Writers’ strike

Maybe it’s because I long to write a teleplay, or maybe because I admittedly admire great television stories, but I sure hope the networks come to their senses and respectfully share internet profits with their writers. There’s a legion of TV watches who will begin to suffer painful withdrawal if there isn’t a remedy soon. Lord help us all if that happens.

On the upside — perhaps the dearth of original programming will inspire a passive, silent majority of Americans to take an active interest in the 2008 race for the Whitehouse.  I can only hope.

A sad day

I’m sorry for my silence over the holidays — I’ve been taking a much needed rest.  The thing about diseases of chronic fatigue — they’re exhausting. I had to write today however to pay my respects to Benazir Bhutto. I’ve long admired her courage and commitment to the people of Pakistan and to her role as their voice. As a person who took half a life to find my own words, I am amazed and appreciative of those who risk speaking for others.

It is a sad, sad day and the world moves even closer to losing the morality and compassion which hold it on its axis. It took Bush hours to place a call to Musharaf, and every day I become more alarmed by the incompetence of the United States foreign policy and executive leadership.  I know, I didn’t believe I could be anymore dismayed or alarmed than I’ve already been, but without the support of thousands of blind-eyed neo-cons Bush’s inaptitude multiplies on an hourly basis.

Benazir Bhutto was a leader among men, and women. Hopefully this will galvanize and inspire Pakistani’s to claim a free and fair democracy for themselves despite the attack of those, Musharif included, who prefer personal power to the power of the people.

Old friends

A month ago I attended my 30th high school reunion. It was wonderful to see old friends and to remember that I shared many of my formidable teenage experiences with others. It’s remarkable how reckless and daring we were, and how lucky.  Under no circumstances would I be comfortable, as an adult, knowing that teenagers were behaving as I behaved. My heart goes out to all parents of teens — it must be so difficult to be caught between giving your children independence and protecting them from the dangers of a hostile world.

Christmas prep

I felt well enough to brave the mall and do some shopping today. It’s a small miracle. Shopping has never been my favorite pastime, nor even a faintly tolerable one. But, for the great good fortune of being able to walk without pain and having enough energy to spend a few hours up and out — it was wonderful. I’m now exhausted and admiring the wrapped packages under the tree. You might even say I’m being festive…or as close to festive as I’ve been in a year.Happy holidays, everyone. May you all have great good fortune now and in the coming year. 

Continued improvement

I’m stunned. I continue to feel better, to feel like my “old” self. (I have no idea why I put old in quotes. It’s sufficient to say, “old self” for that’s me.) This horrible medical food diet is working wonders.

I sure do miss chocolate and coffee and have even lapsed and had a piece and a sip once or twice. Nevertheless, I’m healthy again — healthy and stunned.

I’m grateful for all that my medical doctors have done to help me through the past 6 debilitating months, but this victory goes to my naturopath.

Cheers to medical food

I’ve completed my first week of my medical-food diet, and I feel better.  I have less pain — much less pain. Fatigue is still a problem, but it’s not surprising since I’ve cut out caffeine.

Sometimes it takes a Naturopath. When all the doctors and nurses can’t put you back together again a naturopath will help you mend yourself.

I’m eager to quit the nasty tasting medical food, but won’t until I’m fully restored to the old healthy me.

Politics

It takes a strong heart to be a fan of a politician. And, an even stronger hear to be a politician, oneself. Every day, I’m awed by how hard these candidates are working to earn our votes. I feel tired if I do a single public speaking engagement — never mind doing it non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, month after month. They’ve been at this for a long time now. Hats off to them.

I know I’ve said this before, there was a period of time when I swore I’d never vote for Hillary Clinton. Rightly or wrongly, I didn’t think I had the heart to watch her be ripped apart by the vicious republican tacticians. And now, I am a die-hard, I won’t give up, Hillary supporter.

Why?

Several reasons:  she’s nicer than anyone gives her credit for, and smarter, too. A friend of mine said to me, in my non-Hillary days, “There’s nothing you can say to me that will change my mind — I’m voting for her.” That stunned me and made me curious. What did my friend see that I didn’t. That’s when I realized I hadn’t looked at Hillary at all. (Lord knows, I’ve changed in the past 15 years, maybe she has as well.)

I looked, and she won my heart. Yes– she’s ambitious, politic, smart, savvy and strong. Yes — she has been calculating and making decisions to arm herself for the general election. But, these are not negatives. If only Kerry had been more ambitious, politic and calculating our country might not be on the verge of constitutional collapse.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again — I want someone who will win. Hillary is that person. Please, democrats, support Hillary’s nomination. All the other candidates are great — but, only one can win. Hillary is all win-win.

Boston Legal

Boston Legal is a great program. Just as “Alan Schorr” says, “We can present high minded, important ideas, and entertain as well.” (Or something like that.) Week after week that’s what Boston Legal does — it enjoyably argues the issues of the day.

For years I’ve been asking and wondering how the US is able to get away with using National Guard to fight in a foreign war. It makes no sense to me. The National Guard was the domestic Army and the Coast Guard was the domestic Navy. When did that change? How did it?

I’d feel much more secure knowing there was a strong and vibrant military here at home — always at home. When disaster strikes, whether it be natural or terrorist — I want to know that all the resources of America are able to quickly mobilized to address the problem. Under no circumstances are we safer today, for having our National Guard, fighting in Iraq. If anyone, or perhaps I should say, if any republican tells you otherwise they mistaken or lying.

Tonight Boston Legal featured a segment where a shop owner sued the National Guard for failing to appear in his city in a time of need. The case was thrown out, but the point I’ve been trying to make for several years was finally made.

If you haven’t ever watched it — give it a try.

Repentance

Manda, the intern pastor at my church, gave an interesting sermon today. She talked about repentance as a means of giving thanks, of acknowledging the lord.

Her sermon made me think — and, that’s a good thing. Normally, I reject the bible thumpers who talk as though following laws, written and unchanged from 2000 years ago, is the only way to be with God. These are the people who reject gays and lesbians, don’t want women to be preachers or presidents, and who, as a rule, hold up the image of a white male as sacred. I understood them to be telling me to repent for being female, to repent for being me, and I would be saved.

You can understand why I disagree with so much of what they have to say, and what they believe to be true.

But, repentance as an act of gratitude — now, that’s interesting. Repent not for being a woman, speaking out of turn, making mistakes, being ambitious and independent — repent to thank God for the gifts of heart and soul.

I repent for my humanity, and in so doing, thank God for it.

Happy birthday 826 Seattle!

826 Seattle is celebrating it’s second birthday, today, and I was honored to read a chapter from my upcoming book, Running for My Life. My no sugar, no caffiene, no carb diet has me a little run-down, so it was all I could do to stay the whole reading hour, but what a great hour it was.

Jared Leising shared a wonderful poem about lost young writers and students, and Deborah Reber a wonderful essay about running through the parks and streets of New York city. Christopher Frizzelle, editor of The Stranger, capped the hour with funny essays about book signings gone awry and men, much to Michael’s dismay, wearing flip-flops.

Happy birthday, 826 Seattle! And, if you don’t know what 826 Seattle is, find out. There might be an 826 in your city, too. There’s not much more important, in my opinion, then encouraging the younger generation to cultivate their voices and their abilities to express themselves. Without that, democracy will fail, and we will be ruled by despots and kings.