This blog doesn't have a theme, just me writing about the things that interest me. I also plan for this blog to chronicle my bike commune around Massachusetts.
My blog is as random and eclectic as my thoughts.
Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists, only because I love. Everything is united by it alone. Love is God, and to die means that I, a particle of love, shall return to the general and eternal source.
For the past 2-3 weeks, I have been going to the gym. I usually go 4 or 5 times per week, for 3 hours in the morning. I have always enjoyed exercising, so I am very happy that I am able to do this. I have lost a few pounds, and I am starting to build upper body muscles. I also have biked more than 20+ miles for a couple of days consecutively which is good, because that means I'll be able to bike during the Spring/Summer to distant towns. I enjoy the fact that I see the same people day in and day out. I take pleasure is seeing guys go into a zen trance before lifting weights. However, I have noticed something funny the guys do (I haven't seen girls do it). When we are using the weight machines, right before moving to the next station, they would change the weight to something bigger (ei. If they are pulling 50 pounds they would change it for 100), so the next person would think that they were pulling 100 pounds! I find that to be so funny, because here is me watching them do it! I guess it must be an ego thing. Personally, while doing curbs I use 10 pounds. I have little to no upper body strength. There is no shame there.
I'll leave you with some news from The Onion:
President Obama's proposed high-speed train system will be replaced with a fleet of buses that will rocket along highways at speeds up to 165 mph.
Since today is a lazy day, I thought I would catch up on those Shakesville questions. By the way, I highly recommend that you add Shakesville to your Google Reader (RSS) since it is one of the best progressive/feminists blogs in the Internet. You'll learn a lot. Tomorrow in the morning, I will go to the gym. I have been using the bike machine, and did around 100 miles last week. It's still less exiting than using Walden which I miss. I guess now I'll have to wait until the streets are clean and the snow melts from the 'bike lane' path. That will take a couple of days/weeks. In the afternoon, I'll see my doctor regarding an irregular rhythm going on with my heart. Nothing too serious, a doctor found out about it when I was doing a physical for a job I am applying, and now I want my personal doctor to hear it and tell me more. It happens when I am 'at rest' (lying down) and I sometimes feel it when I am nervous/anxious/really tired. So, we will see.
I think when it comes to doing good around the world, there are so many unsung heroes that do their job without any recognition or fanfare. I saw a documentary about a man in Vietnam who treats people with HIV/AIDS. He is also positive and has little to no money. It broke my heart. He brought so much hope to those around him. It is those type of people that makes me think that, perhaps, everything is not lost.They, those who volunteer in shelters, NGOs, teach, build, would be Person(s) of the Year.
What's the worst movie you've ever paid money to see?
Practicing my guitar (Ani). I downloaded the excellent software Tuxguitar which, has helped me tremendously with rhythm and speed, two of the things I have been struggling lately. I downloaded the open source software two days ago, and now I am able to hear back the song I am currently practicing ('Take the 'a' train').
What popular band do/did you just never understand the appeal of?
I am never liked/understood 'popular' bands like 'N Sync, Spice Girls, No Doubt, Backstreet Boys, Nickelback, etc. It's funny, I was looking at my IPod, and I don't have many bands.
One of my history professors in college complemented me in my research skills. I don't remember her exact words, but I was in heaven for a couple of weeks.Researching is my favorite part of any project.
If the race had never lived through a winter, what would they think was coming? Henry David Thoreau
I read the above quote by Thoreau in his journal, and I think it is very appropriate for today. The northeast is currently being hit with a nasty snow storm, the first one this season. The sky is completely grayish white with menacing wind carrying the snow back and forth. The rooftop of the houses are partially clean because the wind doesn't let the snow rest. Which brings me back to the quote by Thoreau... it really makes you wonder about the first group of men and women living through their first winter. What did they think? that the world was coming to an end? what did they think the snow was? did they think it was going to be eternal, or that warmer weathers will return? did they have proper clothes? I think it must have been frightening if they had the weather we are having today. Ponder that, my snow secluded readers.
Merry Christmas! I just came from my church where we had a lovely Christmas service. I took the liberty of taking a picture (my cellphone takes bad pictures, I know). I really enjoyed singing Christmas carols and the message our pastor gave.
Last Saturday I attended another book sale! I am seriously becoming addicted to them. The selection wasn't that great, it felt like the left overs from the last book sale, but I was able to get some good books.
JM Coetzee 'Slow man', Jane Austen 'Emma', Margaret Atwood 'Wilderness tips', Classics Greeks and Roman, Sherwood Anderson 'Winesburg, Ohio', Revolutionary Russia, 1917.
Leon Uris 'Exodus', Willa Cather 'My Antonia', James McBride 'The color of water', Margaret Woodward 'The indictment', Martin Marty 'Protestantism', and Thomas Hobbes 'Leviathan.'
I am still taking and enjoying my guitar lessons. Right now I am practicing 'take the 'a' train'. Also, my teacher and I will begin to incorporate more music theory into the lessons.
I just realized that I haven't blog in a while. Apparently when I am not biking I have nothing interesting to say. What have I been doing, you ask? Well, I know go to the gym for about 3 hours in the morning, and in the afternoon I try to take it easy. This past week, I have biked/walked/jogged 98 miles in total. For the past four days, I have biked 20+ miles each day, a personal record for me. I do miss biking (not at the gym), and I might have that chance this Sunday if the weather is nice (ei. not snowing). The temperature here in Massachusetts has been in the low 20s, so biking will be interesting.
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what would you try if you had no fear?
I saw this image and I thought it would be interesting for me to make a list:
Go hiking : I initially started my hiking phase where I visited a couple of hiking sites near my area but I stopped. I stopped because, as a woman, I find it to be dangerous to hike alone (I did go with my sister, but she is 10 years younger than me). It's one of those things that I enjoyed doing but had to stop because I didn't feel safe. To be honest, that makes me really sad.
Drive cross country (or even more than 30 miles away from my house): This is one of those fears that my mother has implanted on me. Highways freak her out, and every time she has to go to another town that she has never visited before, she checks the map 50 times. Since she doesn't like to drive far away, she things that I am shouldn't do it, either.
Sky diving: I am terrified of heights
Swimming in the open ocean: too much water, plus afraid of sharks
Climb Kilimanjaro: I am afraid of how I would react to low oxygen
Tell people off: I am a very shy and reserve person... but every time I meet someone who is ignorant and a cretin, I wish I had the wits and courage to tell them off.
To say: "hey, do you want to go to the movies, or something?" (or as Ani DiFranco might say "It's a narrow margin / Just room enough for regret / In the inch and half between / Hey, how ya been? / And can I kiss you yet?")
What end-of-year films do you want to see, if any? 127 Hours, The King's Speech(Colin Firth will probably win an Oscar for this), Black Swan, Made in Dagenham, and Rabbit Hole (Nicole Kidman has been getting a lot of good reviews for this movie, she might be nominated for an Oscar).
Distance: 6.32 miles Average: 9.8 mph Time: 38 mins 31 sec Calories: 443 Total Miles: 852.76
It has been freezing here, somewhere in the low 20s. The past couple of days I have been going to the gym, so I haven't been biking. I use the bike at the gym and it's funny because every time I reach a particular mile, I think of where I would be if I was using my bike instead. For example, at 1 mile, I am in front of the gym, at 2, in front of the Roches Brothers, at 3, I have reach library and so on. Now, as a biker, I pay a lot of attention to distance and how far away everything is. So, with the bike at the gym, I close my eyes and use my imagination. It's not the same, though, I miss the wind hitting my face. I went to the library partly because I wouldn't be able to go to the gym today, and also because I needed to return the awesome Uh Huh Her album 'common reaction.' I found out about them after seeing their poster in the film 'The Kids are all right.' Leisha Hailey is one of the band members, along with Camila Grey. I know Leisha Hailey from 'The L World'. Anyways, the bike ride was interesting because it was very, very cold. I cover my mouth, however, the steam fogs my eyeglasses. My eyes are constantly watery. My checks are freezing, and my thighs feel like I have pieces of ice attach to them. Other than my face and thighs being very cold, the rest of my body keeps warm due to my movement. I reached the library after 3 miles, and I realized that I forgot to put the CD inside the CD case. Oh well, it wasn't due today and I can always return it another day. I got to ride, so it wasn't the end of the world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Shakesville:
What's your favorite "quiet day to myself" activity?
Listening to music and reading blog posts (Google Reader is one of those Internet tools that has made my life so much easier). I really like being by myself, so after 6pm I lock myself in my room. I mostly listen to music and surf the web. I also like to practice my guitar (which I will do after this!). I have subscribed to 443 blogs/websites and I daily get around 400+ posts. I would guess that around 60 % are about feminism/progressive, 20% about biking, and 20% are random (funny blogs, people I know, tech, etc).
It's movie review time! The scores are give out of 10 (ten). Enjoy. (By the way, if you want to read the synopsis, just click on the title of the movie... I didn't write it here because that would take too much space. My vote history is here.)
(500) Days of Summer (2009) 7.5 -- I never understood as clearly the 'Privilege Denying Dude' meme until I saw this movie a few minutes ago, and I went to the movie's IMDd message board. The 'Privilege Denying Dude' "is a series of image macros centered around a guy in a suit posing with his arms crossed, with captions satirizing the typical white male’s patronizing viewpoint on a range of politically sensitive issues like racism, homosexuality and feminism. This meme functions similarly to the feminist bingo card or the oft-linked article “Derailing for Dummies”, offering quick & funny punchlines (EX: “but what about the men?” or “what about the racism that white people experience?”) for those trying to troll serious discussions about womens’ issues and race equality. This practice is sometimes referred to as “mansplaining”." The movie itself is very good, and I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't glittered with cliches. I found it be very different, cute, and funny. However, there was something that wasn't quite right. The story is of Tom who falls in love with Summer, but she doesn't want a committed relationship. They 'dated' (his words, not hers), and he wants more... he is, after all, a Nice Guy®. Then I went to the IMDd message board, a place I love to hate, and there it was all over the place ... 'but he was SOOoo NICEEE... why didn't Summer want to be with him?!?!?" or 'Summer is cruel and deranged', or my favorite, 'Why can't nice guys ever get a cute girl?.' It didn't dawn on people that... maybe Summer didn't want to be with Tom and it was her right to say 'no.'
Howl (2010) 7 -- I was looking forward to his movie starting James Franco depicting the live of poet Allen Ginsberg. A drama centered on the obscenity trial Allen Ginsberg faced after the publication of his poem, Howl. I know very little about Ginsberg but my current favorite singer, Natalie Merchant, wrote a lovely song about him entitled 'King of May', and there has been Oscar buzz about Franco and his acting. I don't understand the Oscar buzz since the movie is mostly Franco as Ginsberg given an interview and animation depiction of the poem 'howl', but over all, it was a good movie. Any fans of Ginsberg?
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) 8 -- This is a documentary about graffiti artists specially the world famous Banksy. Street art is one of the most significant art movement of the 21st century; however, personally I don't like it at all. I think one of the quickest way for a city to look in ruins is to see graffiti all over (I don't care how good they are). The documentary was good (with a strange twist at the end). It didn't convince me to like graffiti, but I know see why they do it (some, not the gang signs you see, but 'artists'). Talking about Banksy, I knew very little about him and I like his graffiti/art drawings in the Palestine Wall which, has become very famous. I like his social consciousness behind his work but, I still have mixed feelings about painting private walls.
Whip It (2009) 7 -- Ellen Page discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin.
The Town (2010) 8 -- I FINALLY saw this movie, one that I was looking forward to seeing. It starts Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner. I always get ridiculously excited seeing movies that take place and was produced in (Greater) Boston. The movie is very solid and entertaining. I highly recommend it.
My Own Private Idaho (1991) 6 -- My current favorite singer, Natalie Merchant, wrote a song dedicated to River Phoenix whom I know nothing about (be died when I was very young). It is a lovely song, and I saw that this was one of his best movies co-starting River and Keanu Reeves. I actually didn't like the movie, I thought it was confusing, and worse, I really didn't care to figure it out.
The Chaser (2008, South Korea) 7 -- A thriller cop movie from South Korea.
Last Life in the Universe (2003, Japan, Thailand) 7 -- I had high hopes for his movie but the later half was rather boring. A suicidal, obsessive-compulsive Japanese librarian is forced to hide out with a pot-smoking Thai woman at her shabby beachside home.
Lady Vengeance (2005, South Korea) 8 -- My second favorite of the 'revenge' trilogy.
No One Knows About Persian Cats (2009, Iran) 6 -- I was a little bit disappointed by this Iranian film, mostly because the director, Bahman Ghobadi, is one of my favorites. If you have Netflix, get Turtles Can Fly and Marooned in Iraq. Both films have stayed with me for a LONG time. "Turtles...' along with the Afghan movie "Osama' are two of the most gut-wrenching movies I have ever seen. I am still emotionally moved by it.
The Kids Are All Right (2010) 8 -- One of my favorite movies of this list (along with The Town). I might be a little bit bias because Julianne Moore is one of my favorites, and I have been meaning to see this movie for the longest time. It starts Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. I thought it was going to be funnier, but instead I think it is a light drama. The acting of Annette Bening is outstanding and she has a lot of Oscar buzz behind her. Overall, I greatly enjoyed it (saw it 6 times!) and I hope others will be able to see it, too.
The Seventh Seal (1957, Sweden) 7.5 -- Well, I finally saw this classic by Ingmar Bergman. I wasn't too blown away but it, but at least I will get all the reference in other movies (like in (500) Days of Summer)
Distance: 6.31 miles Average: 10 mph Time: 37mins 48 sec Calories: 421 Total Miles: 846.44
I went to the library to pick up two Sarah McLachlan albums. The ride itself was fine. It is cold, so I had layers upon layers. I might start using my balaclava. Anyways, on my way back home I saw a cellphone as I was preparing to stop for a red light. I picked it up and saw that it was pretty run down, and I didn't think it worked. However, I took it. When I got home I noticed that the batteries were working and I turned the cellphone on. There were a couple of voicemails and text messages waiting to be read. I decided that the proper thing to do was to return it, since it was working and it had a chip. I looked through the address book and saw one that said 'dad.' I send a text message saying 'I found this cellphone, I would like to return it, please call me at XXX'. Right away, he wrote back 'ok' and my cellphone started to ring. (also, for some strange reason, I thought the cellphone belong to a guy'. So, I picked up and said something like 'Hi, I have your son's cellphone....' He said, 'it is actually my daughter, did you found it at a club?...'. I thought that was a pretty funny assumption since I don't go out, and I told him where I found it. Well, we exchanged address and he actually work less than 5 minutes from my house. He works at the transportation center. I went there and gave him the cellphone. He asked me if I take the bus (I think he was trying to give me free bus passes), but I said no and that I mostly bike around. He seemed very happy and pleased. I was also very happy that his daughter will get the cellphone since, losing a cellphone can be a very complicated matter. Well, that is my story for today. I would not have found her cellphone if I was driving a car. Have anyone else done something similar?
What is your favorite feminist song and/or album of all time?
The first feminist song that I head, back when I didn't consider myself a feminists or even what that was, was Ani DiFranco's 'Not a pretty girl.' I heard that song probably in 2001-2002 right after high school. First, I didn't knew female empowerment could be a topic of a song, and second, what DiFranco was saying was bold and daring. It was really an eye opener, and even though it will take a few more years for me to get into DiFranco, feminism, and other female-friendly singers, the seed was planted for me to seek something else what would make me feel powerful.
Distance: 9.16 miles Average: 9.1 mph Calories: 699 Time: 1hr 15sec Total Miles: 840.13
Cold day today and for the first time I felt prepared to go outside. I put my winter boots and ear muffs. I had three layers of pants and two layers of shirts, along with my winter coat. Also, winter gloves and a scarf. I was also styling with sunglasses and a helmet. My helmet doesn't have a lot of ventilation holes (good for winter, horrible for summer). The ride to the library was better than last time. This morning I read an interesting blog post about 'cold leg syndrome (feeling like you biking slower during the winter or 'I feel like I am dragging a bag of anchors behind me.').' The writer says, 'I have heard several theories, everything ranging from the grease in your bearings being slightly thicker, to the density of the air, to muscles not getting enough blood because it is staying near your core to keep you warm (my favorite).' I was thinking about why I was so tired last time I rode my bike and it might be a combination of all this things. For me, riding during cold weather, the most cumbersome aspect is all the layers of clothes and how that impedes movement for me. I don't enjoy riding during the summer because my head gets very hot (see helmet problem), but I do enjoy who fluid I used to move. The cold weather, itself, is no problem for me. But now I feel like I am biking through molasses.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Shakesville:
If you were to have the good fortune of an admired singer/songwriter/lyricist offering to compose/sing a song just for you, by whom would that offer be made?
In Spanish, it would be Spaniard troubadour Ismael Serrano who simply makes me fly when I listen to his songs. In English, the natural choice for me would be Ani DiFranco but there are a lot of great talent that I admire. Ferron, Dar Williams, or Natalie Merchant comes to mind.
