2000th post
by V.E. on June 11th, 2010
filed under fyi, personal, recap/review, thoughts, words, wtf
This is my 2000th entry.
I have been writing online since late 2001. I’ve had multiple journals—one I created myself using HTML, a couple of LiveJournals… I have a Facebook page, a Twitter, and a Formspring page. And, I have this: a “real” website with a “real” blog. This website/journal is a compilation of all the other online journals I’ve had; you can find my writing from my original (thankfully retired) website here. You can find all the stuff from my LiveJournal days, and you can find, since earlier this year, a record of my tweets.
This entry comes at a time of bitterness for me for a few reasons. I have no money and no livelihood to speak of. I’m working to rectify that, so all is not lost, but I’m not particularly optimistic. Nevertheless, I have mounting bills that I cannot pay, and that causes discord. I get depressed and lethargic just thinking about the situation. I’m living at home with my parents, which isn’t a bad thing in and of itself, but at my age it isn’t a good thing, either. It feels as though my friends are progressing in life while I’m stuck here, not moving forward… or in any direction at all.
But this week is sad for me because it’s the week (along with next week) my family and I were supposed to hike across the Grand Canyon together. It is, I suppose, another disappointment in a long line of personal disappointments. It’s nobody’s fault, really, but it’s still disappointing. I’d been planning the trip since May 2008, more than two years ago, and it was set to happen—until February. My parents started hiking regularly to work up the endurance for the five-day trip, and my sister and brother were also on board.
I set it up so that we’d be gone for nine days: one travel day on each end, one day to stay at the North Rim before the hike began, two days down the north side, one day the bottom at Phantom Ranch, two days up the south side, and one day to stay at the South Rim and collect ourselves before returning home. I made room and board reservations and excitedly planned it to the last detail. I had maps of the trail(s) we would take, talked about the places we’d stay, and eagerly made arrangements for all of the necessities. Then, we were not granted “back country permit”, something that’s required to actually hike down below the Grand Canyon rim. My father and I hiked the Canyon when I was in sixth grade, and I wanted to share that with my other family members, but it was not to be.
After I was informed that we had not been given a back country permit, I let the subject drop entirely. I didn’t know if there was a way to fight for it, but I was too tired anyway. I didn’t do anything to change or cancel our reservations until it was almost too late, and even then only at the insistence of my parents, whose money was about to be lost. Like I said, it was no one’s fault, at least no one in close relation to me, but I was still utterly beaten.
If we were on the trip now, as was planned, we’d be bedding down for the night at Cottonwood Campground after our first hiking day. We’d probably be sweaty and tired and grumpy from having to walk in a straight line and look at nothing but red rock all day. And I’m missing it terribly.
I don’t know why I keep focusing on all that’s lacking in my life, or all that I perceive to be lacking, for surely I take for granted many things that I shouldn’t or wouldn’t in other circumstances. I’m depressed, I guess, and it’s not really getting better. It’s sad because this post should be a happy one, celebrating all that I’ve accomplished and the chronicling of said. Maybe things will get better in my next 2000 entries.
Saint Patrick’s Day
by V.E. on March 17th, 2010
Educate yourself a little on this Saint Patrick’s Day. It’s not only about green beer, you know.
The truth behind the shamrock
The story of Saint Patrick
Life, miracles, and prayers
Who was Saint Patrick?
StPatty’sDay.com says:
The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn, and he almost didn’t get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.
Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God.
He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.
There you go. Even Saint Patrick’s Day has (indirect) pagan origins. Who knew? Who indeed.
International Women’s Day
by V.E. on March 8th, 2010
filed under fyi, personal, politics
Today is International Women’s Day, as March 8th has been every year since 1975. This year’s theme is: “Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all”, something about which I’m not sure what to write. Women still don’t have equal rights or equal opportunities, even in supposedly great nations such as the United States and other first-world countries like Japan, Germany, England, Spain, Italy, and France. 
And yes, I’m being specifically Eurocentric because it’s European and North American countries that have made the most progress—as far as I can see, at least—in women’s rights, much less other countries that still have honor killings and female genital mutilation of all things.
I’m somewhat conflicted about having an International Women’s Day (IWD) at all. If IWD is on March 8th, what does that make all the other days of the year, by default? Yeah, I thought so.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in my night class, “Women, the Earth, and the Divine”, when we were asked to come up with a personal and then group definition of “feminism”. According to Wikipedia, feminism is
a political, cultural or economic movement aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women. Feminism involves political, cultural and sociological theories, as well as philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference. It is also a movement that advocates gender equality for women and campaigns for women’s rights and interests.
While that’s accurate, I decided to go for something simpler. I wrote, Feminism is the radical idea that women are human. It’s not an original idea (Cheris Kramarae said it first), but it seemed to me the simplest way I could say something that’s so apparently controversial that calling someone a “feminist” is (or, at least, can be) like calling them a bitch or worse—insulting. Feminists are not man-haters, for example.
Anyway, my group liked the definition so much that they decided to forgo theirs completely and use mine as the group definition. I was flattered but anxious about that because the teacher didn’t seem like the kind of woman who would really understand the sentiment (or appreciate my sense of humor, for that matter). I was right; she didn’t. When she got to my group’s definition, she read it aloud and then sat there, appalled, for a good half minute before saying something like, ” Well, that’s completely insulting.” I ducked my head, flushing, even though she didn’t know who’s definition it had originally been. What a bad idea that had had been, right?
Well, she brushed over it after the class finished laughing, we moved on to other groups’ definitions, and the moment passed. But I think it would have been prudent for her to have actually addressed what she thought was insulting. I mean, my definition is true. Feminism is the radical idea that women are human. For centuries, women (and children) have been recognized only as a part of a man—daughter to a father, wife to a husband, or mother to a son. It’s been the man who’s been important, and the woman has been an extension of him.
The day women stop being considered in terms of men and start being considered in terms of their own merits is the day feminism will have served its purpose. Until then, though, we’ll just have to keep working toward equity.
— — —
Also, on an unrelated note: today is B—’s birthday. I find it to be completely ironic that he and IWD share a day; he’s certainly done his part to maintain the white male privilege status quo.
On another unrelated note: today is also A—’s brithday. Since she wrote me that note a while ago about not wanting to be my friend anymore, she’s sent me numerous Facebook invites, etc., which I find to be totally faux pas. Are you my friend, or not? Just pick one and let’s be done with it. (I’m leaning toward not, though I guess etiquette is complicated when I’m Facebook friends with someone who isn’t really a real friend.)
Memoriea opening night
by V.E. on February 17th, 2010
filed under fyi, personal, school
Though the opening night for Memoriea was postponed from its original date, February 9th, I am pleased to report that it was a great success, chocolate fountain and all. I have a bunch of photos, but I’ll just upload three to give you an idea of what you missed. Too bad for all of you. Seriously.
What you see upon entering Duke Gallery.
We had crackers, pretzels, marshmellows, cheddar cheese cubes, banana slices, and shortbread to accompany the chocolate fountain, as well as water and punch, bubble gum, and mints.
One of my favorite pages from the exhibit. I also especially liked pages 4 and 10.
The Tetris Quilt
by V.E. on February 14th, 2010
I was/am so impressed with a close friend of mine making a Tetris quilt that I’m posting a picture here for all to enjoy. You rock, Esther! (Click for larger.) I want one! Que music.
AWESOME!
Memoriea
by V.E. on February 10th, 2010
filed under beauty, fyi, personal, school
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your presence is requested at Memoriea, an exhibition of manga madness! [My sister is] presenting the first complete issue of [her] first graphic novel entitled Memoriea in Duke Gallery!
Memoriea is an original story with original characters that has been hand drawn in graphic novel form. A girl travels with her brother to his coronation, but when he mysteriously disappears from body and memory she is crowned in his place as if nothing had changed at all. But then again, that all happened over six thousand years ago.
There will be free food at the opening—the show opening is on FEBRUARY 16TH FROM 6-9 PM PST.
For the Facebook page, click here. For directions, click here.
Postcard from Argentina
by V.E. on February 5th, 2010
I received this postcard a few days ago from Argentina, but I can’t read it. Can anyone help me out and translate for me? Pedro? Click the picture for larger.
(If you want to see the front of the card, click here.)
