress Oscar for The Blind Side. It just goes to show that even talented people like Sandra Bullock and put out two movies in the same year on different ends of the spectrum.
The Razzies have a lot of the same categories as the Oscars and then some of its own. A person can be nominated for more than one movie and in some cases a nomination for a category can be shared (when there is an ensemble cast – you’ll see what I mean below).
Some “winners” from the 2010 movie season this year include (there seemed to be a lot to choose from):
Worst Picture – The Last Airbender
Worst Actor – Ashton Kutcher for Killers and Valentine Day
Worst Actress – the entire case (Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrall, Kristen Davis and Cynthia Nixon) of Sex and the City 2
And here’s some interesting news, anyone with $35 a year can become a member of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation and vote for these awards.
As for the Oscars this year, if Colin Firth doesn’t win for Best Actor I may have to write an angry letter to someone, somewhere in Hollywood.
Every year, the night before the Oscars is the annual Razzies (http://www.razzies.com/) are film industry awards given by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation to the best of the worst in
the movies. This was started in the 1980s by John Wilson and the first ceremony was held in his living room. It’s grown and is now held in a Hollywood auditorium. There isn’t a red carpet outside and the nominees usually don’t show up, but the press is there and the “winners” are always well publicized. Of course, there are some exceptions when it comes to the nominees attending. Just last year Sandra Bullock claimed her Golden Raspberry for her performance in All About Steve (I saw the movie, it was a well deserved award) and the very next night won the Best Actress Oscar for The Blind Side. It just goes to show that even talented people like Sandra Bullock and put out two movies in the same year on different ends of the spectrum.The Razzies have a lot of the same categories as the Oscars and then some of its own. A person can be nominated for more than one movie and in some cases a nomination for a category can be shared (when there is an ensemble cast – you’ll see what I mean below).
Some “winners” from the 2010 movie season this year include (there seemed to be a lot to choose from):
Worst Picture – The Last Airbender
Worst Actor – Ashton Kutcher for Killers and Valentine Day
Worst Actress – the entire case (Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrall, Kristen Davis and Cynthia Nixon) of Sex and the City 2
And here’s some interesting news, anyone with $35 a year can become a member of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation and vote for these awards.
As for the Oscars this year, if Colin Firth doesn’t win for Best Actor I may have to write an angry letter to someone, somewhere in Hollywood.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Something I've Never Done
This morning on the radio they were talking about things that you might never have done or seen before that it seems like everyone else has. Some were kind of lame. One guy said he’d never seen an episode of Friends (his loss, great show). I don’t have cable so there are probably a lot of shows I’ve never seen. One guy said he’s never seen a James Bond movie. I’m sure everyone has at least one really popular movie they’ve never seen. I’ve never seen It’s a Wonderful Life or any of the Godfather movies. One girl said she’d never been to Las Vegas. I’ve never been to Disney World (and a whole lot of other places) but I’m sure I’m not the only one. And there was one woman who said she’s never had a glass of alcohol and another that said she’s never smoked a cigarette. Don’t think they are the only people in the world who have never done either of those things.
There were some good ones. One woman said she’d never had a McDonald’s hamburger and one guy said he had never even seen a Facebook page before.
Now I could “out” some people I know (like a relative who has never pumped her own gas before – you know who you are) but I won’t name names.
So I started to rack my brain for things that I have never done before that it seems like everyone else has. Best I could come up with is that I’ve never sent a Tweet before but, as popular as it is, not many people I know actually use Twitter so I guess that really doesn’t count. I’m sure something will come to me when I wake up at 3 a.m. and realize I forgot to do something at work.
In the meantime, does this mean I am socially and culturally adept? Are you?
There were some good ones. One woman said she’d never had a McDonald’s hamburger and one guy said he had never even seen a Facebook page before.
Now I could “out” some people I know (like a relative who has never pumped her own gas before – you know who you are) but I won’t name names.
So I started to rack my brain for things that I have never done before that it seems like everyone else has. Best I could come up with is that I’ve never sent a Tweet before but, as popular as it is, not many people I know actually use Twitter so I guess that really doesn’t count. I’m sure something will come to me when I wake up at 3 a.m. and realize I forgot to do something at work.
In the meantime, does this mean I am socially and culturally adept? Are you?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Good morning, good morning...NOT
This morning as I was brushing my teeth I realized something. I had already brushed my teeth not 10 minutes earlier. Why did I do this? Because I am NOT a morning person. This type of thing happens but usually I forget to do something, not do something twice. Like I’m blow drying my hair when I realize I forgot to condition it. Or I’m taking some medication before bed and realize I didn’t take my medication from that morning (that’s a bad one). Or I get to work and realize I forgot to put on deodorant (this has happened enough times that I now keep a stick of deodorant in my desk drawer at work). Sometimes I forget to take things with me when I leave in the morning: yogurt for breakfast, a book I want to return to the library, my cell phone.
For as far back as junior high school I have always needed an alarm clock to wake me up and the first thought in my mind has always been, “I wish I could sleep another hour.” It doesn’t matter how much sleep I get (last night I got just over 8 hours of sleep and was still in such a daze I brushed my teeth twice). I’ve always needed a lot of sleep but getting up in the morning has always been hard.
Right now I’m pretty damn lucky. My commute to work is about 10 minutes. But I still push it. I’m supposed to be at work by 8 a.m. (this does happen on occasion). My alarm clock goes off at 7:05 a.m. and I immediately push the snooze button. By the time I actually get out of bed it’s between 7:20 a.m. and 7:25 a.m. I don’t dilly-dally in the morning. I get up, take a shower, get dressed, do what I need to do to be presentable and then walk out the door. I don’t eat breakfast at home (I eat at work). I don’t read the newspaper, watch television or have a cup of coffee (I don’t drink coffee – hum, maybe that’s part of my problem?). Getting an extra 10 or 15 minutes of sleep is more important than any of that.
Back in high school my mother dragged me to the doctor because I was going to bed at 9 p.m. Of course, there must be something wrong with a teenager who goes to bed at 9 p.m. I tried to explain to my mother that I was going to bed that early because I had to be up so earlier. Back then I had to get up at around 5:30 a.m. in order to have just over an hour to eat breakfast, shower and get dressed before catching the bus at around 6:40 a.m. in order to get to school for first period which started at 7:40 a.m. The doctor didn’t find anything physically wrong with me.
And yes, I’m yawning as I’m writing this but I did remember deodorant today (at least I think I did, let me check – yup, I’m good).
For as far back as junior high school I have always needed an alarm clock to wake me up and the first thought in my mind has always been, “I wish I could sleep another hour.” It doesn’t matter how much sleep I get (last night I got just over 8 hours of sleep and was still in such a daze I brushed my teeth twice). I’ve always needed a lot of sleep but getting up in the morning has always been hard.Right now I’m pretty damn lucky. My commute to work is about 10 minutes. But I still push it. I’m supposed to be at work by 8 a.m. (this does happen on occasion). My alarm clock goes off at 7:05 a.m. and I immediately push the snooze button. By the time I actually get out of bed it’s between 7:20 a.m. and 7:25 a.m. I don’t dilly-dally in the morning. I get up, take a shower, get dressed, do what I need to do to be presentable and then walk out the door. I don’t eat breakfast at home (I eat at work). I don’t read the newspaper, watch television or have a cup of coffee (I don’t drink coffee – hum, maybe that’s part of my problem?). Getting an extra 10 or 15 minutes of sleep is more important than any of that.
Back in high school my mother dragged me to the doctor because I was going to bed at 9 p.m. Of course, there must be something wrong with a teenager who goes to bed at 9 p.m. I tried to explain to my mother that I was going to bed that early because I had to be up so earlier. Back then I had to get up at around 5:30 a.m. in order to have just over an hour to eat breakfast, shower and get dressed before catching the bus at around 6:40 a.m. in order to get to school for first period which started at 7:40 a.m. The doctor didn’t find anything physically wrong with me.
And yes, I’m yawning as I’m writing this but I did remember deodorant today (at least I think I did, let me check – yup, I’m good).
Sunday, February 6, 2011
To Be Or Not to Be...
Ah Shakespeare...one of the greatest playwrights ever. Every year the Denver Center Theater Company (http://www.denvercenter.org/) always includes a Shakespeare play in it's season and this year it was A Midsummer's Night Dream and it was fabulous, just great. It's one's of Shakespeare's comedies and a rather complicated story with fairies and misuse of love spell on humans. It's a wonderful show.Now I know that not everyone has an appreciation of Shakespeare and I think I know why. Most of of, at some point in our educational career, were required to read Shakespeare. But the problem is that Shakespeare was not meant to be read, he didn't write books, he wrote plays and the words he wrote weren't meant to be read, they were meant to be spoken (and there is a huge difference). I will readily admit that reading Shakespeare is really hard and can be extremely boring but to see Shakespeare being performed is a whole other story. When you got to a Shakespeare play you get lost in the story. It doesn't matter that you may not understand every single word the actor is saying, you'll get the gist of it and then enjoy it. Shakespeare wrote wonderful stories, drama and comedy, he wrote about death and romance and farce and hatred. There are love scenes and sword battles, there is something for everyone.
So maybe give Shakespeare another try. Maybe see one of his comedies (one your first time around a drama like Hamlet might be too much). If you can't see a theatrical production (and by the way, Colorado has a Shakespeare festival ever year in Boulder (http://www.coloradoshakes.org/) that is also awesome), I recommend the 1968 movie version of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, it's an older movie but it's good.
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