Its on now! I mean, I know you are one of the Olympian gods and all, and I know you think you know best for your little mountain village, but the thing is it has rained here a couple of times over the last week, and the one day I decide to do a ton of laundry and put it out you threaten a storm, knocking out power in the middle of The Soup and causing general irritation amongst mere mortals like myself.
Wow, that was just one big run-on sentence.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
The Cleaning Bug
Ok, today I woke up earlier than usual (which means before 2:30 pm) and decided to do a shitstorm of cleaning before my husband came home from work (2:30 pm, now you see why I have to get up then). So I went to town, cleaning out the tub (I really should have taken before and after pictures, how embarrassing), vacuuming, doing laundry, you name it. So now it is 5:30 pm and I'm tired already. At least everything is clean now.
Our toilet had been acting up of late, the water wasn't filling the tank without a lot of screwing around with it for every flush. Today, my husband decided to tackle this problem. After a few minutes of unexplainable sounds coming from the bathroom, my husband emerged with a big smile on his face. He had succeeded in figuring out the mystery of the broken toilet, and won the battle. The toilet is now fixed. Yay! I am so proud of my husband, who claims to not be a Mr. Fix-It.
Our toilet had been acting up of late, the water wasn't filling the tank without a lot of screwing around with it for every flush. Today, my husband decided to tackle this problem. After a few minutes of unexplainable sounds coming from the bathroom, my husband emerged with a big smile on his face. He had succeeded in figuring out the mystery of the broken toilet, and won the battle. The toilet is now fixed. Yay! I am so proud of my husband, who claims to not be a Mr. Fix-It.
London in 2012
London will be hosting the 2012 Olympics! Sure, it came down to London and Paris in the end, but one has to wonder if the whole EU Constitution thing swayed IOC votes. After viewing the video submissions of all the final candidates, I did think the British one was the best, showing true Olympic spirit.
Congrats to London! I hope they don't have all the post-Olympics pain that Greece has been suffering. And a word to the planners of the opening ceremonies: Beware, the Americans don't like boobs!
Congrats to London! I hope they don't have all the post-Olympics pain that Greece has been suffering. And a word to the planners of the opening ceremonies: Beware, the Americans don't like boobs!
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Kill Me Now
Ok, how many years did I spend watching Northern Exposure longingly, hoping that Chris (aka John Corbett) would come knocking on my door? Nope, he never came knocking. Now that I am away from Nashville, what happens? John Corbett has decided to become a country rocker and is playing in Nashville! I am so SURE that if I was still there, he would have come knocking on my door. And of all the irony, I married a Greek man and had a big, fat Greek wedding just like he did in the movie! We were SO meant to be together!
Sheesh.
Sheesh.
Where Do All the Spoons Go?
It seems my husband and I are veritable spoon consumers. Of all the silverware in the house, spoons seem to get used up the quickest. Everyday, when I look at the spoon supply, it seems to be dwindling. The numbers are dropping. Spoons are escaping our clutches somehow. The knives and forks stay in their same forces, nestled snugly in their little compartments in the silverware drawer. So where in the hell do all the spoons go? Is there some kind of Caribbean vacation for material goods? Are they in league with the socks? Is it something about common items that begin with the letter S?
If this keeps up, we'll have to buy more spoons. Is this the plan? Spoons disappear so more will be bought and then more spoons will disappear? Are the spoons gathering an army with the socks so they will defeat the world? Could we survive without spoons? I'm thinking no. Spoons are so versatile. You can even use them as forks if you have to, but you can't use a fork like a spoon, because stuff will fall through the cracks. And don't tell me we are going to end up a spork society. I think those died out in the 90's. But I tell ya, the minute I see a spoon wearing a Che Guevera t-shirt and shouting "viva la revolution!", I'm getting out of here!
If this keeps up, we'll have to buy more spoons. Is this the plan? Spoons disappear so more will be bought and then more spoons will disappear? Are the spoons gathering an army with the socks so they will defeat the world? Could we survive without spoons? I'm thinking no. Spoons are so versatile. You can even use them as forks if you have to, but you can't use a fork like a spoon, because stuff will fall through the cracks. And don't tell me we are going to end up a spork society. I think those died out in the 90's. But I tell ya, the minute I see a spoon wearing a Che Guevera t-shirt and shouting "viva la revolution!", I'm getting out of here!
Monday, July 04, 2005
And now, some humor...
Despite two altogether serious posts about the 4th of July, I still remain a person who enjoys good humor.
So, in honor of Independence Day, I give you the venerable H.L. Mencken's "translation" of the Declaration of Independence in modern (for 1921), everyday language that everyone can understand! For the record, Mencken was a formidable editorialist of the Baltimore Sun who did some great research on the American language. His writings are fun, well-written, and his character is even better. I strongly encourage everyone to "get to know" Mr. Mencken.
So, in honor of Independence Day, I give you the venerable H.L. Mencken's "translation" of the Declaration of Independence in modern (for 1921), everyday language that everyone can understand! For the record, Mencken was a formidable editorialist of the Baltimore Sun who did some great research on the American language. His writings are fun, well-written, and his character is even better. I strongly encourage everyone to "get to know" Mr. Mencken.
Independence Day Away From Home
Well, my husband posted a long and well-written editorial on Independence Day from a foreigner's perspective, and he encapsulated a few things that I would have said. Still, my point of view comes from a somewhat "lost" American.
This will be my 3rd 4th of July away from America, and of all the holidays, it is probably the hardest being away from home. Sure, they don't have Thanksgiving here, but it is pretty easy to stuff a turkey, make pumpkin pie, and invite all the Greek family over for a down home Thanksgiving dinner (ok, so it isn't like having my mom doing the cooking, but still). Christmas here is as lavish as in the States, and Easter is a week-long extravaganza of reflection and prayer on Christos Aneste. But the 4th of July, well, it is just like any other day here in Greece. Not that Greeks are completely ignorant of the fact that this is the day that America celebrates its independence, but Greeks have been fighting for their own independence for so often over the past 2,000 years I guess it doesn't mean a whole lot to them.
Still, its not like I was prone to 4th of July celebrations over the last few years in Nashville. I had long gotten over fighting my way to Riverfront Park with no place to park in 90+ degree temperatures, with swarms of sweaty people and overpriced food and drink. It used to be worth it for the fireworks, but then after 30 some years of watching spectacular fireworks displays amongst heat and mosquitoes and crowds, you learn the values of comfort and sanity. Plus there were various decent locations throughout Nashville to view the fireworks without the hassle. Despite all that, there was always something to Independence Day that was magical - all the flags, all the patriotism, the red, white and blue explosions - it was a day when, for the most part, we could forget that we were liberals or conservatives, forget the things we disagree on, and reflect upon what it took to make America free. It was the one day a year that no matter what, we could be proud to be American. And it is very easy to be proud to be American amongst a swarm of other Americans celebrating a special day. Here, it isn't so easy.
It has been hard being an American living overseas. You don't get media doused with rose-colored glasses. You don't get real bias in news about America. You get the facts, laid out bare in all their terrible colors. You get the opinionated Europeans who don't understand how Americans let things get the way they have, who can't even imagine how Bush got re-elected. You are able to more clearly see how America today is not at all like the America the founding fathers had envisioned. You see America as the country where private property can now be siezed for public use, where politicians aren't willing to let the Patriot Act go, where people are afraid when a decent Supreme Court Justice resigns.
Who knows, maybe America has gotten too big to be the same America the founding fathers wanted it to be. Maybe we don't want to fight because we want to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm. Maybe we don't know how to make it better. Maybe we realize it would be the moral thing to incite change, but not the right thing. Who knows.
All I know is for just one day, I'd like to be proud to be an American again. Just one day.
This will be my 3rd 4th of July away from America, and of all the holidays, it is probably the hardest being away from home. Sure, they don't have Thanksgiving here, but it is pretty easy to stuff a turkey, make pumpkin pie, and invite all the Greek family over for a down home Thanksgiving dinner (ok, so it isn't like having my mom doing the cooking, but still). Christmas here is as lavish as in the States, and Easter is a week-long extravaganza of reflection and prayer on Christos Aneste. But the 4th of July, well, it is just like any other day here in Greece. Not that Greeks are completely ignorant of the fact that this is the day that America celebrates its independence, but Greeks have been fighting for their own independence for so often over the past 2,000 years I guess it doesn't mean a whole lot to them.
Still, its not like I was prone to 4th of July celebrations over the last few years in Nashville. I had long gotten over fighting my way to Riverfront Park with no place to park in 90+ degree temperatures, with swarms of sweaty people and overpriced food and drink. It used to be worth it for the fireworks, but then after 30 some years of watching spectacular fireworks displays amongst heat and mosquitoes and crowds, you learn the values of comfort and sanity. Plus there were various decent locations throughout Nashville to view the fireworks without the hassle. Despite all that, there was always something to Independence Day that was magical - all the flags, all the patriotism, the red, white and blue explosions - it was a day when, for the most part, we could forget that we were liberals or conservatives, forget the things we disagree on, and reflect upon what it took to make America free. It was the one day a year that no matter what, we could be proud to be American. And it is very easy to be proud to be American amongst a swarm of other Americans celebrating a special day. Here, it isn't so easy.
It has been hard being an American living overseas. You don't get media doused with rose-colored glasses. You don't get real bias in news about America. You get the facts, laid out bare in all their terrible colors. You get the opinionated Europeans who don't understand how Americans let things get the way they have, who can't even imagine how Bush got re-elected. You are able to more clearly see how America today is not at all like the America the founding fathers had envisioned. You see America as the country where private property can now be siezed for public use, where politicians aren't willing to let the Patriot Act go, where people are afraid when a decent Supreme Court Justice resigns.
Who knows, maybe America has gotten too big to be the same America the founding fathers wanted it to be. Maybe we don't want to fight because we want to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm. Maybe we don't know how to make it better. Maybe we realize it would be the moral thing to incite change, but not the right thing. Who knows.
All I know is for just one day, I'd like to be proud to be an American again. Just one day.
Happy Fourth of July
Use this day - how fortuitous that it's a Monday, I love those long weekends! - to be with your loved ones, to go for walks in the beautiful weather, to have exquisite meals and then enjoy the fireworks glassy eyed from a day of indulging and - deeper within - from a day of being a child again, the bright explosions in the suddenly spotted with millions of stars sky, reminiscent not of disaster, but safety, not of terror, but elation, the kind that only a six year old is capable of. Magic.
Use this day also, please, to read the Declaration of Independence. Yes, yes, you've read it in school, you probably had to learn it by heart, along with the per capita income of Brazil and the main agricultural products of Iowa. I am sure very few remember any of it very well. Now, let me say right here, I am not American. The Declaration is not part of my past. I am greek and no matter what our shortcomings as a people are now, my past includes inventing Democracy; my ancestors were the cradle - or one of two, three maybe cradles - of anything we consider "civilized" today. If you think I am mentioning this out of some sense of moral superiority you are wrong. I mention it, because I would be damn proud to be a descendant of the giants who signed their names under - perhaps - the most important document in modern history.
I wonder often how it came to pass. How it was possible, in a time period of limbo, suspended between old and new, on the threshold of "modern times" but not quite yet, how it was possible for so many different people to agree upon a declaration so radical. I suppose it was the rebellion. Human spirit pushed to the brink. You see, the oppression was such, that nothing - not even life lost - was too steep a price. And while the combative expression of the revolution is impressive - the courage of raggedy men and women in the face of a mighty army - it does surpass the level of courage, intellectual this time, shown by the Founding Fathers as representatives of The People. Read the amazing document again, not as a school project, but as you would a religious document, the cornerstone of your being. Read it and think.
As I am faced with the Declaration's truths (the ones we hold as self evident), line upon line, I feel a stabbing pain. You see, I bragged a few paragraphs up, that my ancestry is high, the creators of Democracy. And what now? How do we, the descendants of such giants, honor their achievements? How do we practise and further their creation? Suffice it to say "not well". I will not delve deeper into this subject - it is not of this essay. But I ask the same, and ask yourselves that - "what now?" - a quarter of a millenium almost after the Declaration of Independence was signed. I would go so far as to say, that the American forefathers reinvented Democracy, but how do we honor them today? How do we incorporate their ideas, as expressed in their historic document, into our everyday life? Stabbing pain. The "leading nation of the free world" is - rapidly now, but slowly and steadily for many decades before - turning into a police/fear state. Freedom? The freedom of a watched rat in a comfortable maze. Pursuit of happiness? Everyone equal? A government of the people, by the people and for the people?
I fear that it is all gone. I fear that it will never again be as it was on that glorious day, that fourth of July so long ago. And it is such a shame! Europe had been old, tied to monarchs and circles of power, old blue blood coursing deep in the continent's veins, holding things in their long established patterns. But America - oh America! America was young. Brand new! Glistening in a never before seen sun, a bright future free of any fetters, any restriction, any tradition looming ahead! Oh, what could have been achieved! And for a while it was grand. Anything new, everything advanced, innovative, exciting, came from the United States of America. Not just technology, least of all technology actually. The main innovation was the fresh breeze of inventive spirit, freedom from the constraints of the past, entrepreneurial spirit combined with an almost childish naivete. America was striding ahead of everyone, the torch of new freedom alight in her steady hands, illuminating the future.
When did the strides of giants become the wary, but also haughty half-steps of old misers, counting their gold in cold, dark attics, illuminated this time only by the stealthy candles of intrigue and treachery? When did the embezzlement of the People's Power begin? Was it right after Lincoln was killed? Was it right after Kennedy's life ended? I doubt there can be a definite answer. Yet, unmistakeably, with little interruption by way of benevolent figures, followers of humanism and progress, a Dark Hand has guided the young, brilliant, jubilant, free United States into a backwards timewarp, which leads, through a tunnel of erebos into the Kingdom of Gilead.
It is hard to see it when your life - my life, our life - revolves around the axis "work - home - work" (yes, work twice, maybe more). It is hard to sit still and think, when you have two kids, two cars, two loans and two mortgages. It is hard - oh so hard! - to rebel when you have it so easy. Washington had not much to lose - a life as an indentured servant of Britain perhaps - and everything to gain. But us? As I said, our cages are lined with the finest appliances, our wide-screen television sets hum our lullabys every night, our new bibles - The News - keep us in line, terrified of the alternatives, cut off from the rest of the world, a world that, in the end, is not so different from ours.
Do eat, drink and make merry today. Please do. If there is one "civic" holiday that needs to be observed... religiously, it is this one. Do go out in the evening, on your porch, in the streets, out on the lawns and sit and watch the fireworks with the wide eyes of an amazed child. Be proud of this heritage, American and global and honor it by striving, a little every day, to live up to the magnificent Idea, that the Founding Fathers put at the very foundation of the United States of America. The Idea without which we are nothing.
Happy fourth of July.
Use this day also, please, to read the Declaration of Independence. Yes, yes, you've read it in school, you probably had to learn it by heart, along with the per capita income of Brazil and the main agricultural products of Iowa. I am sure very few remember any of it very well. Now, let me say right here, I am not American. The Declaration is not part of my past. I am greek and no matter what our shortcomings as a people are now, my past includes inventing Democracy; my ancestors were the cradle - or one of two, three maybe cradles - of anything we consider "civilized" today. If you think I am mentioning this out of some sense of moral superiority you are wrong. I mention it, because I would be damn proud to be a descendant of the giants who signed their names under - perhaps - the most important document in modern history.
I wonder often how it came to pass. How it was possible, in a time period of limbo, suspended between old and new, on the threshold of "modern times" but not quite yet, how it was possible for so many different people to agree upon a declaration so radical. I suppose it was the rebellion. Human spirit pushed to the brink. You see, the oppression was such, that nothing - not even life lost - was too steep a price. And while the combative expression of the revolution is impressive - the courage of raggedy men and women in the face of a mighty army - it does surpass the level of courage, intellectual this time, shown by the Founding Fathers as representatives of The People. Read the amazing document again, not as a school project, but as you would a religious document, the cornerstone of your being. Read it and think.
As I am faced with the Declaration's truths (the ones we hold as self evident), line upon line, I feel a stabbing pain. You see, I bragged a few paragraphs up, that my ancestry is high, the creators of Democracy. And what now? How do we, the descendants of such giants, honor their achievements? How do we practise and further their creation? Suffice it to say "not well". I will not delve deeper into this subject - it is not of this essay. But I ask the same, and ask yourselves that - "what now?" - a quarter of a millenium almost after the Declaration of Independence was signed. I would go so far as to say, that the American forefathers reinvented Democracy, but how do we honor them today? How do we incorporate their ideas, as expressed in their historic document, into our everyday life? Stabbing pain. The "leading nation of the free world" is - rapidly now, but slowly and steadily for many decades before - turning into a police/fear state. Freedom? The freedom of a watched rat in a comfortable maze. Pursuit of happiness? Everyone equal? A government of the people, by the people and for the people?
I fear that it is all gone. I fear that it will never again be as it was on that glorious day, that fourth of July so long ago. And it is such a shame! Europe had been old, tied to monarchs and circles of power, old blue blood coursing deep in the continent's veins, holding things in their long established patterns. But America - oh America! America was young. Brand new! Glistening in a never before seen sun, a bright future free of any fetters, any restriction, any tradition looming ahead! Oh, what could have been achieved! And for a while it was grand. Anything new, everything advanced, innovative, exciting, came from the United States of America. Not just technology, least of all technology actually. The main innovation was the fresh breeze of inventive spirit, freedom from the constraints of the past, entrepreneurial spirit combined with an almost childish naivete. America was striding ahead of everyone, the torch of new freedom alight in her steady hands, illuminating the future.
When did the strides of giants become the wary, but also haughty half-steps of old misers, counting their gold in cold, dark attics, illuminated this time only by the stealthy candles of intrigue and treachery? When did the embezzlement of the People's Power begin? Was it right after Lincoln was killed? Was it right after Kennedy's life ended? I doubt there can be a definite answer. Yet, unmistakeably, with little interruption by way of benevolent figures, followers of humanism and progress, a Dark Hand has guided the young, brilliant, jubilant, free United States into a backwards timewarp, which leads, through a tunnel of erebos into the Kingdom of Gilead.
It is hard to see it when your life - my life, our life - revolves around the axis "work - home - work" (yes, work twice, maybe more). It is hard to sit still and think, when you have two kids, two cars, two loans and two mortgages. It is hard - oh so hard! - to rebel when you have it so easy. Washington had not much to lose - a life as an indentured servant of Britain perhaps - and everything to gain. But us? As I said, our cages are lined with the finest appliances, our wide-screen television sets hum our lullabys every night, our new bibles - The News - keep us in line, terrified of the alternatives, cut off from the rest of the world, a world that, in the end, is not so different from ours.
Do eat, drink and make merry today. Please do. If there is one "civic" holiday that needs to be observed... religiously, it is this one. Do go out in the evening, on your porch, in the streets, out on the lawns and sit and watch the fireworks with the wide eyes of an amazed child. Be proud of this heritage, American and global and honor it by striving, a little every day, to live up to the magnificent Idea, that the Founding Fathers put at the very foundation of the United States of America. The Idea without which we are nothing.
Happy fourth of July.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Spraying Cement
I don't know what it is about Greeks, obviously they like things clean and that is good, of course. But I don't understand the fetish with spraying pavement, terraces, basically non-green stuff every day in the summer. Sure, on a busy street, a shopkeeper might like to spray down the area in front of his shop. But this spraying is well out of hand. Our landlady on Kos, who owned a modest two story home, had a nice terrace both upstairs and down. Granted, there was some vegetation here and there, but she would spend an hour or more sometimes just spraying the tiled areas. Spraying, and spraying, and spraying. She said it was because of ants. Well, in that case, use bug spray, not water! And then, of course, she'd come to us bitching about her high water bill and asking us to pay 2/3 of the bill.
But she was not alone in this. Our currently landlady does the spraying thing, granted, she seems to be technically spraying the small strip of plants out front, but she takes way too long to just be doing that. Not only that, but she aims from the second floor, which lands on our awning, making all kinds of crazy noise and makes our sentinel cat stay on permanent alert. If you look around the neighborhood, you can see and hear scores of people spraying. It is certainly a phenomenon.
I can certainly see spraying down one's balcony once in awhile, to keep the gook off of it, but daily or every other day is just too much. I don't know what the water situation is here in Greece, sure, they are surrounded by water but that doesn't mean you can't have shortages. Still, coming from a country where you are taught how to conserve things (like water and electricity), the constant spraying and waste of gallons upon gallons makes me cringe.
But she was not alone in this. Our currently landlady does the spraying thing, granted, she seems to be technically spraying the small strip of plants out front, but she takes way too long to just be doing that. Not only that, but she aims from the second floor, which lands on our awning, making all kinds of crazy noise and makes our sentinel cat stay on permanent alert. If you look around the neighborhood, you can see and hear scores of people spraying. It is certainly a phenomenon.
I can certainly see spraying down one's balcony once in awhile, to keep the gook off of it, but daily or every other day is just too much. I don't know what the water situation is here in Greece, sure, they are surrounded by water but that doesn't mean you can't have shortages. Still, coming from a country where you are taught how to conserve things (like water and electricity), the constant spraying and waste of gallons upon gallons makes me cringe.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Live 8: Can it *Really* Help?
Don't get me wrong - I am a supporter of Live 8, and any such thing that promotes awareness, nudges government policy, and works to help correct the many ills of the world. In this case, ending world poverty, especially in Africa, is the goal. Now, yes, it will help if the wealthy countries of the world eliminate debt in third world and developing countries. Yes, it helps to have AIDS programs and awareness, and other medical help in these countries. But can these things really fix the problem?
Perhaps part of the problem is the native culture of many African countries, some of them tribal in nature. This can lead to problems similar to what happened in Rwanda a decade ago, as well as the situation currently in Darfur and Zimbabwe. Can countries with prolific tribal factions ever grow beyond the poverty level? Is it possible to combat poverty in countries where people are being forced out of their homes, their farms, their communities? Without a stable community, it seems nearly impossible to combat poverty. If people aren't allowed to work their farms, if children can't be educated, how can we even begin to fix this problem?
Of course I don't have a real solution. I am torn between the "we need to fix and change this type of culture" and the Star Trek "Prime Directive" of not interfering. There are no simple solutions.
Perhaps, though, with events like Live 8 that promote greater understanding, more people will look into the problems and maybe someday there will be a solution. We can hope.
Perhaps part of the problem is the native culture of many African countries, some of them tribal in nature. This can lead to problems similar to what happened in Rwanda a decade ago, as well as the situation currently in Darfur and Zimbabwe. Can countries with prolific tribal factions ever grow beyond the poverty level? Is it possible to combat poverty in countries where people are being forced out of their homes, their farms, their communities? Without a stable community, it seems nearly impossible to combat poverty. If people aren't allowed to work their farms, if children can't be educated, how can we even begin to fix this problem?
Of course I don't have a real solution. I am torn between the "we need to fix and change this type of culture" and the Star Trek "Prime Directive" of not interfering. There are no simple solutions.
Perhaps, though, with events like Live 8 that promote greater understanding, more people will look into the problems and maybe someday there will be a solution. We can hope.
Three Little Furry Deathtraps
Ok.. two little ones and one big huge one =p What I'm referring to? Our three cats of course! I am sleepily stumbling to the bathroom at night, or going into the kitchen to fix something, not a care in the world and zoom! A shadow (or three) runs out from the living room, gets entangled in my legs. I scramble for support, clutch the walls.. meow! meow! (Meaning "food! food!"). Can't hate them, can't love them.. in the end you love them I guess :)
Friday, July 01, 2005
The Voice of Reason
It is a sad day for justice in the United States of America, as Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has announced her retirement. She was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court (her appointment is a memorable moment from my childhood), but I also saw her as the voice of reason, someone who made her decisions with a true regard for upholding the U.S. Constitution, instead of bowing to one side or another.
Everyone knew she might retire, but I had hoped it wouldn't happen.
I could say more about it, present quotes of her memorable decisions, landmarks in her career, but I won't. I am sure there are thousands of other weblogs and news stories out there that will do just that. I will suffice by saying thank you to Justice O'Connor, for being the voice of reason all these years.
Everyone knew she might retire, but I had hoped it wouldn't happen.
I could say more about it, present quotes of her memorable decisions, landmarks in her career, but I won't. I am sure there are thousands of other weblogs and news stories out there that will do just that. I will suffice by saying thank you to Justice O'Connor, for being the voice of reason all these years.
Bite me in the Arse
You know, I just HAD to go around bragging about how comfortable it was here, how the temperatures were more moderate all spring than a normal spring in Nashville. Now I step outside and it feels JUST LIKE NASHVILLE. At least the humidity doesn't come until nightfall.
Vindication
I was 13 years old when the movie Risky Business was released. I don't know exactly how I came upon seeing it, I know I saw it in the theatre, probably with my parents, who were pretty liberal about taking me to see all kinds of movies, even if the topic was a bit too much for my young mind. At any rate, I didn't really like the movie all that much, and its young star bothered me immensely. He was the type of guy I really couldn't stand, the type of guy I still can't stand. But all my friends were screaming about how cute he was, how awesome, etc., etc., and they were absolutely mortified that I didn't find him to be all that. I was too busy lusting after Boy George.
Time went by, and more movies with this young star were released. All the Right Moves, Top Gun, The Color of Money, Cocktail - and in each movie he annoyed me more and more. I couldn't stand this jackass. And still my friends just didn't know what the hell was wrong with me. He was so CUTE, you know? Then came Rain Man, which was a good movie, but he was still his same old pain in the ass self.
In the meantime, I had become quite a fan of the Anne Rice novels, and was highly anticipating a movie version of Interview with A Vampire. Then I found out the asshole actor was going to play one of the lead roles, and I was so disappointed. By this time I had some people on my side, people that knew his prior work and indeed did not think him suitable for the role. Granted, he ended up not being quite as bad as we all feared, but I still think they could have found someone better.
Flash forward to present day. Mr. Jackass has turned into a spokesman for complete and utter freakishness. He has insulted his friends, lashed out at psychiatry, jumped around on couches, yelled at Matt Lauer, and been generally annoying. Now, no one likes him anymore.
I'll just say "I told you so", and rest my case.
Time went by, and more movies with this young star were released. All the Right Moves, Top Gun, The Color of Money, Cocktail - and in each movie he annoyed me more and more. I couldn't stand this jackass. And still my friends just didn't know what the hell was wrong with me. He was so CUTE, you know? Then came Rain Man, which was a good movie, but he was still his same old pain in the ass self.
In the meantime, I had become quite a fan of the Anne Rice novels, and was highly anticipating a movie version of Interview with A Vampire. Then I found out the asshole actor was going to play one of the lead roles, and I was so disappointed. By this time I had some people on my side, people that knew his prior work and indeed did not think him suitable for the role. Granted, he ended up not being quite as bad as we all feared, but I still think they could have found someone better.
Flash forward to present day. Mr. Jackass has turned into a spokesman for complete and utter freakishness. He has insulted his friends, lashed out at psychiatry, jumped around on couches, yelled at Matt Lauer, and been generally annoying. Now, no one likes him anymore.
I'll just say "I told you so", and rest my case.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
The Spanish Say Yes to Gay Marriage
Spain has now become the fourth country to legalize gay marriage, after the Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada. This is very encouraging news, and I hope the legalization of gay marriage continues throughout the globe in the months to come.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Milate Ellinika?
First, a confession. I've been here in Greece for almost 3 years. I still can't speak Greek. I can translate some Greek (ie. I can watch a movie or TV show and only read Greek subtitles and get a lot of it) but when it comes to understanding what people say in Greek, well, I really, REALLY suck at it (although admittedly there are some Americans I can't understand as well). Part of the problem comes from the fact that I have lived in three different "regions" in Greece since I moved here. People in Kos didn't speak quite the same dialect as people did in Athens and people here in the northern region speak a slightly different dialect than the others. Plus, Greeks speak fast. Now they will say that English speakers speak fast, and we do, to some extent, but when I try to listen to Greeks, I can tell how fast they are speaking from some of the words I can make out, and they speak really fucking fast.
In reverse, my grammar in Greek is terrible, so even if I try to speak myself, I get the gender, number, tense all screwed up. Hell, I can't even pronounce my husband's name correctly! Not to mention the fact that I am pretty shy to start with (even when it comes to speaking English), so it has been harder for me to learn to communicate properly in Greek.
Anyway, one of the guys that owns the supermarket across the street from us lived in America for awhile and speaks quite fluent English. So he always speaks to me in English. Today, when I finished my shopping, he blindsided me with a question in Greek. I didn't expect it, so he had to repeat it. I knew what he said, or the gist of it, but the fucker was testing me! This is something my mother-in-law does all the time, but I expect her to test me. Still, I think he was surprised I understood him, and even answered correctly in Greek (well, it WAS a yes or no question). Still, are Greeks trying to thwart my plan, of learning perfect Greek and pretending not to understand, just so I can spy on them and they think I don't know what they are saying? Sheesh!
In reverse, my grammar in Greek is terrible, so even if I try to speak myself, I get the gender, number, tense all screwed up. Hell, I can't even pronounce my husband's name correctly! Not to mention the fact that I am pretty shy to start with (even when it comes to speaking English), so it has been harder for me to learn to communicate properly in Greek.
Anyway, one of the guys that owns the supermarket across the street from us lived in America for awhile and speaks quite fluent English. So he always speaks to me in English. Today, when I finished my shopping, he blindsided me with a question in Greek. I didn't expect it, so he had to repeat it. I knew what he said, or the gist of it, but the fucker was testing me! This is something my mother-in-law does all the time, but I expect her to test me. Still, I think he was surprised I understood him, and even answered correctly in Greek (well, it WAS a yes or no question). Still, are Greeks trying to thwart my plan, of learning perfect Greek and pretending not to understand, just so I can spy on them and they think I don't know what they are saying? Sheesh!
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Seriously folks
How could the French have voted "Non" to the Euroconstitution when the campaign produced pictures of this guy:
Pietr the Plumber
Time for me to visit Poland!
In this week's Time there were a plethora of letters regarding the French vote, some disagreeing with them, some saying good for them for having a voice, etc. Now, I am the last person to say "lets not give anyone a voice", and this is what the French decided, wrong or right, noone really knows. Sure, it has thrown the EU into a type of "chicken with its head cut off" syndrome, and in the end no one cared abou the Dutch vote. One of the letters, written by a Frenchman, struck me.
"I've never been so ashamed of being French. Now I know how intelligent, worldly Americans felt when Bush was re-elected."
Ahhh, thank you for that! I was beginning to think no Europeans actually considered the fact that not ALL of us voted for Bush.
But see, thats the thing, this is what happens when you give everyone a voice. Not all of us agree, and some of us are quite upset about the result. Still, in the end, I'd rather have a voice to regret than none at all.
Pietr the Plumber
Time for me to visit Poland!
In this week's Time there were a plethora of letters regarding the French vote, some disagreeing with them, some saying good for them for having a voice, etc. Now, I am the last person to say "lets not give anyone a voice", and this is what the French decided, wrong or right, noone really knows. Sure, it has thrown the EU into a type of "chicken with its head cut off" syndrome, and in the end no one cared abou the Dutch vote. One of the letters, written by a Frenchman, struck me.
"I've never been so ashamed of being French. Now I know how intelligent, worldly Americans felt when Bush was re-elected."
Ahhh, thank you for that! I was beginning to think no Europeans actually considered the fact that not ALL of us voted for Bush.
But see, thats the thing, this is what happens when you give everyone a voice. Not all of us agree, and some of us are quite upset about the result. Still, in the end, I'd rather have a voice to regret than none at all.
Piglet too?
It seems that the man who was the voice of beloved (but sometimes annoying) Piglet has died as well. John Fielder, 80, passed away June 25th of cancer. Fortunately, the Pooh characters will always live in the hearts and minds of children everywhere.
The Dry Spell Has Been Broken
Well, after 19 days of no rain, a quiet thunderstorm rolled through our village around 4:15 a.m. this morning (yes, I was still awake). And I am sure you are thinking that quiet + thunderstorm is some kind of oxymoron, but it was so soft and gentle, it was as if Zeus himself was trying to blanket the town with a light sheath of rain, enough to keep plant life fertile, but not loud enough to disrupt the hundreds of sleeping denizens of the village. The lightning was close, the thunder should have been loud, but it wasn't. I tell you, the longer I live here, the more I think the ancient 12 do indeed keep watch over Mt. Olympus and its inhabitants.
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