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I Played God
aww..purrr..you were thinking of me, anti- :) Well, MsGrant, my polydactal associate and I say good for you, whatever you find you are able to do for the critter. We once borrowed some cages (from the organization you mentioned, anti-) to try to trap ferals and abandoned kitties in the local community garden; most of the time the mackerel "prize" drew in 'possums rather than pussies. Talk about catch and release...whew. It was worth it to at least be able to put one poor guy out of his cancer-ridden misery. It is so sad to continue to see those delicate-eared white cats, especially so vulnerable, out there roaming...but we just couldn't keep up with this... We have not found Feliway to be helpful in dissuading certain associates from scratching certain objects, but FeralFacts may have more facts on this. I agree that you have to have patience, and carefully weigh what you feel able to do at the time. We took in a semi-feral Abyssian-Ocicat mix for around five years, until she made it more than plain that while she loved us, she needed to be outdoors--FeralFacts will probably object, but Clarice is much happier with her new North County family as an indoor/outdoor cat. We don't regret the time with her, but annual updates have proven that she no longer has the nervous meow or other neurotic habits she had indoors, and spends her time proudly catching and displaying wildlife... Here's good luck, and less heartache to you.— June 3, 2009 12:28 a.m.
Banker’s Hill/Mercy ER Patient
Hey refried, my dear--my first day back, and there is a nice comment from you! Believe it or not, I wrote this while heavily sedated but hopping mad, between hospital visits. Yes, I want to write about other things, but unfortunately, this is just what I am going through, and it is difficult to focus on other things when the body speaks--feeling in sync with Rousseau, who could at least sublimate it in metaphor. I tried using the prompt you supplied, but that draft is on hold. Perhaps I can take a page from Flannery O'Connor and others who find a way to write about unpleasant experiences in a way that at least provides others some food for thought. I am so pissed off at the state of medical care, and the structure of the ER, etc...it may necessitate a whole group of stories to write it out of my system. Bear with me, my friend. :) Meanwhile, I look forward to more of your excellent missives from behind the big metal fence. xoxox the "Suz"— June 2, 2009 3:10 p.m.
Farmers' Market From Afar
The sounds of faint music, bells, and surf combine with the visuals of white spume, and thin smoke wafting from under the colorful umbrellas. Hearing the experimental music at UCSD the other night disappointed, I feel I've had my own aleatory experience here, a la armchair. Thanks again, Shizzyfinn, and keep these tasty individual-sized portions comin'!— May 14, 2009 8:47 p.m.
Pizzicato
Right around the corner for us top o’ the hill folks, we thought Banker’s Hill Pizzicato to go would be just the ticket for a quiet night in. We’d strolled past on that sizzling Earth Day, to see a clean and well polished storefront with overheated Earth Day fairgoers cozied up to the windows, sipping cold bottled beer and nibbling on colorful pies and salads. Impressed, we grabbed a takeout menu for just such a night as this. The voice on the other end of the phone was pleasant and helpful, and recommended the Chinese Chop salad—if we like cabbage. We do, and ordered a small side for $4.25 that easily feeds two. The chop was consistent in texture, but lacking in dressing and skimpy on peanuts. I had to hastily whip up a peanut and rice vinegar concoction to coax any taste out of it! As pescatarians or ‘vegequarians’ who eat veggies and fish only, our choices were between the “Verdura” pizzas, with a base of garlic, olive oil and mozzarella (Precious brand), and “Frutti de mare,” which consists of three different pies topped with shrimp. This time we went for the wild mushroom pie, which boasted “oven-roasted shiitake, portobello and oyster mushrooms, chevre, roasted peppers, roasted garlic, roasted onions, and fresh thyme.” A large costs $22.50, almost the same as one loaded with meat, but we thought hey—why not splurge on better produce? It should have been called the “BELL PEPPER pie,” as unfortunately, this cheaper vegetable dominated to the point of suffocating the other flavors save the thyme, which cloyed, having no one to talk to but itself. The fresh chevre was very unevenly dotted over a thin layer of mozzarella—mind you, there is no sauce on this white pie, and each slice had the equivalent of a quarter sliced mushroom—again, heavy on the cheaper portos (really criminis) and light on the anticipated oyster and shiitake. The roasted garlic cloves were not as sweet (read fresh) as they should have been, and cast a bitter pall over the ensemble, when they should have happily shook hands with the absent roasted onions. The overall effect of both salad and pizza was just bland. My partner felt the one successful feature of this pie was the “authentic peasant” crust. I like a little brown toastiness on my crust, whatever the rating on the rustic meter. A second glance at the menu while actually eating revealed that the pleasant voice on the phone had forgotten to give us the option of taking our pie home half-baked, to finish up in our own oven. Regardless, this would not have helped Pizzicato carry out its enticing promise of oven-roasted mushroom goodness.— May 14, 2009 11:43 a.m.
Holding Tight to Friendship
Well, that's up to our "refriend," as Josh calls him, but it looks like we have myself, you, lallaw, and Mr. Board for a potential poolside chat once you get into town this summer. I know it depends upon when you are able to make it, and whether or not I make it out of the country in August. However, I am very interested in that lasagne recipe. You may not know this about me, but I hoard recipes, even if I only try a quarter of them :)— May 13, 2009 1:57 a.m.
Pursuit of Happy Hours
Naomi, I have a bit of background in psychoanalytic theory, from a literary perspective, and think there is more to be mentioned about the possibilities of the concept of a "healthy" narcissism. The mythical figure of the pool-gazing Narcissus of yore could not hear Echo's amorous repetitions of his self-absorbed cries; if we consider that Echo was actually a projection of Narcissus, then, well, it appears that while Narcissus could look, he could not even listen to himself :) Therein lies the rub. This oblivious lack of self-examination you describe of the third type is present to degrees in all three you mention--the emptiness comes from an 'othering' of the self that is incomplete, hollow, and projectional. Hence the narcissist's inability to find satisfaction in relationships, despite the futile compulsion to attempt to define and project one's self onto and as others. Here's where I think a "healthy narcicissim" can and should enter. We all have need of mirroring, and the larger social identity you hint at with "dark impulses," especially in the form of nationalism, demonstrates at its core a complex need to define what we are by a perceived opposite--what we are not. If we can use this need for mirroring to become self-reflexively open to examination of ourselves and others, we can at the least rediscover and redirect this 'othering' process to allow glimpses of "difference" with more understanding than hate and fear. At any rate, here's to the delicious balm to the wound of self-and-other that is your regular column! I am not familiar with Elan Golomb's book, but will be sure to see if it is check-out-able at Geisel. Thanks!— May 13, 2009 1:08 a.m.
Craning Attention
But you gotta love that title.— May 13, 2009 12:37 a.m.
Paying Housewives
rickeysays wrote: "The people who cling to this belief of disparity in spite of logic are those with a particular world-view. They see a difference in outcomes as proof of a difference in opportunity." And: "It often amazes me how human beings cling to their beliefs in spite of evidence and reasoning which should lead them to reconsider, but then I remember how humans cling to religion, and I'm reminded how many people just believe what they choose to believe, not because it makes sense or evidence supports it, but just because they want to." rickeysays, what is your world view? You are amazed by choices made to cling to belief--ok... Perhaps you can pony up and tell us what "evidence and reasoning" means to you, and what we should "reconsider?" Josh may have dubbed you the "voice of reason," but I'm still waiting. Remember that until you offer some logical argument of your own, you are just giving straight opinion, i.e., belief-based expressions of agreement or disagreement.— May 12, 2009 8:35 p.m.
Paying Housewives
That's the problem, refried. Ideology influences everything--and is very real, not just an entertaining issue. It is also a challenge to bring some things to the layman's perspective, just as in any field. I am often too tired to get into it, unless I'm talking to someone in the know about it, and I can take the usual shortcuts. You take over the data--I'm more than happy with that :)— May 12, 2009 7:03 p.m.
Paying Housewives
Sorry about the copy and paste repetition in #s 51 and 52, people. But hey, a little repetition never hurt anyone :)— May 12, 2009 5:56 p.m.