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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Tag Archives: What I like
Movie Tally.
It’s time for the fall/winter movie tally. Since October, I have seen: Three movies set at least partly in Massachusetts: Black Mass, Spotlight, and In the Heart of the Sea. Two movies about communism: Bridge of Spies and Trumbo. One movie … 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
I read through my last post about Mike and Ikes, and realized that my protestations to the contrary I do eat Hershey’s Chocolate on a regular basis. I eat miniature Hershey’s Bars when I am at work. Campaigns run on … Continue reading
You get what you pay for.
A friend of mine makes exquisite jewelry. I make jewelry myself, and part of me looks at her earrings (not her pendants so much) and says, I could do that. I could do that for less than she charges. Except … Continue reading
My kind of guy.
quix·ot·ic: hopeful or romantic in a way that is not practical. Full Definition of QUIXOTIC: 1. foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action. 2. capricious, unpredictable. Merriam Webster Dictionary. As most of you know, the … Continue reading
A tale of two cars.
Frank came home from the mechanic’s shop last week. The changing of the guard has well and truly finished. Frank is short for “Frankencar,” so named by the Rocket Scientist.* The body, interior, electric system and engine are the same … Continue reading
Happy Birthday to me.
New hair! Yesterday was my birthday. I have a lot of thoughts on the matter, so what am I writing about? Hair. I have been coloring my hair the past few months. Last year I was prescribed a medicine … Continue reading
Apropos that last post, I just wanted to mention that Raiders of the Lost Ark has one of my favorite movie quotes ever. When Marian comments that Indiana Jones is not the man she knew ten years before, he replies … Continue reading
Yay! Trivia!
I have found a new place to play trivia: The Freewheel Brewing Company in Redwood City, California. They have a trivia game every Monday night, hosted by a very lovely British woman whose name I can’t remember right now. Unlike … Continue reading
I’m still alive.
I have not been writing frequently, my desires to the contrary notwithstanding. There has not been a lot going on in my life, although there has been too much going on in the world at large. As I wrote earlier, … Continue reading
It’s that time again!
Ah, Thanksgiving. That means… cooking. A lot of cooking. I rather enjoy it, provided I am organized (ha!) and spread the work over several days. I’m putting this here because it is easy for me to access regardless whichever computer … 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
New shoes.
I have never thought much about shoes. I am of the “sensible flats” school of women’s footwear, and not solely because it reflects my personality. (Okay, you can stop with the eye-rolling, now. You know who you are.) When I … Continue reading
Nola.
Long time readers of this blog may know that, although I consider myself a Floridian, I was born in New Orleans. I love Creole and Cajun food (no, they’re not the same thing), and can get a bit dogmatic about … 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
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