Reasons You Should Be Angry at America

1. The Supreme Court is out of control. Never thought I’d say this, but where the fuck is Sandra Day O’Connor when you need her? Let’s hope Hill’s bill can make it through Congress…

2. The FDA is out of control. Despite widespread information to the contrary, and pleading from the Red Cross, the FDA upheld its 1983 (yes, that’s twenty-four years ago) ban on gay men donating blood.

I don’t even need to get into the other ways the FDA is out of control. Inspections, anyone? Anyone?

3. The Democrats. How can you have the support of the public and still cave to that sitting duck sonofabitch?

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The Many (Two) Moods of Raul*

I’ve been meaning to post these for some time. Crazy’s photos of Olive reminded me to finally do it.

1.
Mood: Pensive
Event: Commencing toenail clipping

2.

Mood: __________(you tell me)

Event: Completion of toenail clipping

By the way, it was cold that day. She shivers when it’s cold and stops when I put on her shirt. So none of that, please.

*Not her real name, but an alter-ego

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It’s Too Hot to Cook

But aren’t these salads pretty?

Here’s a close up:

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Currently Reading

—The Mistress’s Daughter by A.M. Homes
Already finished this one. Wanda heard my undigested take on the book, but after digested, it doesn’t fare much better. I like the book, but the structure seems all wrong–it’s uneven. Book One – “The Mistress’s Daughter” is great; it’s strange, unsettling, and laced with Amy Homes’ signatures. But it ends abruptly and without any emotional unpacking. Hence the first piece in Book Two–“Unpacking My Mother.” Easily the best piece in the book because of its material focus. Homes is in control of her work here. “The Electronic Anthropologist” is boring and indulgent–she becomes obsessed with geneology and spends a small fortune (and much paper pulp) on her hobby. Finally (skipping a couple of pieces), “My Grandmother’s Table” is sentimental, and seems better placed in a homemakers’ glossy mag than as a bookend to Homes’ first memoir. What is it that makes this such a difficult genre?

—The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr
Yet to begin.

—Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Yet to begin. Veace: this has you written all over it. Let’s read and discuss.

—A Death Retold: Jesica Santillan, The Bungled Transplant, and Paradoxes of Medical Citizenship edited by Keith Wailoo, Julie Livingston, and Peter Guarnaccia
Remember this story? In February 2003, a seventeen-year-old Mexican immigrant received a heart/lung transplant of the wrong blood type. At the time, I was beginning the process of trying to be listed for a lung transplant, and this case reminded me of the tenacious nature of what I was about to do. My aunt (half-) joked at the time that I should have my blood type tattooed on my chest; I was grateful that there was now one mistake that could certainly not happen (again). This book is a collection of essays that examine the event from different perspectives. I already know a good bit about the strictly medical side of the case, but I’m learning a lot about systems, history, and sociology. A particular interest of mine is the ambivalent feelings Americans have about organ transplants–from horror films to the new-ish “Heroes” campaign.

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Down with the Moral Majority

Today is a good day.

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Line of the Day that I Wish I Had Written

“You have dated a whole string of Sheryl Crows: needy, good-looking girls, who somehow require you to be a jerk so they can break up with you and feel better about themselves.”

–from “Showings” by Jennifer Pashley

I’ve always wanted to work Sheryl Crow’s neediness into a short story…

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Headline of the Day that I Wish Was Written About Me

“Disillusioned Diva With Glimmers of Soul”

Guess who?

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B(ack)log

Way behind on the story of the day thing. Too much media consumption. A list:

1. “Amanda Said I Should Go to Cuba” by J. T. Bushnell: a clever conceit. This story is a one-trick pony, though it’s a pretty one.
2. “Shower” by William Giraldi: lovely. A man finally is true to his feelings, though at the worst possible moment.
3. “Sasquatch” by Tao Lin: not my kind of story. Poetic (true to its author), but something is unearned here.
4. “Dummy” by Aimee Parkison: grief, mistaken identity, a slip in( )sanity. Funereal.
5. Also finished season one of Rome. Eh. The series is rushed, uncareful. Vaguely interesting. Still, I wonder where season two goes from Caesar’s death. He was the best character. I could take or leave Forrest and Bubba*, though the show is really about them.
6. Too much theatre, too much dough.
7. Coming soon: Hitchcock night.

*Thanks to captain for the Gump connection.

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Bizarre News of the Day

When you really think about it, the fact that Britain still has a royal family is a bit odd. Now, I think that Prince Charles–with his passion for organic farming and best-selling line of biscuits*–is perfectly acceptable and adorable. It’s the queen who unsettles me, and it’s her current visit to the U.S. that is downright weird.

Since the royal family has no real political role anymore (though they may still have influence in the House of Lords–I don’t know), the queen certainly wouldn’t be here to make notable speeches, shake important hands, etc. So what would you expect her to come to the U. S. of A. and do/see? Tour Jamestown (on the 400th anniversary of the settlement) with Dick “Go Fuck Yourself” Cheney and watch a re-enactment of…whatever it is exactly that they re-enact there? Get trashed on mint juleps and barf in the bushes at the world’s trashiest/most elite horse race? Dine and talk brush-clearin’ with The Decider?

What on earth would Her Majesty do here?

*Anyone who has a .edu email account can access Times Select articles for free. You just have to register.

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Happy May Day

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