A shot in the dark
Oct. 27th, 2004 11:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
itsallovernowActually, a shot in the arm. Tetanus shot achieved, lock jaw avoided.
It is or rather it was pouring all day yesterday. This, apparently, is why people watch the Weather Channel. I had no idea it was going to rain. But the house did not leak. And I rejoiced with a nice Shiraz, and the first 20 minutes of part two of PK Wars (this is my first opportunity at getting to watch it at my own pace, stopping and rewinding whenever I want to).
It was only the first 20 minutes because I got home in time to catch most of Scrubs, which made me tear up. Dude, I have to start remembering to tape this show. And then I had to watch the first half hour of Funny Girl, because it's one of my mom's favorite movies and I love the beginning, love Fanny Bryce taking things into her own hands:) The pregnant bride and telling Flo Ziegfield that she needs to choose her own songs:)
But god, I just still feel giddy over the mini, all of the elements, the themes and I want to pat it and snuggle it. It's so strange though, to have new Farscape to ponder, to not have the images and lines and themes entrenched, to still feel like I'm discovering it.
The lady came to clean my house this morning, looked around, shaking her head, and said, "It's very dirty, I'll need more money." This pissed me off - both because it was mildly embarrassing to have someone think my house was dirty, and also because it means I've become immune to the levels of not quite as clean as it could be that we've been living in. Because I'm too tired to fix it, too busy to deal, or harass M. into cleaning. But, well, I'm not cleaning it. And she is, so I paid her, and left her alone, and hopefully I'll come home to a house approaching cleanliness. It's embarrassing to hire someone to clean my house, makes me feel like a failure because I can't even manage that basic task, but I got home at 9:40 last night, and that was early, and I know that it's just not feasible.
And, on a minorly political front, this is why I think that domestic issues are just as important as foreign policy right now: 53% of working age adults in Los Angeles can't read well enough to fill out a job application.
I went to a center yesterday that runs Even Start, which is a federally funded literacy program from children and adults, and talked to these amazing women who are largely garment industry workers, living far below the poverty level, many with children who have special needs, and they're there, taking ESL classes, parenting classes five days a week to give their kids a better life, to communicate with those around them. It shouldn't be that frelling hard for people. Not easy, I'm not asking for easy, but adequate care, recognition, society taking responsability for each other, not segregating itself, not dividing itself, looking down it's nose at those who have nothing, resenting those who have everything.
Foreign policy or not, if we don't address the needs and the rights of our people here and now, it will not matter what happens to us. We have to hold to the truths, and the rights that we believe in, the principals and ideals that we exist for, strive for, try for and get out of bed every day for.
It is or rather it was pouring all day yesterday. This, apparently, is why people watch the Weather Channel. I had no idea it was going to rain. But the house did not leak. And I rejoiced with a nice Shiraz, and the first 20 minutes of part two of PK Wars (this is my first opportunity at getting to watch it at my own pace, stopping and rewinding whenever I want to).
It was only the first 20 minutes because I got home in time to catch most of Scrubs, which made me tear up. Dude, I have to start remembering to tape this show. And then I had to watch the first half hour of Funny Girl, because it's one of my mom's favorite movies and I love the beginning, love Fanny Bryce taking things into her own hands:) The pregnant bride and telling Flo Ziegfield that she needs to choose her own songs:)
But god, I just still feel giddy over the mini, all of the elements, the themes and I want to pat it and snuggle it. It's so strange though, to have new Farscape to ponder, to not have the images and lines and themes entrenched, to still feel like I'm discovering it.
The lady came to clean my house this morning, looked around, shaking her head, and said, "It's very dirty, I'll need more money." This pissed me off - both because it was mildly embarrassing to have someone think my house was dirty, and also because it means I've become immune to the levels of not quite as clean as it could be that we've been living in. Because I'm too tired to fix it, too busy to deal, or harass M. into cleaning. But, well, I'm not cleaning it. And she is, so I paid her, and left her alone, and hopefully I'll come home to a house approaching cleanliness. It's embarrassing to hire someone to clean my house, makes me feel like a failure because I can't even manage that basic task, but I got home at 9:40 last night, and that was early, and I know that it's just not feasible.
And, on a minorly political front, this is why I think that domestic issues are just as important as foreign policy right now: 53% of working age adults in Los Angeles can't read well enough to fill out a job application.
I went to a center yesterday that runs Even Start, which is a federally funded literacy program from children and adults, and talked to these amazing women who are largely garment industry workers, living far below the poverty level, many with children who have special needs, and they're there, taking ESL classes, parenting classes five days a week to give their kids a better life, to communicate with those around them. It shouldn't be that frelling hard for people. Not easy, I'm not asking for easy, but adequate care, recognition, society taking responsability for each other, not segregating itself, not dividing itself, looking down it's nose at those who have nothing, resenting those who have everything.
Foreign policy or not, if we don't address the needs and the rights of our people here and now, it will not matter what happens to us. We have to hold to the truths, and the rights that we believe in, the principals and ideals that we exist for, strive for, try for and get out of bed every day for.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
you
Date: 2004-10-27 07:16 pm (UTC)And trust me, despite the snarky comments of the cleaning lady SHAME on her, btw, for handling it so poorly -- all she needed to say is "hey, ya know what, your place is bigger than I expected and I underquoted you" -- and that would have been that. You'd still have paid her, and you would NOT be feeling silly because of someone's dumb comments yours is NOT I am quite certain, the filthiest house in North America. My hairstylist also does some cleaning work, and she does our place every couple of weeks. SHe also cleans (or she did, she was looking to quit that job) for her old landlady. She cleaned the landlady's place twice a week, and would regularly find apple cores, dirty diapers and other garbage thrown under the bed. Stains on the carpet. Etc etc. It sounds DISGUSTING.
Your place is just suffering because you have a lacadaisical roomate and a busy life, and because you have been sick. And you recognized that you needed help and got it. So quit beating yourself up.
/ pep talk!
Re: you
Date: 2004-10-27 07:27 pm (UTC)It just annoyed me (and would have annoyed me less had she not been an hour late, making me late to work:) My house isn't dirty, but it is very, very far from spotless, and dude, I'm paying her to make it less dirty, so yeah:) It's just my cheapness warring with my pride warring with the necessity of having to do this. Because my mom and aunt would have helped me to clean, but that would have been far more humiliating:)
Thanks for the pep talk honey:)
Re: you
Date: 2004-10-27 07:32 pm (UTC)And i hear you on the mom and aunt thing. My Mom ALWAYS used to wind up cleaning my place when she came to visit when I was in school. SInce I couldn't afford a cleaning person, I just appreciated the help, but today, I would tend to share your feelings. Plus, you gals want to be able to ENJOY! not waste time cleaning :D.
Re: you
Date: 2004-10-27 07:37 pm (UTC)I'm sure the annoyance will fade when I see a sparkly kitchen.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-27 09:48 pm (UTC)Indeed.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-27 10:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-28 12:19 am (UTC)my mother used to clean the house *before* the cleaning person came over. i don't recommend that by the way. by the way, the same cleaning person used to try to iron my father's permament press shirts. heh. but she was sweet, a really lovely lady.
what you said about domestic issues is very well said. amen. the degree of literacy issues in this country and around the world frighten me. really. i connect some of our ability to stand up for our rights to being able to read.
i also agree about what you said regarding farscape. it's a delicious smorgasbord of new layers and facets. the quotes, ideas, and issues. oh yikes, i'm still in the squee zone.
stay safe, glad you got the tetanus shot; survive the rain which i gather is quite torrential?
ps. oh i love that scene with barbara streisand singing "i am the reflection of my love's affection" with the pillow stuffed under her dress. bwhahaha!