Thursday, December 22, 2005

Five Senses of South Arkansas

Sight: Pumba has been glued to the window in Mary B.'s old room, watching birds and dogs outside.
Sound: Birds chirping and kids screaming on loud four-wheelers in the woods.
Touch: 60 Degrees and warm sunshine.
Taste: Ah, sweet tea. How I've missed it!
Smell: Five oil refineries within five miles of my mom's house. Still stinkin'.

and, a bonus FYI:

Fortunate timing: I missed the entire transit strike!
Unfortunate timing: I struck a squirrel in transit. :( It just ran under my car, thumped twice, flopped once and went to climb the big acorn tree in the sky.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Home for Christmas


Mom and the iPod
Originally uploaded by typingelbow.
I'm headed to balmy South Arkansas for Christmas, so I'll be quiet online for a while. Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

While I'm gone, I'll be wrangling the Pumbinator through the airport, chatting with Mary B. on our way down to the boondocks, making breakfast for my mom (see the picture), popping curiously strong breath mints so I don't get as many smoking lectures and hugging all my relatives' necks.
See y'all later!

Monday, December 12, 2005

A beautiful Connecticut wedding


Sparklers instead of rice
Originally uploaded by typingelbow.
I had two remarkable experiences this weekend.
Saturday night, I had the pleasure of attending a perfect wedding in snow-covered Connecticut. I'd never been up there, and I went as my friend Chris' pinch-hit date. I'd heard a lot about his family and the small town where he grew up, so I was glad to drop everything and head north for the day. Well, the stories were true: his family is awesome. They all make each other laugh and weren't afraid to break out their moves on the dance floor. (Go Robby, go!!) It was a holiday wedding, and the deep red of the dresses complimented the snow outside. From the uncles who kept refilling everyone's wine glasses to the sweet old married couples who still got up to slow-dance after 40 years of marriage, the wedding was just fantastic.

But another event, much shorter than the wedding party, is also on my mind tonight. I watched Brokeback Mountain on Saturday, right before I got on the train for Connecticut. The movie is beautiful, one of the best I've ever seen. With mountains and valleys as the backdrop, Ennis and Jack fall in love the moment they meet. It's raw and exposed when they're alone, but they live their separate lives in shame and denial, hating themselves for a love they couldn't stop.
I know it's just a movie, but this one left a lingering sadness with me. I walked out of the theater with red, swollen eyes because even though this was set during the 1960s and '70s, it can still be that frightening to be gay today. I have friends who've been with their partners for a decade, but they are still careful about coming out to strangers. Maybe if more people watch Brokeback Mountain and let it live as a love story rather than just the Gay Cowboy Movie, we'll make a little more room for each other.

Friday, December 09, 2005

The funniest Amazon in New York

Holy crap! Michelle Collins is The Most Hilarious Woman in the whole freaking city. She abandoned her Jewish roots for a few minutes and wrote the perfect Christmas song.

Just bookmark her site and add it to your daily regimen. You can't find an easier smile anywhere.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Warning about the iPod

I've made an unfortunate discovery about using my iPod in the wintertime. Maybe it's the polyester lining in the wool pants I'm wearing, or it could be the long wool coat I just bought, but my iPod has been delivering more than just Sam Cooke's crooning today. Every time I take a few steps, my earbuds shock the inside of my ears with static electricity.

Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts--ZAP!!

Sometimes it's a little shock. (ow?)
But then I shift my bag to get my Metrocard or something, and it pops me for real. (OW!! WTF WAS THAT?!)

I might try carrying a couple of dryer sheets in my coat pockets.... does anyone have a better idea?

At least I don't have it as bad as this guy.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Not bad for a Sunday night

I've got it good today.
There's a man in my kitchen, whipping up something tasty to share, and I've got Christmas cards to write, Elliott Smith playing in the background and snow outside on the ground. Three cheers for lazy Sundays!