Society's Pull

I just wrote this in an email to a friend and thought it was a good general observation:

One interesting thing I've noticed is that I've seen a definite increase in people needing something from me. Tonight I'm helping a tai chi teacher with his class and possibly helping a gal at work with something she volunteered to do for my boss' board of education campaign. Then there's said boss' request for more help, which since I already said I'd help I will do probably this weekend. That, plus - taking care of a friend's cats while she was sick, and another friend who wants to rent my basement but hasn't yet (boyfriend is lobbying hard) - and the general request that people donate to this or that disaster relief... well, I just think it's interesting. Is it always like this and I'm only just established as a dependable member of society or is it a current wave of need?

Not for me

Last weekend I went to Hilton Head Island for a wedding. I spent the day before in Savannah, Georgia and the rest of the time at a seaside resort on the island. The contrasting experiences brought up a really interesting reaction in me.
I loved the old and natural beauty of Savannah. It felt comfortable and relaxed and uncontrived, despite the fact that the grid of streets and parks is obviously designed. I think it must be because nature and the architecture have had nearly 300 years (founded in 1733) to get comfortable with each other.

Hilton Head Island on the other hand, was like living in a magazine spread. You know the ones -- where books on architecture are set on the coffee table and a bowl of lemons become a centerpiece on a beautifully glossy dining table. The reason may come from it's history. In 1663, Captain Hilton "discovered" the island (and named it for himself), but it didn't start it's modern development until the 1950s. There were cotton and indigo plantations and vivid events during the Civil War, but I saw no sign of them. Unsightly retail are screened from the road by stands of trees. When driving to the resort where I was staying, I passed perfectly manicured lawns, elegant stands of palmettos, and regal southern architecture. It was all very beautiful, but a little contrived, a little too organized.

It was fine for a vacation -- in fact, the beautifully designed landscape I could see from my room's deck was one of my favorite parts of the trip -- but I wouldn't want to live in it all the time. I couldn't say if this is the same for the surrounding areas (not the island itself) or that if I were a local I wouldn't find historical and natural activities that would give me a better feel for the land. The experience just gave me a glimpse into what it might be like to be someone with a lot more money and more keyed to status. I can't say I would want to live that way if I did have more money and that's something I didn't know before. Now when I see elegant spreads in magazines, I can look at it with a better perspective. I know I'll shape my home differently, regardless of how much money I make.

(I should have known I felt this way when I once decided against an area rug because it coordinated "too perfectly" with my living room walls and couch. At least I'm consistent.)

Stolen from the Daily Show

I stole this from the Daily Show, but I just couldn't help myself. The premise is that (like hurricanes), they name adminstrative disasters alphabetically. The ones that have already happened are funny, but take a look at the ones still to come. They're hilarious!

(Sharp eyes will notice that there's a letter missing. It was missed on the Daily Show graphic, so I left it alone.)

Death to spammers

There's been a minor addition to the comments portion of the blog. I've turned on a new feature -- word verification -- that prevents mass computer-generated spam posts.
It adds another step, but I believe it's worth it.
Thanks for your patience!

Dinner Menu

I'm sitting here, full, remembering the old days fondly -- when the cats were new to my household and would rather sit next to me than on my lap. Good times, good times.

I worked a couple hours late today and got home at 8, now an hour later, I have cooked a quick and yummy meal and eaten it. And if there were not a cat on my lap, I'd be having dessert as well. ;)

I had halibut, dredged twice in egg and breadcrumbs (garlic & parsley seasoned), fried in olive oil. The two sides were parmesan flavored couscous and broccoli (frozen, quickly cooked in the microwave).
Quick and healthy and tasty. The fish was particularly flavorful. And now I have time to read my book before getting to bed at my designated (so often overshot) bedtime!
I'll have my dessert while I read -- a cordial glass of Chocolate Hazelnut Creme Liquor (a lot like Irish creme, but different flavors). Yum!
:)

In Lieu of Actual Content

Since I posted a general update to my family's website, I feel like it would be redundant to do so here.
So, instead, I'll post a couple of interesting articles I've come across in my www travels:
(Both from Slate online editorial magazine)

Thanks for Your Hard Work. Now Get Out!: Can a Persian Gulf-style guest-worker program succeed in the U.S.? (Found on a Star Trek forum where they were discussing the feasibility of a society where no one has to work.)

The White Stuff: How vanilla became shorthand for bland. (Saw it on the sidebar while reading another Slate article and was moved to read it out of my interest in cooking.)

And my most recent book find:
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire. A retelling of the Cinderella story, from a different perspective.

Papers = Bed

I started sorting catalogs, which is obviously a good location to get some well earned rest. 

Mothers are great

I was in the middle of writing a bland post about not having any posts for the last month or two -- then I got a wonderful package in the mail.
Backstory: A couple weeks ago, someone came into my house through an unlocked patio door (so technically didn't break in) and stole most of my little DVD collection and a CD/Boombox (that I didn't really like anyway, nyah nyah nyah). Long story short: I'm sad over the loss of my DVDs, but relieved because it could have been so much worse.
Anyway, I made a seperate list on Amazon of the DVDs I needed to replace. (No insurance money because damages were less than my deductable.)
Today, I got in the mail a package from Amazon with a big bunch of DVDs, some from my stolen list and some I had never had before. I knew my mum had ordered some, but I was overwhelmed by her generosity.
Thank you, Mummy! You are awesome! :)