Political Pastiche

I try to keep my weekends free from "real world" distractions like my day job and the news, so Monday mornings are always a shock because I'm at work and learning about what happened in the world at large. Usually by Monday afternoon I've seen enough to get all angry and angsty. Here are some news bits that have my feathers ruffled today.... and no, I don't just read the New York Times, but today all the best/worst ones are from there.

from The Push to ‘Otherize’ Obama by Nicholas D. Kristof

What is happening, I think, is this: religious prejudice is becoming a proxy for racial prejudice. In public at least, it’s not acceptable to express reservations about a candidate’s skin color, so discomfort about race is sublimated into concerns about whether Mr. Obama is sufficiently Christian.

The result is this campaign to “otherize” Mr. Obama. Nobody needs to point out that he is black, but there’s a persistent effort to exaggerate other differences, to de-Americanize him.

(Just imagine for a moment if it were the black candidate in this election, rather than the white candidate, who was born in Central America, was an indifferent churchgoer, had graduated near the bottom of his university class, had dumped his first wife, had regularly displayed an explosive and profane temper, and had referred to the Pakistani-Iraqi border ...)

for those that loved The West Wing, a dream scene meeting between Obama and fictional President Bartlett by Aaron Sorkin

BARTLETT: GET ANGRIER! Call them liars, because that’s what they are. Sarah Palin didn’t say “thanks but no thanks” to the Bridge to Nowhere. She just said “Thanks.” You were raised by a single mother on food stamps — where does a guy with eight houses who was legacied into Annapolis get off calling you an elitist? And by the way, if you do nothing else, take that word back. Elite is a good word, it means well above average. I’d ask them what their problem is with excellence. While you’re at it, I want the word “patriot” back. McCain can say that the transcendent issue of our time is the spread of Islamic fanaticism or he can choose a running mate who doesn’t know the Bush doctrine from the Monroe Doctrine, but he can’t do both at the same time and call it patriotic. They have to lie — the truth isn’t their friend right now. Get angry. Mock them mercilessly; they’ve earned it. McCain decried agents of intolerance, then chose a running mate who had to ask if she was allowed to ban books from a public library. It’s not bad enough she thinks the planet Earth was created in six days 6,000 years ago complete with a man, a woman and a talking snake, she wants schools to teach the rest of our kids to deny geology, anthropology, archaeology and common sense too? It’s not bad enough she’s forcing her own daughter into a loveless marriage to a teenage hood, she wants the rest of us to guide our daughters in that direction too? It’s not enough that a woman shouldn’t have the right to choose, it should be the law of the land that she has to carry and deliver her rapist’s baby too? I don’t know whether or not Governor Palin has the tenacity of a pit bull, but I know for sure she’s got the qualifications of one. And you’re worried about seeming angry? You could eat their lunch, make them cry and tell their mamas about it and God himself would call it restrained. There are times when you are simply required to be impolite. There are times when condescension is called for!

from Truthiness Stages a Comeback by Frank Rich
For better or worse, the candidacy of Barack Obama, a senator-come-lately, must be evaluated on his judgment, ideas and potential to lead. McCain, by contrast, has been chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, where he claims to have overseen “every part of our economy.” He didn’t, thank heavens, but he does have a long and relevant economic record that begins with the Keating Five scandal of 1989 and extends to this campaign, where his fiscal policies bear the fingerprints of Phil Gramm and Carly Fiorina. It’s not the résumé that a presidential candidate wants to advertise as America faces its worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. That’s why the main thrust of the McCain campaign has been to cover up his history of economic malpractice.

from Pact on Debates Will Let McCain and Obama Spar by Patrick Healy
At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.
McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive.
…
McCain advisers said they were only somewhat concerned about Ms. Palin’s debating skills compared with those of Mr. Biden, who has served six terms in the Senate, or about his chances of tripping her up. Instead, they say, they wanted Ms. Palin to have opportunities to present Mr. McCain’s positions, rather than spending time talking about her experience or playing defense.


Ahhh.... good stuff.

Flash back, flash forward

Here's a general update cuz I got lots going on.... and at the same time very little.

-I can't believe I agreed to get into my Gorey Stories get-up again. Creative Loafing wants something splashy for the cover of the arts section for their Best of the Bay issue. Hey, I'm flattered they want me (and I have a sneaking suspicion I'll be netting that Best Costumer award again), but the thought of that hair/makeup process is giving me the willies. Not to mention having to track down all that stuff tonight. Oh well.... fame has a price.... and I'm all about shameless self promotion.

-In the span of one week I closed Embedded, struck the show and did the costumes for Blackbird which opens on Thursday. Only 3 contemporary costumes for that one, but it's amazing how much I sweat those things.

-I've already started memorizing for History of the Devil. It's not a lot, but I want to get that part out of the way so I can just play and enjoy the great cast and director.

-I'm 3 weeks without pins in my arm, and the rehab is going slow. Last week I had a check-up and the doc said I had 40-50% of normal strength, flexibility, range of motion, etc. He said that I was doing fine, but it seems to be taking forever!

-This looming presidential election is getting me very excited/riled up. I've wanted Obama from the start. I was feeling feisty before McCain made his VP selection, and now I am getting more rabid by the day. Sorry, don't get the Palin thing. The more I learn about her, the more terrified I am by those who support her. She reminds me of a cross between Earl's ex-wife on My Name is Earl and Karen from Will and Grace. Now, I'm not sure I ever saw a complete episode of either one of those shows, but I've seen enough to make the comparison. Honestly, I think she's a joke. But I calm myself a little Jon Stewert and some Daily Show action every morning.

-Sleep has become some sort of elusive end of the rainbow thing for me. I'm going on a week of the "can't fall asleep for hours" kind of insomnia. Not bad on the weekends when I can get up whenever, but it makes work days a kind of living death. Nice. All of this right on the heels of getting an appointment with a pulmonologist to see if I have some sort of sleep disorder. Very nice.

-Work is painfully boring. I actually prefer when we have projects piled up and deadlines looming.... 8 hours is a long time when you have nothing new, and have already gone through all those "when I get time" projects. And you can only go through and delete old emails and files so many times. One of my core beliefs is "If I'm not actively doing something, I might as well be sleeping." Hey, maybe I've got narcolepsy.... wouldn't that be a topic of conversation?

-I lack motivation in free time. Sure I could clean the house, cook things, organize stuff.... but once I get home from work and force myself to workout for an hour, the only thing I seem motivated to do is grab the needlepoint and indulge my obsession with past seasons of 24. One of the 12 steps is realizing you are powerless over your addiction, right? OK, I'm powerless when confronted with Jack Bauer. But, watching a show based on government conspiracies during an election year is dangerous. Maybe that's why I'm having problems sleeping.

Wow.

That is one disjointed line of rambling.

I blame the insomnia created by the over saturation of my idle brain from both the media and Hollywood and my feelings of physical inadequacy since I cannot yet use my left hand completely. Oh... and the humidity. The humidity is always to blame.

Future lookin' bright

I've been up late the last couple of nights watching coverage of the DNC, and every night I've been more excited and positive. Michelle Obama's bio piece was great, Hillary's speech and subsequent performance at roll call gave me a thrill (especially considering I can't stand the sound of her voice). Bill Clinton managed to suck it up with his trademark charm and fire. Biden played his role as "the big stick" well... and I'm starting to like him. And Obama's speech last night? Absolutely inspiring. I've loved his eloquent orations in the past, but this one was firmly rooted in practical language which made the speech even more profound. One of the reasons I like him is because he doesn't come from a wealthy, affluent family.... he's not part of a political dynasty. He's an educated, cultured person from simple roots.



Now, I've been waiting all morning for McCain to steal focus with his VP selection. And he certainly got my attention... by stepping on his own crank.



Sarah Palin? Dude, a Republican in a dress is still a Republican. She's a gun totin', moose eatin' pro-lifer that just happens to wear a dress. A runner up for Miss Alaska, I found just as many Google hits that had her name associated with McCain as with MILF. After researching her stands on abortion, energy/oil, economics, gay/lesbian rights, religion, etc... she's no different than a Huckabee or a Romney. I've never understood how a woman can be pro-life... I can understand a woman choosing life, but to restrict that choice in others? nuh huh... don't get it.



So let the trial by fire begin.... I can't wait to see how this odd couple crashes and burns in the next few months.



Here's Palin in her evening gown at the Miss Alaska competition in 1984




And here's one that I tittered over...

new happenings

My doc removed the pins from my arm today!!! Whoop whoop! This time was sorta bad... same achey, but with some breath sucking moments of EEK thrown in. He wants me to wear my brace when I'm ambulatory (driving, working out, playing with the dogs) since the muscles are very weak and a fall could break it again. I can live with that. I go back in 2 weeks for another look-see, but basically I'm free to slowly start bending, flexing and rotating. I can shower without bagging my arm (after 48 hours to make sure the pin holes are closed) so hopefully the weird scaly skin will go away. But my arm is stupid... I have to play "bad coach" and yell at it to get it to twist.... ahhhh.... let the fun of physical therapy begin.

At just over 2 years old, my dog Grimm is getting in touch with his alpha male. I think he finally figured out that in a smackdown with Wolfgang... Wolfie will LOSE. He's bigger, stronger and faster than the other 2, so he's getting his macho mutt on. This is making for tense moments around the house since Wolfie is doing his best Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo impression. Can't blame him... for all intents and purposes Grimm is emasculating him on a daily basis... which is a hilarious statement given that neither of them has testicles. But Grimm is pushing the boundaries.... he shoves Wolfie out of the way to get the love, he chases Pugsley away from her food bowl just to prove he can (she goes back when he leaves), he steals all the cool toys, a lays in Wolfie's spot on the bed. In addition, he is getting uppity with me. He tries to muscle his way out the door when I'm leaving and when I took him with me to get a cup of coffee... he lept out the car door and fought all my attempts to pull him back in.... just put on the brakes and pulled back... some good Samaritan had to pick him up and put him in the car since I was trying one handed. And he's taken to peeing when we go for a walk.... he NEVER did that! I think he's trying to mark his territory! All of this is very strange behavior from the dog who always gave in to Wolfgang and only had behavior problems of the "energetic" variety. This is the dog who shakes when it thunders and is spooked by a plastic bag blowing in the breeze. I'm going to email my former trainer and do some reading. Now, it's not my place to decide which of my pack is Alpha, but I'm afraid that Grimm and Wolfie might do some damage before this gets resolved.... cuz Wolfie wont back down and Grimm is very big and strong. Maybe that week at kennel changed him.... kinda like prison.

Already?

Y'know what I've heard a lot the last couple of days as I count down to pin removal?

"Has it been 8 weeks already?"

Proving that time flies when you don't have a broken arm.

Y'know what I can't wait to NOT hear?

"What did you do?" or worse "Did it hurt?"

Anyone who asks if breaking a bone and then having surgery on it hurt should be curbed.... seriously. What kind of an oxygen thief asks that? But I've heard it.

So, I'm down to 92 hours left....

CANNOT FRICKIN' WAIT

New charity being created!

So, I'm thinking of starting an online charity or something...

The name should be something like "Katrina apparently needs 6 new porcelain veneers". That is the best name I could come up with... and the only one not loaded with curse words.

Apparently veneers have a lifespan... my 12 year old ones are in the geriatric phase. Here's the bonus... so not only will they continue to deteriorate around the seams leading to maybe more falling off... but the teeth underneath are suffering. Yeah! Would that knowledge have made a difference 12 years ago? Probably not. But it sucks in the here and now.

You should have seen the disappointment on my cutie young doctor's face when I told him to just glue the old one on and not to even start making plans about replacing all of them. You'd have thought I killed his puppy.

Hmmm... maybe that leaping in front of a bus idea should be given another look.

uncle!

So the suck just keeps rolling into my life... I didn't think it was possible, but apparently the universe hasn't quite finished f@%king with me yet. I'm trying to figure out if all this adversity is a)setting me up to truly appreciate the good things when they finally start coming in or b)push me over the edge and force me to throw myself in front of a bus. I'm hoping for the former, but I aint holding my breath.

12 years ago I had porcelain veneers put on my top 6 teeth. It came out of my pocket and was probably the greatest money ever spent. There are very few people who remember my gappy, snaggly teeth, and I've been systematically destroying any photos of that time. Well... one of them came off on Saturday... not one of the center 2, but still...

On seeing one of my real teeth, I nearly had cardiac arrest.... like my hair color, I had convinced myself that "natural" was what I paid for. The silver lining is that the veneer is intact and I didn't swallow it or lose it. I have an appointment on Wednesday to have it glued back on, so I get to feel like Cletus the Slack Jawed
Yokel for 2 more days. Yes, I have dental insurance, but it certainly doesn't cover cosmetic stuff....

And the truly crappy part is that it probably came loose since I broke my arm... I never use my teeth to pry or tear or do anything, but since I am down a functioning hand, I had to resort to using them. Awesome.

Let's just say I'm playing the lottery this week... surely I'm due for some good news, right? If not, I've picked up a bus schedule...