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wapsi
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "wapsi" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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09:09 pm
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Dyke on Dike Action
So Iowa City is flooded. It's been a low-grade adventure for me so far, but some people are having to live in their friends' basements for awhile, and some are at the shelters. My friend SuSu Kitty works at the county animal shelter, which is flooded out. She's having to pull 16 hour shifts at the fairgrounds with the puppies, kitties, etc. What's nice is that if we do get more flooding, and have to evacuate, we can stay there with our pets.
That's one of the things about this city I really like - they have a lot of sensitivity toward pets and petkeepers. They also have sensible emergency plans, good communication of them to residents, and the infrastructure to carry them out properly. Plus I've got wonderful friends, outstanding coworkers, a supportive core family, and pretty cool neighbors. So if the waters rise again, I don't think it's ever going to get too uncomfortable.
Now I know for sure that sandbagging is kind of fun, because I've finally done it. Fortunately for this mostly sedentary body, the massage school was giving free 30 min rubs to sandbagging volunteers. That was a lovely treat this morning!
On Friday we moved all the furniture, electronics, and many papers out of my workplace because the water was within 2 blocks. The office is sandbagged and we won't be moving stuff back inside until the river recedes a good bit more. This week is forecasted to be clear, but we're one summer thunderstorm away from more flooding. So I'm setting up a satellite office at home. I'll be able to work in my undies. (Squeeeeee!) I can put on my pants and drive to the office to pick up mail and other things I need at irregular times; ie when the only two bridges across town are not clogged with people trying to get back and forth to work.
While I've been away from LJ, I've been:
nesting with my core family
parting ways with Millicent
visiting my senile grandma, ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) birdbard and gasslight in upstate NY
recovering from severe anemia
starting a large project: buying fabric to make patient gowns for the ab clinic
shoveling a sum total of about 53 inches of snow
adding another perennial bed and mulching our beds and trails
entertaining my family
walking Connor dog
having a tiny hoedown
learning to quilt (ZOMG I love it!)
learning to knit ('sokay)
settling accounts with the IRS
cursing BCBS
taking the Schmuppy in for a poked eyeball
mowing the lawn
spotting unusual birds, like kinglets and warblers and orioles
C_O_O_K_I_N_G
kicking the level 10 robots' asses at Scrabulous
Current Location: Procrastinationland
Current Music: dryer tumbling
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11:21 am
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Thankful
We are finally moved into our lovely cottage. After much chaos, sweating, swearing and a few sore body parts, we got it all in.
I live with the people I love the most. Yee-ha!
The Cat was Trapped and Scraped! Then she got a root canal and had a giant lump in her face. Thanks be to cats, she is okay!
The basement has been bleached and is now at 50% humidity. Down from 75%.
[to the tune of "Here Comes the Bride"] Here comes the bed! Bring out your dead!
We had plenty of enthusiastic help.
We have nice neighbors. Some dog rescuers, a yuppie family, and a retired children's librarian, to name a few.
Several friends live in our neighborhood.
We've been grilling meals and eating them on the deck.
Yesterday's dinner was fresh (yes, fresh) red snapper and shrimp.
I don't have to take a drive to play with the dog. I can play fetch in my underwear if I want to.
Our landlord is generous and flexible. We get to meet her soon.
The stove is outstanding.
The dog and cats seem to be comfy.
Fezzeaux and LaLa found a giant couch.
We have enough money to get everything we need.
It rained. A lot.
We are harvesting ample amounts of kale, zucchini, basil and cucumbers. Tomatoes are imminent.
Soon I can trim and prune.
The neighbors' yard looks like a fairy garden.
Life is really darned good right now.
Current Mood:  relieved
Current Music: Three Point Two - Hot Buttered Rum String Band
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04:35 pm
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Party on, dude!
We went to an amazing wedding on Saturday. The bride and groom are both former co-opers, now living at the local Friends boarding school.
It was a load of fun to be there with friends. The meal was served slowly, in six courses. Much of it was made from vegetables grown at the school's teaching farm. The bar was stocked with four kinds of beer, three meads, two wines, root beer, and cherry vanilla pop, all made by the groom. I tried just a few sips, and all were quite yummy.
Then the local fave bluegrass band threw it down for a couple of hours. Adults and kids were boogying on the lawn. I haven't danced that much since I don't know when.
Sunday I needed some time to rest. Fezzeaux and I puttered in the garden, planting four more heirloom tomatoes. I finished reading The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
Yesterday we purchased a patio-umbrella table with chairs. This evening we will see Kitty Mao's hilarious performance in Red Herring. And tomorrow I'm considering marching with the anti-war contingent in the 4th of July parade. And then resting.
Moving day countdown: 11!
Current Location: werk
Current Mood:  satisfied
Current Music: Achilles Last Stand - Led Zep
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01:25 pm
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Random Things
Internet time is somewhat lean. In the time I do have, I can't seem to tear myself away from the I Blame The Patriarchy message boards.
Real life happenings are fast and furious. Here's just a few that seem interesting.
Clinic yesterday was unusually gratifying. I advocated for one client who was having a 2nd trimester abortion. The two-day procedure is one I doubt that I could personally tolerate. She was handling it in an incredibly calm manner. As soon as the procedure was complete and the doctor was leaving the room, she projectile-vomited on herself, the floor, the ultrasound machine. Ordinarily I have a sympathetic physical response to someone vomiting, but somehow I maintained a TCOB attitude, and cleaned her up completely. It was kind of a proud moment for me, to not lose my own breakfast in response.
My second client was a very young woman who had never even had a gynecological exam. Her attitude was one I see fairly regularly - she wanted to be rid of the pregnancy, but did not want to be present for the process of getting that done. She was barely even making marks on the forms she was asked to fill out. I really can't blame anyone for that coping strategy. But it's difficult to advocate for them because they don't ever quite sound certain, or like they're hearing and understanding everything I'm saying.
Anyhow, her boyfriend was there to support her, and I think he did the most wonderful job of supporting her unique needs that he made my job unnecessary - no, impossible. From the moment the doctor began touching her, the bf encircled the young woman's head with his arms and upper body. He whispered to her in their native language, kissed her face sweetly, wiped her tears and his own. She cried a lot, but kept her body rather still, surrendering to his tender ministrations. It was quite touching, like he gave her a safe place to be.
Today my coworkers and I got to see little-known presidential hopeful Sal Mohamed working his campaign fu. He was occupying a corner of a busy traffic intersection, basically where the university intersects with the downtown business district. Standing alone, holding a sign and waving a tiny US flag. We honked and waved and got a big smile. We first became acquainted with him when he ran for governor of Iowa last election. Perseverance must be his middle name.
Current Location: werk
Current Mood:  optimistic
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09:40 am
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My Friends
At beckyzoole's behest, here's a
( meme )
Current Mood:  lazy
Current Music: Stolen Car - Patty Griffin
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04:32 pm
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Happiness Is...
...a cottage of our own!
( Read more )
Current Mood:  ecstatic
Current Music: Pixies
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02:12 pm
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Oh, and...
...contraceptive humor here!
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01:41 pm
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Surprise!
On a sunny, 70 degree day that I thought couldn't get any better, I had a great surprise.
( Strokes of Luck )
Current Location: werk
Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: Hold On - Neko Case
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05:34 pm
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Caught Off Guard
I was calling board members today to confirm which of them are planning to attend the meeting this week. The organization I work for is very progressive, and the people I routinely deal with are either feminist, or at least feminist-friendly.
I was caught literally speechless by one of the board members, who I have probably met once or twice at large meetings, but have not built a familiar rapport with. After we exchanged two sentences each about the meeting, he asked whether I was riding with other office members to the meeting, and I answered that I was. He replied that was too bad for him, because he'd kidnap me if I wasn't. Then he added that I could ask any of the staff what a good-natured letch he was. I abruptly said goodbye and hung up the phone.
Does anyone really still think that veiled threats pass for flirting? I'm only sorry that my shocked response (which is typically silence) prevented me from letting him know his remarks were in very bad taste.
What an A-hole!
Current Location: werk
Current Mood:  pissed off
Current Music: dot matrix printer
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08:39 pm
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Thankful...
Thankful:
Mao! Kitty is here!
an entire month of gorgeous weather
a large and delectable lettuce harvest
the mustard is winning
the JoeDown
playing cards
raucous discussion at I Blame the Patriarchy
fun at the Farmers' Market, plus grilling
The Schmuppy is not broken
great finds on the discard shelf
Jack Kevorkian goes home
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is shaking the apple cart
strawberries
an afternoon with The Ponch
hearing someone mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster (genuflects) on NPR
Not So:
SCOTUS has a majority of A-holes
housing situation still not settled
Millicent is real dirty
O'Reilly and McCain publicly agree on the propriety of a "White, Xtian, male power structure"
twenty tries, and I still can't get this post through...
Remarks:
Nixon passed the most progressive legislation of any POTUS in my lifetime. It's been a fast downhill slalom since. Le sigh.
Current Mood: chipper
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05:00 pm
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US Travel Meme
This came from beckyzoole. It's fun, even though I haven't been to that many.
( 100 US sites, bold the ones visited: )
Current Mood: adventurous
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10:00 am
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The Mysterious Itch
Last evening, Teacake and I were about to start a game of sparkly-ball fetch. I had been home for about 20 minutes, and he seemed his usual easy-going self.
( Suddenly... )
Tags: teacake
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02:12 pm
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Tromping Through the Woods, etc.
Today is a swell day for being outside!
Clinic was light today, and there was plenty of relaxed laughter among the staff. So I got to leave early for my weekly date with the Schmuppy. Since we had plenty of time, we went to the lake!
Partly cloudy and 81 degrees, it felt great to walk along the almost-shaded trails. There were soooooo many lovely spring blossoms, including Canadian anemone, mayapples, phlox galore and even a couple of jack-in-the-pulpits. Several spring beauties had popped up right in the middle of the trail. Saw my first ever trout lily. Also poison ivy everywhere.
I went down a bit from the trail and found a sunny log to lounge on. Soaked up some rays and listened to a frog orchestra while Schmuppy splashed about in the shallows.
Saw a couple of interesting fungi, but no morels. I did see a place I'd like to return to after the next rain. Apparently morel harvests have been plentiful this year. I sure would like to run into some!
Back in the hood, the azaleas are at their peak of loveliness, trees have pretty much filled out, and the birdsong in my neighborhood could keep me listening all day.
Aaaahhhhhhh......
Current Mood:  relaxed
Current Music: Patty Griffin - Florida
Tags: flowers, foraging, naycher, outdoors
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04:49 pm
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Sorry, you can't live here.
Have you ever called about renting a residence and been told that for zoning reasons you couldn't live there?
Let me tell you that it sucks.
My city, which is not unique, has zoning laws that prohibit certain groups of humans from renting property in some areas of town. No matter that Fezzeaux, LaLa and I have declared ourselves a family. In the eyes of the city, we are "more than two unrelated adults."
I think there are some good intentions behind this zoning strategy. Neighborhoods with little or no off-street parking might want to limit the number of vehicles. They might want to keep students from having loud, drunken house parties in the quieter areas. However, I don't think it's fair to use the umbrella of "unrelated adults" as the prohibitive criterion.
Those adults might be trying to conserve resources, and therefore money, by living more densely. (Hence the zoning laws have the effect of continuing to ghettoize the poor.) They may also be people such as myself, who don't wish to live singly or be coupled. (If I were married and living with my adult children, no one would try to prevent me from living in any neighborhood, no matter how many cars were in the family.) Whatever the reason, said adults do not need to be admonished by a city employee to "live with the consequences of the choices" they have made.
I don't think my family situation is all that unusual. I do think that people who prefer conformity would like me to accept the blame for being different, rather than consider that the zoning laws are needlessly discriminatory. But have I really chosen to be different? The choices I will cop to having made are these:
Based on the fact that I don't enjoy (hence, don't thrive) living singly or being coupled, I have made the choice to live with other adults.
Based on some very hard life lessons, I have made the choice to live with people who are kind and supportive.
None of us like to have drinking parties. We do not litter. We take good care of our homes. We have less than one car per adult in our household. We are good neighbors and good citizens. We want to live in a quiet neighborhood so that we can add children to our family. (Even more disturbing to aforementioned city employee.)
It's my intent to talk about my experience with a city councilor. There happens to be one who has a same-sex partner, and works with domestic violence prevention and housing issues. I'd like her to at least hear our story, and respond with some sensitivity.
Current Mood:  angry
Tags: housing, oppression
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01:28 pm
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Oh No, Not a Meme!
It's been overcast and rainy the last three days. A little introspection seems in order. Lifted from ladyperegrine:
( The )
Current Location: werk
Current Mood:  daring
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07:26 pm
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Rock School For Girls
OMG! This is so fucking awesome!
Willie Mae Rock Camp For Girls
I wish I could have gone to something like that. I really needed it.
There is also a Ladies Rock Camp for, I imagine, people with at least rudimentary musical skills. I can bang two sticks together, but that's about as far as it goes.
They have an online auction as a way of accepting donations to sustain their organization
here.
Cool.
Current Mood:  okay
Current Music: the Ponch singing a few rooms away
Tags: charity auction, girls, music
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05:11 pm
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Ah, Spring
A quickie update.
I'm feeling incredibly thankful for the warm, sunny weather of late. Although some of the earlier April blooms did not make it through the week of freezing temps, things are flowering in profusion now. Redbuds, violets, and dandelions all look stunningly gorgeous. I feel like the Cloak of Doom was lifted, and I can carry on with a proper life now.
Saturday my workplace held our annual leadership conference. You may have actually read about it today, as our keynote speaker was Barack Obama, and our name made it into some national and international publications.
Even though our caucuses are nine months away, the candidates are swarming here like flies on you-know-what. Based on what I've seen lately, I'm predicting Barack will easily win the Iowa Dem Primary. He drew a crowd of 10,000 in IC yesterday. That's about 1/4 of the population. Iowans like his sensible, cooperative message. Frankly, I don't see how he can lose.
The Ponch called Fezzeaux on Saturday, in tears, because she wanted to come to "Summint House." She explained that she was in Des Moines (which The Ponch understands, as she visits her grandparents there frequently), and made a date for Sunday morning instead.
So F and I picked her up and took her to the park. She helped us water our teeny seedlings at the community plot. Then we played on the swings, slides, etc for about an hour. She still likes the bucket swing, and likes to sing while being pushed. "I'm gonna take you higher! Do you know that song, Shipsy?" I say, "Of course I know that song, Ponch. Everyone sings it at one time or another."
Current Mood: pleased
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02:31 pm
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Hats off to Monkey
Today the well-loved Monkey Monk Squirrel-Butt has been laid to his final rest.
( (Eulogy) )
Current Location: werk
Current Mood:  incredibly sad
Current Music: dot matrix printer
Tags: death, grief, monkey
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12:21 pm
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Whew ! That was a long break.
Forgive me LJ for I have sinned. It's been 42 days since my last post. While away, I have eaten gluttonously, lounged repeatedly in a slothful manner, and occasionally envied my friends who have internet connections at home.
( Vacation details and such follow. )
Current Mood: lazy
Tags: allergies, vacation
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04:10 pm
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Thanks!
Thanks, beckyzoole! I heart hearts.
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