Who I am…
I am a lawyer, former mother of teenagers, and a quixotic seeker after and champion of factual truth.
I make the best damn brownies you have ever had that are not regulated by the federal government.
I love movies, Broadway, and intelligent conversation.
I think in song lyrics and movie and television quotes.
I believe in the use of proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar even in text messages. I am willing to debate the use of the Oxford comma, if you know what the Oxford comma is. It also makes me very happy if people use the subjunctive mood when appropriate.
I have been told I intimidate people. I am really just a fluffy-centered teddy bear. Really.
- It's all my fault. No, really. The views expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone and in no way whatsoever represent the views of anyone else, including any past, present, or future employer.
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Words to live by ….
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.
“Pray for the dead, fight like hell for the living.” Mary Harris (“Mother Jones”).
“Don’t boo. Vote.” Barack Obama.
“Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.” Reinhold Niebuhr.
“No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We’re always one of Us. It’s Them that do the bad things.” Sir Terry Pratchett.
“Damning facts are still facts.” Steven C. Holtzman.
“If you don’t stick to your values when they’re tested, they’re not values — they’re hobbies.” Jon Stewart.
“Darkness never sustains, even though it sometimes seems it will.” Doctor Who.
“Writing is a form of mischief.” Stephen Sondheim.
“An idea is not responsible for the people who believe it.” Don Marquis.
“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.” Joseph Campbell.
“Truth is our strongest ally, our biggest weapon, and our best defense.” Me.
“Reality has a well-known liberal bias.” Stephen Colbert.
“The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation.” Jonathan Larson.
“We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger.
We rise and fall, and light from dying embers
Remembrances that hope and love last longer.
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love;
Cannot be killed or swept aside.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda.“If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” Emma Goldman.
“No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Samuel Beckett.
“I believe that the God who made (among other things) light, and space, and number, and time, and the spiral curve of Fibonacci numbers, must be acknowledged to understand more than I do about why there’s pain in the world.” Teresa Neilsen Hayden.
“No, it’s not fair. You’re in the wrong universe for fair.” John Scalzi.
“Liberals got women the right to vote. Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote. Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty. Liberals ended segregation. Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act. Liberals created Medicare. Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act. So when you try to hurl that label at my feet, ‘Liberal,’ as if it were something to be ashamed of, something dirty, something to run away from, it won’t work, because I will pick up that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor.” Lawrence O’Donnell
“So keep fightin’ for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t you forget to have fun doin’ it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin’ ass and celebratin’ the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was.” Molly Ivins.
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Category Archives: Music
The music of darkness and light.
As I have said a lot in the past two years, I am no longer sure what I believe in. Given that, it’s hard, this time of year, to be confronted with the evangelical exuberance of Nativities, of mangers and … Continue reading
“Lightin’ up my lawn like downtown Las Vegas…”
Here’s my 2015 Christmas music playlist — there’s a lot of overlap with previous years, although there are songs I’ve had for years that for some reason this year I just can’t get enough of: “All I Want For Christmas Is … Continue reading
Comfort.
I do not know where I fit, religion-wise. I feel sometimes I have walked so long in the darkness that God has stopped looking for me. (Note to my more faith-filled friends: please don’t tell me how wrong I am. I … Continue reading
Our long national nightmare is over. Judge George H. King, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, ruled this week that the copyrights claimed for the lyrics to “Happy Birthday” were invalid. Hurrah! No … Continue reading
My cat needs a playlist.
We live close by our vet, and it doesn’t take long to drive there, so I had never really noticed this phenomenon until now. I was taking the lovely Penwiper (Connie Willis fans may recognize the name) to the vet … Continue reading
Social justice music.
I am listening to The Voice. This week I have purchased two singles, “Redemption Songs,” sung by Anita Antoinette (my favorite performer still on the show) and “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” performed by Damien. I chose hymns. How … Continue reading
Sounding off about The Voice.
[Warning: this post is about the television show The Voice. There are a lot of things – important things, at that — to write about in the world, and I am expending time (not to mention a thousand words) on … Continue reading
I am in love with Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Last week I went to see the wonderful Mary Chapin Carpenter in concert. (Tift Merrit was the opening act — she was pretty great, too.) I have seen her before, and plan to catch her the next time she tours. … Continue reading
More thoughts on my Voice obsession
Last night’s show (the top 8 performances) was terrific. This group seems to be more talent deep than last season. There were no performances that were bad, although there were a couple that were less than stellar. I’m sorry, but … Continue reading
Theme song for geeks
Raise your glass If you are wrong in all the right ways “Raise Your Glass,” Pink “Do It Anyway” is one of two songs I have been playing in heavy rotation to motivate me. The other is “Raise Your Glass.” … Continue reading
How can you not love a band like that?
I have written about my fanaticism for The Voice, the NBC singing talent show. My favorites — James Wolpert, the uber-geeky former Apple Store employee and TessAnne Chin, the former backup singer for Jimmy Cliff — are still on the … Continue reading
In these pages, I have often spoken of my love of the work of Stephen Sondheim. I always knew I was not alone, and now I have proof: “22 Signs You Were Raised by Stephen Sondheim.” Guilty. At least half … Continue reading
Closet Christmas.
It’s after Halloween. Openly, I nod seriously when people complain about all the Christmas things being set out in stores, stores that, because it is November, decide that it is not too early to start playing Christmas songs. (And God … Continue reading
A Case of You.
You’re in my blood like holy wine You’re so bitter and so sweet I could drink a case of you, darling And would still be on my feet I would still be on my feet “A Case of You,” Joni … Continue reading
Boredom on a Sunday afternoon: love songs and other drugs.
This afternoon, I was listening to some new music — “Lego House,” by Ed Sheeran — and I got to thinking about love songs. Being an incurable romantic (is there any other kind? romanticism is a chronic condition), every so … Continue reading
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