Why Do I Torture Myself?
14 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: role models, Sarah Palin, stupidity
Why can’t I stay away from those “comments” below news articles? It’s like a car crash by the side of the road, or that scab you just gotta pick. I can’t stop myself.
To tell you about this one, I must admit that I occasionally peruse Yahoo News, and that I in fact sought out the article about Bristol and Levi’s re-engagement. My bad. But then, in the comments section, I saw this:
“Homely liberal women hate Sarah Palin. If she was an ugly, old bag like Bela Abzug, they’d love her. You lib women are eaten up with envy. And you liberal guys hate the fact that your liberal girlfriend/wife/boyfriend/doberman/whatever is uglier than road kill.”
Um, sure. That’s what it is. I am completely eaten up with envy that I am not as fabulous as Sarah Palin. If only I could have been a one-time beauty contestant who feels no obligation to fulfill her obligation to the electorate. Then, and only then, would I have some sense of self worth.
And, of course, that’s how I rate my role models and political figures: on sheer attractiveness. I’d like to use this for other categories, as well:
News/Commentary: Glenn Beck=really doofy. Anderson Cooper=not bad.
NY Governor’s Race: Rick Lazio slightly handsomer than Andrew Cuomo, while Carl Paladino looks kinda like a younger but exhausted Alan Alda.
Well, okay, it doesn’t work for that one, since those three are kind of a wash, looks-wise. Maybe I’ll have to actually look at the issues.
But that’s after I focus on my new role model: Jennifer Aniston. Because someone that beautiful clearly has a lot to teach me.
Hot enough for ya?
07 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: heat, stuff, wife
Today’s notes:
1. Having seen just how miserable I am in the heat, the wife agreed to haul the ac window unit up from the cellar. She has earned (once again) my undying adoration.
2. The cats are merely annoyed that all the windows in the house are closed and the blinds lowered. How are they supposed to stare at birdies and fantasize about hunting?
3. I’m off to Ithaca today for HR orientation at my new school! Because nothing says “I’m new faculty” like an ID photo taken after you’ve hiked up a hilly campus in 95 degree heat. So pretty!
4. Our marriage certificate arrived the other day, which means a trip to the DMV soon. They’re actually quite nice here, and of course the office is air conditioned.
Blog again. Blog better.
06 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
So, WordPress wouldn’t let me change the title of that last entry, but this is the title I meant to give it. I’m very fond of this quote from Samuel Beckett’s Worstward Ho, which I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never read. But it’s such a fabulous line:
“All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
And like all fabulous lines, it holds up out of context. For folks like me who tend to be too cautious, too risk-averse, it’s a good reminder that failure isn’t inherently bad. It’s part of the process. And after all, the process that is my life has taken some wonderful turns in the past few years, so there’s something to be said for trusting in nature/entropy/the gods/divine providence/breathing. (Did I cover everyone there?)
This week, I’m failing at two things: keeping up with my online class and keeping up with the rest of my summer to-do list. Time to dive back in, do what I can, and then reflect on the logjams rather than simply blaming them on a genetic predisposition to procrastination.
Hello world!
04 Jul 2010 4 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: Housewives, wedding
So, like Ramona on Real Housewives of NY, it’s all about renewal this year! New job, new wife, new name.
About that. I decided to change my name when I got married, and there’s a teensy part of me that still feels a bit weird about it.
Teensy, but still.
Maybe it’s because I never really expected to be legally married, so I never really thought about the name and all that. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the midst of second wave feminism and keeping one’s name and all that. Maybe it’s because I’m 47, and it seems a bit late to be changing my name.
Regardless. I like my new name: Susan Adams Delaney.
One reason: my name has always been exceedingly common, to the point of receiving bill collection notices for other folks (though any problems on my credit report have all been my own doing, way back when). In fact, for years I seriously considered changing my middle name to Sinclair (hence the “Susansinclair” username that still shows up on various and sundry web accounts) and going by three names.
I like the three names. I’m sure it will cause all sorts of problems with forms that don’t want to let me use a full middle name, but it’s still kinda cool. Waspy. The name of someone who went to a schmancy school.
Okay, the name of someone who went to a schmancy school because it’s a tradition in her family.
And let’s get down the real reason I changed my name: I’m a hopeless romantic, and I’m completely in love with the woman I married, and I like advertising that fact as often as possible.
