For everything else, there's...

Just a little something that cracked me up - and then makes me cry because it's so true. Clever, clever Mike Luckovich.

A quiet day

I love these days. Mildly productive, yet still restful, and with the world a little better arranged than it was when I woke up.

I need more days like this.

When I woke up this morning, my brain was still buzzing from the Golden Globe awards last night, and in my mind I was composing a post mourning the end of Ricky Gervais's status as a funny comedian. I'll just say that he was terrible and that it was disappointing because I had been looking forward to seeing him host the show.

As far as fashion goes, I will also note that the scallop-shell-top dress that Jennifer Love Hewitt wore had even me wanting to peek over the edge and see to what extent she was really covered inside.

Anyway, even though the Golden Globes are generally fun, they really are, to me, just a get-ready-for-the-Oscars event. Though I'm not happy about this year's hosts for the Academy Awards - James Franco and Anne Hathaway - but they may surprise me pleasantly since Ricky Gervias was such an utter letdown.

Anyway. I thought I was in a peaceful zone where I was done thinking about that. Guess not.

So here is a beautiful song for today. With some noise in the middle. And a peaceful finish.

Shearwater - On the Death of the Waters

Hope.

Here we go.

Although I try not to make it the point of my blog, I am a person with very strong opinions politically. And the shootings in Arizona, with the senseless massacring of bystanders and the audacity to target the type of politician who doesn't pull bull-headedly to one extreme or the other, who seems to take public life responsibly and reasonably - well, it sends me to despair.

Thank heavens for the positive signs in the recoveries of so many of the victims, including Representantive Gabrielle Giffords. And to me, the best sign is the one in the Steve Benson editorial cartoon above: her ability to give a thumbs up.

During my last year of my undergrad work, my dad had to undergo brain surgery. Yes, his was more medical - probably due to a fall on ice - he was not shot. I can't imagine the horror. But I do remember these little things: after waiting by the bedside for hours, having the little hand signals. The news today reported that Ms. Giffords had tried to pull her breathing tube out. I remember my dad doing the same thing. He hated it. The worst thing for him was when they had to bind his hands so he couldn't pull it out.

So news reports about Ms. Giffords's condition leave me in tears because they bring back these memories of such a scary time. I was blessed to see my dad make a great recovery. I truly hope our her family will be blessed to see Ms. Giffords recover as well. I hope she will be fully able to return to her public life and that she would make that choice: we need her voice of balance now more than ever.

Dear January,

I remember that for a couple of years when I first moved here, I used you to clean up the house. That habit has obviously gotten away from me.

Two days ago, my calendar for the month looked pretty empty. Then pop,pop,pop... here's a girls' night out, there's a make-up class to glaze pottery, and I see that this will NOT be a January in which I make any progress on cleaning the house.

Things could be worse.

A Happy New Year to you.

Best,

m

Tori Amos - Winter's Carol (no embedding - you'll have to click.)