surrounded
Bills paid. House clean. All in time for the USB housing my master to-do list to give itself electroshock therapy today. Sizzled, for sure. It's okay, I'm only slightly neurotic about my list-making. I'm type-a enough to be anally organized, but creative enough to stay even-keeled if nothing ever stays on track. Instead of a crushing blow, it's a nice breather. A chance to reprioritize. Canvas clean.
Tonight my priority is using this roasted red pepper hummus to make a fantastic pita pocket.
I'm switching between classical piano, CSPAN and electronica.
Secs. Gates and Clinton are giving testimony on our situation in the Middle East. Well, was it ever our situation? It certainly is now. Even with a new administration, there are so many blockades to break down before we can even begin to talk about moving troops in and out, the lengths it will take to instigate peace. We have so little control over where our aid funds go; hopefully to rebuild countries, but often to contractors who know they aren't being monitored on the other side of the world.
Clinton is being questioned on how she'll protect the rights of women and girls. President Karzai hasn't kept his word. Again, where does it fall on our priorities? In Iran, a female American journalist has been jailed for drinking wine, threatened with an eight year sentence. She's now on a hunger strike. Girls have acid thrown in their faces on their way to school, as many believe they shouldn't receive an education. Meanwhile, I spent my Saturday getting my sister ready for prom and don't even blink and eye that things could be very different had we grown up anywhere else.
We are lucky and blessed.
Heading up to NYC this week, and while the epidemiologist in me is secretly thrilled, on a cellular level I can't say I'm all that excited at upping my probability of catching the hamthrax. Rumor has it every CVS on the east coast is out of Purell and tamiflu. Am excited, however, to see Franz Ferdinand and Fischerspooner for the first time. Sick folk, please stay away from good music.
Also, for the sake of making him feel awkward, I'll just note that this will be the first time seeing Cassidy since that cuddle embargo business back in February. I'm over all that and just want to have a good time. Lately, again, I just feel terribly independent. Independent, but happy to be surrounded by people.