06.25.04
Quote of the Day
The artist doesn’t have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews, the ones who want to write don’t have the time to read reviews.
~ William Faulkner
06.24.04
Quote of the Day
Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
~ Dale Carnegie
06.23.04
Quote of the Day
“I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.”
~ Martha Washington
06.22.04
Quote of the Day
“When one is frank, one’s very presence is a compliment.”
~ Marianne Moore
06.16.04
Mystic River
I finally got to see Mystic River last night.
[Spoilers] If you want to see the enclosed spoilers, please click here. [/Spoilers]
Quote of the Day
“What we are today comes from the thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind.”
~ Buddha
06.15.04
Quote of the Day
Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.
~ Rita Mae Brown
06.14.04
Falling Out
One of my very dear friends (who was also my voice teacher during college) and I had a bit of a falling out awhile back. It’s been about a year and a half since we last spoke, really. I’ve seen her once since then and only spoke in passing.
I don’t believe there is a great deal of animosity on either side, really, although I can’t say for sure. She’s been pretty sick for many years now. She is bi-polar manic depressive, she has fibromyalgia, and she’s a musician, so she’s been on all sorts of medication which has caused her all sorts of problems. She had gone through suicidal bouts and actually underwent a couple of attempts followed by admittance to certain mental health facilities. It also got to a point where she just couldn’t behave rationally. It’s like she couldn’t function properly in the “real world.”
One day, she was mad because someone had “slighted” her - by allowing her to think for months that she would be able to perform in a production then telling her at the last minute that they were cutting her parts - and she asked for my opinion. I gave it to her. She didn’t like it, got mad at me, and hung up the phone on me. That really pissed me off because I had given up so much of my time on so many occasions just to talk to her and be there for her and help her through crap. Then the time I give my opinion, she can’t sit there and listen and hangs up on me? Well, I was angry, but I got over it fairly quickly.
She showed up at my workplace a couple of days later with donuts wrapped up in a paper towel and a mason jar of coffee for me. She wanted to talk. (This was a Thursday.) I told her to call me sometime that weekend and we could get together and discuss things. At that point, she just launched into a whole rambling coversation of what was going on. I stopped her and said, “I’m not going to talk about this right now. I’m at work. Call me this weekend.” She kept on talking and talking. I finally got angry and said, very sternly, “Look, I’m NOT going to talk about this right now. I’m at WORK. Call me this weekend and I promise we can get together and talk.” So, she left.
That night, she called the house. I was in the bathroom when she called, and my husband - knowing how rough I’d had it that day and how much the whole thing was bothering me - told her I wasn’t there. I came out just as he was hanging up. (Shall I point out the fact that it wasn’t yet the weekend?) Anyway, she never called me that weekend. So, I just never called her, either. I really wasn’t angry anymore, I just figured she had written me off as yet another person who “turned against her.”
The funny thing is, I have to drive by her house a minimum of two times per day because it’s on my way into town, so I’ve thought about her almost every day since this occurred. This leads us to now.
This woman was instrumental in who I eventually became and in my growth process during college. She was my teacher, my friend, my confidante, and she taught me so much about music and singing and emotion than probably anyone else in my life has taught me. The sad thing is, she’s just not that person anymore, and I’ve frankly enjoyed the peace I’ve had in not having to deal with her problems over the past year and a half. It had gotten to a point where something was always wrong, there was never anything positive in her life, and she just didn’t know HOW to be a “friend” anymore.
I miss her, though. I’m thinking about writing her a letter and offering an explanation which probably should’ve come long ago. Perhaps in this year and a half without me there, she has learned to depend on herself once again and gotten better. Perhaps not. I miss her all the same and feel like things should be squared away.
Quote of the Day
Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things
which escape those who dream only by night.
~ Edgar Allen Poe
06.13.04
Genius
The man is such an awesome composer.
I can’t believe I didn’t KNOW he did the music for the Harry Potter movies. How did I not know that? Weird. No wonder the music is so good. 
Movies of note on that page:
Indiana Jones 4
War of the Worlds
Jurassic Park IV
I didn’t know they were making these!
06.12.04
Goblet of Fire stuff
This conversation began over in this thread, and I don’t want to give anything about the book away in case someone hasn’t read it, SOO… I’m putting this behind spoilers and the comments will relate to material from the Goblet of Fire book. If you haven’t read it, don’t read this.
[Spoilers] If you want to see the enclosed spoilers, please click here. [/Spoilers]
06.09.04
Quote of the Day
Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.
~ Erica Jong
Hmmm
My goodness, it’s been awhile since I blogged about anything. I haven’t even listed any quotes lately. *shrugs* Me and my falling in and out of habits.
Of note, lately:
I went to see the new HP movie and Shrek 2 this past weekend. Both were really very good. I kinda wish I hadn’t read PoA before I saw the movie, though. Knowing the twists made watching the film a lot less entertaining. Too bad I’ve read GoF already. If I hadn’t, I think I would wait until after seeing the movie. (*)
However, I must marvel (as I always do to everyone who will listen) about the CGI and how realistic their effects are. They broom flying was astounding as usual, and the Hippogriff was just mind-blowing. It looked like a real creature. Just… amazing.
I’m still reading The Count of Monte Cristo, and I’m enjoying it very much! I’ve been trying to devote some more time to reading each night instead of watching T.V. I’ve gotten bored with just staring at the thing. (That’s odd for me. I’ve never been bored with T.V. before in my life.) I’m also going to buy some new yarn today and start work on crocheting an afghan for us. Can’t wait to see how THAT turns out. LOL.
Since surgery in February (as referenced here - and which was weight-loss surgery, if I haven’t mentioned that since), I’ve lost 70 pounds, and I’m feeling better than I have in years. I’ve had very few problems (because I’ve followed eating rules very closely), but it’s still odd sometimes. My tastes in what I like have changed tremendously. The only bad part at this point is that now my hair is coming out some. 
That’s a typical side-effect. It should grow back; it’s just annoying while it’s going on.
OH, I got my postcard from Dazed_and_Confucius (as discussed here)!! It was cool to get something neat in the mail. Funny, though. Draaz called me at work after he got the mail and asked, “Who is [insert real name here]?” I was like, “Huh?? I don’t know.” He had to read the card to me and I had to think about it a minute before I remembered I had sent Dazed my address. LOL. Old = shitty memory. So, thanks, Dazed! I will be sending you something as soon as I find a worthy something to send. 
(*) You know, I’m not sure why I even bother with the abbreviation feature, really. I mean, it’s really cool, but it actually takes more time to use than typing out the words would take. *shrugs*