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January 31 Dare I?We went to eat in a fairly nice place last night. Directly in front of Jim was a girl with blanket over her right side underneath which was an infant breast feeding.
You may say, "Belinda, you don't have a child and you don't understand."
I agree. I don't have a child and I don't understand WHY some women choose such inappropriate settings to pop out one of the girls and attach an infant. And, here's the thing, I'm not the only person who doesn't have a child NOR am I the only person who prefers that be handled outside the dinner table at a nice restaurant. It was clear that everyone around was uncomfortable, the waitress wasn't sure whether to stop at their table or not, and the the guys in the room just kept their heads down.
Someone said to me, "I think the problem is yours. Just because you're uncomfortable with it doesn't mean it's not okay to do something perfectly natural like that in public." I replied, "There are 'other' things that are perfectly natural that I don't want to see in public, too. Just because it's perfectly natural, you don't have a license to impose it on other innocent diners."
However, I do stipulate that this wasn't nearly as unwelcome as the time I was at Christ Church and a woman was breast feeding her baby on the front row during the sermon.
-b
January 30 Take 39...and we're outI will not do one more vocal pass on "Leaving Eden." I did version 39 last night, listened to it, and it's fine. There's a little thing on the last chorus that I'm not sure about, but it doesn't matter. No one else will know. And, no one would notice even if I told them. I'm actually thinking that I won't even open up the file again so that I don't get tempted to try 'just once more.' I'm like an addict at this point. It's not pretty.
Jim got me GREAT new headphones for Christmas. Holy Cow. Good headphones change everything when you're recording.
I spent the rest of my free time yesterday working on the record. I dealt with 6 songs and here is where they stand. I'm finally feeling like progress is happening. 
L.E.--finished
S.--finished
M.N.--finished
N.L.T.D.--track finished...a better vocal is in me
Y.L.--add piano and bgv's
P.F.E.--finished...unless I change the upright bass part...can't decide
Here's to movement, gang. At this rate, I might actually finish this thing...granted, I'll be 80.
 -b
January 29 BustToday has been a completel bust so far.
I got up and got ready for my 10 AM co-write, checked my email just before I left and had a message from her that she woke up with a fever. Okay, cancelled. I'm not doing that again. I messed around with a project I'm working on for a friend and then I decided to go out get some lunch since there's nothing here. The problem with that was nothing sounded good. Nothing has really sounded good to me since last week except regular Coke (who knows?). I drove to three different places--actually pulled in and parked--until I finally went back to the first place and actually went in and got something. I ate about half of it--drank the entire Coke, though.
I was supposed to get my hair cut at 3:45...but John called while I was at lunch and left me a message that he is sick and is going home so we have to reschedule. (It's just as well because it's raining here and there's little fun in dropping a small fortune on highlights and a cut only to have it go up in a frizz wall the second I walk out the door.)
I'd accidentally left my cell phone at home while I went to lunch. When I got home and was listening to the message from John, I realized that Pete was missing. I went around and checked in his normal places and he was no where. side note: You should know that Pete hates my cell phone, especially the beep that lets you know you missed a call.
I noticed that there were wet, muddy footprints in front of his doggy door and I called for him thinking he might be outside doing business. No reply. So, I walked over to the the sliding door, pulled back the blinds, and there was my min pin hovered in the corner by the privacy gate soaking wet, covered in mud, trembling.
Why? I don't know. I'm guessing the cell phone had driven him over the edge. More importantly, though, why wasn't he sitting nice and dry under the gazebo, just 10 feet to the left of him? I'm guessing it's because he's a drama queen. So, the one thing I have accomplished today, in spite of all the plans I started with, was giving my dog a bath. He is nice and clean and sleeping soundly under a pile of freshly heated blankets.
Dogs are weird.
And, I am oddly off-balance with impromptu free time.
-b
January 28 The Filter and the Lens---"Trying to wall yourself off from the world around you, reinforcing isolation with beliefs untested by vigorous debate and exchange – this way of life doesn’t keep the world at bay in the least. Rather, it only ensures that that world will reach you filtered through the lens of antagonism and phobia or defensiveness and anxiety. " ---Doug Harrison
I read this today as part of a much longer post on averyfineline.com. I hope Doug doesn't mind being quoted here. Isn't it funny how you read something that reasonates and then you can't remember much about anything else in the piece? I thought those two sentences were brilliant.
I don't know that it is possible to remove every filter and every lens, but I know I don't want to be one who can't hear or see anyone else because I'm in the way. If there's anything I'm learning over and over as I get older, it's that judging someone is easy when you've never lived their life. I can look at one particular decision that someone makes or one circumstance that somebody continues to endure and have an opinion, but I can never know all the things that went into that decision or ongoing circumstance--the years of living, the circles of reference, the fields of influence, the sights they've seen, the breaks they've endured. I try really hard to remember that every day. I have no right to judge anyone.
Maybe it doesn't hurt for us to be reminded every once in a while.
-b January 27 102.1I came back from NYC with the flu. I hate to tell you because it seems like I'm always sick anymore and, believe me, that's as boring to me as it is to you. We ate lunch with a friend of my brothers' on Sunday afternoon. By Sunday night, he called to say he thought he was coming down with something. By, Monday afternoon, I knew I was, too. When I'm in the middle of The Strand (8 miles of books) and I just want to go back to the apartment, you know something isn't right. The flight home on Tuesday was nearly beyond my personal limit. I think the reason they tell you it's not a good idea to fly if you have a cold is because the pressure in your ears is a killer when you're stopped up. 
So, I came home and went straight to bed...and then I developed a bit of OCD with the thermometer. I was taking it every 30 minutes, I think. I'm not proud, but I can tell you with a fair amount of certainty that we topped out at 102.1 on Thursday afternoon. In a twisted way, I was kind of excited when I broke 102. I'd been at 101 for so long that it was losing my interest. These are the things that keep me going. Sad, isn't it?
Anyway, today is the first day I haven't felt like butt since I got back and so I thought I'd check in with you. Hopefully I'll have more interesting things to report this week, but until then, may you stay safely below 99.
-b
January 23 How cool is the internet????The comment on "The Big Apple" post:
My kindergarten teacher, gang! I'm not even kidding. And, you know how I said that my teacher traced our silhouettes on black paper? It was HER! Of course, Mrs. P is very artistic. The way I remember it, she could draw anything. But, the odds of her finding my blog at the same time I posted about her...I mean, what are the chances?
I'll go ahead and tell you that Mrs. Parker was also the teacher who put me in the corner for talking too much to Lori Tolley. I had to sit in the yellow plastic chair and face the wall (at least I remember it as being yellow.) I'm still emotionally scarred. 
...oh how I wish being put in the corner was still the worst thing that had ever happened to me.
-b January 21 The Big AppleWell, I came, I saw and...I'm still here. It's very, very, very cold. We've wandered some, but not a lot. Today I decided that if I did live here, I'd probably live in Hell's Kitchen. I like that area of town. I know you wouldn't think so with the name and all, but it's where I'd live. Wouldn't that be ironic...
I spent the day on Saturday going to art galleries. We went to this exhibit where this woman had done all silhouettes. That's her thing--silhouettes. Remember when we were little and in school and the teacher put us up against the wall, shined the light on us and then traced our head's shadow on the black paper? Well, our teacher did that even if yours didn't. Anyway, this woman has made an entire career...a respected one at that...based on that whole concept. Don't get me wrong, it's a lot more involved and a lot more controversial than that, but still, who knew that you could make a living off that? Go figure.
Today we replaced my brother's shower head and the flap in his toilet. I guess my trips to New York are a little different than most people's.
Okay, I'm signing off because we're going out into the arctic wind to find food. This must be what the pilgrims went through...or something similar...
-b January 18 Innovation and FortunesWell, JP and Irene will be back from Ireland this afternoon and so Bitty is going home. I'm sure she'll be happy to get back into her normal groove of things. We didn't have a single accident last night, though, so I feel pretty victorious myself. I think she finally stopped hating me so much.
I played a set last night with some great people--Elizabeth Foster, Tom Yarbrough and Brice Ash. It was one of the best and most fun rounds I've been involved in for quite a while. And, to add even more fun, the owner of the restaurant where we played is a songwriter himself and so he would come up and sit in on percussion or harmonica periodically. At one point, he put on a tin (yes, tin) tie, and walked around the restaurant playing percussion on it with spoons. That's innovation for you.
The best part, though, gang, is that everyone made $8. How about THAT! That's the most I've ever made playing a Nashville gig. Seriously. Elizabeth and I were elated. I'm not even kidding.
Heading to NYC for a few days so I may or may not be present. I was hoping for snow while there, but it looks like I'll just be stupid cold instead. Oh well. It's a good excuse to try out my new full length down coat. Heaven knows I'll probably never need it here.
Cheers-
b January 16 SNOW!!!!!There are huge, wet snowflakes out my window right now. I can't blog or I'll miss them...
-b GlamorAt 11:45 PM last night, I was down on my hands and knees in the bathroom cleaning up doggy poo. Bitty (see previous post) had an upset stomach. That, my friends, is me leading the glamorous life.
Yeah, her owners are still touring Ireland...for free...meeting celebrities like Will Ferrell randomly on the street...I'm not bitter...not at all... -b January 14 Lisa del GiocondoSo I'm all in with the fact that it is a brilliant work of art. I concede that. But, was she really that pretty? THIS is the Mona Lisa smile we refer to? Come on. I actually felt better about this poor woman when I thought--even hoped--it was a self-portrait of Leonardo...I mean...well...I just shouldn't say anymore...a man in drag just seems...yeah...I'm going to stop now...
-b January 13 Adventures of BittyJ.P. and Irene won a trip to Ireland. It was a travel magazine contest--I think it was Budget Travel Magazine. Who knew people really won those things? Anyway, they're currently in Ireland and we'll all be able to read about their fantastic free trip in the magazine. What you won't be able to read in the magazine, though, is my adventures of "Bitty." I'm dogsitting the 7 pound chihuahua.
She is up in years and she is very set in her ways. If she were a person, I'd think she was Bernice from "Designing Women," if you remember that show. Anyway, she's adjusting pretty well. But, the best ever moment was yesterday when Jim went to pick her up to take her outside. She peed down his leg, and when he realized it was happening, he kind of swung her out from his body, and then there was a line of pee down his leg PLUS a line of pee across his foot AND the area of the rug he was holding her over. It was awesome. I'm still giggling about it... -b p.s. Remember, she's a tiny dog so we weren't talking about a waterfall here. But, it was still enough to completely shock Jim and make my day.
January 10 Exactly 9After a particularly miserable morning, sporting a giant sized stress headache, I decide to get some lunch. I go through this drive through where you can get healthy food and I ordered a grilled chicken breast, a plain baked potato and green beans and I drove to a quiet place where I planned to get myself together and eat in peace.
I opened the container and staring back at me was the following: 1 grilled chicken breast, 1 plain baked potato and exactly 9 (nine) green beans. 
Did I miss the memo? Do we have to order in quantities when it comes to vegetables? So, how many would be the appropriate number. Twenty-two? Maybe? "Yes, I'd like 22 green beans, please." Is that enough, though? I'm just not sure. What if the standard order is 25? Then I'm missing out on three. Gang, how many green beans did the memo specify?!?!?!?
...and PLEASE tell me corn wasn't included in this.
-b January 09 ThreeSue and I wrote three songs yesterday. We were on fire. And the best part is that I think they are all three highly cuttable. That's even better.
Just bragging...
-b January 07 Page NumbersMy grandmother is awesome. She's wonderfully eccentric and very independent. She lives outside of Chicago in an assisted living community and she is 83 years old. She has red hair and she wears dangling earrings. She is in the hospital now dealing with some fairly serious health issues and so I called her yestesrday to check in. My grandma always has a story, a drama, or some bit of gossip. She's someone I'd love to know outside of my context because she's a bit of a rebel and I know she would definitely be someone I would want to be in assisted living with.
The latest story has kept me giggling for days. My grandmother is Catholic. There is a group of them who go to mass there at the chapel in the community every week. The way Grandma tells it is there's this one woman, Marianne, who "thinks she owns the church." Grandma doesn't know anyone who likes her. Marianne apparently tells everyone what page to be on throughout the services. Not too long ago, they were in mass and Marianne called out a page number...and it was WRONG. So, my grandmother looked to her friend and said, "That's not the page. I'm going to tell her." And she did. Right there in mass, out loud, my grandma corrected Marianne. 
Since then, Marianne has been giving my grandma "dirty looks" when she sees her. It seems it's starting to get old. Here's the conversation she had with my Dad about it.
So, yesterday after she told me the same story, I suggested that she knock Marianne down and THEN give her the finger. Was that wrong?
 -b
January 06 Fighting chances...Remember me telling you about my friend who got the rare illness (Guillian Barre Syndrome) back in October? We weren't sure he was going to live. Then, because of my silly illness, I wasn't allowed to go see him "till after the first of the year." Well, I went over today to see him for the first time since October. The improvement was astounding. He is off the ventilator and actually talking. He still has a long way to go, but it's a huge change since I saw him last. Life is so fragile. It's good to know that our bodies fight for it, isn't it?
-b January 04 Power of FourI know these things are silly. You probably hate to get them in your inbox. I rarely do them myself, but my college friend Heather (hi, Heather) sent this to me and I've decided to do it here. Why? Because it's my blog and I can do what I want. Darn it.
Four Things
Four things you may or may not know about me in no particular order.
 Four jobs I have had in my life. Fast Food Worker--they actually made me be the "hostess"...seriously. I did nothing but walk around Rax Roast Beef and talk to customers. Sales Clerk at a Clothing Store
Creative Writing Summer School Teacher
State of WV-Information Systems Department
Four movies I would watch over and over. Bridget Jones' Diary Little Miss Sunshine
A Beautiful Mind
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (shut up--all of you!)
Four places I have lived. Joliet, IL Buckhannon, WV
Pittsburgh, PA
Nashville, TN
Four TV Shows that I Watch. Letterman
Conan
...that Grey's Anatomy Spin-Off...can't remember the name of it
Two and a Half Men
Four places I have been.
Haiti
Cayman Islands
Italy
Paradise...but I've never been to me...if you get that reference, then you remember that wonderfully terrible 80's song by Charlene. Someone PLEASE help me find the dance mix!!!!!!!
Four of my favorite foods. Mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies Mom's pumpkin bread
Mom's fried chicken
Mom's mashed potatoes
Four things I am looking forward to this year.
Seeing some college friends for the first time years Visiting my friends' new place in California
Whatever random vacation I decide to take...Europe, the islands, Thailand? Not sure yet.
Finishing this stupid CD...amen? Amen.
-b
resentment...misplaced?Today I left the house early. Pete was resting comfortably under a huge pile of warm blankets and he didn't even bother to lift his head in acknowledgement that I was going out into the cold to potentially earn money to keep him in the lifestyle to which he is accustomed. Is it wrong to resent your dog in those moments?
-b January 02 January 2, 2008 |
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