Friday, March 02, 2012

the pollen

I have a cold, I've got my period, and the entire town of Buttcrack is covered in a layer of yellow pollen. Oak? Pine? Who the hell knows? All I know is that it's trying to kill me. I've missed 4 of the 7 classes I teach this week and slept approximately 16 hours per day. Today, Friday, I have spent the afternoon in my bed watching TV on my laptop. Caught up with Project Runway All-Stars (I'm sorry, but Jerrell's tacky India costume should've sent him home before Mila last week). And I hate to admit it, but Kenley should've won the technology/lights challenge. I think the pink wig made it too Nicki Minaj but the outfit was better than Austin's, at least from what I could see.

Caught up with Downton Abbey - really, the noble English family is going to go testify for a valet at his murder trial? Doubtful. And give them Christmas presents AND a servants' ball? It's all too much. Yes, of course, Matthew and Mary, ever after, blah de blah... but Mary's been such an asshole, I'm not sure she deserves to be happy ever after. I suppose that's a bit harsh, but all of the Crawleys and Granthams were assholes over the last few episodes, especially the one where everybody has the flu. Which is not to say I won't be eagerly watching Season Three just as soon as it comes back.

Last but not least, I am watching Once Upon a Time, which has this feminist subtext in addition to ALL of the interesting and complex characters being female. The male characters are eye-candy or two-dimensional, except for Rumplestiltskin, I suppose, but he's still pretty pathetic all in all.

And now, it being past 7 pm, I believe I will take a shot of Nyquil and go to bed.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

really? the weather?

No, even better: a post about the weather and *my cat*. No shit.

Steven Alexander Fluffytail demanded to be let out the front door this evening. He looked at the rain, felt the cold, turned up his nose, and sauntered back in, as one might expect. He then demanded to be let out the BACK door. The look of disgust on his face, when he realized that the weather was *exactly the same* out back, was priceless.

And then he gave me a shitty look that clearly said, "Fix this stupid weather, already, human. Don't pretend you can't." He just refuses to believe I have no control over what goes on outside the door.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Saturday adventure in backwoods Mississippi

I spent yesterday afternoon helping a neighbor and her two kids move from here in Buttcrack, MS, to an even tinier community about 90 minutes away. It was a brief but intimate glimpse into how freakin exhausting it is to be a single mother living in poverty. I hope she's going to be okay in her new digs and can get back on her feet.

The minute I laid eyes on her trailer, the single saddest one-bedroom trailer I have ever laid eyes on in my entire life, I almost said: "Look, come live with me. This will not do." But truthfully, I don't have room for three more people, and she wanted more than anything to be in her own space, no matter how run down. I don't think she would have accepted the offer, even if I had been able to make it.

So today I am very, very aware of the bedrock of privilege that gives me the life I am living.

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

home with a nasty cold....

AND SO SICK OF BEING SICK I TELL YOU WHUT!

Anyhoo, have spent the last few days indulging in: a day of watching reruns of America's Next Top Model; the next day I watched all seven episodes of Grimm on Hulu - which I loved; then an all-day marathon of Mythbusters(because who doesn't love explosions?); and then today, every episode of Once Upon a Time aired to date. The dude who plays Prince Charming was the top student of a fella I did some museum bidness with last summer. His name - Josh Dallas - which sounds fake, is for real. It's like his parents KNEW he needed an actor name.

Srsly, sick. of. being. sick. Nyquil doesn't even put me to sleep any more.