On Death

I know I haven't been posting much lately. That's mostly due to the fact that my aunt died last week and I was busy helping my cousins settle things. I know I usually talk about silly things like television and books in this space but I need to vent.

It's strange that I am both happy and sad that my aunt is gone. I am happy because I know she's not in anymore pain. But it saddens me that things got to this point for a woman who was relatively young; she wasn't even 60 years old. The thing is all of this could have been prevented. There was no need for her to die in this manner. Maybe I should back up a bit. This story is a bit of a doozy but since my family has only known about it for a few weeks well we are still reeling a bit.

Almost four years ago my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. Unlike most women, she chose to not treat her cancer even though she caught it in the earliest of stages. She thought that her prayer and her faith in Jesus would heal her. Sigh. She also chose to not tell a single member of my family about her sickness. Not her kids, not her sisters, not a soul. We all noticed around October that she wasn't looking very healthy and she was clearly not using her left arm but when we directly asked her she denied being ill or sick at all. At Christmas one of my aunts predicted she would die before the next Christmas.

Fast forward to three weeks ago when my aunt was rushed to the hospital because she couldn't breathe. The breast cancer had spread into her lungs, liver, and spinal cord. She was on a respirator for the last three weeks of her life. Her kids rushed into town from Paris, France and Lawrence, KS to be by her side. They had to make terrible, awful decisions while battling almost crippling anger and sadness.

Last Wednesday, my aunt (amazingly enough she was lucid through all of this) chose to take herself off the respirator and a few hours later she died. I've never seen a person die before and I don't relish seeing someone die again. It's strange and humbling and sad.

Amazingly enough some good has come from this horrible experience. I've gotten closer to my cousins than I have been since we were kids. Sad that this is what it took to bring us together. And I now know exactly what my parents desires are should a similar situation befall them. I know where their will is and I know that I am co-executor with my oldest sister. These are things I didn't know three weeks ago. While these aren't the most pleasant conversations to have I urge you all to have these conversations with your parents so you don't end up like my cousins almost having to guess the wishes of a dying parent.

We are all getting older now, my friends. And we don't want to think about these issues at any age but they happen whether we want them to or not. So, my suggestions are this: tell people what you want and ask those who you will have to care for what they want. And for Yahweh's sake; get some damn chemo if you are diagnosed with cancer.

My new favorite website.

It's funny because it's true.


http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

Go read it now.

YA didn't I read YA lit when I was actually a young adult?

So, yeah. I haven't posted in a while. To make a looooong story very short, one of my aunts is sick with cancer and most likely will not live to see March. So, I have been spending a great deal of time in a hospital waiting room. While this sucks on a whole lot of levels, all this waiting has given me ample time to read. And read and read. Here are three of the books I've read recently.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray tells the story of Gemma. Gemma is a 16 year old girl raised in India, in the last 1800's, but sent to England after her mother is murdered. After Gemma's mother dies Gemma begins to have visions. These visions are often of terrible things. The visions are just one of the bad things in Gemma's life; she also is the newest student at Spence Academy. What's worse having to make new friends or having magical visions? When Gemma stumbles upon the diary of another girl who had magical abilities she begins to learn more about herself and her new found friends.

Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot is a pretty awesome tale. See the thing is this: Katie Ellison is a liar. She can't help it. Her life is built around all these little lies and that works great for her. Well, it does until the day Tommy Sullivan returns to town. Tommy Sullivan her one time best friend who was run out of town four years earlier. Only now Tommy's a hottie and Katie suddenly wants to tell everyone the truth, even if she has to give up everything else.



Princess Mia by Meg Cabot is the ninth book in the Princess Diaries series. I was thinking that the series is getting better and better as it goes along. Like Beth, I am am totally rooting for JP and I don't know what will happen with book 10 but I really hope that Mia doesn't forgive Lilly right away. Anyway, Mia's a bit depressed and she starts to see a shrink. But the craziest thing of all is this: Mia and Lana kind of become friends and Lana totally isn't that terrible. Color me shocked.


Books Read in 2008:

Princess Mia by Meg Cabot
Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.
Spike: Asylum by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru

Eli Stone

I don't know if any of you are watching Eli Stone. But I am. Created by Greg Berlanti (yes, of Everwood fame) and starring Johnny Lee Miller and Victor Garber (squeee!), Eli Stone is the story of a lawyer who develops visions after having an inoperable brain aneurysm. Is Eli a sick, crazy man or is he a prophet? Tune in Thursday nights to find out.

Also, I just want to say that my love of all things Berlanti aside; any show that allows SpyDaddy to be on my tv once a week and allows him to sing can have all the legal inconsistencies in the world. I will be watching and waiting for my next SpyDaddy song.

I am stupefied and also pleased

So, last night on Project Runway Ricky FINALLY got the boot. I have been wanting his cry baby ass to be kicked off for a while now. Alas, what has me stupified is that this guy who has cried all season for no damn reason did not cry when he's finally eliminated. I sat there and I kept waiting for the tears to come. And they did not. Ricky vexes me so.

I was happy to see Chris win last night although I happened to like Jillian's outfit the best. And I think that Rami needs to stop with the incessant draping. We get it, Rami. You like to drape things. And I say this as a Rami fan. Next week looks like it will be Sweet P elimination time so, I think I will be changing my fantasy team.

In other news, I finally watched Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park from the new Complete Jane Austen. I really loved Northanger Abbey. I've never read the book but I thought the movie was quite good. Mansfield Park was fine but I didn't really care for Billie Piper's portrayal of Fanny Price. I think that is mostly due to the fact that I can't stand Piper's voice. Superficial, maybe but it's how I feel.

But the best thing ever is that we get a whole new Lost tonight! w00t!

The Ties That Bind

Thanks to GMYH I was compelled to watch The O.C. in syndication on SoapNet. Now, I've seen the series twice through now and I am working my way through round three. Don't judge me; there is a writers strike going on.

Anyway, I am continually amazed at how the final episode of season one makes me sob for the last 15 minutes. It's the perfect, sad culmination of a wonderful season. And it makes me cry. The Gruesome Twosome get married. Ryan finds out Teresa is preggers and chooses to leave his new life behind to care for his (possible) unborn child. Marissa hits the bottle again. Seth, in a wave of great despair, runs away because he lost his only friend (which I think is a misnomer because Anna was also his friend). Then we have the terriibly sad scene where Ryan tries to say goodbye to Seth. And when Kirsten loses it while gathering up the sheets in the pool house. OMG, the tears, they flow. It's like I can't help myself. All the while Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah is playing over it all.

What I never understand about this episode is why the fact that the baby might not eve be Ryan's is not pounded home a little more. I mean, dude, chances are it's Eddie's baby because Ryan and Teresa had sex maybe three times. That's all I am saying. Also, Sandy Cohen and his eyebrows have some of the funniest lines in this episode.

Anyway, while I think The O.C. has a great four season run; the first season is the most amazing of them all.

"I can confirm that a round of sniffing has started"

Hey Arrested Development fans,

BIG NEWS: We may be getting a movie, according to an exclusive straight outta Bateman's mouth. Jason Bateman (obviously) and Jeffrey Tambor have already agreed and I can't imagine the rest of the folks would say no. If you've ever listened to the commentary on the dvds you can tell how much they all loved doing the show.

This is so frakkin' exciting. I am squeeing like a fan girl.

Hillary's got a new boyfriend

Well, it looks like Mann Coulter is putting her weight behind Hillary. One more reason why I hope Obama gets the bid. You know shit is fucked up when MANN COULTER sides with Hillary over McCain.

A to Z cds: Day 65

310. American Life ~ Madonna (last listen: never): A gift from one of my gays and I can say that none of these songs really grabbed my attention. That's a real shame. Anyway, hopefully Confessions will be better.

311. Confessions on a Dance Floor ~ Madonna (last listen: never): Well, if nothing else, I really do dig the sung Hung Up. Thanks for this cd too, gays. See, Huckabee, the gays are good for giving you Madonna's music.

312. Patchanka ~ Mano Negra (last listen: 1-3 years): This disc and the one listed next are the reason I got a sprained ankle the first day of my second trip to Italy. Well, it's not totally Mano Negra's fault; I also blame the pot hole in front to the music store and the lack of street lights. Let's just say that I wanted a Mano Negra disc so badly that I was willing to hobble around for the next eight days in some serious pain. Miss Trish can attest to that. In the end, it was totally worth it to get these great discs. Favorite songs:

313. Puta's Fever ~ Mano Negra (last listen: 1-3 years): Favorite songs: Sidi H'Bibi, Pas Assez De Toi, and King Kong Five.

314. Best Of ~ Mano Negra (last listen: 1-3 years): The cd that introduced me to Mano Negra. Thanks, Foxy Roxy.

Coming next in a to z cds: Bob Marley, yah mon.

Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)

I am so addicted to the new Robert Plant/Allison Krauss cd and I think this might be my favorite song on the disc. Check it out.

A to Z cds: Day 64

305. Madonna ~ Madonna (last listen: 5+ years): I haven't listened to this disc in ages. What's crazy is that it still sounds pretty fresh. People like to crap on Madonna but she knows how to make a good pop album.

306. Bedtime Stories ~ Madonna (last listen: 1-3 years): I forgot how much I liked this disc. It's got a bit of the dirty pre-motherhood Madonna that we've all forgotten about. But I really dig the songs Survival, Secret, Take a Bow, and most especially the co-penned with Bjork, Bedtime Story.

307. Something to Remember ~ Madonna (last listen: 5+ years): This is a collection of many of Maddona's ballads. I was thinking I would really not groove on this disc but I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. However, I was reminded of how much I loathe the song "This Used To Be My Playground." That said, it's pretty impossible to deny the awesomeness of the song "Crazy For You." Especially if you slow danced to this song in like the sixth grade. Heh.

308. Ray of Light ~ Madonna (last listen: 1-3 years): I think this might be some of Madonna's finest work. It's a great pop album and I can't not dance when I hear Ray of Light.

309. Music ~ Madonna (last listen 1-3 years): I like this disc; most especially the songs Music and Don't Tell Me.

Books and tv: these are a few of my favorite things

So, just in case you were curious about how I have been filling my time lately; I thought I would fill you in. Aren't you excited?

First, the books. I finally finished Stowaway by Karen Hesse. Stowaway is the story of Nick Young. Nick is, as the title says, a stowaway on Capt. Cook's vessel The Endeavor. The book is in diary form and tells Nick's point of view on the ship. The book was interesting but I had a hard time getting sucked into the story fully. I can see the appeal of this book and I can see why Bill loves this book so much but it's not really my thing.



The second book I recently read was E. Lockhart's The Fly on The Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything. I really enjoyed this book. This is the story of Gretchen Yee. Gretchen's life has been turned upside down. First her best friend has been avoiding her for no reason. Second, her parents are getting a divorce. And lastly, just when Gretchen thinks she's getting a parent free week; she gets turned into a fly stuck in the boys locker room of her school. And Gretchen sees it all.

I thought this book was great fun and quite silly. It's not something I am ready to recommend to my niece since the kids have a bot of the potty mouth but I thought it was fab and similar to the way teens actually speak.

Now, onto telly. Two things. One, over the long weekend, I became completely addicted to America's Next Top Model thanks to MTV's Sunday and Monday marathon. This show is really good, especially if you tivo it and fast forward through much of Tyra's self-love fest. Man, that is one woman who makes it all about her. But the models and the shoots are pretty interesting. I am anxiously awaiting the new season on the CW.

Second, are you all watching Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles? Because if you aren't well I think you are missing out. This show is what I wished Bionic Woman had been. I like the intensity and I like Summer Glau and I like Lena Headley. I can see this show easily filling the role that Alias left vacant. Because in all honesty, nothing has come close to filling the Alias sized hole in my television loving heart.


Books Read in 2008:

Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.
Spike: Asylum by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru

We're Jammin'

This morning sucked. And when I say sucked; I mean REALLY sucked. On my way to work this morning I got into quite the fender bender (that's #14 for those of you keeping track). Let's just say icy roads + jerky drivers + losing control = Jalehlabad's car is in the body shop. I don't know the extent of the damage or if things are being totalled or what. I can tell you that I (and the other eight cars involved in an accident not of my making) shut down a major artery in the Lou. And I know I made the news because I could hear the traffic helicopters above me.

Here's what happened: I was driving to work when the car in front of me slammed on their brakes to avoid hitting an accident in progress. I pumped my brakes in an effort to avoid the woman in front of my and in the process smashed into the guardrail and spun 180 degrees. I quickly hopped out to look at my car and luckily, there was very little damage done to the car. As I got back in and put my seat belt on another person lost control and smashed into me head on. I was very grateful for the seat belt then. And also, I was amazingly lucky to not be out of my car where he would have mostly likely crushed my legs between my car and the guardrail. Folks, stay in your car when there is an accident. Then the tow truck, driven by someone old enough to be my grandpa, dropped my car as it was being towed away. DROPPED MY CAR! At that point, all I could do was laugh. I mean, it's either that or cry.

I should say that we were all incredibly lucky and no one was hurt during the accident and I am happy for that.

Honestly, though, this just sucks. It's no fun having to deal with insurance people, get a rental car, find out if your car is fixable or whatnot. Anyway, I am not happy that my blue baby is hurt.

Oh, Huckabee

Well, I wasn't going to vote for him anyway but this interview solidifies it for me. Dude, it's just stupid and wrong to equate homosexuality with bestiality and polygamy. Most of my gays wouldn't want to have sex with an animal because they smell bad. Gays are all about smelling good, Huckabee.*

Also, your G-O-D ain't mine so keep him the fuck out of my constitution and my womb and wherever else you think he should go. Get a clue! People want something different than the bullshit Jesus crap we have in office currently. Sigh.

That is all.



*Please note I did not take a poll of my gays; I just made that shit up because I thought it sounded true. I mean, I know that is one of the many reasons why I wouldn't have the animal sex.

Paris is way cooler than Hillary

I thought you Gilmore Girls lovers out there might appreciate this article I found on The Huffington Post. Comparisons are made between a beloved Paris Geller and one Senator Clinton. Personally, I would probably vote for Paris before I vote for Hillary but then who wouldn't want Doyle to be the First Husband/Gentleman?

Just in case...

Bill wants more than the side bar.

A to Z cds: Day 63

299. Amos Lee ~ Amos Lee (last listen: 3-6 months)

300. John Lennon ~ The John Lennon Collection (last listen: 1-3 years)

301. The Little Mermaid Soundtrack ~ Various Artists (last listen: 5+ years)

302. Mental Jewelry ~ Live (last listen: 1-3 years)

303. Throwing Copper ~ Live (last listen: 3-5 years)

304. Secret Samadhi ~ Live (last listen: 5+ years)

ETA: Don't know what to say about all my commentary being deleted when I posted this but I don't really feel like retyping it all. Sorry about that.

Allo allo, internets

Well, it's been a while since I sat down to blog. So, let me tell you about all the fabulous stuff you've been missing.

1. The Zune. It rocks. Beth recently asked me how I was enjoying my new Zune since she is thinking about buying a replacement for her ipod. Well, I can't make ipod comparisons as I've never owned an ipod per se but I've used itunes quite a bit. So what is there to say?

Well, I think the Zune software is pretty much on par with itunes and in my opinion, the zune software is prettier. My one gripe is that zune does not have the breadth and depth of the itunes catalog so I have had to type in a few cds worth of info. It's kind of funny, zune had the titles for Pauline Croze (French pop star) but not for the soundtrack to Once More, With Feeling.

2. Also, Zune related. I bought myself a Christmas present namely, the Altec Lansing Zune Speaker Dock. I love it. I love it so much that I packed up my stereo system and I am using the zune alone for all my musical stylings. It has quite a god range. For those of you who have been to Casa Jalehlabad, the dock is in the living room and can be clearly heard in the bedroom. It's really gotten me to listen to music more at home. Plus, I got to move a bookshelf out of my hallway and put it in the living room. Awesome. Also, major props to Bill for telling me about the sweet Woot deal and then convincing me that I should buy the dock (he bought one too).

3. Books. Bill, I have been trying to get through Shipwrecked by Karen Hesse since you so loved it. However, it's been rough going. In the meantime, I've gotten through a graphic novel and a book. Let me tell you all about them.

For all you Spike lovers out there, you must check out Spike: Asylum. Written and drawn by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru, the same guys behind the new Buffy season eight, Spike Asylum isn't quite canon but it takes place after Angel Season Five.

Spike is coerced into taking a job helping a young woman locked up in an insane asylum for ghouls. But Spike is getting more than he bargained for when he decides to become an inmate.

This is a must read for those of you currently reading the new Angel Season Six. Characters are introduced here that show up in comic book 1 of the new Angel series. And they make a lot more sense if you know where they are coming from. Plus, Spike.

The second book I read was E. Lockhart's The Boyfriend List. This is the story of Ruby. Ruby is going through a thing right now. See, Ruby's boyfriend just dumped her for one of her best pals and now none of her friends like her anymore. Plus, the whole school thinks she's a slut because her new therapist made her write down a list of boys she once liked or dated. And then Ruby made the mistake of throwing a draft of that list away at school. But the heart of the matter is this; can Ruby figure out who she is without all the boys?

You know somedays I think I missed my calling as a ya librarian. Maybe in a few years, eh?

4. New Year's Resolution. Look normally I hate those things but this year I decided to make one. Here it is: I will not leave work until my arabic homework is done, except on Friday nights. Since I couldn't put this into effect until today, well, I've been very successful.

Books Read in 2008:

The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.
Spike: Asylum by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru

Books Read in 2007

Princess on the Brink ~ Meg Cabot
Jinx ~ Meg Cabot
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist ~ Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Queen of Babble in the Big City ~ Meg Cabot
Devilish ~ Maureen Johnson
Eclipse ~ Stephenie Meyer
New Moon ~ Stephenie Meyer
Twilight ~ Stephenie Meyer
The Key to the Golden Firebird ~ Maureen Johnson
Enna Burning ~ Shannon Hale
Fool Moon ~ Jim Butcher
Queen of Babble ~ Meg Cabot
The Goose Girl ~ Shannon Hale
The Princess Academy ~ Shannon Hale
Avalon High ~ Meg Cabot
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ~ J.K. Rowling
A Thousand Splendid Suns ~ Khaled Hosseini
The Bermudez Triangle ~ Maureen Johnson
Fray ~ Joss Whedon
The Dragonriders of Pern ~ Anne McCaffery
Embroideries ~ Marjane Satrapi
13 Little Blue Envelopes ~ Maureen Johnson
The Cider House Rules ~ John Irving
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ~J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ~ J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ~ J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ~ J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ~ J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ~ J.K. Rowling
The Good Men: A Novel of Heresy ~ Charmaine Craig
An Abundance of Katherines ~ John Green
The Count of Monte Cristo ~ Alexandre Dumas
Looking For Alaska ~ John Green
Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest ~ Stephen Ambrose
Drinking, Smoking, and Screwing: Great Writers on Good Times ~ edited by Sara Nikles
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood ~ Ann Brashares

Congrats

Everyone send Maire a bunch of well wishes since she just got a big time promotion! Here's to the new assistant manager (no "to the" in there) of the Francis Branch of her system. w00t! Go Maire; I am so proud of you.