Election Night and other ponderings...

I haven't blogged in quite a while. And, there is good reason for that. I have had a lot of change in my life. Okay, only one change, but it was a big one. I resigned from my position at the Food Bank and took a position with another nonprofit organization. I gave three weeks notice and in those three weeks I put in hours equal to three Thanksgivings. I have so much love for the Food Bank and I wanted to ensure the transition was a smooth one.

So, I started my new job at Planned Parenthood last week. Wow! It is so different. The politics and issues are infectious. And, there is so much I need to learn to become a proficient speaker on what the organization does. I am thrilled! And, I am slowly getting aclimated.

Being at Planned Parenthood, this election has become even more exciting than it already was for me. The health care policies of each state hinge on the election. Whether low-income women and men have access to birth control, and schools have access to sex education depends on the outcome from tonight. It is exhilirating...will the organization celebrate or roll up its sleeves to re-educate the legislature?

Right now, I am watching TV. The Arizona Biltmore appears to be mobbed by the press. So much excitement in Phoenix. Saw some photos on Twitter taken by a friend and local journalist. What a crazy environment! Excitement is sizzling through the air today. You can feel it! This is what democracy should be. There should be this much excitement every time the issues are on a ballot. For a political junkie...this is a dream.

So I don't continue to babble, I must relate two stories. First, this morning, Ry and I showed up at our normal retirement community polling place at 6:12 a.m. Polls opened at 6 a.m. There was already a long and winding line. We waited for an hour and a half. I thought our wait was horrendous, but then when I saw photos on The Washington Post and The New York Times...we were lucky. I also saw local blogs about people starting to line up at 4:30 a.m. this morning to vote and beat the crowds. Eek! Regardless, I survived the ignorant, blah-blah discussion that went on around us. People trying to figure out propositions while standing in line? Come on people! Prepare!

This final story...it is not election related, but it is a story that relates to stupidity. Driving home from work this evening, I was on the freeway and saw ahead of me a police officer with his cherries and blueberries flashing. He was weaving across all of the lanes to create a freeway break. Hasn't everyone seen these? Well, one person (talking on their cell phone) in their Hyundai Tucson seemed to think that the traffic break was merely a suggestion and something that pertained to him or her. When the police car broke to the left, the Tucson broke to the right. The police officer saw the SUV swerve and try to go around so he moved back to the right side of the freeway lane. The SUV swerved to the left, again trying to get by the police car. Can we say moron? Well, the Hyundai tried one more time to allude the police officer in front him or her and almost ran into the police car's rear. Oooh, that would not be pretty. I thought the SUV finally got the hint because it began to just drive down the center lane as the police car continued the break. But, no, the idiocy continued. The driver stayed back and then when they saw an opening, they went for it. The police car at that time, pulled to the left, the police officer got out and threw a tire off the road. The Tucson went right by. The cop yelled at the SUV, jumped into his car and went after him or her with lights blaring. I saw the police officer pull over the vehicle and I couldn't help but giggle. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Think the police officer will cuff the driver?

This evening will mark history...no matter who is elected.

Unaccustomed Earth

Before reading Breaking Dawn, I absorbed the wonderful prose that is Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth. The second book of Lahiri's short stories, it was a breathtaking surprise that I was delighted to imbibe. Her writing has grown into something complete. I loved each of her books before --The Namesake and Interpreter of Maladies. She introduced me to characters I enjoyed learning about, but I was always wanting more. Sometimes, the second half of the story seemed rushed or unfinished. But, Unaccustomed Earth is different. It is perfection.

Each story left me full and satisfied. Each story came full circle with depth and emotion. And, she played with different angles and writing styles. I was beyond impressed with this book. I cannot wait until she comes out with another novel, letting me back into her Indian-inspired world.

Breaking Dawn

This week I finished reading Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. The series is done, I'm content and I'm already missing the characters. Now I wonder what the hubbub was about. I never read the articles about fans being discontented with the new book because every article had spoilers in it. But, seriously, what was everyone ticked about? Was it because neither of the men in Bella's life did not die? Was it because the story tied up so nicely? Geesh, the author loves her characters...she wanted them to end up happy. I think it is an honorable thing in an author.

I have to say that this last book was the best in the series. It let me see the world through a vampire's eyes (a nice vampire, but a vampire nonetheless). The writing was more complex. And, I was introduced to more vampire characters and some of the lore behind the supernatural creatures. Granted there are some cheesy moments, but there are quite a few of them in this series. It's a fun read. You care about the characters and I was glad that the book was left open so that there could be more to the series. I am not sure what everyone's beef was with Breaking Dawn, but I liked it. I look forward to what the author can do as her writing matures and develops. She's a good story teller and that is the first step to be a truly great writer.

Correction

I have been asked to write a correction to my Blog entry about our vacation to Los Angeles. In my entry describing our activities at the top of the San Jacinto Mountain in Palm Springs I said the squirrels were slightly obese.

Correction: The squirrels were REALLY obese. They were so fat that there was a group of children who made up a song about one of the squirrels that started with "Fatty Fatso." The photo attached with this blog entry will attest to the thick squirrels we encountered among the pines.

There was a sign posted in clear view about feeding the animals. And, obviously people are illiterate or they just think they are above the law that is the San Jacinto Park Rangers.

Inspiration Born Out of Boredom

I may be in trouble with the Lord for typing this, but seriously...does anyone else expect to go to church and actually hear about the Bible and our duty as Christians? Or, is it just me? Today in church there was a complete lack of message coming from the pulpit. It sounded more like my pastor was doing a commercial for the church. Granted it was Fellowship Fair today (also known as Open House or Please Sign Up for a Committee or Volunteer Opportunity of Some Kind Day), but I didn't realize that meant all signals we were at service had to be thrown out the window.

I will give credit to the pastor that there was a passage from the Bible read to the congregation. It referred to our responsibility to take care of the earth, tying into the theme for the day's activities -- Be Green!

So, as I attempted to stay awake (because Ry and I had stayed up way too late last night), I wrote up an impromptu poem, inspired by the Amen at the end of the sermon, sung beautifully by our choir.

Amen

Round melodious sound
Beginning anew and finality of forgiveness

Song, word, prayer in one
Expression of soul, heart and will

A word to say when quiet is too still
And, perhaps there is no need to say more

Namaste, Shalom, Amen

Round, infinite, eternal vibration of deep love, peace and one voice

Post Script: I believe the poem was in part because I am going to help my senior high youth write poems tonight for a Poetry Slam they are doing in a week. I was in that mind set.

Maybe it Wasn't Such a Book of Rubbish

Okay, so maybe the book wasn't total rubbish. It was a great concept that had me inspired and excited to take time to write. But, I did get rather bored with it. Wait...I don't think I have told you the book yet. Have I?

The last book I read was The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver. I was really looking forward to reading it when I purchased it with a gift card in January. I had seen reviews for it in a couple of different places and it sounded like a writer's kind of book.

The concept behind the book is brilliant. It all hinges on one decision and then the book takes two directions from the decision-making point. Every chapter has two versions based on whether she kisses a man or not. Does she taste the fruit and get kicked out of eden (aka her long-term relationship) and is content with the new knowledge of infidelity, her sexuality and being all-around the person she wasn't before? Or, does she behave and do as society would dictate?

I was loving the book through the first half and then began to lose interest in the character's self-absorbed, yet naive, attitude. Not to mention some of the mundane in the book was beginning to wear me out. To be fair to the writer, she has an extraordinary vocabulary and she has a strong grasp for the human condition. She does a wonders expressing the deep-down of her main character/narrator. But, the whole book is told from the first person. I yearned for another voice. I ached for the perspective of the complex characters she introduces me to me.

I finished reading the book while I was on vacation a week ago. And, frankly, I was relieved that it was finally over. I was satisfied with the ending and it wrapped everything up nicely, but I didn't care to meet her character again which is generally a rarity for me when I read books. I can usually find some redeeming quality for a character so that I still want to peek behind their eyes again in the future. But, not this one.

After a week of marination and thought...the book wasn't total rubbish. As a writer, I can now appreciate the fact that the author gave me a perfectly voyeuristic view into the life of a common person. She let me see the struggle, pain, passion, and imperfection that exists in other lives outside of mine. Yes, we know people are generally like us, but sometimes it is hard to remember this when you are trying to get a clear view through our everyday mess, wonder, awe, and just general living.

I am the kind of person who reads a book to get away. I like faraway places. I adore happy endings. I like books that take me away from my everyday stress. This book showed that real life, without firework-creating kisses and violin soundtracks in the background, can be art. It can be inspiration for a book that can fascinate the reader. And, it can be written well.

With that, I have found some additional strength and encouragement to continue writing my book. So, maybe the book wasn't all rubbish. But, it won't keep me from turning it into the bookstore for credit toward another book.

Post Script: Current read is Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. Love her writing and was fortunate enough to borrow this from a friend.

Ahhh, Vacation.

Why does vacation have to be over so soon? We had a lovely vacation in California, returning the Sunday before Labor Day. Our extra long weekend included:

1. A trip up the mountain on the Palm Springs aerial tram. We walked around at the top and stood in awe of the overfed, slightly obese squirrels.

2. A glorious day and a half on Catalina Island. We stayed at the lovely Old Turner Inn, rented bicycles to ride around Avalon, tried ice cream from Big Olaf's and watched Hancock at the Avalon Casino. The beautiful art deco walls of the theatre with the plush red velvet seats was a treat, especially while we chewed on salt water taffy.

3. A wonderful concert of John Williams conducting the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. Yes, he had the orchestra play the Olympic Fanfare, Indiana Jones, and Superman, but the performance of Star Wars was fantastic! I have never seen so many glowing sticks, errr I mean light sabres, waving around in the air at one time.

Can you tell why we weren't in a hurry to come home?

Other highlights of our weekend included, my best friend's birthday party, Griffith Observatory, Sherman's Delicatessan in Palm Springs, Colorado Avenue in Pasadena, Beard Papa's cream puffs while watching the weirdos on Highland and Hollywood, and roaming the Farmer's Market.

Catalina was wonderful and we certainly didn't want to leave. And, the Hollywood Bowl was spectacular. But, the best part about our visit... holding my little nephew Corron. He is home! I didn't want to put him down.