Let's Go Visit Some Graves, Kids!

I positively love this concept: graveyard tourism!

If this isn't "me," I don't know what is. I think cemeteries are fascinating and I love to visit them. Although, I didn't always feel this way. It was living in France that helped me to "discover" cemeteries. Not only are tons of famous people buried in cemeteries throughout Paris, but they so peaceful and serene. (well, duh - of course they're peaceful; bunch of dead people there!) No, but I mean, in the middle of a dense and busy city, it's rather relaxing to sit for a spell in a Parisian cemetery. It's like a park, but with lots of personal history around you. Also, cemeteries in France are especially lovely on Nov. 1, the day after Halloween, when families lay flowers on the graves of their loved ones. Mix those flowers with the colors of the fall leaves, and it's quite a sight.

I dunno. I must be a goth at heart.

Yes, I Read My Horoscope.

This was my horoscope for today:

You're like a shark in the deep waters of the working world. You are slick. You are sleek. You are good looking, but those good looks belie razor-sharp, highly effective tools for getting what you want. The little fishies had better watch out, because you are on the hunt. Go ahead and chase those fishies. But don't go tracking any new business projects down -- they'll come to you. If they don't, spend the day studying the weather conditions.

I think my horoscope is high.

Just Pick a Name and Stick with It Already

So, apparently, Freedom Tower is no longer the name of the building that will replace our former World Trade Center twin towers. Which is fine by me, because the word "Freedom" in any name, title, or brand will forever remind me of "Freedom Fries," as well as the whole patriotism backlash and paranoid overuse of the word freedom in general that happened after 9/11.

The new name? "One World Trade Center." Is this better? On the one hand, it's nice that they're going back to using "World Trade Center," as if to say, they were knocked down, but by God, we'll build back and call it the same thing. On the other hand, I can't help but think of the Count from Sesame Street and picture him going, "There were TWO towers! TWO! Ah hah hah hah! But now there is ONE Tower! ONE World Trade Center! Ah hah hah hah! TWO! ONE! AH HAH HAH HAH!" Wouldn't he have fun with that one?

The Count used to scare me as a kid.

Resolve THIS

You may have noticed that I tend to be a bit list-y, and I apologize if reading other people’s lists is not your cup of tea, though they can be very funny sometimes. I find lists to be my friends, especially in times of stress, which has been most of this year. They help me to organize my thoughts, and I can’t help thinking that they may be the vestiges an “organization gene” barely inherited from my compulsive mother. My mother, who, God bless her, follows a long line of bossy, OCD women, wonders over me and how I did not inherit said organization gene, to which I reply, but I can make a mean list!

Like at New Year’s. I love New Year’s resolutions, and I love listing them. I often have boring resolutions, like “exercise more,” “eat less junk,” and “get out of bed before 9,” that kind of thing. This year, I thought I’d come up with some fun ones, especially since this year I am more in need of serious, boring reminders, er, resolutions, than ever before. Here goes.

Drink more rum. I was thinking, I don’t drink many rum drinks. And rum is so fun! The words almost rhyme. Rum can both warm you up, as in a hot toddy, and cool you down, as in a mojito. Rum is universal, consumed from chilly Britain to the hot Caribbean. Rum is sweet as candy, unlike, say, gin, which is harsh and dry, or vodka, which makes me scrunch up my face when I down a sip, or brandy, which makes my esophagus burn. Honestly, I’m not a big drinker, but a cocktail from time to time makes me feel like I’m really living it up. The best thing about this resolution is: I drink one rum drink, and I can check it off, because I almost never drink rum. Cheers!

Dance more. Again, don’t do this nearly enough. I feel like such a blob this year, as I exercise very little. I’m not sure walking to the metro counts. I’m talking, really sweat. I love belly dancing, ballroom dancing, even stupid dancing. (That would be what I do free-form at weddings and the like.) Even if I can never commit to a dance class, I could go out to some of those Cuban bars (with the mojitos, hello, resolution #1!), and Mr. P and I could get down. That’d be fun. I think I must check this resolution off at least twice a month.

Keep joy in my artistic work, dignity in my day job, pay bills on time, balance my checkbook, (or at least keep track of expenses) iron out my mental issues, stay physically healthy and fit, finish the home remodel, practice acceptance, compassion, and patience, and maintain a positive attitude.
Ok, so maybe I have only two fun resolutions and whole slew of serious ones. I know what I need to do this year, and most of it will require hard work, perseverance, and patience.

According to Chinese astrology, 2008 will be the Year of the Rat. I was born in the Year of the Rat, and they say that a rat year is a good year to make a fresh start.

Here’s hoping a little Rat Luck will be on my side, and yours, too, this New Year.

Blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind

I’ve experienced a lot of signs in my life recently. Behold:

Sign that my home remodel has lasted way too long:
instead of putting on slippers to go downstairs to make coffee in the morning, I slip on my work boots

Sign that I should probably wash my jeans already:
the cat keeps smelling the same place on my jean leg like he’s interested in eating it

Sign that the writer’s strike has taken its toll:
I turn to free movies On Demand and watch Sleepless in Seattle, for Pete’s sake

Sign that I might need to get a new refrigerator:
I smell something burning… and see the cat lapping up steak juice

Sign that I need a real job:
I find my checking account in overdraft after having to buy a new refrigerator

Sign that banks are criminal bastards:
the account would not have gone into overdraft if they posted the transactions immediately after I made them, like the &*$# bank commercials say they do

Sign that my luck may be changing:
I GET A JOB!

Sign that the company may be totally desperate:
they call me three hours after my interview to offer me the job and don’t even bother calling my references

Sign that I may be totally desperate:
I take an “entry-level” job (but it’s in the ARTS, finally!)

Sign that the holidays are upon us:
I start planning my schedule around meals

Sign that Christmas may be the most overrated holiday of the year:
I start singing along to the jewelry commercial jingles

Signs that Christmas may be the best holiday of the year:
everything counts as a “Christmas present,” you can pretend to be out of town for two weeks, even if you’re not, and it’s ok to have eggnog and gingerbread cookies… for breakfast