Fighting for Peace

I found this quote in the midst of a bunch of other quotes in an e-mail forward. I find it particularly insightful.

"Fighting for Peace is Like Screwing for Virginity"

I love it!

Book Club

Last night we finally discussed Lolita. Of course, with four different minds, we had four totally different takes on the books. Jen was so repulsed that she didn’t finish it…I think this is probably because she has to deal with kids that do get sexually abused. Hannah found the book to be beautifully written, especially when considering the subject matter. Paula was completely engrossed from start to finish…she said this was a “meat and potatoes” book and that we should read more of these.

I found the book to be (using Jen’s remark) “repulsive yet intriguing”. I’m the only one who found the book funny. Humbert’s dry view of the world had me laughing on several occasions. I think you have to get past the subject matter and totally engross yourself in the prose. Who could have thought that a book written from a sexual predator’s perspective could be so poetically written? One of the things we didn’t discuss, and I’m wondering how the others felt, is that I think Humbert was able to evoke some empathy from me. He was so totally and completely in love with Delores, and Delores being the child that she was could never possibly feel the same way. His descriptions of her were so detailed, erotic, substantiating…wow, I almost have to wish that Jeff had the ability to put into words, (the way Humbert did) his love for me. (Okay, so that isn’t happening anytime soon!)

Anyway, next book is Seabiscuit. I’ll write more when I find something worthy to write about.

Missing Mom

I'm sure Mom will end up being a re-occurring theme in my blog...but that's to be expected. You see, when I'm tired, I miss Mom. When I'm cranky, I miss Mom. When I'm having fun, I think of Mom and wonder how much fun I could be having if she were still here. It's really never-ending. Anyway, I found her obituary in the archives of the Daily Press online, and want to post it here.

From The Daily Press, April 14, 2003:

Kathleen M. Wilson

Kathleen M. "Kathy" Wilson, 50, of 244 Kylers Corners Road, Kersey, and formerly of St. Marys, died unexpectedly Friday, April 11 at Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh.She was born July 15, 1952 in St. Marys, daughter of Margaret "Peg" Cooney Krellner of St. Marys and the late Joseph W. Krellner. On June 29, 1973 in Queen of the World Church, she married Walter C. Wilson, who survives.

Mrs. Wilson was a member of St. Boniface Church, and was a graduate of Elk County Christian High School. She enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting, wood working and auto body work.

In addition to her husband and mother, she is survived by a daughter, Jamie Wilson and her fiance, Jeff Eckert, of St. Marys; a son, Richie Wilson of Kersey; three brothers, Ted Krellner of Emporium, Justin Krellner of Coudersport, and Brian Krellner of St. Marys; five sisters, Sandra (Mrs. Frank) Metzler, Evelyn (Mrs. Charles "Bud") Krug, Patricia (Mrs. Carl) Pfeufer, all of St. Marys, Susanne (Mrs. Col. Bill) Astley of Plattsmouth, NE, and Paula (Mrs. Dan) Micale of Kersey; and her sister Paula's children, whom she helped raise, Russ, Mark and Danielle Micale; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Kathleen M. "Kathy" Wilson will be celebrated Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Boniface Catholic Church, with the Rev. John A. Kuzilla, pastor, as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery.Visitation will be at the Lynch-Green Funeral Home tonight from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

LOL funny

It certainly takes all kinds to make the world go 'round. Today, as I was leaving my office for lunch, there was a twenty-something guy with two small boys standing on our lobby stairs. He had a bandana on his head and several tattoos, which I was able to see because he wasn't wearing a shirt. He asked me how I was doing, and told him I was doing fine. I really wanted to know what he was doing there, but I thought I'd mind my own business.

When I got back from lunch (chocolate sundae from DQ), he was gone. Luckily, one of my co-workers filled me in. As in any large, busy manufacturing facility we have contractors in and out of the plant all the time. This particular fellow was here to interview for a job with one of these contractors. WOW! This strikes me as hilarious. Maybe I'll go to my next interview without pants.

What we've been saying all along...

From All Things Considered on NPR:

"Public schools perform favorably with private schools when students' income and socio-economic status are taken into account, according to a new report from the U.S. Education Department. The findings counter a popularly held notion, that private schools outperform public schools.

But the report has generated controversy due to what some call its overly low-key release, on a Friday evening. That spurred critics to charge that the Bush administration, long a supporter of private alternatives to public schools, was playing politics by burying data it doesn't like.
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings calls her critics' charges ridiculous, saying the administration strongly supports public education. But, she says, the administration also believes parents should have choices."

The executive summary of the report is a nice read.

Love, Lust and NASCAR

So, I was probably the only fan reading Lolita at Watkins Glen on Sunday. And, actually, I’m not necessarily a fan of racing, but I am a fan of reading! However, my first NASCAR experience was quite fun…we (Rich, Nicole, Dad, Jeff and me) made the trek to the track on Sunday to watch one of NASCAR’s few road races. The crowd’s excitement was contagious, the smells of barbeque were tempting, and the alcohol-induced carefree spirit of the fans made for a great day. Although I still don’t have a favorite racer and certainly don’t know the ins and outs of the sport, I do have a new appreciation and understanding of why the country is so race crazy.

As I mentioned, I did get to read a bit of Lolita on Sunday, and I’m still quite intrigued. I no longer think I’m reading about your run-of-the-mill pedophile, but I don’t (yet?) quite think it’s a love story. I think that Humbert definitely has lustful feelings towards Lo, but love?? We’ll see.

Hallie on the Boat

I love this picture of Hallie! She's such a beauty. Anyway, I'll have to post some pics of Chance as soon as I can. (He's pretty cute, too.)

Basketball and Lolita

We played the first round of summer league playoffs tonight and won by about 30 points. It was a fun game, but I'm feeling down instead of my usual post-game high. Weird.

Anyway, I'm fifty or sixty pages into "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov for book club. What a strangely intriguing experience. You can't help but wonder what the guy (a pedophile??) is going to say or do next, and your mind is telling you that you don't want to know, but your curiosity is killing you and you really can't wait to find out. One of the short blurbs on the back cover of the book says, "The only convincing love story of the century"...or something along those lines. Maybe I'm not far enough into the story, or maybe I'm just confused, but I'm pretty sure that Humbert Humbert is writing the story from jail...I hope it all comes together for me. I'm glad the book club hasn't seen any of the Lolita-based films. The fresh perspective should make for an interesting discussion.

Blogger Addiction?

Okay, so maybe it's a little early to be addicted, but I find myself thinking of this blog all the time. Thoughts like, "Oh, I should put something about this in my blog," are continually running through my head.

It's just soooo cool. I love the idea of documenting for myself (and the blogging world) the things that are important to me. I've never consistently kept a diary, but this one is just so easy and cool-looking. I suppose I'll eventually tell people about my blog, so that I can enjoy their comments, but for now, I'm just going to keep it to myself.

Smelling the Roses

If there's one thing that I learned from Dad, it's to always stop and smell the roses. This is the sort of thing I don't always remember to do. So, when I'm with Dad, I really have to work to slow down and enjoy whatever it is I'm doing. Last night's trip to the fair was a prime example of Dad showing his family (Rich, Nicole, Jeff and Me) how to 'smell the roses.' Although, at the fair, it's all about smelling the cows, pigs and goats. Along with the smelling, we did some eating, and Dad talked to at least 4 different exhibitioners about their various trades. He also made sure to lure most of the salesmen into trying to selling him something that he knows he'll never buy.

As a family, we're very lucky that we enjoy each other's company, and the only thing robbing us of a perfect night out, was Mom not being here to enjoy it with us.

"Peace Takes Courage, Too"

“Peace Takes Courage, Too.”

I heard an interesting story on NPR today. Somewhere in the middle of all the Terror that is the Middle East, there is someone holding a peace camp for young girls. Jewish Israelis and Arab Pakistanis are brought together under the premise of peace and are supporting each other as members of humanity. It’s nice to know that there are people who can see past the differences of race and religion. These young girls are spending time getting to know each other and probably figuring out that most people have the same basic hopes and dreams. It’s too bad that so many in the world do not see the value in a t-shirt that says, “Peace Takes Courage, Too.” [This tee was worn by one of the girls at the peace camp, and described by the NPR correspondent.] Did I mention that I love NPR?

Brand New Blog

Okay, so why on earth do I need a blog? I guess the answer to that question is much more complicated than even I realize, but I’ll try to explain. Fortunately, I happen to live in a blue state. Unfortunately, I live in a very red section of that state. Here in rural Pennsylvania, the conservatives are conservatives and the liberals are few and far between. Anyway, sometimes being in the minority really, really stinks. So, I often deal by writing for a few minutes to calm my type-A brain. Believe, when you live in a place like this you are continually forced to bite your tongue so as not to lose your job.

So, that’s the first reason – politics – a pretty common reason to have a blog.

Reason number two – I talk about my dogs way too much, which can’t be good for my career. I figure I’ll use my brand new blog to tell all the dog stories I want. Maybe not a completely common reason, but certainly perfectly acceptable in bloggerville.

Third Reason – Doesn’t everybody have a blog these days?