Too personal for the blog?

Just posted an essay on my birth on my other blog. It was an assignment for my writing class. It ended up being more about the origins of my family than about my birth per se...hope no family members feel I've overstepped any bounds by posting this mini-family history. It's a compelling story...someone in my class said it sounds like a movie. I think it could be a book. Maybe at some future date. So in advance, if anyone out there who is related to me is annoyed, my apologies. Next assignment is to write about my first day of school....SO EASY! I remember everything about Catholic school & have some good kindergarten moments to include. I'll post it next week.

Update

Haven't checked in lately. Busy with usual stuff. Today had my hebrew bible class, rabbi wants me to be able to read some text next week. I've learned about 10 letters and a few vowels, but get confused over mem and final mem, and nun and final nun. What the heck is that about?? And vowels that are silent, and dots that don't mean anything. I'm doing OK though, considering a week ago I knew no hebrew at all. Finished my essay about my birth, will post on my other blog on Friday. Hope it's not too sentimental.
TCM is showing all oscar winning movies this week...must see what they're showing tonight, in about 5 minutes. Last night it was The Best Years of Our Lives. Robert Osborne claims many people think it's the best movie ever made. That's saying something. I watched about half & fell asleep, not because the movie wasn't good but because I went to the dentist yesterday & had lots of drilling & novocaine, which gave me a headache. Also didn't sleep much the previous night due to mutt barking at raccoons that appear to have emerged from hibernation (in February??), so I took a tylenol p.m., put me right to sleep. So I guess I'll rent the movie at some future date. Can't be better than Dr. Zhivago.

Writing Class Day #1

Started my new writing class today. The focus is on writing memoirs so there are numerous students of, shall we say, a certain age in there. I was worried about being the oldest one but that is not a problem. I wasn't sure about the instructor at first, but when she read one of her published pieces I realized she is a good writer. Some people are more articulate on paper I suppose. Assignment #1: write about the day I was born. I'll quiz my parents when I see them on Sunday. I know people accused my parents of naming me after a car (the "Giulietta"), which they deny (even though they loved the car); I know I was born on Pope John Paul II's 40th birthday (way before he became Pope.) Does that mean something? Mt. St. Helens erupted on my 20th birthday. Maybe that means something? It will be interesting to hear what they have to say & should be fun to write about. I came home and started reading things my grandmother had written when she was around my age, the trials and tribulations of motherhood mostly. She wrote one about the virtues of the pill & how she thought the Catholic church was wrong to oppose birth control. Heresy, in her day. I'm probably more like her than I realize. I don't know anyone else in the family that wants to be a "writer" whatever that means. She always tried to get stuff published in Reader's Digest but never succeeded. Maybe she just needed a writing class! I hope she's looking down at me from heaven with approval. Maybe she'll throw a little inspiration my way. Are you listening Gramma?

My kids are teaching me Hebrew

Wow I have awesome kids. My 11-year old is giving me pointers on reading hebrew. I now know 5 letters: shin, tav, bet, lamed & mem. Actually I also know aleph and vet, plus 2 vowels (the ones they put in there to help with pronunciation.) He's proud that he knows more than I do and he can really help. My 7-year old, who hasn't started religious or hebrew school yet (we keep holding off....can't bear to put one more commitment on the schedule), is excited about learning with me. His brain is way quicker than mine and he loves learning. So we have a group project! Tomorrow I start my new writing class at the community college. I hope the instructor is competent and I REALLY hope I'm not the oldest one there! I hope I don't have to read my stuff to the class. But we must face our fears, right?

Learning Hebrew

I signed up for a Learn the Hebrew Bible class at our temple, thinking it was going to be reading the 5 books & discussing it. Turns out it's actually reading the text IN HEBREW, which puts me at a distinct disadvantage, as I don't even know the Hebrew alphabet (or should I say aleph bet?) There's a lot of decoding to do. Our rabbi is very patient and understanding and doesn't care that I'm not even Jewish and don't know anything. The other 2 ladies in the class have at least a grasp of Hebrew, one at a pretty basic level (which is better than me) and the other can read it. So this will be a project. If I walk away from the class knowing the aleph bet that will be an accomplishment. Did you know there are no vowels in Hebrew? There are symbols for vowels that are used in learning the language, but written Hebrew, in the Torah and elsewhere, contains no vowels. This will test my mental capacities, which I fear are not what they once were. Retaining any information at all is a challenge for me. The second lady in class introduced herself to me & I forgot her name a millisecond later (I knew the first lady already). How embarrassing. I can't be the only 40 something person who suffers from this malady.
Boys are acting rowdy...better tell #3&4 to get ready for swimming, 1&2 to get ready for religious school.

Snow! and a Busy Day

Great fat lumps of snow falling! They look like fluffy cotton balls. If I was 10 I'd be out there with my mouth wide open trying to catch them. But alas other obligations await. Busy day ahead (which is why I'm doing this now)...kids to school, kid to dentist then to school, car to get oil change, self to temple for bible education, pick up kid (different one) for dentist appointment (they're getting sick of seeing me there), pick up 2 kids from school, take 2 kids to swimming lessons, 2 kids to religious school...I'm sure I'm leaving something out. Lunch? Dinner? We'll squeeze them in somehow. Now the snow is drifting down lazily, as if it has worn itself out. Wish it could last all day.

Boy I'm lucky

I am so lucky. I have sisters who are so suppportive and encouraging in this writing thing, even though who knows if it will lead anywhere. And my good friend Ann is with me all the way too. My adoring husband is too but that's a given. Thanks girls!

Blogging vs. TIVO

Di asks why am I comfortable with blogging but not TIVO? My objection to TIVO is the whole tracking of what I'm watching. I know, I know, I'm already tracked with credit cards, etc., but I don't like the idea of paying a monthly fee so someone can monitor me. I'm sure I'd like TIVO...almost bought it 2 years ago until I realized how it works. So not getting it is my tiny protest. But why do I like to blog if I don't want people watching me? Blogging is supposed to help with the "writing process" whatever that means. Seems to. Also I like communicating my ideas to whoever wants to listen. You make amazing connections with people. Also I need to vent and it helps me do that. Sometimes my adoring husband doesn't want to listen to my ranting and raving (who can blame him??) In the not so distant future all our movements will be monitored, I have little doubt of that, but do I have to pay for the privilege?
Oh on writing...I submitted pieces to 2 different places, the first time I've ever done that. I don't count the few articles on legal topics I've had published (way back in the day, as Sam likes to say). I figure what the hell and prepare myself for rejection. It's all part of moving forward with this thing.

Ray & Oscars

So we watched Ray last night. Good movie, not great. Way too long. Jamie Foxx was very good, although I don't think he actually sang any songs. The dialogue was pretty trite a lot of the time. The wife was made out to be a doormat & the movie doesn't explain why she would stay with him after he was unfaithful & drug addicted all those years. The movie ends 40 years before he died, so we're left to assume nothing special happened during those 4 decades. So Million Dollar Baby is still the front-runner, in my opinion....still haven't seen Aviator. The best thing about Ray was showcasing all of Ray Charles' great music. Maybe I'll get the soundtrack.

Rainy day, groggy mind

It is so hard to get motivated on a day like this. Upper 30's, pouring rain, gray gray gray! I just wanted to stay under a blanket all day long, especially since the mutt was up barking until all hours, but my catholic guilt never lets me indulge that way. So I went to body pump, which was really good, then grocery shopping, then home for lunch...a little office work, then OK yes I did get under a blanket for about 20 minutes, interrupted by numerous phone calls. Read a little fiction in a back issue of the New Yorker. But by 3:00 I went to meet Noah at the bus (so he wouldn't have to walk home in freezing rain), then picked up Phil at school at 3:30, while Josh went to a movie with his good buddy. Picked up Sam at 4:00. Swim lessons cancelled today so it's less hectic than usual. Jon took boys 1 & 2 to religious school, while boys 3 & 4 hung out at home with me. Actually it's been a rather mellow evening. Looking forward to bed though...under the blanket with my warm husband. I look forward to that every night!

Rush Limbaugh's words

The following was forwarded to me by a friend. I agree with it, and although whoever sent it to me claims it was written by Rush Limbaugh, I have no proof of authorship. I am particularly disturbed but not surprised by the revelation that members of congress DO NOT HAVE TO PAY INTO SOCIAL SECURITY but they want to force you to. Here goes:

Love him or loathe him, he nailed this one right on the head............

By Rush Limbaugh:
I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die serving our country in Uniform are profound. No one is really talking about it either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I can't let the numbers pass by because it says something really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country.
If you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million.

If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable. Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.
Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not enough. Their deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Soldiers put themselves in harms way FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families know the dangers.
We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11 families are getting. In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation as well.
You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad.
Every time a pay raise comes up for the military, they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle East while their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low-rent
housing. Make sense?
However, our own U.S. Congress voted themselves a raise. Many of you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one time to receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month. And most are now equal to being millionaires plus. They do not receive Social Security on retirement because they didn't have to pay into the system.
If some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an E-7, they may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed them in harm's way receives a pension of $15,000 per month.
I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon and join ranks before they start cutting out benefits and lowering pay for our sons and daughters who are now fighting.
"When do we finally do something about this?" If this doesn't seem fair to you, it is time to forward this to as many people as you can.

How many people can YOU send this to ?

Just checking in...

Just checking in....wanted to see if Hepburn is writing in her blog and I'm happy to report yes!! Are you reading this Hepburn?? Plans for today are dentist, ironing, maybe a trip to the strip to get stuff for Valentine treat bags for 1st graders. I'd like to forego the first 2 things but some unpleasant things can't be avoided. At least while I'm ironing I can watch a movie. I rented The Importance of Being Ernest, which is surprisingly good so far (watched about 30 minutes while boys were engrossed in Super Bowl.) And I'll be sure and write something besides this. Yesterday I worked on my Holy Name story. I decided to move the thing forward I would write a few paragraphs or pages on one subject at a time. Yesterday I did my 6th grade teacher & came up with some good fictional stuff along with the factual. At least it seemed good. We'll see.

Last night we watched Monster, which was great for the acting but what a sad depressing horrible story! It must have been a relief to that woman when she was finally imprisoned....or even when she was executed. I rented Ray, which we'll probably watch tonight. After that, we'll see Aviator & for the first time in years will have watched all 5 oscar contenders before the awards.

Dems & Dean

The dems must be gluttons for punishment. They are about to select Dean as their leader. This guy is a leftist hothead. "Dr. Dean". How pompous. I read somewhere he is actually a podiatrist. Reminds me of all those self-important school administrators that insist on calling themselves "Dr. this" or "Dr. that." Hell I have a juris doctor but I don't go around trying to inflate my authority & make other people feel like peons. Anyway if they're going to pick a leftist, how about someone with charisma? Someone who doesn't implode at the first sign of trouble? How can this guy's wife stand him anyway? At least he'll be a striking contrast to Harry Reid. That guy is like the walking dead. Talk about uninspiring. I guess the dems are looking for the polar opposite of Bush & they found him in Dean. Good luck with that. You're helping the republicans so I can't complain.

Finding Neverland

We saw Finding Neverland last night. I was not really interested but I must say I loved this movie! It was magical, enchanting. I loved when Johnny Depp was dancing with the bear (what's NOT to love about Johnny Depp doing anything?) And Kate Winslet gets more beautiful in every movie. Of course Julie Christy starred in my favorite movie of all time, Dr. Zhivago, so I liked her too. This is a movie for everyone, kids included. Going to try to see Ray this week.

Phil is sick today. Thought all that was overwith (3 kids sick Sun thru Weds last week) but I guess not. Phil's a good patient though. He just stays in bed, reads, naps, doesn't complain. I'm convinced he's the sweetest boy ever born.

What exciting things are happening today? Trip to Home Depot to replace an outside pipe that cracked with the freezing weather last week, spewing water all over the deck when it thawed. Guess we should have shut off the outside faucet. Boys are clamoring for burritos for their superbowl dinner so a trip to the grocery store is in order. Must shower, must write something more interesting than this, must get outside & soak up some sun while it's here!

Movies, politics & Smith College

Today we'll see either Finding Neverland or Ray. No hope of seeing Being Julia since it's already gone from the Burgh and never even made it to Suburbia. Still betting on Annette Bening to win since she lost against Hillary Swank in their last match-up. Love Hillary Swank though. Wish her name wasn't the same as the evil left-winger who claims to have been named after Edmund Hillary, even though he didn't climb Everest until long AFTER she was born. But don't get me started. How about that Condi? She's awesome. I'd love to meet her or at least hear her speak in person. She's making the diplomatic rounds in Europe now, trying to mend a few fences. The black community should be proud of her. I hope they are. Of course I'm sure she'll never be invited to speak at Smith since she's a right winger. I remember when I was there they rescinded an offer for Jean Kirkpatrick to speak because she was one of Reagan's people (U.N. representative). That was appalling. Of course on campuses only lefties have free speech rights, not righties. It's worse now than when I went. Though I recall one occasion when a fellow Smithie said "how can you call yourself a woman?" to me when I told her I was voting for Reagan. Reagan was anti-ERA & I thought ERA was unnecessary. There are bigger problems in the world. I have very mixed feelings about Smith. Here you have this incredible institution where young women can do ANYTHING. It's like a country club with all the beautiful facilities, brilliant minds (profs & students), gorgeous settings, an intellectual paradise where anything should be possible. But all you ever read about Smith these days is that it's the preferred choice of lesbians & transgenders. At one point the student government (or so I read) tried to remove the use of the words "he" and "she" from its literature to avoid offending those who didn't want to commit to a particular gender. Huh?? Isn't Smith a college for WOMEN??? Or do those people only like women & people of indeterminate gender, not (heaven forbid) men?? There was a feature story in the NYTimes Sunday mag about children of lesbian couples. One of their kids is a lesbian & of course she went to Smith. Every reference to Smith these days goes hand-in-hand with lesbianism. I'm not one of those anti-gay marriage people. I just want to know how a small minority of people happens to dominate one of the great collegiate institutions. I believe they are driving away qualified brilliant women. Now they'll go to Princeton or Harvard or WELLESLEY (alma mater of the evil one mentioned above.) I'm always proud when I see someone incredible on TV & I can tell people "She went to Smith." Like Julia Child, Juliet Taylor, Madeleine L'Engle, Harriet Doerr, Gloria Steinem, Nancy Reagan! You don't have to like Gloria Steinem or Nancy Reagan to admire them, by the way. Now only lesbians get press for going to Smith. I guess one of the bonuses of having only sons is that I don't have to justify my reasons for not sending them to Smith. They're not girls & they're not transgendered or transsexual so they won't be welcome there.

Updike Does It Again....

I've been reading Updike's story collection called Pigeon Feathers...the Pigeon Feathers story itself is brilliant. He's too obsessed with sex in some of his stories, and I wasn't that crazy about Rabbit, Run, which I just finished. But Pigeon Feathers.....wow. Well-crafted plot, fleshed out characters, moral dilemma, great resolution. I like to read Updike because his writing teaches me about writing. He inspires me to write. I'm taking another writing class on memoires, memories and short stories. I'm hoping it lights a fire under my butt & gives me some goals.
What else? On the home front, kids were sick this week but nothing unmanageable. Sam's on antibiotics for an ear infection; other kids were throwing up, always such fun in the middle of the night. Josh seems to have escaped the illness unscathed.
Glorious sunny day in February. Sun shining on my face as I type. I'd take the mutt for a walk but I'm too tired from body pumping (that's an exercise class, for those of you with impure thoughts).