forgive the cross posts -- blogger is acting out!

about (more than) a boy

Today a high school teacher posted that she was worried that one of her students and his family may have been detained by the US government because of who they are and where they are from. She had no real proof that this had happened. It was just a gut feeling. A teacher's intuition -- which, I am inclined to trust.

While I am not saying that this is not alarming, or that I don't believe that it is possible, or that I don't hope they find him soon, a few things did cross my mind. For starters, why was she so shocked by how much attention her post got? And that some of it was negative. She is aware of the state of the world. In the end she took her mom's advice and finally decided to remove it.

Apparently the rules in her district say that after three days of absence a teacher must call home to find out where the child is. When she did, she got a disconnected number. Now, it has been a while, I admit, since I was in high school. And not to brag, but I did maintain perfect attendance during those four years. But as I recall, if your parent didn't call in by 9am to let them know you were not coming, the school called you on the first day -- not the third.

Also a disconnected number could mean a lot of things. Not paying the bill, for one (she does mention that this student has been working to support his family). It could also mean that there is a wrong number on file (that's really how I know about the rules -- you see some kid apparently gave our number as his number, and well, he didn't like to go to school, or so the messages left on my answering machine would seem to suggest.) Of course, it could mean that they moved. And yes, it could mean that they were detained (but if they were, it is not likely that the government would have their phone turned off -- wouldn't it be more likely they tap it,or have I been watching too much Alias?).

She said that in her district teacher's are forbidden to make home visits. She must turn her concerns over to a counselor, who will in turn follow up. Of course, if she has 150 students, I can only imagine how many a counselor is technically responsible for. I share her concern for this child. And I suspect, like her, sorry that someone did not intervene sooner.

But really what alarmed me more about her post was that she mentioned that in her state it looked like they were going to drop the World History requirement. It is to be replaced by foreign language study. Again, it has been many years since high school, and I know things have changed, but what exactly do they require these days? Art is pretty much out. PE, well, that was even gone in my day. You can't tell me it is science, because I have seen no proof of that. And computers, pretty much replaces typing (again, I am showing my age).

Are there classes specifically for the required standardized tests? That plus math, English, and foreign language. Do home room and lunch count? This is what should be outraging people. This is what leads to a world in which someone could be taken by a government and disappear.

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in case you have tuned out npr

I understand. All war all the time, can get to you. It can paralyze you. So with that in mind, I felt it was important to pass along this news, in case you missed it.

Laura Rothenberg has died at the age of 22. Her story was first aired back in August 2002. She was given a tape recorder and over the course of two years sent back tapes award-winning public radio reporter and producer, Joe Richman. Months would go by and he wouldn't hear anything, and then he would get hours and hours of recording.

I remember first hearing the final result of the tapes. We had just come to the decision to move back to California, so life was a tad crazy. I remember being touched by her.

All you know is that she has been recording over the course of over a year, but you have no idea why Laura was picked. The result is that you fall in love with Laura, the person, for all her wit and wisdom and honesty. It takes a while before you learn that she has cystic fibrosis, has undergone a double lung transplant, and knows that at best she has less than a decade to live.

Despite her illness Laura tried to live a normal life. She was a sophomore at Brown. She had many friends and left a lasting impression on those she met. She made me think about my life, and for that I would like to honor her memory.

I agree with Richman that it only seems right to give Laura the last word (this is from the last tape she sent him).

I definitely think about after I'm gone. When I was younger, I used to try and plan my funeral, where I'd want it, how many people I'd want to be there, what it would be like. I've always been scared that people would forget about me. Eight years go by and, you know, someone who dies isn't the first person you think of when you wake up necessarily. But I'll find a way so that people won't forget about me. You know, I'll give friends things of mine that they'll always have.

For more information, go to http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1199420.html

why can't i believe this?

Yesterday, not one, but two people said "I ROCKED!"

As I am writing this, another one said "I RULE".

I really want to believe it, and do on some level think it is true, it is just so hard at this moment, to do so.

smelly cat

On the elevator this afternoon, a couple from our floor got on with us. Hadn't really seen them before, but what else is new? He had on this rather large square backpack, which she seemed to be fussing over a bit too much. A little weird, but whatever.

However, when he moved to let someone on a few floors down, I knew something was up, as a very strange odor drifted my way. Stinky, stinky. But you guessed it -- he had a cat in the backpack*, and I think it pooped. Ewwww.

Talk about a long elevator ride. And of course, it was one of the few where we made multiple stops.

*Not to worry, the backpack was actually designed to carry a cat.

have you cleaned your fridge today?

And why not? Haven't you heard? It's National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Week(tm). That's right, Glad and Whirlpool have dedicated this week (March 23 - 28) to cleaning out your ice box. For more about the C.R.I.S.P. method (as in Confront, Remove, Inspect, Store, and Position) go to http://www.glad.com/fridge.html(Seriously, I couldn't make this up if I tried.)

So, it's not to late to do your part. Get out the baking soda, some paper towels, and maybe a hammer and chisel, and get to work. It probably needs it.

And while you are at it, contemplate why you own six different kinds of jam, four kinds of mustard, and ten half used bottles of salad dressing (especially when it is so easy (and better)to make from scratch). And so you don't get too down on yourself, ask why on earth they put a bin marked butter in a spot where if you put it, you risk it going bad (and at $3 a pound, that's not funny).

Get your friends involved. Take before and after shots. Put together a "Clean Your Fridge" care package of sponges, a scrub brush, rubber gloves, two boxes of arm &hammer, and a fun magnet, and send them to your nearest and dearest. It's only a matter of time before Hallmark jumps on the band wagon, and you can tell them you remember when.

Seriously though, don't forget to clean the filter (usually on the bottom) and dust the back. It will help your fridge last longer and use less energy. Always a good thing.

So let me be the first to wish you a Happy Clean Out Your Refrigerator Week. Happy scrubbing!

for the record

Still have mixed feelings about the Oscars(tm) going on as planned tonight. Chances are will probably not watch them anyway, as no television.

That said, here are my picks:

Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates
Best Supporting Actor: John C. Reilly
Best Actress: Julianne Moore
Best Actor: Nicolas Cage
Best Score: "The Hours"
Writing (original): "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
Writing (adapted): "The Hours"
Visual Effects: "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"
Best Animated Feature: "Lilo & Stitch"
Directing: "The Hours"
Best Best Picture: "The Pianist"

Cast your own -- less than 2 hours to go!

if i were . . .

Driving down i80 late at night coming from the Bay Bridge or the 580, I'd slow down and go the posted speed limit. Last night the CHP was once again on big time patrol. All night and into the early morning, I heard "exit the freeway, exit the freeway" as they caught speeder after speeder.

Someone's got to pay for this orange alert -- why let it be you? Just a friendly reminder.

spilling . . . .

Random thoughts spilling out of my overloaded brain -- watch out, this could get messy.

Why was it so hard to send my uncle a birthday card? He's never really done me wrong. Of course, I still hardly know him. That makes picking out a card a little tough. Went to at least three stores. Too froo froo. Too silly. Too boring.

In fact, I am still not sure exactly what day his birthday is, really. Does this make me a bad person? Probably not. And yet he still calls me his favorite niece. Then again, the competition isn't exactly tough, if you know what I mean.

It doesn't seem possible that a week ago we were heading back to our hotel after a fabulous night at the aquarium. Tired by 10pm. Bed turned down, mints on my pillow, ceiling fan silently spinning. Where did all that time go? I have been in such a funk all week.

Maybe it is turning another year older. Getting my period on my birthday didn't make me feel any better. In fact, it down right sucked. I'm trying to forgive the people who didn't remember. I still haven't thanked all the people who did. Always wanting what I can't have. Never thankful for what I do have. (Of course that is not entirely true.)

Maybe it is this whole war. Listening to varying points of view on NPR was making me ill. Mostly this was due to knowing that the "truth" (whatever that really is) will never be known to most people. We are all being lied to constantly. Being told the truth of whoever came up with the most to sponsor it -- today's truth brought to you by megabilliondollar company X. Sometimes I feel like Mulder searching and searching and yet somehow knowing that while it might be out there, it will never be mine to have. Then again, could I (or any of us) really handle the truth? Can I even deal with the truth that is my life right now?

Truth One. I have been out of work for over a year and a half. Part of misses it, and part of me really doesn't. I tell myself I needed a break, and yet feel like such a loser. Imagine bringing me home to meet the parents -- on second thought, please don't.

Truth Two. We moved back here five months ago, and yet it would be hard to guess by all the boxes that continue to linger. Of course, this has to do in part with the fact that you have to have somewhere to put the stuff and in order to do that you need money and in order to get that you need a job. Then again, New Hampshire or Chicago or heck, even Austin could be where we call home soon. See how this all goes around in circles. Vicious circles. And triangles. And squares. I hate you all!

Truths Three, Four, and So On. The laundry basket is overflowing (again). The Internet connection is fickle at best. Part of me wants to scream; another part wants to just cry. I can't bring myself to do either. Why can't I simply disappear? -- you know -- poof!

Instead, I just hide. Not the best of coping methods, but that's why it's called coping. I'm trying, but I feel like I'm coming undone. About to spill out of myself at any moment.

Of course, that's usually a good sign. A turning point, so to speak. [I warned you this could get messy.]

It's the perfect time of year,
somewhere far away from here
I feel fine enough I guess
Considering everything's a mess. . . .
Pinch me. Pinch me. Cause I'm still asleep.
Please god tell me that I'm still asleep. . . .
On an evening such as this, it's hard to tell if I exist. . . . [pinch me, barenaked ladies]

have you ever . . . .

Clicking on various links tonight brought me to a space where people share the drama that is currently ruling their lives. Two points of interest -- 1) While there were a number of posts, few people ever commented, and 2) one person noted that someone in addition to several things that were beyond mean, made a tee shirt to make fun of her. I don't know why the second one made me laugh so hard, but it did. I mean, what kind of person are you if you actually spend your time and energy to make (and I suppose wear) a tee shirt that makes fun of someone that you have already seriously dumped upon?

So with that in mind, have you ever been so angry/upset/fed up with someone that you made (or wanted to make) a tee shirt that made fun of them? If you did, what did/would it say?

Just curious.

i've been down

Lost Internet connectivity sometime around Thursday evening. Not having TV is one thing, but losing my connection to the world wide web, was a bit too much -- especially after finishing seven (7) loads of laundry. It just didn't seem fair.

For about an hour I frustrated myself trying to get the thing to work, and then finally gave up. In some ways it was good in that it made me take care of some things that needed tending, like the bathroom. But it still just didn't seem fair.

Then, of course, we left Friday for my birthday getaway to Monterrey (more on that later). We had limited access there. Dial up, which seems archaic after WIFI. Or using 's visor -- which is cool, but tedious. [ Yes, I know I am spoiled.]

Even at this point we are still technically not back up. We found another WIFI node, but it is not as secure. And of course, even if we wanted it, SBC has not lived up to its December 2002 promise of DSL.

Spent most of my time tonight just catching up on posts and email. Forgive me if I don't get back to you right away. Am doing the best I can with the tools I have.

i wish i could send you a picture

The moon looks very eerie over the Bay right now. Beautiful, but still eerie.

It is a little more than half full, slightly tilting, just hanging there is suspense over the water. It almost doesn't look real.

Truly amazing!

reading, the greatest gift

My grandmother taught me to read by reading to me. I was probably about three when I would sit with this huge volume of Grimm's Fairy Tales and read the afternoon away. Don't know what I would do if I couldn't read? I couldn't even imagine such a life!

It is something I so take for granted, and yet so many are out there living in shame and fear. Without this ability our world remains unsafe and more than simply by the fact that not being able to read can cause bodily harm to self and others. In the words of Thomas Jefferson:

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expect what never was and never will be. . . The people cannot be safe without information. When the press is free, and every man is able to read, all is safe."

Be a part of the solution -- get a CD here now and support the SIBL project!

sometimes getting there is half the fun . . .

Then again, perhaps the person who coined that phrase had never been to San Francisco.

We decided to take BART and then MUNI to the Artist's for Literacy Chapter Two CD release party. After all, it would bring us about half a block from the venue, and remembering what I do about the neighborhood, parking there is quite impossible.

We hit a little snag in traffic to Rockridge, but made up for it by snagging a great space near the BART entrance, plus the train arrived within five minutes of the platform, so all was looking well. When we exited BART though, things went downhill quickly.

This was my first MUNI experience. For those of you unaware, MUNI is the smaller electric railway/streetcar system that runs both underground and on street level throughout the City. About three years ago the system underwent a major overhaul.

The good news was that any of the five lines that pass that way would get us to where we were going. What we didn't realize is that even at 6:30pm the cars are packed! I mean packed. You almost would have thought we were in Japan or something.

As I watched the first car pass, I could feel my stress levels go higher. I kept having visions of having a major panic attack while aboard this over-stuffed train and making a big scene, probably passing out. Poor B, I thought, why does he put up with me.

Even with a car arriving every three to five minutes, there seemed to be no relief in sight. Several brave souls would push their way in. I just could bring myself to do it.

They kept making announcements about a soccer game, but you would have needed be going the other direction. Ironically, when I peered across at the cars approaching the other direction, they were no way near as full.

After almost thirty minutes I realized we were just going to have to go for it, or risk not getting there at all. Of course the next car that arrived was really way too packed, and no one got out. The driver had to try twice to close the door. By this point I was ready to almost loose it.

Fortunately the car behind it actually had some breathing room. We hopped on board and went two stops to our destination. I resisted the urge to ask "are we having fun yet?"

yes, we know i have lots of issues

But I suspect I am one of the few who gets agitated by someone else doing her laundry. Don't get me wrong, I am sure B didn't do it to upset me, but still it does.

Not for anything, but I have been doing laudry since I was eight. At this point, I am a bit set in my ways. It is one of the things I know I do better than most (although isn't something I would ever go boasting about).

I am the kind who checks for stains and will try again if they don't come out the first time around (not toss it in the dryer so it sets for life!!). Most of my clothes have never seen the inside of a dryer.

Laundry tends to bring out the little perfectionist in me. And while most people would be happy to put up their feet up, I just seem to unable to let it go.

a bad way to start the day

Usually the radio is on in the background to help drone out the sound of that evil freeway. So as I was coming to this morning the first thing I heard on NPR was the story about how the House cafeterias have also hopped on the band wagon and are serving "freedom fries". Oh joy!

Meanwhile, (not) overheard at the local French Embassasy, "Stoopid Americans! You heathens are so stoopid that you don't even realize that your "freedumb fries" aren't even French. They are Belgian. And, if you must know, traditionally eaten with mayonnaise -- not that ketchup merd you Americans love to pour all over everything. You have no taste. You buy croutons from a box. And for that I spit on you all -- patooey!!"

Remember folks, it's always about the money. In this case literally currency. Specifically dollars versus euros, and which should be used to trade oil. If you want the details, I'm happy to send the pdf file. Just email me (ckh@onceupon.com).

It's time to wake up and smell the coffee.

stranger than fiction

From my dear little literate cow:

How bizarre is this? It seems that little Munchee is actually little Ewok. Turns out that his real owners are an elderly couple who live next door (nothing more than a driveway separating the two houses).

I had been checking back to see how his vet visit went, but after several tries (either there was no new information or the site was down), stopped going back for several days. It turns out that the woman who took him in was having problems getting the paypal account verified, so in the end Munchee didn't go to the vet. Of course, when she disappeared there were several comments left about how it was all a scam (I didn't read any of those; I don't believe it is).

What still doesn't make any sense is how he ended up in such bad shape if he just lived in the adjacent house? In talking with his owner, it does seem that he was found within 24 hours of his disappearance. It was also learned that when he was two (Ewok is 11 it turns out, and both of his parents are still alive living with his owner's sister) he was run over by the mail truck, so that explains he leg issues, although even his owner noticed it seemed worse.

Keep in mind that when he was found his fur was completely mangled up. He was infested with fleas, underweight, and one of his nails was well, I'd rather not say. Suffice to say it seems impossible that even a small dog could get into such a mess simply by going next door -- even in Florida.

Enter potential villains one and two -- the owner's daughter and son-in-law. For starters, both of them saw Munchee when she walked him or had him out in the front yard, and yet said nothing. Also the son-in-law told his mother-in-law that he had put signs in the neighborhood, but the woman who took the dog in, never saw any such signs. Also rather suspiciously the daughter took off Munchee's tags the day before his disappearance to give him a bath and "forgot" to put them back on again.

The theory is that these two potential villains drove Baron Munchee some distance away, and let him out. They probably figured that he would never find his way back home. It really is the only plausible theory (if not them, than who). But a dog just doesn't get so messed up from walking next door.

Of course, I feel for this kind hearted woman who not only had become attached to Munchee, but now has to worry that he will be okay. She fears that if the potential villains get the chance again, they will be sure he doesn't come back.

Oh, this whole thing makes me just want to cry. Someone hug me, please.

do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around . . .
Really, I don't consider myself a political person. Perhaps it is time to change that. B gave me an eye-opening article which I just finished reading called "The Real Reasons for the Upcoming War With Iraq: A Macroeconomic and Geostrategic Analysis of the Unspoken Truth" by W. Clark (January 2003 (revised 20 February)). [Independent Media Center, www.indymedia.org]

It shouldn't surprise anyone if I said that this pending war was about money (and not the war on terror). The question is where does the money trail lead us? Clark's paper states that "the real reason for this upcoming war is this administration's goal of preventing further Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) momentum towards the euro as an oil transaction currency standard. However, in order to pre-empt OPEC, they need to gain geo-strategic control of Iraq along with its 2nd largest proven oil reserves."

What has been completely suppressed by the US media and government is the fact that Iraq has switched from the dollar to the euro for oil trading. This is a big deal because the fear is that if the euro replaced the dollar, it could mean the crash of the US economy as the dollar would lose a large percentage of its value in the world market. As evidence for this, Clark cites the following:

As our government prepares to go to war with Iraq, our country seems unable to answer even the most basic questions about this war. First, why is there virtually no international support to topple Saddam? If Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program truly possessed the threat level that president Bush has repeatedly purported, why is there no international coalition to militarily disarm Saddam? Secondly, despite over 300 unfettered UN inspections to date, here has been no evidence reported of a reconstituted Iraqi WMD program. Third, and despite Bush's rhetoric, the CIA has not found any links between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. To the contrary, some analysis believe it is far more likely Al Qaeda might acquire an unsecured former Soviet Union Weapon(s) of Mass Destruction, or potentially from sympathizers within a destabilized Pakistan.

Moreover immediately following Congress' vote on the Iraq Resolution, we suddenly became aware of North Korea's nuclear program violations. Kim Jong II is processing uranium in order to produce nuclear weapons this year. President Bush has not provided a rationale answer as to why Saddam's seemingly dormant WMD program possesses a more imminent threat than North Korea's active program. Strangely, Donald Rumsfeld suggested that if Saddam were 'exiled' we could avoid an Iraq war. Confused yet? Well, I'm going to give the game away -- the core driver for toppling Saddam is actually the euro currency.

Another point of interest cited is the following (watch the names here):

Other than the core driver of the dollar versus euro currency threat, the other issue related to the upcoming war with Iraq appears related to the Caspian Sea region. Since the mid-late 1990s the Caspian Sea region of Central Asia was thought to hold approximately 200 billion barrels of untapped oil (the later would be comparable to Saudi Arabia’s reserve base). Based on early feasibility study by Enron, the easiest and cheapest way to bring this oil to market would be a pipeline from Kazakhstan, through Afghanistan to the Pakistan border at Malta. In 1998 then CEO of Halliburton, Dick Cheney, expressed much interest in building that pipeline.

In fact, these oil reserves were a central component of Cheney's energy plan released in May 2001. According to his report, the US will import 90% of its oil by 2020, and thus tapping into the reserves in the Caspian Sea region was viewed as a strategic goal that would help meet our growing energy demand, and also reduce our dependence on oil from the Middle East.

So folks, this is what it's all about -- oil and money.

(I believe you can go to www.radical.org/ratville/CAH/RRiraqWar.html for this essay. If not, I'd be willing to send you a copy in .pdf format -- just email me.)

glimpsing into the future -- a little too henny penny

Tonight I saw something on Amazon.com that I don't think I was supposed to see. Kitchenaid is introducing three new colors of stand mixers.

I had just happened there as I was looking to see if the chicken timer that was left behind in Austin (I stuck it in the spice cabinet to keep it safe while packing up the kitchen, and then realized I forgot to pack it and all our spices when we were about 50 miles outside the city limits). Figured as long as I was there I would see how much a new whip attachment is, if they even carried them (mine is rusty).

That's when I spied it. I typed "Kitchenaid" into the search box and of course, the first thing that comes up is their famous stand mixer with a list of about 22 colors that it now comes in (or at least the ones they offer -- Martha has an exclusive on her "Martha Green" and Williams-Sonoma has a beauty in pink in honor of "Cook for the Cure". I clicked on "pistachio" but the color wasn't quite right. Then I clicked on "wasbi".

Oh, my. It is the prettiest shade of green ever. That perfect shade between chartreuse and lime. If you can fall in love with a stand mixer, consider me smitten.

I would post a link, but like I said it was gone literally moments after I saw it. They say it is officially available on March 10th. Probably enough time to get here for you know what -- the thing that I didn't think I would have such a hard time with, but it seems that perhaps I am not dealing as well as I thought I would.

Yes, I think I am just a little crazy.

before we leap into march

Happy birthday to my first best friend Tana Freeman (wherever you are), my new friend Ulricke, and all those other Leap Day Babies out there!!!! Next year you'll get your day!

Many happy returns!

foods from my childhood

This may seem hard to believe, but for about a year or so my dad (when he was about 28) was a bit of a house husband in that he did most of the cooking -- and even the laundry (but that's another story for another time). One of his favorite dishes was this Italian salad. It really wowed guests.

I recreated (and updated) it for B, and now it is known as salad-ala-dad (he liked all the "a's", "l's" and "d's" too). It is essentially a deli sandwich in a bowl. Enjoy!

salad-ala-dad

* * * * * * * * * * * * i n g r e d i e n t s * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
your favorite lettuce mix (we won't tell if you use the bagged kind)
salt & pepper to taste
red onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 of a small onion per person)
boiled ham (about 1/2 slice per person)
Swiss cheese (about 1/2 slice per person)
thinly sliced salami (about 2 slices per person)
cucumber slices, tomatoes, and/or radishes (if desired)
your favorite vinaigrette (from a bottle is okay -- Seven Seas was what was used in the original)
croutons (recipe follows)
a bowl with a lid
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Place washed and dried lettuce in bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover bowl and shake until combined.

Tear ham, cheese, and salami into bite size pieces and add to bowl along with onions, remaining vegetables and croutons. Cover bowl and shake until well mixed.

Now add your dressing, and again cover and shake. You may want to add a little bit at a time and repeat until you have the proper amount of dressing. You do not want to add too much, or you will have a soggy salad!

croutons

* * * * * * * * * * * * i n g r e d i e n t s * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
leftover baguette or other crusty bread, cut into cubes
1-2 TBSP olive oil
salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Preheat over to 300 degrees.

Put bread chunks in a bowl with a lid. In a separate small bowl or plate combine the oil and spices.

Add the oil mixture to the bowl, seal, and shake.

Place the bread on a baking sheet and bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until light brown.

Let cool before adding to your salad.

Other tips: I like to make croutons from leftover bread while I am cleaning up. Stick the bread in the oven, and by the time you've got the dishwasher loaded, you've got croutons! Store in an airtight container, and they should last for several days (unless you know who finds them, and well, you know what happens).

And, of course, for best results, serve your salad on chilled plates with chilled forks (10 minutes in the freezer should do the trick). If you stick them in before you go to make the salad, they should be ready by the time you are finished.