0 days and counting

Posted 10:33 AM by Michelle
It’s my last day at work, so what am I doing? That’s right, writing a blog! Yippee!!!

I went to the St Helena Farmer’s Market this morning, as I do on most Friday mornings, to buy heirloom tomatoes at about $300 a pound. They are so beautiful, and so delicious, that I can’t resist, but I can’t wait for my own plants to start bearing fruit of their own. I also go to the market to see the world at its best: sleepy. Cats are so awesome when they first wake up, as are babies, and flowers, and people. Eyes are crinkly and fuzzy, hair has not yet settled, limbs are stretching and “good mornings” are plentiful. I love to smell the tomatoes, to hold them close and sniff deeply as if they were a deep glass of Amarone. I love that I run into people I might not see, and also see my best and closest friends. I love that the fog and mist has not yet broken over the mountains and that it’s cool enough for a sweater. I love that there is always both bad and good art for sale. I love to see old people leaning on their push-carts and little kids reaching for Kettle Korn. I wish I could afford the linens, I wish I could eat all of the strawberries on that table. I don’t care that it is overpriced, or that I’ve always had to go on my own. It’s one of the best parts of my week.

Today there was a table of local authors, all of them famous, most of them friends. I talked to one noted wine country author for fifteen minutes about my American Frontiers Trek two summers ago. This time that year, I was quitting my job and packing my apartment in preparation to fly to Utah for training. The author just thought it was the coolest thing since spice racks, and this is a guy who has done EVERYTHING. I’ve looked at his books sitting on my dad’s coffee table for years.

I’ve had an incredible outpouring of support from everyone here at my job, my job of only six more hours. But I’m finding much of it suspect. I’ve never been in a position where suddenly it might be beneficial for people to be kind to me. Not that I think my new position is going to have influence over all of these people, but many of them seem to think it will and are treating me accordingly. All I’ve ever had is what charm and confidence I’ve been able to muster. Suddenly it seems, with some select people, that merely my title will open doors, even if just into minds. This is by no means universal, but it is a fascinating phenomenon. And it is so utterly transparent. But at the same time, those who might be upset about me leaving, and might have punished me, are bending over backwards as if I didn’t know their true mind. It’s pretty entertaining.

Speaking of which, I ought to get done what I can in these six hours. I cannot wait for the end of this day!

The Bad Guys

Posted 9:17 PM by Michelle
Some time ago, I managed to get myself on an email list that serves only to debate politics. I was invited to join, and I knew who the members were, and against my better judgement, I accepted. However, I've only written once, and my inbox is littered with this listserve's emails. The reason I cannot write is because a couple of people on the list TERRIFY me. They are so misguided, and so filled with indignant anger that usually belongs on the left. I actually get sad when I see their emails because I know that they contain vitriolic projective right-winged vomit rhetoric and I just can't take it that they exist. I'm happy to debate with just about anyone, but there is no actual "debate" with these two. One of them suggested that the Pentagon was never attacked, that no plane on 9/11 ever came near, that it was a "wag the dog" scenario. He says the pictures of that and of the New York attacks were altered. I told him he belonged with the stupid f**king #()$&%#)$*#holes who believed the same thing of the Holocaust, and that they should all rot in (%&#$%&)#$ hell where they had only Hillary Clinton's book to read for all eternity. And then I realized it was a lost cause and never wrote again. The second guy on this list, who I actually know quite well, once said, "Well, Africa's totally fucked. We should just forget about them." UUUUGGGHHGH!!! MMMMMFFFFFFF!!!!!????!? I can't forking take it. I just can't. I can't breathe when I think about it.

But then, oh, but then, I saw a title on one of the Africa guy's emails that inspired me to open it, even though I clicked the mouse with dread. The title was "Schedule at the Democratic Convention". This is how it read:


Just found the schedule for the Dem. Convention in Boston...2004
Democratic Convention Schedule

6:00 p.m. - Opening flag burning ceremony.
6:00 p.m. - Opening secular prayers by Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton
6:30 p.m. - Anti-war concert by Barbara Streisand.
6:40 p.m. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
7:00 p.m. - Tribute theme to France.
7:10 p.m. - Collect offerings for al-Zawahri defense fund.
7:25 p.m. - Tribute theme to Germany.
7:30 p.m. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
7:45 p.m. - Anti-war rally (Moderated by Michael Moore)
8:25 p.m. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
8:30 p.m. - Terrorist appeasement workshop.
9:00 p.m. - Gay marriage ceremony (both male and female couples)
9:25 p.m. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
9:30 p.m. - * Intermission *
10:00 p.m. - Posting the Iraqi Colors by Sean Penn and Tim Robbins
10:10 p.m. - Re-enactment of Kerry's fake medal toss.
10:20 p.m. - Cameo by ! Dean 'Yeeearrrrrrrg!'
10:30 p.m. - Abortion demonstration by N.A.RA.L.
10:40 p.m. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
10:50 p.m. - Pledge of allegiance to the UN.
11:00 p.m. - Multiple gay marriage ceremony (threesomes, mixed and same sex).
11:15 p.m. - Maximizing Welfare workshop.
11:30 p.m. - 'Free Saddam' pep rally
11:59 p.m. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
12:00 p.m. - Nomination of John Kerry.



I mean, what can you even say to this? Truthfully, some of it seems like a damn good time. But when I think about the spirit in which is was sent, well. I can hardly express how upset this makes me. Because look: abortion demonstration, something utterly tasteless and disgusting in a public arena, and then twenty minutes later, a gay marriage ceremony, something utterly wonderful and deserved in a public arena. This guy is equating aborting a fetus with marrying a gay couple. I'm a supporter, and indeed, a fan of both acts, but one belongs in a very private place, and the other should be shouted from the rooftops.

I won't go on about the other horrendous implications in this "schedule", because that one I think is the worst.

But you know what I want to do? I want to walk up to the guy who wrote this, the bigot, the hate-mongerer, the closed-minded, pathetic excuse for an American and slap him really hard in front of all his equally deluded and hateful friends.

*sigh*

Posted 8:25 PM by Michelle
ALERT! ALERT! BLOG INTRUDER!!!

At least it is just my brother, who did indeed give me my new domain name. It could have been some weird hacker, but then my blog just isn't interesting enough for someone to break in and post stuff.

Many thanks to him... and maybe he'll now be inspired to put a "comments" section on here...?

Oh, and apparently my shout-out concerning my iPod wasn't quite loud enough. Well, dear brothers, I'll have you know that I've already downloaded a day and a half worth of music, and I still have like 14 gigs left. And that I ran to the Smiths, the Doobie Brothers, Letters to Cleo, Guster, Barenaked Ladies and Sublime this morning. Now THAT is what I'm TALKING about.

Yeosh. I'm exhausted.

Dissed Again!

Posted 7:43 PM by Steve
Steve, here. I'm Michelle's big brother. Well, one of 'em.

This posting to Michelle's blog is my revenge on her for forgetting to mention my birthday present to her, lame-o tho' it is.

I gave her the spanky new domain name that you see at the top of your web browser window: www.mlwms.com.

What am I, Michelle, chopped liver?!

Posted 9:51 AM by Michelle
My birthday was a ridiculous affair. Three days of good fun, unbelievable presents, outstanding friends and family. Truly amazing. I would have written a blog about it much sooner but I’ve been chomping at the bit to get pictures from my new digital camera on here and I have yet to figure out how it all works. This whole “resizing” thing is a bummer.

But, yeah, I got a new digital camera. It is an Olympus, and it couldn’t be cooler or easier to use. Just last night I figured out that I can take movies as well as pictures, and I stumbled upon that without ever reading the handbook. My mom took me to a wonderful dinner last Thursday, and as we sat in the late afternoon sun I opened her gifts: The Oz Clark Book of Grapes, The Pirates of the Caribbean DVD (because Johnny Depp himself will not fit into a box), and then this wonderful, light, easy, perfect camera. I was beside myself.

The next night, Jon whisked me away from my place of work and drove me through Alexander and Knights Valley, heading towards Healdsburg for a night out with Elizabeth and Matthew. Oh, what a night. Terrific dinner at Manzanita and then drinks and pool at the local dive bar. I’m proud to say that Matty and I ran the table all night, even with the tequila (oy! Tequila!). At 2 AM, Jon and I were too wired to crash, so he took us on a drive under a sky so littered with stars it almost seemed dirty, like if I could have run my hand across it I could’ve wiped away a million little stars so only the big ones remained. We were frolicking between Cabernet vines, and then staring at the sky, and then apparently I fell fast asleep.

The next morning was as painful as any post-party morning in college. I managed to rally enough to get through breakfast, but then the drive back over the mountain found me curled up in a fetal position in the front seat of Jon’s car. But after a nap and a good swim, I was ready for my pool party. Again, big fun. I found that the best cure for a hangover is a swim and a glass of rose. As soon as my friends all arrived, my dad ran back to the house and then wheeled out his birthday present to me: a wine fridge. I’ve been coveting my dad’s wine fridge since I learned the importance (and coolness) of them years ago, and now I have my very own which I hope to fill with German Riesling and Italian Amarone. And then I opened my brothers’ and sisters’ gift: an iPod!!! Have you ever heard of a more spoiled birthday girl?!?! It was simply outrageous.

Jon and Matty both blessed me with much-needed stemware, and Elizabeth hooked me up with the most wonderful skin care products imaginable. More than that, though, was just the time spent. These wonderful people gave me their time, their energy, their love, and god knows plenty of their wine to make my weekend wonderful from Thursday to Sunday. Sunday was particularly nice- mostly on my own, playing with my new toys.

So, yeah, a little lost in my world here. I start my new job essentially tomorrow when I spend the day with the woman whose job I’m taking. She’s been doing it for four or five years, and I have one day with her. And then, two more days here, a three-day weekend, and then it all begins. My mom was saying last night how crazy these two weeks are, how stressful and overwhelming, but I have to say, I’m thrilled. I will finally be in a position where I might have the ability to create change, where I can help make things happen. I am not remotely scared by how hard this will be. I can’t wait.