Saturday, February 02, 2002

Suck ups

You know what bothers me most about people who insist on sucking up to someone they think is going to help them? They think the person they're sucking up to is stupid.

I'm sure you all know people like that. Say you're in an office situation. Your boss is retiring and you know the new boss will come from within the ranks. Once the new boss is name, the sucking up starts. People who never gave this person the time of day when he was just a peon are now bringing him coffee and donuts because he's the boss.

You know what? Most bosses can see right through that. Sure they're going to take the coffee and donuts, but they're not going to give you special treatment because of it. At least the good ones won't.

The moral of this rant is: Do your best, be your best and you won't need to suck up to anyone. Posted by TI Anne at 2:38 PM | link |

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Fire

For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated by fire -- its beauty and its evil; its ability to comfort; its ability to destroy.

When I wrote for the newspaper, at one point my job was to cover the fire department. I went on many fire calls and, in a strange way, enjoyed writing the stories. It's so easy to be descriptive when you're writing about fire. The flames licking at the walls. Pitch black smoke billowing into the bright blue sky.

Before you started thinking about how sick I am, I'll tell you that fire stories were not fun or easy to write if someone got hurt. In fact, after the very first fire story I had to write, I almost decided being a reporter wasn't for me. There was an oil tank explosion and two teen-age boys died. I'll never forget the face of one of the firefighters, who was one boy's father. As my photographer and I walked to the scene he said "I can't find Kevin." He knew. We knew. Everyone knew. His face still haunts me.

Now I have a friend who was burned badly but survived the flame. His courage (and his wife's) are more than I can fathom sometimes. But it's a testament to the human spirit, that's for sure. The fact that, unless you know he was burned, you can barely see any signs of it is a testament to the miracles of modern medicine.

While fire can be devastating and destructive, it can also be helpful and comforting. A fireplace on a cold winter night? Roasting marshmallows over a campfire? Two of the most comforting things in the world, if you ask me.

I suppose that's why people flock to fires. It's hard to believe that something so good can also be so bad.

written on Feb. 1 but Posted by TI Anne at 2:32 PM | link |

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In God We Trust

Atheists bother me. How can they not believe in a higher power? I just don't get it. Science can explain a lot, but it can't explain everything. For example, how did the very first thing -- any thing -- appear in the universe -- any universe? It didn't just appear out of thin air, did it? For that matter, how did air get there? See what I mean?

I should clarify my first statement. Not all atheists bother me. I know a woman who's an atheist and her philosophy is that if there's no higher power to take of less fortunate people, it's the duty of the "haves" to look out for and help the "have nots." I can understand that. I think God, the God I believe in, would respect that as well. He might not like it, but he'd respect it.

The atheists that bother me are the ones who don't believe in God and, therefore, think they can do anything they want and there will be no consequences. Others that bother me are the ones who say "God wouldn't let this happen ..." "God wouldn't let that happen ..." Therefore, there is no God. You know what I say to people like that? Did you ever take a look at American money? See that phrase "In God We Trust?" Well, if you don't trust and believe in God, stop using money. Simple as that.

written on Jan. 31 but Posted by TI Anne at 2:17 PM | link |

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Friday, February 01, 2002

The Friday Five

1. Have you ever had braces? Any other teeth trauma? I never had braces, but several years ago I had to have dental surgery to have two teeth removed. Talk about trauma! But at least the codeine was good.

2. Ever broken any bones? Yes. My sister broke my finger when I was 16. Last year I cracked a rib (does that count?)

3. Ever had stitches? Yes. I had two on the back of my head. I think I was 8 years old. I was standing on a stool to see in the bathroom mirror while I was brushing my teeth. I lost my footing, fell backwards and banged my head on the corner of a drawer. Ouch!

4. What are the stories behind some of your [physical] scars? There's a scar on my right shoulder where I had a smallpox vaccine when I was five. I have one on my right knee where I fell and got glass and gravel in it. I have what looks like a burn mark near my left wrist that happened during the fall in which I cracked a rib. I'm sure there are more but I can't think of any right now.

5. How do you plan to spend your weekend? I'm going to try to not let my sinus problems get the best of me. I'm not doing a very good job so far though. I was so messed up earlier that I couldn't go to lunch with Nick. Posted by TI Anne at 2:16 PM | link |

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Wednesday, January 30, 2002

Football

I used to really love football. The AFC & NFC playoffs were last Sunday and, not only did I not know that, I didn't know who was playing. What a difference a few years, and living on a different coast, make.

When I was into football I loved the Buffalo Bills. I went to games whenever I could (afford it); wore t-shirts, sweatshirts, ear muffs, headbands, gloves, mittens, jacket, socks, nightshirt, hats; had the giant "we're #1 foam finger," mugs, glasses, bumper stickers, desk set, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener. You get the idea. I also had rituals. Of course I had to wear my Bills nightshirt to bed on Saturday. If they were playing a home game, I wore the red t-shirt; an away game, I wore the white t-shirt. If I went to a game, that was a totally different uniform, but I won't get into that craziness.

So, what happened? Well, Jim Kelly retired. The Bills starting sucking. I couldn't go through 0-12 seasons anymore. I'd been through that crap once before and I didn't want to do it again. If they were as good as they were in the late 80s and early 90s I'd probably still be fanatical today.

The other thing is, people here in California aren't nearly as nuts about football as people in Pennsylvania/New York. Back there it's a way of life. Here, it's just so laid back. Also, the early games start at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Monday Night Football is on at 6 p.m. Weird. Just weird.

But know what? I don't miss it. I'm interested in it, but I don't miss being controlled by football. I don't miss being thought of as a freak if I didn't know the scores and stats of every game, player and team. Now I'm wondering who the freaks really are. Posted by TI Anne at 3:17 PM | link |

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Which tree are you?
I'm a lime tree, but I'm not going to give any more details than that. It's too accurate. *sigh* Posted by TI Anne at 2:45 PM | link |

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Jish asked me to say HI! to my webloggers webring neighbours.
� to the left of me: faded-ink dot com.
� to the right of me: rants and writings. Posted by TI Anne at 10:12 AM | link |

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Tuesday, January 29, 2002

Because I did the Monday Mission on Tuesday, does that mean I should do Tuesday's This-or-That on Wednesday? If I did that I'd be pushing The Friday Five back until at least Saturday, then I'd be all confused. So, in attempt to get back on track, here's Tuesday's This-or-That.

Soap operas or operas? Soap operas, preferrably Days of Our Lives or All My Children.

Flowers or chocolates? Chocolates

Kiwi or strawberries? Strawberries

Netscape or IE? IE

Mac or PC? PC

800x600 resolution or higher? 800x600

NBC or ABC? NBC

House or apartment? apartment for now, but house soon (I hope!)

The word "apathetic" or the word "complacent"? Neither, but if I have to choose -- apathetic Posted by TI Anne at 4:10 PM | link |

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I forgot to do this yesterday, so here's my Monday Mission (on Tuesday).

1. My Grandmother makes the best pun'kin pie (my fave pie, btw), and anyone else's is just not the same. What dish/dessert does someone make that has spoiled you on all others who attempt to make it? Any flavor of my father-in-law's cheesecake. He's a cheesecake god.

2. What was that last argument about, the one where you got so upset and said all those things? I don't remember, but I haven't had a bad one like that with Nick, and I'm very grateful for that.

3. For me, I can't start the day without a shower. It is my peaceful time of the day, and it is my "coffee." Until someone bangs on the door saying "save some hot water for me!" What is the one thing you do for yourself that is personal and relaxing, and can be totally ruined if you are interrupted. A bath

4. Who is one person you can always count on? Nick

5. Have you ever thought it couldn't get any worse, and then it does? Yes

6. When was the last time you used (or were told) the line "I love you, but I'm not in love with you." A couple of years ago

7. This is a great table you found, right on the patio overlooking the water. The sun is setting and the reflection looks amazing. Time almost stands still and all worries are gone. For just a moment, everything is perfect. When was the last time you had that a feeling like that? At my wedding

BONUS: If I could be like that, what would I do?Find out what it's like for them Posted by TI Anne at 3:58 PM | link |

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Fun with words ... and my dad

My dad loved words and he taught me to love them, too. Some people may think loving words is a little strange, but people who feel that same kind of love know what I'm talking about. My dad knew.

When I was in junior high school, we watched the evening news together. Instead of interrupting him to ask what a word meant, I'd have a little notebook with me and I'd write the words I didn't know. When the news was over, we'd look at my list and discuss the words. My vocabulary list got pretty long and, although I don't use many of the "big words" I know, at least I know what they mean.

The love of words was one thing my dad and I shared that he didn't share with my brother and sister. I liked that. But my dad was cool that way. There were things he shared with my brother and sister that he didn't share with me. I think that's the way it should be. When I think back on moments I shared with my dad -- the good moments -- I realize that he was a pretty darn good father. It's true what "they" say, you know? Time heals all wounds. The longer someone is gone the less you remember about the bad times. I'm glad it works that way.

Just to let my dad know I still love words (because I know he's watching), I've started a new little project. Weird Word of the Day is, pretty much, just me playing around with words -- and remembering why I like to do that.

Thanks Dad. Posted by TI Anne at 2:50 PM | link |

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I'm the Boot Sector virus -- Small sleek and potentially devastating, rarely seen these days and rather retro.

Yep, it's the Computer virus quiz. Posted by TI Anne at 11:52 AM | link |

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Monday, January 28, 2002

What makes a man a man?

There's a custody battle in Florida right now in which a woman is fighting her transsexual husband for custody of their two children. (One is her biological son whom he adopted. The other is the product of his brother's sperm.)

According to Court TV, the big question in court last week was "Is sex in the mind or the body?" "Sex is between your ears, not between your legs," testified Walter Bockting, an expert on transsexualism, on behalf of Michael Kantaras, the husband. Bockting went on to testify that fewer than 10 percent of the women undergoing gender reassignment actually have the surgery to "construct" a penis, thus pointing out that it's not a person's sex organs that tell them what sex they are.

The judge in the case went on to ask "Do you believe that having a small penis or having no penis at all makes an individual less of a man?" Of course Bockting said "No."

I think this trial could teach people not just about transsexuals, but about all men. Maybe it could even teach men a little bit about themselves. Maybe, just maybe, the men who put so much emphasis on penis size and performance would realize that's not what makes a man a man.

Is a man who's paralyzed from the waist down any less a man than someone who's not? Not if he's a good, decent human being. And isn't that what's more important than what is considered male and what is considered female?

Posted by TI Anne at 2:21 PM | link |

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Sunday, January 27, 2002

I couldn't resist going to this page, then posting it because, you see, I've never, never, ever had this problem. How to tell if your ass is too small. Posted by TI Anne at 10:33 AM | link |

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Insignificant

Sometimes I feel so insignificant. I went to sleep feeling that way. I woke up at 2 a.m. feeling that way. I almost logged on at 2 a.m. to write only that: "Sometimes I feel so insignificant." I'm feeling it less as I write this now, but it's obviously still there or I wouldn't feel the need to write this.

I don't know exactly what brought this feeling on. But did you ever think that the world, your world, would go on just fine without you? That's where my thoughts are. Maybe I need Clarence from "It's a Wonderful Life" to drop in and show me what the world would be like without me. I try to think of things I've done that have really made a difference in people's lives, but I can't really think of any.

Well, I guess I can think of one. Two Christmases ago I wrote a story for the newspaper about a young family that was having a rough time making ends meet. It got a great response and the family received a lot of gifts, clothes and food. Last I heard, they're doing pretty well and they're back on their feet again.

But what have I really done other than that? I don't really have any special talents. There's nothing I'm particularly good at. Other than some (not all) of my family, would anyone really notice if I disappeared off the face of the Earth? I doubt it. Would it make a difference in anyone's life if I disappeared? Doubtful.

Clarence, where are you when I need you? Posted by TI Anne at 9:39 AM | link |

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