February 1, 2009
The Sky Isn't Visible from Here - Felicia Sullivan
I can imagine, that if you worked on Wall St. or in high tech, in some high profile, well-paid job, and your friends summered in the Hamptons and settled in Connecticut suburbs, and you found yourself losing friends, losing your grip, tormented by demons that you couldn't even name, because to you they seemed like nothing compared to the demons you dealt with growing up, I can imagine that like Felicia Sullivan, the author of The Sky Isn't Visible from Here: Scenes from a Life,
I sat down to read this book one night and couldn't put it down until I finished it at 2 in the morning. No child should have to endure what Felicia grew up with in an environment of neglect, sexual abuse, and drug addiction. We all want our children to be protected, to be surrounded by love and stability. What Felicia survived, was anything but that.
This is a hard book to read, emotionally. Those of us in relatively safe worlds know that people and children exist this way in our own cities, somewhere we know this, in the back of our minds. But most people with lives like this never make it out, and if they do, rarely do they have the skill of writing or gift of narrative to tell such a story to the wider world. That Felicia got herself out, put herself through school, built herself a life, is a testament to her intelligence and will. That she battles with her own pull toward addictive, self-destructive behavior is no surprise, given the broken craziness of her childhood.
I came away from this book sad for all of the children who are growing up this way, who will never get out, sad for Felicia's mother who probably believes she did the best job parenting she could given that her own mother would lock her in a bathroom for days at a time, and in awe of Felicia for the courage it has taken, and still takes, to lead her life.
Links:
FeliciaSullivan.com
Posted by elise on February 1, 2009 to Memoir, Non-fiction | Permalink
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December 29, 2008
Straight No Chaser
Straight No Chaser - 12 Days of Christmas
Best holiday music ever. Straight No Chaser. Just released album, "Holiday Spirits", available on iTunes, Amazon, the usual places. Love the original song about Christmas in Indiana.
Posted by elise on December 29, 2008 to Music | Permalink
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December 25, 2008
More Things in Heaven and Earth
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Hamlet, I:5
William Shakespeare
Posted by elise on December 25, 2008 to Quotes | Permalink
November 8, 2008
Steve Martin and Bela Fleck, Banjo and Bluegrass
Love banjo. Love bluegrass. Love Steve Martin. Love Bela Fleck.
Posted by elise on November 8, 2008 to Music | Permalink
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August 8, 2008
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach
Macabre. Gross. Funny, in a twisted, fascinating way. What does happen to our bodies once we are dead and gone? Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, eventually and in most cases, unless you've donated your body to science and then the process is either sped up, as it is dipped in a tub of lye, or delayed indefinitely through plastination. In Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,
"The human head is of the same approximate size and weight as a roaster chicken. I have never before had occasion to make the comparison, for never before today have I seen a head in a roasting pan. But here are forty of them, one per pan, resting face-up on what looks to be a small pet-food bowl. The heads are for plastic surgeons, two per head, to practice on. I'm observing a facial anatomy and face-lift refresher course, sponsored by a southern university medical center and led by a half-dozen of America's most sought-after-face-lifters. The heads have been put in roasting pans - which are of the disposable aluminum variety - for the same reason that chickens are put in roasting pans: to catch the drippings. Surgery, even surgery upon the dead, is a tidy, orderly affair."
In the chapter entitled "Crimes of Anatomy", Roach takes us back before the time where there was a legal process in place to donate one's body to science. In the early 1800s teachers of anatomy had to resort to other means of acquiring bodies on which to practice. Body snatching from recently dug graves was the more usual method, and there was a vigorous trade in the practice. The problem was that nobody wanted to be dissected. The common view of life after death was of the whole body making its way to heaven. Dissection was something only done to the bodies of executed mass murderers.
Continue reading "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach"
Posted by elise on August 8, 2008 to Humour, Non-fiction, Science | Permalink
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July 21, 2008
Feist Counting to 4 on Sesame Street
Love this song from the Apple ad. Now Feist takes it to Sesame Street. (link)
One, two, three, four monsters walking cross the floor
I love counting, counting to the number four
Are you counting? Counting with me
To one less than five and one more than three
Oh oh oh, counting to four
Oh oh oh, let's count some more
One, two, three, four penguins that were by the door
I love counting, counting to the number four
I see four here, I see four there
Favorite number, nothing can compare
Oh oh oh, counting to four
Oh oh oh, let's count some more
One, two, three, four chickens just back from the shore
I love counting, counting to the number four
Oh oh oh, counting to four
Oh oh oh, let's count some more
One, two, three, four chickens just back from the shore
One, two, three, four penguins that were by the door
One, two, three, four monsters walking cross the floor
Ba ba ba da, ba ba ba ba da da
Ba ba ba da, ba ba ba ba da da
Whoah, counting to four
Oh oh, counting to four
Counting to four, counting to four
Posted by elise on July 21, 2008 to Music | Permalink
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June 20, 2008
Audi marketing, what are you thinking?
I am the proud owner of an Audi A4 2.8 Quattro, 1999 model. I love my car. I love it so much, give me a few minutes and I'll likely convince you to buy an A4 as your next car. When I buy another car, it will likely be another Audi A4. That's why when I read this piece, 2009 Audi A4 makes local debut in the Sacramento Bee, I had to wonder who the heck at Audi is making these types of marketing decisions?
Apparently, Audi had its "North American debut" of its new 2009 A4 in El Dorado Hills last week. Yadayada. Catered by Bistro 33, I like that place, I'm sure the food was great. But what about this part, "Prime Time Boxing provided entertainment, with eight semiprofessional boxing matches announced by professional boxing announcer Michael Buffer"? What? What the heck does boxing have to do with a new car? Especially an A4, which given its compact size is just as much of a girl car as a boy car. They're trying to appeal to women buyers with boxing matches?
Continue reading "Audi marketing, what are you thinking?"
Posted by elise on June 20, 2008 to Social Commentary | Permalink
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Previous 20 entries...
Ants, Scale Infestations, and Tanglefoot Apr 21, 2008The Return of Doctor Who Apr 3, 2008
It's About Time Feb 20, 2008
Henry Ward Beecher - Perseverance and Obstinancy Feb 15, 2008
Laurence Shames - Success and Failure Feb 15, 2008
Interview with Allee Willis of Bubbles and Cheesecake Jan 4, 2008
Hermann Goering - The People Can Always Be Brought to the Bidding of the Leaders Jan 2, 2008
Arianna Huffington - Whittled and Sandpapered Nov 26, 2007
Fernando Flores - We Human Beings Belong to Language Nov 26, 2007
Rumi - If you are irritated by every rub Oct 10, 2007
Woah - Google 411! Oct 3, 2007
Christine Kane Live - Right Outta Nowhere Sep 29, 2007
Imogen Heap - Goodnight and Go Sep 2, 2007
Time Aug 28, 2007
Spider Love Aug 23, 2007
Fun with Photo Booth Aug 11, 2007
Christine Kane at BlogHer Aug 9, 2007
Fail Early And Get It Over With Jun 26, 2007
Imogen Heap - Just for Now (Live Acapella) Jun 23, 2007
Portraits of Women in 500 Years of Western Art Jun 9, 2007
More...
