My Blogging Needs Improvement

I haven't posted anything for months, huh? What's up with that? Well, it's been hectic crazy in a good way.

The cat arrived in Abu Dhabi, safe and sound after a stop-over at the Kitty Hotel in Amsterdam. I've never been to Amsterdam, but now my cat has? Then my husband and son arrived, via London Heathrow. At least I've been there (only to race through the airport, though).

Son started at his new school, which was trying at first, but he seems to have settled in now.

Two weeks ago, we moved from the old flat to a converted villa. Unfortunately, we moved before the villa was 100% ready for occupancy. Nonetheless, we are there, with hot water (most of the time); the (tiny) kitchen counter went in yesterday. Tomorrow we get a cooker, and then we can stop eating take-away (read: Kentucky Fried Chicken, or, just down the street, Rapid Fried Chicken). Good luck suing there, Colonel.

Pictures to follow. Eventually.

Happy Birthday to Charles!

I love you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os_HSgERhE8

(Sorry, it wouldn't embed....)

I Hear the World Singing

Singing: The Key To A Long Life : NPR

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97320958

This is an interesting essay that I just stumbled upon. I was looking for something for my students, and I ended up with something for myself. It may still be for my students, as well.

If you’re not familiar with it, NPR is the National Public Radio (USA). "This I Believe" is an on-going series of essays written by a wide variety of people. You can listen to them, or read the text. (I haven't had a chance to listen to this one yet.)

Now, I haven’t checked out the NPR website since I left the US (although I do listen to some of their shows via podcasts), and today, the first thing I saw was the article linked above, written by Brian Eno. Eno! Wow! I listen to his music almost every day! So do you if you use Windows, as he wrote the start-up music for Windows 95, which I presume is still in use in the later incarnations of Windows. (I wonder how much money he gets for that?) I listen to some of his other music, as well, most notably his work with Roxy Music, the Berlin trilogy with David Bowie, and some solo songs I've encountered in various movies.

It’s an interesting essay, and it gave me a little justification for my current habit of singing and playing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” several times a day: It’s good for me!

So, I encourage everybody to 1) read Eno’s essay, and 2) sing something!

Enjoy.

The Election

I am very proud of my country for having finally done the right thing in electing Barack Obama. I sincerely hope that the change we so desperately need is coming.

At the same time, I am sorely disappointed in my former home state of California. The passage of Proposition 8 goes against everything I believe in. A lot of what I believe in was inculcated in me during the time I lived in California. Maybe that's what so disappointing and shocking about Prop 8.

Someone sent me this video of Keith Olbermann. He says it all.

US Presidential Election

Rock on, Obama!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Thank you everyone who called, emailed, messaged, brought cake, brought wine (!), and did anything else to make my birthday wonderful. I thought I would be sad and lonely, but my students and friends all came through with cake and songs, and I got to chat with my family.

And extra big thanks to my husband, son, and cat, who gave me my super-cool iPod Touch. I love you guys!

FAIL Blog

This blog is hysterical. Be careful with the kiddies, though. You can choose to have a G/PG-rated version only. http://failblog.org/

Here is a classic example; although the entries are usually photographs, this was too good to not share.

see more pwn and owned pictures