Lately I've been thinking a lot about the 80's. Bad hair, bad clothes but some great music. The most obvious band of the 80's was of course U2 but there were lots more.
Here are some classics:
Was there ANYONE hotter than Michael Hutchence? No, I didn't think so
Nice outfit here...kind of a poor man's Wendy O (Who I will not post because I don't want to scare the crap out of people)
Everyone knows Berlin for the crappy song from "Top Gun". They did great msic before that.
Ladies and Gentlemen....Debbie Harry and that's all that needs to be said
This is classic 80's hair and makeup
Hands down Aimee Mann had the best 80's hair
I wonder what these guys think of this when they watch it now
I LOVED these guys (still do) and I LOVED this song (still do)
So very 80's and so very good
Ok just one more - can you believe this was the 80's? It feels like it was just yesterday
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
What Now?
OK so my thesis is at the second reader and I probably won't get anything back until Friday. All of my graduate applications are in and I just did my taxes (getting money from the Feds & RI - have to pay MA). So now I'm stuck with the thought....is this what it's going to be like when I'm done with school? It's literally been 2 years since I just come home from work and been able to hang out...I think I'm going to have to learn how to do it all over again. I am definately going to have to get cable again.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Rule Number Two
Did any of you watch MASH? I loved that show. During one episode Hawkeye loses someone he knows on the table and is of course overwrought. Henry Blake the CO talks to him and says "There are two rules in war" Rule number one is that young men die. Rule number two is that doctors can't change rule number one."
Yesteray I was in Borders bookstore buying a reference book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (light reading). As I always do I perused the war section to see if there were any books on Iraq that I hadn't read yet. There was. I picked up a book called Rule Number Two Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital. I had intended to read this book after the weekend while my thesis was at my second reader - but I made the mistake of rading the first chapter while waiting for my lunch to cook. I was hooked.
After a 9 hour day of sitting at my desk writing and editing my thesis I went to bed around 10pm. I picked up the book and didn't put it down until I was finished. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft, a clincial psychologist who is former Navy active duty, writes about her seven months in Iraq helping men and women of the Marine corp deal with trauma. Her story is amazing and heartbreaking all at the same time.
Most of the time I had tears running down my face as I was reading. I've read alot about Iraq but this book painted a picture in a way that no one really has. Maybe because it's from the perspective that I've been working from - I'm not sure. One thing it did was reinforce what I want to do with my life. I can't wait to be done with school and start my masters so I can be at least placed in a practicum where I am dealing with soldiers directly.
If you are at all interested in this subject I want to encourage you to buy this book. The author is donating 10% of royalties earned to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund which looks like fabulous organization.
This book is not an easy read. Let me be more specific. The book is extremely well written but the subject matter is tough. She has seen things that no one should see and had to deal with situations that no one should have to deal with. Both physical and emotional situations. All while leaving her husband and twins at home in Florida.
We have a lot of hero's in this war. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft is an example of another type of hero that doesn't get mentioned much. I'm glad her story is being told.
Right before she leaves Iraq she makes a list of things that were good and things that were not good. This list is worth the cost of the book alone. I won't reprint it because I don't have permission but also because I want you guys to read it yourselves. You can find it here.
Yesteray I was in Borders bookstore buying a reference book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (light reading). As I always do I perused the war section to see if there were any books on Iraq that I hadn't read yet. There was. I picked up a book called Rule Number Two Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital. I had intended to read this book after the weekend while my thesis was at my second reader - but I made the mistake of rading the first chapter while waiting for my lunch to cook. I was hooked.
After a 9 hour day of sitting at my desk writing and editing my thesis I went to bed around 10pm. I picked up the book and didn't put it down until I was finished. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft, a clincial psychologist who is former Navy active duty, writes about her seven months in Iraq helping men and women of the Marine corp deal with trauma. Her story is amazing and heartbreaking all at the same time.
Most of the time I had tears running down my face as I was reading. I've read alot about Iraq but this book painted a picture in a way that no one really has. Maybe because it's from the perspective that I've been working from - I'm not sure. One thing it did was reinforce what I want to do with my life. I can't wait to be done with school and start my masters so I can be at least placed in a practicum where I am dealing with soldiers directly.
If you are at all interested in this subject I want to encourage you to buy this book. The author is donating 10% of royalties earned to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund which looks like fabulous organization.
This book is not an easy read. Let me be more specific. The book is extremely well written but the subject matter is tough. She has seen things that no one should see and had to deal with situations that no one should have to deal with. Both physical and emotional situations. All while leaving her husband and twins at home in Florida.
We have a lot of hero's in this war. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft is an example of another type of hero that doesn't get mentioned much. I'm glad her story is being told.
Right before she leaves Iraq she makes a list of things that were good and things that were not good. This list is worth the cost of the book alone. I won't reprint it because I don't have permission but also because I want you guys to read it yourselves. You can find it here.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Perfect Sleep
You know those nights were the temperature in your bedroom is just right, the blankets fall around you perfectly, your pillows are ridiculously comfortable and you don't have to set the alarm for anything? I had one of those nights last night. Perfect sleep...just what I needed before this weekend of finishing my thesis.
I have three errands to do this morning bank, Lowes and Borders and then I'll be sitting right here writing for the rest of the day. Feel free to drop me a line to say hello!
I can't believe I've never posted this before. This song mixes my love of AIC and my subject matter of my thesis. WARNING there are disturbing images contained in this video. Really, I mean it, this was played on MTV but some of it is still disturbing.
I have three errands to do this morning bank, Lowes and Borders and then I'll be sitting right here writing for the rest of the day. Feel free to drop me a line to say hello!
I can't believe I've never posted this before. This song mixes my love of AIC and my subject matter of my thesis. WARNING there are disturbing images contained in this video. Really, I mean it, this was played on MTV but some of it is still disturbing.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
More Music and Another Countdown????
This song just came on - on my iTunes. I'd forgotten how much I loved it. The video is pretty freakin strange....
OK so here's the deal. My thesis is due March 1st. I've just gotten back my 2nd draft (actually my 4th but we'll go with 2nd full draft). I've got a lot of work to do on it and then it needs to go to my 2nd reader by Monday. Then it will probably come back with more edits....but it has to be done by March 1st.
So this really is the home stretch and I may be absent from blogging (kind of like I have been) but any support that any of you can send me would be really appreciated. I know that I will finish and I know that it will be good - but there are moments when crawlin into bed and hiding under the covers never looked so good. I'm sure most of you know what I mean.
The other day in a meeting I saw what the diploma's are going to look like. I'm so happy that they are green (my favorite color). I just can't believe that in less than month (there are two weeks in between) that I am going to be a college graduate! It really is very exciting. Maybe I'll be more exited when I'm not so freakin tired!
And so with that all said I leave you with one of my favorites....
OK so here's the deal. My thesis is due March 1st. I've just gotten back my 2nd draft (actually my 4th but we'll go with 2nd full draft). I've got a lot of work to do on it and then it needs to go to my 2nd reader by Monday. Then it will probably come back with more edits....but it has to be done by March 1st.
So this really is the home stretch and I may be absent from blogging (kind of like I have been) but any support that any of you can send me would be really appreciated. I know that I will finish and I know that it will be good - but there are moments when crawlin into bed and hiding under the covers never looked so good. I'm sure most of you know what I mean.
The other day in a meeting I saw what the diploma's are going to look like. I'm so happy that they are green (my favorite color). I just can't believe that in less than month (there are two weeks in between) that I am going to be a college graduate! It really is very exciting. Maybe I'll be more exited when I'm not so freakin tired!
And so with that all said I leave you with one of my favorites....
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Daytona & More
I have always loved that the biggest race of the year is the first race. The buildup is great and this year is the 50th anniversary so they had all of the living winners there for various things including giving the command. OK so you aren't a race fan and you are wondering what the command is? C'mon - you know..... "Gentleman start your engines!"So of course lets talk about who I really want to talk about....Dale Jr.
He has had a hell of a start to his season with his new team. He won the Budweiser Shootout, which is the actual first race of the season but it's and exhibition race. Yes racing has exhibition races. Then Jr. went on to win his qualifying race. Not a bad start for the year I think. He is currently running fourth but he's unhappy with his car. He thinks he may have a loose lugnut which would suck. His crew chief is letting him know that two of his tires were blistered when then came off the car at his last pit stop. This may not be a good sign either.
Before the race started I was watching Eddie Izzard. Eddie is a transvestite commedien out of England that I happened upon one night when I couldn't sleep. You may also know him as the lead male charachter on The Riches on FX
If you haven't seen his stand up try to find it. Right now he's been on BBC all afternoon - and he's freakin hysterical. He has the droll English humor and he makes fun of America in the most benign way. He really pokes at the country for our ego - it's laugh out loud funny.
So this weekend I'm house/dog sitting. I've talked about this house before but the best thing is they just got a new tv and it's 65 freakin inches big and has surround sound. It's like being at Daytona -without having to deal with all the idiots.
Ugggghhh my professor just called with her comments on my last draft - so it's back to writing.
Have a good night everyone!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Catch Up
I've been absent and I apologize to my 4 readers for that :-). I'm actually in the final drafting stage of my thesis. I can't believe it - I imagine this is what giving birth, watching your child grow and then having them leave home is like. When I handed the draft to my professor this morning it was with a sigh of relief but also with some trepidation...hard to explain really.
The flip side of this is how emotionally difficult this has really turned out to be. To read almost every day about how we are basically throwing a whole generation of men and women away is beyond overwhelming. You have these people who basically sit at the top of the food chain and decide who gets service and who doesn't. It's shameful and I don't know how these people sleep at night. Here are some facts that I've recently become aware of:
* One in four suicides in South Dakota is a veteran
*Although a soldier may present with many different issues, they will only get rated by the Army on one of these and it probably won't be the most severe issue
* "Personality Disorder" discharges have increased 40% in the Army since the invasion of Iraq.
* Surgeon General Gale Pollock is a LIAR - first she said her office thoroughly and thoughtfully went through 295 cases of personality disorder discharges and that they were all diagnosed correctly. When pushed she admitted that there had only been one reviewer. This man was the author of a memo that actually encouraged doctors to "get rid of dead wood" meaning soldiers that couldn't perform due to emotional injury. When pressed a little more by Congress she admitted that there was never a review done at all.
*The VA's inaccuracy is at an all time high - 81% of claims filed in 2006 were re-opened for appeal.
*The current disability payment rating system was set up in 1945
*Last year over 10 million dollars that was earmarked for Mental Health services within the VA didn't get used. People are still waiting as long as 6 months for an initial appointment.
*27% of Army personnel found medically unfit for duty between 2000 and 2006 were assigned 0% disability ratings - that's 13646 soldiers found too disabled for military service but not disabled enough to receive any military benefits.
The VA is a mess - and there have been plenty of commissions to study just how much of a mess but no actual work has been done on fixing it.
It's clear to me that the military is eating their own - they live in their own world of "honor, courage and suck it up" and it's sickening.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - if we can't treat them we shouldn't send them. It's really that simple.
If anyone thinks I'm wrong I'd love to hear from you. Maybe I've misinterpreted the whole mess? Somehow I really don't think so.
The flip side of this is how emotionally difficult this has really turned out to be. To read almost every day about how we are basically throwing a whole generation of men and women away is beyond overwhelming. You have these people who basically sit at the top of the food chain and decide who gets service and who doesn't. It's shameful and I don't know how these people sleep at night. Here are some facts that I've recently become aware of:
* One in four suicides in South Dakota is a veteran
*Although a soldier may present with many different issues, they will only get rated by the Army on one of these and it probably won't be the most severe issue
* "Personality Disorder" discharges have increased 40% in the Army since the invasion of Iraq.
* Surgeon General Gale Pollock is a LIAR - first she said her office thoroughly and thoughtfully went through 295 cases of personality disorder discharges and that they were all diagnosed correctly. When pushed she admitted that there had only been one reviewer. This man was the author of a memo that actually encouraged doctors to "get rid of dead wood" meaning soldiers that couldn't perform due to emotional injury. When pressed a little more by Congress she admitted that there was never a review done at all.
*The VA's inaccuracy is at an all time high - 81% of claims filed in 2006 were re-opened for appeal.
*The current disability payment rating system was set up in 1945
*Last year over 10 million dollars that was earmarked for Mental Health services within the VA didn't get used. People are still waiting as long as 6 months for an initial appointment.
*27% of Army personnel found medically unfit for duty between 2000 and 2006 were assigned 0% disability ratings - that's 13646 soldiers found too disabled for military service but not disabled enough to receive any military benefits.
The VA is a mess - and there have been plenty of commissions to study just how much of a mess but no actual work has been done on fixing it.
It's clear to me that the military is eating their own - they live in their own world of "honor, courage and suck it up" and it's sickening.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - if we can't treat them we shouldn't send them. It's really that simple.
If anyone thinks I'm wrong I'd love to hear from you. Maybe I've misinterpreted the whole mess? Somehow I really don't think so.
This Day In History
This happened...
27 years in prison...do you think you would survive that? Better yet, do you think you would come out of there smiling and peaceful as he has? What an amazing man.
27 years in prison...do you think you would survive that? Better yet, do you think you would come out of there smiling and peaceful as he has? What an amazing man.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Just Because
Daisy posted this and I loved it so now I'm posting it. Isn't it great how this blogging thing works....
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Ha!
I thought I was tired yesterday? This morning I had to remind myself to get ON the train and not throw myself in front of it. Add the ridiculous rain and you have a hell of a morning.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
New Job Exhaustion
Hello everyone - I know I've been a terribly irresponsible blog owner these past couple of days but I've been more than a bit overwhelmed.
Let's start with the most long term. My final thesis is due on March 1st - freakin MARCH FIRST. It's less than a month away (obviously if this is the 5th) but as one friend said "Aren't you lucky it's a leap year! You get 29 days in Feb." Yeah and aren't you lucky I didn't just take that plucky little attitude and....well you know. So I had a mini breakdown at my thesis meeting on Sunday. I hate when that happens I don't like to cry in front of people even if it's just a few little leaky tears. And it was only made worse but the sympathy. They meant well but it really did make it harder to control. All in all it wasn't too bad - I think maybe it was a premonition about the damn game Sunday night.
Headline in today's paper "ALL IS LOST Patriots 18-0 all for nothing" Pretty brutal huh? I don't think thats the case at all. Of course we'll go down as the biggest choke in football history but we'll get them next year. It's not like we're Susan Lucci or something and have never won.
OK so on to the thing on everyone's mind. The new job. So far I really like it. Its an incredible amount of information to assimilate - especially while I'm trying to finish my thesis. But I have to take the train in and out of the city and I've gotten a ton of writing done while riding so that's a positive.
There are alot of different forms etc that I need to learn and I can't help but thing that there are students that are waiting for things that I don't know about or that are in the pile I just got tonight before I left....we'll see. I do have to say they are unbelievably supportive which is great and I can wear jeans yayyyyyy!
So the job title is:
Assistant Director, Advising and Student Services
Independent Study Degree Program
Interdisciplinary Studies Program
Lesley University
Pretty long winded wouldn't you say? I guess that's how it is in academia.
I have two bosses one is my thesis advisor who I know very well and love dearly. She is the head of the interdisciplinary program. Then I work for the director of the Independent study program. I've been warned about her. Apparently she plays games, is passive aggressive and gossips about people. Nice huh? I think I can handle her. She's used to some young 23 year old with no life experience....that's not me. I've been around the block a time or two... I do have to say that I'm working harder than I ever did at my old job (or maybe in the past year anyway) so of course I have these thoughts of...did I do the right thing?? Of course I did - I know I did.
I'm not sure if I mentioned that the job is temporary. The woman who does the job took a leave so I am just filling in. Basically I'll have it all figured out and then it'll be time to leave. The best news is I may be able to take the summer off before grad school! That would fucking ROCK.
Oh and grad school - damn essays. I'm almost there I really am!
Ok so that's the update - hope you are all well.
And Tyler stop being so smug about the damn Giants.
Ok now for a little music - 1990 The Charlatans UK I was living in the city. Life was good.
God the 90's were a good time for music - this might just be my favorite U2 song. It's for sure in the top 5. I had/have such a mad crush on Edge its nuts. My good friend Shari got me his autograph before prom and we transferred it to my mortar for graduation (is that the right word? Mortar?) Anyway I still have it.
They won't let me embed this so just turn off the lights and light a candle - take a deep breath and listen. After all Lent starts tomorrow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ
Let's start with the most long term. My final thesis is due on March 1st - freakin MARCH FIRST. It's less than a month away (obviously if this is the 5th) but as one friend said "Aren't you lucky it's a leap year! You get 29 days in Feb." Yeah and aren't you lucky I didn't just take that plucky little attitude and....well you know. So I had a mini breakdown at my thesis meeting on Sunday. I hate when that happens I don't like to cry in front of people even if it's just a few little leaky tears. And it was only made worse but the sympathy. They meant well but it really did make it harder to control. All in all it wasn't too bad - I think maybe it was a premonition about the damn game Sunday night.
Headline in today's paper "ALL IS LOST Patriots 18-0 all for nothing" Pretty brutal huh? I don't think thats the case at all. Of course we'll go down as the biggest choke in football history but we'll get them next year. It's not like we're Susan Lucci or something and have never won.
OK so on to the thing on everyone's mind. The new job. So far I really like it. Its an incredible amount of information to assimilate - especially while I'm trying to finish my thesis. But I have to take the train in and out of the city and I've gotten a ton of writing done while riding so that's a positive.
There are alot of different forms etc that I need to learn and I can't help but thing that there are students that are waiting for things that I don't know about or that are in the pile I just got tonight before I left....we'll see. I do have to say they are unbelievably supportive which is great and I can wear jeans yayyyyyy!
So the job title is:
Assistant Director, Advising and Student Services
Independent Study Degree Program
Interdisciplinary Studies Program
Lesley University
Pretty long winded wouldn't you say? I guess that's how it is in academia.
I have two bosses one is my thesis advisor who I know very well and love dearly. She is the head of the interdisciplinary program. Then I work for the director of the Independent study program. I've been warned about her. Apparently she plays games, is passive aggressive and gossips about people. Nice huh? I think I can handle her. She's used to some young 23 year old with no life experience....that's not me. I've been around the block a time or two... I do have to say that I'm working harder than I ever did at my old job (or maybe in the past year anyway) so of course I have these thoughts of...did I do the right thing?? Of course I did - I know I did.
I'm not sure if I mentioned that the job is temporary. The woman who does the job took a leave so I am just filling in. Basically I'll have it all figured out and then it'll be time to leave. The best news is I may be able to take the summer off before grad school! That would fucking ROCK.
Oh and grad school - damn essays. I'm almost there I really am!
Ok so that's the update - hope you are all well.
And Tyler stop being so smug about the damn Giants.
Ok now for a little music - 1990 The Charlatans UK I was living in the city. Life was good.
God the 90's were a good time for music - this might just be my favorite U2 song. It's for sure in the top 5. I had/have such a mad crush on Edge its nuts. My good friend Shari got me his autograph before prom and we transferred it to my mortar for graduation (is that the right word? Mortar?) Anyway I still have it.
They won't let me embed this so just turn off the lights and light a candle - take a deep breath and listen. After all Lent starts tomorrow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Heartbroken....
Yes I know it's not th end of the world that we didn't win the superbowl. But 19-0 would have been really nice. What really bugs me is that another Manning gets a ring.....aarrrggghhhhHave to go to bed early tonignt -first day of my new job tomorrow. I will catch up sometime this week.
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