Conversations with the "other" aka biased news reporting.

So, I was at a fair  on Sat.  I was waiting to try "sonic massage" (with gongs, interesting) and was making small talk with the other woman waiting with me.    She actually does PR/marketing for the Bushnell, and I tried to get her to come help my little theatre... but we got to talking after that...and she is Israeli.   We agreed on some things, that the US should keep its nose out of other people's business, and that we both gained weight when we came to the States.   (which we did, and twenty years later, its still with me...blah)

Anyway, there were a few times when you could tell we were both struggling to find diplomatic ways to talk about stuff...  we were both being VERY careful to pick our words.   But I was amazed to hear from her that she has been hearing that the Muslim Brotherhood is coming to power in Egypt, and that the Israeli websites/news sources she reads are predicting another Iran.  

Yet, at the same time, she hadn't heard that Mubarak and his sons had been arrested and were going to undergo a trial, which I thought was a positive step.  

She also reads the BBC website, which she said was pro-Arab.  

I did not say that one of my news sources is Al-Jazeera.

We both agreed that we hate the lack of reporting here in the States, Fox is one extreme, NBC is another.

Where is the middle ground?   There is such extreme bias in the news reporting that I have given up watching the news, really.   I check online, get updates and read articles that my Egyptian friends post on Facebook...  

But I have not gotten the impression that there is going to be another Iran.  I wonder if the Muslim Brotherhood is as prevalent as people outside Egypt seem to think.   I also got the impression that Tahrir helped people bond in good ways, as Egyptians.

But it was just fascinating having this conversation, from someone who, in some ways thinks  the same way, but in others, is completely different, and who is also of a nationality that I immediately go on "guard" with.   Not that I am offensive or defensive, but just cautious.  As was she with me.   Because that is what we were taught.  

On the apocalypse, hoarding, procrastination, and other fun things...

Occasionally, I have a lapse in judgement and watch hoarders.  

Then I get depressed.

Not that my house approaches that degree...  by a long shot.  But it is a far cry from what I want it to be, somehow.  Other things are always more important...   The places I volunteer at, the stuff I have to do that never gets finished...  

So I have piles.  Piles of mail, piles of ceramics, piles of dishes.  

I'm not a hoarder.  I can throw things out.

But I see so easily how people become hoarders.  Particularly if you live with one.

Which is why I only want to date neatniks now...  but at the same time, my house is not a neatnik house.

The eternal conundrum

Hopefully, the Rapture will sweep me away tomorrow.  Then I won't have to deal with any more crap.

(Of course, if it doesn't, then I'm screwed).

What matters:

I saw this on one of the many blogs I read, and loved it.

“You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She’s not perfect – you aren’t either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break – her heart. So don’t hurt her, don’t change her, don’t analyze and don’t expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she’s not there.”


From Bob Marley

On online dating...

Geez guys. Post a picture where one can see your face. Where you haven't cropped out your previous girlfriend.

This morning I saw pictures of:

The back of a head. Teeth. In a Burger King mask. (really? REALLY) With the girlfriend obviously cropped out. With the wife and kids. (maybe its the ex-wife, but really? And do you really want to post pictures of your kids on a online dating site? Particularly your teenage daughter?)

A lovely neon arrangement...very artistic, yes, but I can't see what you LOOK like. Isn't that the point of this?

Muscles.

Tons of photos in the gym. Really? That's the only place you can get someone to take a picture of you? Or maybe you live there.

*sigh*

Its amazing the criteria you end up judging these guys on.

Spelling. Photos. Being able to write sentences. Bleah.

I know I don't have many photos of myself, but I have a few.... and I've posted them!

How growing up in a third-world country can colour your viewpoint...

So, I bought a house that was on a community well. This is in the not-so-distant past. In the further reaches of time, I spent my formative years in a third-world country. I remember coming back to the US in the summer and being astonished that one could drink out of the tap... in Cairo the water systems were so old that the sewer lines were sometimes above the water lines...and some of them, according to my mom, dated back to the time of Salah El-Din. (or, as Westerners may know him, Saladin...in other words, the Crusades).

My street recently switched over to town water, and I've been resisting. I have not been happy about it, had a pit in my stomach, etc, etc... and I realised why last night. I still have a gut sense, from growing up drinking bottled water, that tap water is dangerous. It isn't helped by me being a little bit of a nutty-crunchy born-again granola girl... the websites that I tend to read are full of the evils of town water...

I'm still not happy about it, but at least I know the reason why... and for me, understanding why I am so upset is half the battle...

I still prefer well water.

Some days, there are some things I should not do...

like watch videos of my friends' kids. Sheesh.

I always thought I'd be somewhere else in my life at this point in time... I thought I'd be more successful, or established somehow... I thought I'd at least have kids... Or have had a lead in something....

I know a lot of great people, but as I was proclaiming to folks last night (btw, one glass of wine gets me drunk), the majority of men in my life on a regular basis are gay. Or married. (whispers) or both....

The choir director-gay (and vulgar, too)
People in the theatre--gay and single, gay and single, gay and in a relationship, gay and married.
The former choir director-gay (and engaged)


And the guys out there? gaaaaaahhhhhhhh! I don't want someone who just wants hot sex. (don't get me wrong, I like it as much as the next gal...) And you know what? at 40, yes I am going to have my own life, I'm not going to be waiting, pantingly, for Mr Right to drop from the heavens.

But its just, UGH! There's nowhere to meet them! Bleah.

I wish more places like Hillstead would have singles nights. I really do. Because straight guys can appreciate the arts, can appreciate music, culture. Can't they?

But recently friends of mine have been posting pics of their adorable babies.... and, *sigh* I really want one. I just feel like I'm growing old alone...

On beauty, self-image, and perception...

So I'm doing props for a show that, to some extent, deals with stereotypical images of women...there are Playboys on the set, there are going to be nudes... there's probably going to be a Farrah Fawcett poster. (ugh!)

Also, yesterday, someone (who has turned out to be a bit of a jerk) took a headless shot of me looking my worst as I came in to church (wearing my cape), and posted it, along with a NASTY caption to Facebook. I actually looked nice underneath the cape, but you wouldn't know it from the picture.

But then this morning I found this wonderful site, this wonderful project, called which is these gorgeous photographs of normal women. Not models, not made up, some have hair where women have hair... wrinkles, stretch marks....

And they are all photographed beautifully and empoweringly.

And THAT is what we need more of in this world. Not pictures oozing negativity, but positivity. We need more pictures celebrating the beauty that is within each and every one of us.