Saturday, May 31, 2008
Room with a View
Unfortunately the vibrancy of the colours aren't coming through in these pictures but I'm sure you'll agree that this view from my sunroof is wickedgood:
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Crazy Chicago Weather
This is what it is like to live here:
Yesterday, as I mentioned, it was 30C (86F). I was wearing a tank top and capris. You all know how hot it has to be for me to put away my winter jacket. I even started keeping an extra pair of wool socks in my purse...anyway...Since it was so hot, a friend and I went to get ice cream. Ice cream in hand [I got merlot ice cream], we started walking around the neighbourhood. After about TWO BLOCKS a gigantic windstorm hit us, blowing leaves/crap on the sidewalk all around us, and getting in our ice cream. We were BLASTED by cold air so we turned around and went home.
This morning I checked the weather and did a double take - it's 6C (43F) outside right now!!! Sigh.
Yesterday, as I mentioned, it was 30C (86F). I was wearing a tank top and capris. You all know how hot it has to be for me to put away my winter jacket. I even started keeping an extra pair of wool socks in my purse...anyway...Since it was so hot, a friend and I went to get ice cream. Ice cream in hand [I got merlot ice cream], we started walking around the neighbourhood. After about TWO BLOCKS a gigantic windstorm hit us, blowing leaves/crap on the sidewalk all around us, and getting in our ice cream. We were BLASTED by cold air so we turned around and went home.
This morning I checked the weather and did a double take - it's 6C (43F) outside right now!!! Sigh.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Psychology Moment
Today I ventured out to a coffee shop patio to read my personality disorders book as it was FINALLY warm outside! (30C). The server looked baffled when I ordered a hot tea, but who knows what drafts are lurking under the shade of an umbrella...
Anyway, I was reading about histrionic personality disorder and came upon an interesting blurb that I wanted to share. First, a lesson:
Some features of histrionic PD include:
* a need to be the center of attention
* inappropriate sexually seductive behaviour
* rapid shifting of emotions
* using physical appearance to draw attention to the self
* self-dramatization/exaggerated emotionality
It probably comes as no surprise that more women than men are diagnosed with this disorder. Why? Maybe this has something to do with it:
The word 'histrionic' is related to the idea of 'hysteria'. The Greeks believed hysteria was caused by [I shit you not] a 'wandering uterus that could become detached, tour the body, and settle in the brain, thus producing the behavioural excesses such as wild emotion and female lust.' In fact, the modern surgical procedure of removing a woman's uterus is called a 'hysterectomy', not a uterusectomy or uterectomy [or whatever].
From a feminist perspective, hysteria/histrionic PD embodies a stereotype of women and reinforces the male belief that women are nuts or freak out over seemingly innocuous comments or unintended oversights. This has ramifications for future disorders added to the DSM - ie: the proposed 'premenstrual dysphoric disorder' which is the idea that women's menstrual cycles cause psychological problems. On the flip side, is there a psychological disorder related to having a penis? I quote my textbook:
"Although many would admit to emotional and behavioural changes related to their period, women might also argue that these changes occupy only a few days a month, whereas a penis distorts behavior most of he time. Strangely, history holds no such wandering member that might become detached, take up residence in the brain, and distort perception in order to explain antisocial behaviour among males."
I've read that more people are beginning to think that histrionic and antisocial PD are actually two sides of the same coin. The reason for the different names could be a reflection of the biases of the men who made up this stuff to begin with.
Let the smart-alecky comments begin :P
Anyway, I was reading about histrionic personality disorder and came upon an interesting blurb that I wanted to share. First, a lesson:
Some features of histrionic PD include:
* a need to be the center of attention
* inappropriate sexually seductive behaviour
* rapid shifting of emotions
* using physical appearance to draw attention to the self
* self-dramatization/exaggerated emotionality
It probably comes as no surprise that more women than men are diagnosed with this disorder. Why? Maybe this has something to do with it:
The word 'histrionic' is related to the idea of 'hysteria'. The Greeks believed hysteria was caused by [I shit you not] a 'wandering uterus that could become detached, tour the body, and settle in the brain, thus producing the behavioural excesses such as wild emotion and female lust.' In fact, the modern surgical procedure of removing a woman's uterus is called a 'hysterectomy', not a uterusectomy or uterectomy [or whatever].
From a feminist perspective, hysteria/histrionic PD embodies a stereotype of women and reinforces the male belief that women are nuts or freak out over seemingly innocuous comments or unintended oversights. This has ramifications for future disorders added to the DSM - ie: the proposed 'premenstrual dysphoric disorder' which is the idea that women's menstrual cycles cause psychological problems. On the flip side, is there a psychological disorder related to having a penis? I quote my textbook:
"Although many would admit to emotional and behavioural changes related to their period, women might also argue that these changes occupy only a few days a month, whereas a penis distorts behavior most of he time. Strangely, history holds no such wandering member that might become detached, take up residence in the brain, and distort perception in order to explain antisocial behaviour among males."
I've read that more people are beginning to think that histrionic and antisocial PD are actually two sides of the same coin. The reason for the different names could be a reflection of the biases of the men who made up this stuff to begin with.
Let the smart-alecky comments begin :P
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Sexy Side of Insomnia
Insomnia leads people to do peculiar things. I spent the wee hours of Sunday night/Monday morning watching this. Only god can judge me.
Pronunciation
Last night I discovered something. People in America pronounce "badminton" as "BADmi'in". No 't', emphasis on the 'bad'. At first they didn't know what I was saying when I said 'bad-min-ton.' Who are these people?
Talking to Americans
Awhile ago I went to this conference which discussed the idea of 'structural racism'. It's a complex concept that describes how institutions and people's implicit beliefs maintain racism, thus preventing the targets of this racism to get ahead in life. However, I think it can be extended past the borders of racism to encompass basic value judgments on other people as well. It was an interesting talk, but it's always more fascinating to see it happen in real life...
The other day I was having a conversation with an American about healthcare which turned into her view that the Canadian system sucks because you have to wait to get access to healthcare. Now, while wait times certainly are a huge area of concern for our system, the issue wasn't necessarily the quality of healthcare. The issue was getting what you want when you want it because that's what you 'deserve':
- "Americans work hard for their money and they should get the healthcare they deserve"
- "If you don't have healthcare, just get a job"
- "My hard earned dollars shouldn't go toward paying for some lazy person's healthcare"
I promptly pointed out that some people can't get jobs with good benefits, or obtain any sort of employment. The response:
- "The people who can't get employment are homeless and lazy"
- "Everyone has an equal opportunity to get a job in this country"
- "People who make a lot of money work hard and they deserve to keep their money"
So I says to the chick, I says sure lazy people exist everywhere. But a lot of homeless people have mental illnesses that prevent them from maintaining a job. Further, in the American system, they can't afford to see a psychiatrist or pay for medication so they'll never get better. Other people have the misfortune of being disabled due to an accident or disease which prevents them not only from working, but from getting decent healthcare coverage even if they had the money to pay for it! And even if they are lazy, are they not people too? Are they not Americans? What about children of lazy people - should they be denied access to good healthcare?
As for people who make lots of money - ever heard of nepotism? How about white privilege? If you are black in America and have a history of slavery in your family, do you really think that money has been passed down in the generations that could allow successive generations to pay for college and subsequently obtain a high paying job? Or do you think white people have a much better chance of doing so? Maybe the people who do the hiring at these jobs don't want to hire a black person because they think they're all lazy, or stupid, or they'd rather hire the boss's daughter who is a terribly inept employee but wears see-through clothes to work so the guys want her hanging around the water cooler.
These people still believe in the American Dream of working hard and achieving success, and are totally heartless when it comes to helping out other people, regardless of whether they are legitimately disadvantaged or not. I says to her, "don't you people say you're one nation under god, and all men were created equal?" Isn't that the shit you people say? She just laughed and said "that has never been true and never will be."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ps: I don't want to sound all idealistic and hippie with this post. You people should know by now that I am irritated by pretty much everyone I come in contact with. But when I hear someone say all of that shit in one sitting, I realize how ridiculous it sounds. Yes, I would love to get access to doctors instantly and never have to wait for anything. But as someone who is perpetually broken and has bandaids and staples holding me together, I am well aware that if I were an American, I would be one of the poor, lazy, uninsured people who doesn't deserve healthcare because apparently I'm not willing to try hard enough.
The other day I was having a conversation with an American about healthcare which turned into her view that the Canadian system sucks because you have to wait to get access to healthcare. Now, while wait times certainly are a huge area of concern for our system, the issue wasn't necessarily the quality of healthcare. The issue was getting what you want when you want it because that's what you 'deserve':
- "Americans work hard for their money and they should get the healthcare they deserve"
- "If you don't have healthcare, just get a job"
- "My hard earned dollars shouldn't go toward paying for some lazy person's healthcare"
I promptly pointed out that some people can't get jobs with good benefits, or obtain any sort of employment. The response:
- "The people who can't get employment are homeless and lazy"
- "Everyone has an equal opportunity to get a job in this country"
- "People who make a lot of money work hard and they deserve to keep their money"
So I says to the chick, I says sure lazy people exist everywhere. But a lot of homeless people have mental illnesses that prevent them from maintaining a job. Further, in the American system, they can't afford to see a psychiatrist or pay for medication so they'll never get better. Other people have the misfortune of being disabled due to an accident or disease which prevents them not only from working, but from getting decent healthcare coverage even if they had the money to pay for it! And even if they are lazy, are they not people too? Are they not Americans? What about children of lazy people - should they be denied access to good healthcare?
As for people who make lots of money - ever heard of nepotism? How about white privilege? If you are black in America and have a history of slavery in your family, do you really think that money has been passed down in the generations that could allow successive generations to pay for college and subsequently obtain a high paying job? Or do you think white people have a much better chance of doing so? Maybe the people who do the hiring at these jobs don't want to hire a black person because they think they're all lazy, or stupid, or they'd rather hire the boss's daughter who is a terribly inept employee but wears see-through clothes to work so the guys want her hanging around the water cooler.
These people still believe in the American Dream of working hard and achieving success, and are totally heartless when it comes to helping out other people, regardless of whether they are legitimately disadvantaged or not. I says to her, "don't you people say you're one nation under god, and all men were created equal?" Isn't that the shit you people say? She just laughed and said "that has never been true and never will be."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ps: I don't want to sound all idealistic and hippie with this post. You people should know by now that I am irritated by pretty much everyone I come in contact with. But when I hear someone say all of that shit in one sitting, I realize how ridiculous it sounds. Yes, I would love to get access to doctors instantly and never have to wait for anything. But as someone who is perpetually broken and has bandaids and staples holding me together, I am well aware that if I were an American, I would be one of the poor, lazy, uninsured people who doesn't deserve healthcare because apparently I'm not willing to try hard enough.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Medical Bills Continued...
If you recall, I had some bloodwork done in February at a local hospital that cost me $265.
This past week I get ANOTHER bill in the mail for $33 from a pathology lab in Indianapolis. I called because I had no idea why I was being billed and the operator told me that even though I paid for the bloodwork at the hospital, this bill was separate. I am now being billed for the pathologist to write out the results of the bloodwork on a piece of paper to cover costs of 'ensuring quality of each lab test, supervising lab personnel, and directing the medical laboratory.'
I'm half expecting more bills to come in drips and drabs over the next year:
* Secretary fee for putting my bills in the envelope
* Janitor fee for keeping the laboratory spotless and clean
* International fee for analyzing non-American blood
...and so on.
This past week I get ANOTHER bill in the mail for $33 from a pathology lab in Indianapolis. I called because I had no idea why I was being billed and the operator told me that even though I paid for the bloodwork at the hospital, this bill was separate. I am now being billed for the pathologist to write out the results of the bloodwork on a piece of paper to cover costs of 'ensuring quality of each lab test, supervising lab personnel, and directing the medical laboratory.'
I'm half expecting more bills to come in drips and drabs over the next year:
* Secretary fee for putting my bills in the envelope
* Janitor fee for keeping the laboratory spotless and clean
* International fee for analyzing non-American blood
...and so on.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
This is my new haircut
Minus the bangs. This ALWAYS happens. I asked for my hair to be BELOW my chin. Somehow that meant 'above my chin'. Also, it's raining which makes my hair curl, so I am now Molly Ringwald.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Things To Look Forward To
I read it on perezhilton.com so it's GOT to be true:
NEW BECK ALBUM IN 6 WEEKS!!
How did I not hear about this earlier? To quote Picture Perfect [with Jennifer Aniston], "I'm so excited I can barely keep my legs together." This album better not sound like the Information/Guero though.
STONE ANGEL MOVIE!!
I realize I'm the only person on the planet who cares, but I recently found out they're doing a film adaptation of my favourite novel The Stone Angel by Margaret Lawrence. Since everyone I know hates this book, I'm sure it will bomb at the box office. How could it not with such honours as being nominated for having some of the worst sex scenes in Canadian literature? However, everyone's favourite Canadian darling Ellen Page is in it so maybe not.
NEW BECK ALBUM IN 6 WEEKS!!
How did I not hear about this earlier? To quote Picture Perfect [with Jennifer Aniston], "I'm so excited I can barely keep my legs together." This album better not sound like the Information/Guero though.
STONE ANGEL MOVIE!!
I realize I'm the only person on the planet who cares, but I recently found out they're doing a film adaptation of my favourite novel The Stone Angel by Margaret Lawrence. Since everyone I know hates this book, I'm sure it will bomb at the box office. How could it not with such honours as being nominated for having some of the worst sex scenes in Canadian literature? However, everyone's favourite Canadian darling Ellen Page is in it so maybe not.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Security?
Does increased security at airports make us safer? Maybe, maybe not. But they sure do make you feel violated. Let me give you an example.
I started unpacking my suitcase when I got home, and immediately when I opened the bag, I felt that something was amiss. I'm not the neatest packer in the world but my belongings were in total disarray which is bad even for my standards. Also, a bottle of my hair spray had leaked EVERYWHERE despite the fact that I put it in a plastic bag before I left. I looked and the cap was on very loosely. It ruined one of my books, and several other books that I had packed were bent. At first I just assumed things must have REALLY gotten roughed up in the flight.
Then a piece of paper [also soaked in hair spray] fell out of some of the clothes I had taken out of my bag:
NOTICE OF BAGGAGE INSPECTION
"To protect you and your fellow passengers, the TSA is required by law to inspect all checked baggage. As part of this process, some bags are opened and physically inspected. Your bag was among those selected for physical inspection.
During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag.
If the TSA security officer was unable to open your bag for inspection because it was locked, the officer may have been forced to break the locks on your bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, however TSA is not liable for damage to your locks resulting from this necessary security precaution."
Oh really? Now, I must admit, it is POSSIBLE that somehow I didn't tighten the cap on my hair spray and that my belongings were all bent because they shifted during flight. But I flew to Buffalo with that same bottle of hair spray and nothing spilled, and I don't see why I would unscrew the cap for any reason.
Regardless of who or what caused my suitcase to smell like a hair salon, I do feel violated. It's creepy knowing that some stranger rifled through my personal items in my luggage, like some of my financial records from doing my taxes. I had no idea they were searching bags, and I don't fully trust some random TSA agent to go through my things and a) not take anything or b) notice anything fell out.
Apparently others feel the same but lodging a complaint is probably futile.
I started unpacking my suitcase when I got home, and immediately when I opened the bag, I felt that something was amiss. I'm not the neatest packer in the world but my belongings were in total disarray which is bad even for my standards. Also, a bottle of my hair spray had leaked EVERYWHERE despite the fact that I put it in a plastic bag before I left. I looked and the cap was on very loosely. It ruined one of my books, and several other books that I had packed were bent. At first I just assumed things must have REALLY gotten roughed up in the flight.
Then a piece of paper [also soaked in hair spray] fell out of some of the clothes I had taken out of my bag:
NOTICE OF BAGGAGE INSPECTION
"To protect you and your fellow passengers, the TSA is required by law to inspect all checked baggage. As part of this process, some bags are opened and physically inspected. Your bag was among those selected for physical inspection.
During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag.
If the TSA security officer was unable to open your bag for inspection because it was locked, the officer may have been forced to break the locks on your bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, however TSA is not liable for damage to your locks resulting from this necessary security precaution."
Oh really? Now, I must admit, it is POSSIBLE that somehow I didn't tighten the cap on my hair spray and that my belongings were all bent because they shifted during flight. But I flew to Buffalo with that same bottle of hair spray and nothing spilled, and I don't see why I would unscrew the cap for any reason.
Regardless of who or what caused my suitcase to smell like a hair salon, I do feel violated. It's creepy knowing that some stranger rifled through my personal items in my luggage, like some of my financial records from doing my taxes. I had no idea they were searching bags, and I don't fully trust some random TSA agent to go through my things and a) not take anything or b) notice anything fell out.
Apparently others feel the same but lodging a complaint is probably futile.
And I'm Back
Much to my surprise, I didn't die in a fiery plane crash and have safely arrived at my apartment. I was greeted with two surprises, one awesome, and the other...not so much:
1. My dear housematey RC has a penchant for finding obscure vinyl albums and sending them to her sister. I was lucky enough to be the recipient this time. I got The Glamorous Life by Shelia E. This is, in all likelihood, the shittiest album ever recorded. Regardless, the girl can drum.
2. I had 16 messages waiting for me on my answering machine. 'Ooh, I'm so popular!' thought I. Guess again; 13 of them were from a debt collection agency. People in stern voices were demanding money. I frantically wracked my brain trying to think of what bill I haven't paid in awhile, but came up with nothing [although who would be surprised if I did just forget to pay my bills?]. I swear in each message my last name was pronounced a different way. I eventually got to one that explained everything: "If this is Annette R. Bazentine, please call me back, we are collecting a debt." Ah.
Highlights of my visit home:
- Beating Super Mario Brothers 1 and Klax*
- Learning to play drums with Marc. I can now play Live Forever by Oasis [shittily] and Icky Thump by the White Stripes [shittily as well].
- Getting addicted to Rock Band
- Discovering the hidden world of video gamers
- Long chats with old friends
- Teaching my nephew how to ride a bike [shittily]
- Getting addicted to Boston Legal [it has James Spader in it, you knew it would happen]
- Being pantless in London
Thanks to everyone who took the time to hang out with me, I really appreciate it. I'll be back in August but only for a week so I'll try to fit in as much as possible. In the meantime, stay tuned.
* 99% due to G's help.
1. My dear housematey RC has a penchant for finding obscure vinyl albums and sending them to her sister. I was lucky enough to be the recipient this time. I got The Glamorous Life by Shelia E. This is, in all likelihood, the shittiest album ever recorded. Regardless, the girl can drum.
2. I had 16 messages waiting for me on my answering machine. 'Ooh, I'm so popular!' thought I. Guess again; 13 of them were from a debt collection agency. People in stern voices were demanding money. I frantically wracked my brain trying to think of what bill I haven't paid in awhile, but came up with nothing [although who would be surprised if I did just forget to pay my bills?]. I swear in each message my last name was pronounced a different way. I eventually got to one that explained everything: "If this is Annette R. Bazentine, please call me back, we are collecting a debt." Ah.
Highlights of my visit home:
- Beating Super Mario Brothers 1 and Klax*
- Learning to play drums with Marc. I can now play Live Forever by Oasis [shittily] and Icky Thump by the White Stripes [shittily as well].
- Getting addicted to Rock Band
- Discovering the hidden world of video gamers
- Long chats with old friends
- Teaching my nephew how to ride a bike [shittily]
- Getting addicted to Boston Legal [it has James Spader in it, you knew it would happen]
- Being pantless in London
Thanks to everyone who took the time to hang out with me, I really appreciate it. I'll be back in August but only for a week so I'll try to fit in as much as possible. In the meantime, stay tuned.
* 99% due to G's help.
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