Life as an Extreme Sport

Author: Kelly

Speechless (WGA Strike)

...and everything else

In news of the world outside of myself, some updates on the WGA strike. I haven’t followed it for the last week, since a lot of strike activity slowed down for the Thanksgiving holiday, but supporting the writers is something I feel strongly about. I admire (and in some cases) adore the work they do, and as much as an actor breathes life into the character, it’s the writers who create that character to begin with, who give the words the actor voices. Not to mention, I watch the vast majority of my television online, and if I have to suffer through commercials, even if they are limited, then the writers should get a share of it.

Anyhow, soapboxing aside, a snippet on an interesting side effect, and another striking writer heads to YouTube.

From the WGA website,

“The Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West regret that the Democratic National Committee has had to cancel the December 10th Presidential Debate hosted by CBS. This was triggered by CBS’ fear that the Democratic candidates would not cross a picket line by WGA-CBS News writers or WGA Film and TV writers to participate in the debate – a concern that could have been avoided entirely if CBS would simply sit down and negotiate a fair contract for its news and entertainment employees. Instead, CBS chose to make a decision that stifles the democratic process.”

And from United Hollywood,

Also at United Hollywood, what a flat of pencils looks like. And if you don’t know why a flat of pencils is significant, head over to this link and read about the Pencils2MediaMoguls campaign. For only $1 a box, it’s a great way to make a, er, point. Although I’m pretty sure they’re being sent unsharpened…

so much for that plan

life and living

While I’ve been in Oregon, I’ve been keeping an eye on New York weather. So I could plan ahead, ask the people watching my house to take care of things if necessary – check the pipes, or get out my flannels, or even close windows. Basic things. And the weather in Albany has been, for the most part, a little colder, but still a lot warmer than it had been in Portland.

Until I flew in last night, and apparently brought the eastern wind with me, and her handbag of snow and cold. By the time we got to my house, it was freezing out, and ice patches were forming from the melted snow (the clouds moved off basically as I landed, and it became very crisp, clear and cold rapidly).

I got out the flannels. Then an extra blanket. Then shut the storm windows, and inside windows. Then got out two more blankets and my flannel PJs. And then the cats slept under the covers (once they deigned to sleep). And still, I was cold.

I woke up this morning to find that the towels had.. I don’t know if mildewed or frozen is the right word, but I think it might be something in between. And the showerhead isn’t working; I can’t tell if the pipes frozen up, rusted, or… what. I called in maintenance, but apparently the rapid cold snap caught a lot of tenants by surprise, so maintenance is backed up.

Of course, the entire point of coming back on Tuesday was to go to class Weds and Thurs. Of course, I couldn’t shower – no towels, no water – but that wasn’t necessarily a dealbreaker. No, the dealbreaker was that I couldn’t shower to loosen up the right shoulder/arm/hand, which had badly stiffened over night, to the point that I can’t actually even flex my right fingers, and have extremely limited movement of the rest of the joints leading up to my neck. (Yes, I typed all of this with my left hand.) I’ll spare you any attempts at describing the pain, and just assure you that I’m keeping myself sedated while I try to work out the stiffened limb.

For now, I think I’m going to succumb to jet lag and go back to sleep. Today was a huge wash, and I should have known better than thinking it would have even been possible to fly in so late and go to school the next day; I had to get food, the cats gave me no choice about giving them attention, and I had household matters to take care of (practical things like fixing the toilet whose water evaporated while I was gone, or making my bed, finding blankets, closing multiple windows, fixing the water fountain, fixing the broken automagic litter cleaner. I was up a good two hours before I could even think about going to sleep.)

Wise Up

...and everything else

It’s not what you thought when you first began it. You got what you want, now you can hardly stand it though, by now you know. It’s not going to stop, it’s not going to stop, it’s not going to stop, ’til you wise up.

You’re sure there’s a cure, and you have finally found it. You think one drink will shrink you ’til you’re underground and living down; but it’s not going to stop. It’s not going to stop, it’s not going to stop ’til you wise up.

Prepare a list of what you need before you sign away the deed, ’cause it’s not going to stop. It’s not going to stop. It’s not going to stop. ‘Til you wise up. No, it’s not going to stop, ’til you wise up. No, it’s not going to stop.

So just…give up.

If I had this thing set to record frivolous moods, it would read contemplative.