Via blog entries, my pal Kim and I have been exchanging ideas on those designer wheelchairs that I mentioned the other day. There are some who may think we are reading more into all this than is necessary, or that we are entirely too sensitive, and Higher knows that overly-sensitive people with disabilities (hereafter "PWDs", in lieu of "gimp", so as not to imply something else to my favorite Brit ::grin::) piss me off.
The problem here is different than the faux pas committed by ABs trying to help PWDs but rather an image being perpetuated by people who should know better. Each and every one of their models is a recent PWD and thus still looks "normal" -- unlike me, Kim, Suz, Nay, Gina, P, or anyone else who has lived a majority of her/his life with a disability and looks "not normal." This isn't all that dissimilar to the argument I have about models in general implying an ideal body that is not seen on a majority of people off the runway.
If you go to Discovery Through Design's website, you'll notice their tagline on the left -- "If you can't stand up, STAND OUT." Which stands out more: the beautiful, picture perfect "roll models" (whose wheelchairs do not show at all in any of the pics on the "Meet the Roll Models" page), or the 65 lb., 29-year-old guy with thighs as big around as most men's ankles? Or the woman with a spine curved by scoliosis? Or what about the man or woman who doesn't have arms or legs at all? Are they trying to raise awareness of disability or pretty it up to make it more palatable for the ABs?
I'm realizing more and more I've gotten spoiled by WSU's superior accessibility compared to UNO and by being close to other PWDs. In NOLA, accessibility is a joke, I rarely see another PWD, and the attempts actually being made toward accessibility are minimal unless forcibly demonstrated that they are inadequate. All I want is to do my research, but instead I'm having to push for my right to enter and leave my apartment any damned time I want to. I'm having to think about tracking down the chancellor to see if he'll meet with me to discuss accessibility issues. I have to call ahead to any restaurant at which I want to eat to make sure I can even get in before driving there. I have to deal with uneven sidewalks and few curb cuts and scary bus lifts and a city and university that just don't give a shit.
Then I see a program that is supposedly trying to raise awareness about disability, but it is just reinforcing that I should be ashamed of how I look because I'm misshapen and not normal. How am I supposed to be able to work on my lousy self image? How am I supposed to believe Kender and Psi and Lynlee and Edie when they tell me I'm beautiful?
Kim, we most certainly should work on those letters. Please email me with your days off so I can know when to call you, and maybe we can get the other girls involved.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Overdue Travel Report
Well, the trip back to NOLA was an experience. I got out of Wichita with no problem other than I was tired as hell because I hadn't slept well the night before and I started my period. I managed to get myself to my NO gate with no trouble and had about an hour to wait. A nice Hispanic lady from LaPlace struck up a conversation with me, and a sweet Cajun man from Thibodeaux fetched water for Reba that she stalwartly refused to drink (because she was already going in to depressed mode). Our flight was delayed about a half hour because our flight crew was late, then my biggest fear happened -- they closed the airport due to weather. It had been drizzling in Houston all day so everything was wet, and the temperature was dropping close to 32. Planes coming in were icing, so the airport freaked out and shut down.
So there I was -- exhausted, depressed, aching, cramping, and starting to have to pee. And they closed down the airport.
I cried. I couldn't help it. I cried and I cried and I cried. What would I feed Reba? How would I pee? How would I clean up? All I wanted was a bowl of Iam's for Reba and my bed. And a toilet. During my breakdown, I had four female passengers (including my Hispanic LaPlace acquaintance) and one gate agent offer to help me with whatever I needed, even going to the bathroom and cleaning up.
I called Sarah, and she had just arrived at the NO airport with her boyfriend Greg to pick me up. Fortunately, while she and I were talking, they reopened the airport and started boarding my plane. Sarah said she and Greg would go to my apartment to get my lift so I could pee as soon as I got off the plane.
Upon arrival in NO, I was expecting to see Sarah in the lounge, but she wasn't there. I found her and Greg further out in the terminal because no one would give them a gate pass to meet me. She had gone to the ticket counter but it was closed. She found a patroling security officer and he told her to go to baggage claim to get the pass. The guy at b.c. said they couldn't give her a pass because there was no one at the security checkpoint to frisk her through. She explained that her friend was in a wheelchair and needed her help when she got off the plane, but all the guy could say was, "Ma'am, you're dealing with the federal government, and there's no way we can get you through security." She was steamed.
I went to the bathroom, then I headed to b.c. myself to put in a claim on my busted armrest. The same man who refused to help Sarah was sweet as pie to me (go figure) and gave me all the information I needed to give to the wheelchair repair place of my choice to have the airline billed for the repairs. There was also a man there waiting for me to exchange our laptops. Apparently he had grabbed mine by mistake when de-planing. I hadn't even noticed, but he did as soon as he opened the case and couldn't find his car keys. I did notice on exchange, though, that my case strap was busted, and the b.c. guy got me another one out of their store of random bag straps. I was glad that neither of us had gotten out of the airport before noticing the switch since my entire academic life is on this box. I was also glad I'd tagged the case with my address and cell number -- had insisted on it because, frankly, all damned laptop cases look the same to me.
I got home and to bed at 2:00 a.m., then I got up at 7:30 to go to the office. I didn't get caught up on my rest until the weekend. Stupid, because that first morning, Rachel gave me the option to sleep until 11:00. Oh well, no one ever said I was brilliant.
So this semester is set to be busy with another stats course, a peer review workshop, our usual weekly lab meetings (which I am conducting this week) and departmental seminars, taking part in our Society for Conservation Biology chapter's education program (going to city high schools to talk about how groovy conservation biology is), being the graduate student liaison to the faculty meetings, editing my review article, and getting started on my research. I have a whole list of things I want to do for the latter, and I'm anxious to get going.
Well, I should head to bed soon. Lots of reading to do tomorrow, and I might even do a little fun reading.
Oh, and I finished two more of Kender's "Man From U.N.C.L.E." books (#3 and #4).
Good night, all.
So there I was -- exhausted, depressed, aching, cramping, and starting to have to pee. And they closed down the airport.
I cried. I couldn't help it. I cried and I cried and I cried. What would I feed Reba? How would I pee? How would I clean up? All I wanted was a bowl of Iam's for Reba and my bed. And a toilet. During my breakdown, I had four female passengers (including my Hispanic LaPlace acquaintance) and one gate agent offer to help me with whatever I needed, even going to the bathroom and cleaning up.
I called Sarah, and she had just arrived at the NO airport with her boyfriend Greg to pick me up. Fortunately, while she and I were talking, they reopened the airport and started boarding my plane. Sarah said she and Greg would go to my apartment to get my lift so I could pee as soon as I got off the plane.
Upon arrival in NO, I was expecting to see Sarah in the lounge, but she wasn't there. I found her and Greg further out in the terminal because no one would give them a gate pass to meet me. She had gone to the ticket counter but it was closed. She found a patroling security officer and he told her to go to baggage claim to get the pass. The guy at b.c. said they couldn't give her a pass because there was no one at the security checkpoint to frisk her through. She explained that her friend was in a wheelchair and needed her help when she got off the plane, but all the guy could say was, "Ma'am, you're dealing with the federal government, and there's no way we can get you through security." She was steamed.
I went to the bathroom, then I headed to b.c. myself to put in a claim on my busted armrest. The same man who refused to help Sarah was sweet as pie to me (go figure) and gave me all the information I needed to give to the wheelchair repair place of my choice to have the airline billed for the repairs. There was also a man there waiting for me to exchange our laptops. Apparently he had grabbed mine by mistake when de-planing. I hadn't even noticed, but he did as soon as he opened the case and couldn't find his car keys. I did notice on exchange, though, that my case strap was busted, and the b.c. guy got me another one out of their store of random bag straps. I was glad that neither of us had gotten out of the airport before noticing the switch since my entire academic life is on this box. I was also glad I'd tagged the case with my address and cell number -- had insisted on it because, frankly, all damned laptop cases look the same to me.
I got home and to bed at 2:00 a.m., then I got up at 7:30 to go to the office. I didn't get caught up on my rest until the weekend. Stupid, because that first morning, Rachel gave me the option to sleep until 11:00. Oh well, no one ever said I was brilliant.
So this semester is set to be busy with another stats course, a peer review workshop, our usual weekly lab meetings (which I am conducting this week) and departmental seminars, taking part in our Society for Conservation Biology chapter's education program (going to city high schools to talk about how groovy conservation biology is), being the graduate student liaison to the faculty meetings, editing my review article, and getting started on my research. I have a whole list of things I want to do for the latter, and I'm anxious to get going.
Well, I should head to bed soon. Lots of reading to do tomorrow, and I might even do a little fun reading.
Oh, and I finished two more of Kender's "Man From U.N.C.L.E." books (#3 and #4).
Good night, all.
Fashion Wheelchairs
Saw this on my pal Kim's journal -- designer wheelchairs. I want to smack them for calling the models "roll models" (it's too cheesy even for me), but I love the idea of a wc in something other than black vinyl. My hackles are up a bit at their focus just on women with spinal cord injuries, or even just on women only, but I suppose they have to start somewhere. I'm in the early stages of thinking about writing to the organization, not because I want to be a wheelchair fashion diva -- unless they want to give me a free wc -- but because I'm interested in knowing if they are going to do this again, if they are considering expanding their repertoire of models beyond SCIs, and if they are considering doing power chairs.
Now if I could just come up with that idea for the book with a gimp main character that will sell millions worldwide and get made into a movie where the character is played by an actual gimp, we'd REALLY be on the way to making ABs realize gimps are people, too.
::turns hopeful eyes across the pond to Nate:: If you feel like helping, even just to develop a plotline, just let me know.
::looks to Anita and Jess:: You two can jump in anytime, as well.
Now if I could just come up with that idea for the book with a gimp main character that will sell millions worldwide and get made into a movie where the character is played by an actual gimp, we'd REALLY be on the way to making ABs realize gimps are people, too.
::turns hopeful eyes across the pond to Nate:: If you feel like helping, even just to develop a plotline, just let me know.
::looks to Anita and Jess:: You two can jump in anytime, as well.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
A couple quizzes
?? Which Creature Of The Sea Are You??
?? Which Precious Gem Are You ??
! You are most Like A Sapphire !Dark, mysterious - but unforgettable. You have a deepbeauty. Delicate, and shy you try to stay away from thelimelight but often your intelligence puts you in at thedeep end. You're like a Sapphire, because, your beauty is priceless.You're intelligent, full of opinions, and not big-headed about it all.Sometimes you need to put yourself out there, as you can be a bit shy.Congratulations ... You're the mysterious gem everybody wants to have and learn more about.
Take this quiz!
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?? Which Natural Wonder Or Disaster Are You ??
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Many thanks to my friend Kim R . . .
. . . who went to all the trouble to set me up with Johnny Depp in my dream this morning. Too bad my attendant woke me up just as we were about to consummate the introductions.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
GO SAINTS!!
Everyone please join me tomorrow (Sunday) at 1400 hours Central time in cheering the NO Saints to an NFC championship and a shot at winning the Super Bowl. This city is alive with black-and-gold fever.
Stomp those Bears!
Stomp those Bears!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Travel Update and January Bonus Books
When I got up yesterday, Mom called the airline to make sure my plane was still flying. Everything was on time, so we loaded all my stuff and headed for Wichita. When we hit the city limits, it started sleeting. When we got to the airport, it was coming down something fierce. Lynlee -- crazy, silly, wonderful Lynlee -- was there waiting for me. I scolded her for coming out in that weather just to hug me and give me a bag of chocolate-covered raisins (and it's a good friend who will buy you something SHE can't stand because YOU love it), but she just shrugged. I pulled up to the ticket counter at 10:00 (my plane left at 10:35) and had a dilemma -- do I rush for the plane and not be able to go to the bathroom until 4:30 or 5:00, or do I get on a later flight? I opted to try for the later flight. Getting to Houston was OK (seats still available), but there were no more seats on ANY planes from Houston to NO for the entire rest of the day. Next thing they told me was that my flight to Houston is delayed, so now I had time to go to the bathroom and board. Problem was, I had only about an hour and a half between planes in Houston. If my plane leaving Wichita was delayed more than fifteen or twenty minutes, there was NO WAY I'd make my plane to NO. Stress on top of more stress. I chose to wait it out here, and it turned out in the end to be the right decision because there were in fact no seats available from Houston to NO until TUESDAY NIGHT. I would have been stuck in Houston for TWO DAYS. And I'm guessing my flight never got off the ground -- it was still at the gate at 10:45, and the sleet was coming down harder than ever.
So I am rescheduled to leave tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6:05 p.m. and get in to NO at 9:55 p.m. I'll miss the first day of stats tomorrow, but I have the same prof I had last semester and have emailed her to explain. I'm sure she'll understand.
And now for a brief update on my monthly book challenge. I have three January bonus books:
1. Next by Michael Crichton. I love MC, but this book was rather disappointing. "Preachiness" against genetic engineering aside, I found the overall point of the stories loose and not very cohesive. The book was a jumble of small tales centered around GE, but that was really their only connection. Some lines were connected or actually came together, but the overall concept just seemed to be, "Here's a reason we shouldn't do this. And why we should do this. Or this." I give MC points for again trying to educate the public about what GE really is and isn't, but I think he also potentially confused the issue by making real in the story fears that people have though he started the book saying these things weren't possible at this time. ::sigh:: Such a flop for such an educated man and a great story-teller.
2. Man From U.N.C.L.E. #1 -- Night of a Thousand Coffins. Anita is a huge U.N.C.L.E. freak (TV series and novelizations), and she recently managed to complete her set of the novels. In so doing, she wound up with duplicates of several books which, because I've always been curious and because she lubs me SOOOOO much, I have inherited. I really enjoyed this first book about the diabolical THRUSH developing and testing a chemical that can kill hundreds in one fell swoop. An U.N.C.L.E. agent/chemist is killed trying to track down the chemical, and Napoleon Solo is sent in to collect his body. We also get a little bit of Illya Kuryakin toward the end, helping Solo crack the case. A fun, fast read -- I finished it in just a couple of hours.
3. Man From U.N.C.L.E. #2 -- The Doomsday Affair. Not quite as good as #1, probably because it's written by a different author. Solo is a little too much the perfect hero, and Kuryakin is too much the doofus agent who is just around to help Solo. Anita had warned me that some books were better than others, so I went with it. Still a fun read with a not-too-surprising twist at the end.
I'm off to start on #3. Yet ANOTHER thing Anita has gotten me hooked on in the last month or so. The first two are the British TV series "Torchwood" (happy D has copies of eleven out of thirteen first season eps with a promise to receive the last two in the mail soon) and TW lead star John Barrowman's singing. This pic, though not a very good one, is from his stint on the first new season of "Doctor Who," the popularity of which is what I think netted him "TW" (correct me if I'm wrong, Nate). Another Doctor Who pic. Yummy album cover pic. ::swoons over the delicious, recently married gay man:: My favorite tracks on this album are "A Boy from Nowhere" and "Sunset Boulevard." Sorry there's no clip of "Boy," but take my word for it, the man is talented.
And before any Doctor fans start musing about whether TW will ever be bought by a US channel for airing, I doubt it very seriously. If it is, it'll be a cable channel like Showtime and most definitely NOT the SciFi Channel (the current carrier of Doctor Who). It's much too sexy and risque and sexual (straight, gay, and everything in between) and just beautifully BRITISH to ever air in conservative America.
And finally, something else I am looking forward to getting in the mail -- a copy of Laurell K. Hamilton's Nightseer from Elizabeth. I was wanting to get it anyway, and E is wanting to sell hers, so I'm buying hers. Look for a review soon, and thanks E!!
So I am rescheduled to leave tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6:05 p.m. and get in to NO at 9:55 p.m. I'll miss the first day of stats tomorrow, but I have the same prof I had last semester and have emailed her to explain. I'm sure she'll understand.
And now for a brief update on my monthly book challenge. I have three January bonus books:
1. Next by Michael Crichton. I love MC, but this book was rather disappointing. "Preachiness" against genetic engineering aside, I found the overall point of the stories loose and not very cohesive. The book was a jumble of small tales centered around GE, but that was really their only connection. Some lines were connected or actually came together, but the overall concept just seemed to be, "Here's a reason we shouldn't do this. And why we should do this. Or this." I give MC points for again trying to educate the public about what GE really is and isn't, but I think he also potentially confused the issue by making real in the story fears that people have though he started the book saying these things weren't possible at this time. ::sigh:: Such a flop for such an educated man and a great story-teller.
2. Man From U.N.C.L.E. #1 -- Night of a Thousand Coffins. Anita is a huge U.N.C.L.E. freak (TV series and novelizations), and she recently managed to complete her set of the novels. In so doing, she wound up with duplicates of several books which, because I've always been curious and because she lubs me SOOOOO much, I have inherited. I really enjoyed this first book about the diabolical THRUSH developing and testing a chemical that can kill hundreds in one fell swoop. An U.N.C.L.E. agent/chemist is killed trying to track down the chemical, and Napoleon Solo is sent in to collect his body. We also get a little bit of Illya Kuryakin toward the end, helping Solo crack the case. A fun, fast read -- I finished it in just a couple of hours.
3. Man From U.N.C.L.E. #2 -- The Doomsday Affair. Not quite as good as #1, probably because it's written by a different author. Solo is a little too much the perfect hero, and Kuryakin is too much the doofus agent who is just around to help Solo. Anita had warned me that some books were better than others, so I went with it. Still a fun read with a not-too-surprising twist at the end.
I'm off to start on #3. Yet ANOTHER thing Anita has gotten me hooked on in the last month or so. The first two are the British TV series "Torchwood" (happy D has copies of eleven out of thirteen first season eps with a promise to receive the last two in the mail soon) and TW lead star John Barrowman's singing. This pic, though not a very good one, is from his stint on the first new season of "Doctor Who," the popularity of which is what I think netted him "TW" (correct me if I'm wrong, Nate). Another Doctor Who pic. Yummy album cover pic. ::swoons over the delicious, recently married gay man:: My favorite tracks on this album are "A Boy from Nowhere" and "Sunset Boulevard." Sorry there's no clip of "Boy," but take my word for it, the man is talented.
And before any Doctor fans start musing about whether TW will ever be bought by a US channel for airing, I doubt it very seriously. If it is, it'll be a cable channel like Showtime and most definitely NOT the SciFi Channel (the current carrier of Doctor Who). It's much too sexy and risque and sexual (straight, gay, and everything in between) and just beautifully BRITISH to ever air in conservative America.
And finally, something else I am looking forward to getting in the mail -- a copy of Laurell K. Hamilton's Nightseer from Elizabeth. I was wanting to get it anyway, and E is wanting to sell hers, so I'm buying hers. Look for a review soon, and thanks E!!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Heading back to NOLA tomorrow
This seems to get harder every time I do it. No, truthfully, this time isn't as hard as back in August, but you know me -- I hate change, I hate leaving my comfort zone. And this (Kansas) IS my comfort zone, not just because I was born and raised most of my life here, but because this is where the people who truly understand me and love me in spite of my neuroses are.
I'll be all right once I get busy -- and Higher knows that won't take long. Classes start Tuesday, and I'm enrolled in a regression statistics course. I'm still working on my review. My pal Sarah and I are going to be researching grants and then writing grants. I have a plan for my research, and I can get started as soon as Daniel (Barney's lab tech) can get me in some Oryzias latipes (Japanese medaka).
Just be prepared to start hearing about random bouts of depression and tales of the trials and tribulations of doctorate-level research.
Oy . . . I hope I'm as smart as I and everyone else think I am.
I'll be all right once I get busy -- and Higher knows that won't take long. Classes start Tuesday, and I'm enrolled in a regression statistics course. I'm still working on my review. My pal Sarah and I are going to be researching grants and then writing grants. I have a plan for my research, and I can get started as soon as Daniel (Barney's lab tech) can get me in some Oryzias latipes (Japanese medaka).
Just be prepared to start hearing about random bouts of depression and tales of the trials and tribulations of doctorate-level research.
Oy . . . I hope I'm as smart as I and everyone else think I am.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Book Challenge to Myself
I was just looking at the LJ community 50 Book Challenge in which members challenge themselves to read fifty books in a year. I've discovered in the past that no matter HOW busy I am with school, I need something to relax myself, and reading is usually it. Being a PhD student, I think it would be crazy of me to challenge myself to that many books (about four a month), but I think it's reasonable to challenge myself to ONE a month, don't you? If I happen to read more than one in a month (which I will THIS month seeing as how I've been on vacation for the first half), I will NOT let the extra carry over but will rather count it as a bonus. So that you know I'm keeping up with my own challenge, I'll provide you with a review and/or synopsis of the book I read.
So, without further ado, I give you Lisey's Story by Stephen King.
This is a rather interesting contribution by SK. I've seen it touted in book clubs as a love story, and in a way I guess it is. When the story begins, Lisey's (pronounced lee-see -- it rhymes with CeeCee as she points out) bestselling author husband of 20+ years has been dead for two years. Besieged by academics wanting to either look at or get her to donate her husband's "papers," she sets herself the task of cleaning out his study. During the process, she must cope with a deranged fan, her sister's self-mutilation behaviour, and her husband's troubled past -- all of which lead her to go behind the "purple curtain" that represents her own purposefully forgotten memories to recall and revisit Boo'ya Moon.
I loved this book. I am a huge SK fan -- have been since I discovered Carrie in high school -- but several of his latest books (e.g., Cell) have been kinda "eh." This one has gotten back to what made me fall in love with him as a writer -- his imagery, his effortless fusion of the supernatural with the mundane, his ability to make the character into someone you want to know. This is now in my Top 5 Favorite Stephen King novels along with The Stand, The Green Mile, Bag of Bones, and It.
Bool! The End!
So, without further ado, I give you Lisey's Story by Stephen King.
This is a rather interesting contribution by SK. I've seen it touted in book clubs as a love story, and in a way I guess it is. When the story begins, Lisey's (pronounced lee-see -- it rhymes with CeeCee as she points out) bestselling author husband of 20+ years has been dead for two years. Besieged by academics wanting to either look at or get her to donate her husband's "papers," she sets herself the task of cleaning out his study. During the process, she must cope with a deranged fan, her sister's self-mutilation behaviour, and her husband's troubled past -- all of which lead her to go behind the "purple curtain" that represents her own purposefully forgotten memories to recall and revisit Boo'ya Moon.
I loved this book. I am a huge SK fan -- have been since I discovered Carrie in high school -- but several of his latest books (e.g., Cell) have been kinda "eh." This one has gotten back to what made me fall in love with him as a writer -- his imagery, his effortless fusion of the supernatural with the mundane, his ability to make the character into someone you want to know. This is now in my Top 5 Favorite Stephen King novels along with The Stand, The Green Mile, Bag of Bones, and It.
Bool! The End!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Again from Jennifer
This is what happens when I don't want to think about school things -- I go meme crazy!!
Ten movies you’d watch over and over:
1. Independence Day
2-5. All four Harry Potters (I am NOT Hermione, dammit!)
6-8. LOTR trilogy
9. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension
10. Much Ado About Nothing (Kenneth Brannagh version)
Nine people you enjoy the company of:
1. Anita
2. Jessie
3. Jonikka
4. Lynlee
5. My widdle brudder
6. Naomi
7. Edie
8. Lisa
9. Erika
Eight things you’re wearing:
1. Rhino ring
2. Specs
3. My "Make Levees, Not War" tie-dye T-shirt
4. Cords
5. Booties my mom crocheted just for me
6. Socks
7. Undies
8. Mahogany obsidian ring
Seven things on your mind:
1. The second edit of my review article that I need to do
2. Trying to figure out where to submit said article
3. Trying to figure out where to get a lab population of Gambusia to start my research
4. This stupid inner ear infection -- someone tell the world to stop spinning!
5. My new specs which will hopefully come in the mail soon
6. Going back to NOLA -- don't want to!
7. My cousin becoming a daddy for the THIRD time!!!
Six objects you touch every day:
1. Reba
2. My rhino ring (or rather IT touches ME)
3. My comp
4. My cell
5. My toothbrush
6. My washcloth
Five things you do everyday:
1. Brush teeth
2. Email
3. Brush hair
4. Wash face
5. Put on specs
Four bands or musical artists that you couldn’t live without:
1. Junoon
2. The Beatles
3. The Eagles
4. Loreena McKennitt
Three of your favorite songs of the moment:
1. Because We Believe -- Andrea Bocelli
2. Sunset Boulevard -- John Barrowman
3. Forty Shades of Green -- Johnny Cash
Two people who have influenced your life the most:
1. My parents
2. My sibs
One person who has been nice to you today:
1. My mommy
Ten movies you’d watch over and over:
1. Independence Day
2-5. All four Harry Potters (I am NOT Hermione, dammit!)
6-8. LOTR trilogy
9. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension
10. Much Ado About Nothing (Kenneth Brannagh version)
Nine people you enjoy the company of:
1. Anita
2. Jessie
3. Jonikka
4. Lynlee
5. My widdle brudder
6. Naomi
7. Edie
8. Lisa
9. Erika
Eight things you’re wearing:
1. Rhino ring
2. Specs
3. My "Make Levees, Not War" tie-dye T-shirt
4. Cords
5. Booties my mom crocheted just for me
6. Socks
7. Undies
8. Mahogany obsidian ring
Seven things on your mind:
1. The second edit of my review article that I need to do
2. Trying to figure out where to submit said article
3. Trying to figure out where to get a lab population of Gambusia to start my research
4. This stupid inner ear infection -- someone tell the world to stop spinning!
5. My new specs which will hopefully come in the mail soon
6. Going back to NOLA -- don't want to!
7. My cousin becoming a daddy for the THIRD time!!!
Six objects you touch every day:
1. Reba
2. My rhino ring (or rather IT touches ME)
3. My comp
4. My cell
5. My toothbrush
6. My washcloth
Five things you do everyday:
1. Brush teeth
2. Email
3. Brush hair
4. Wash face
5. Put on specs
Four bands or musical artists that you couldn’t live without:
1. Junoon
2. The Beatles
3. The Eagles
4. Loreena McKennitt
Three of your favorite songs of the moment:
1. Because We Believe -- Andrea Bocelli
2. Sunset Boulevard -- John Barrowman
3. Forty Shades of Green -- Johnny Cash
Two people who have influenced your life the most:
1. My parents
2. My sibs
One person who has been nice to you today:
1. My mommy