Oh yay--I'd wondered how you were doing. I'm so glad you're reaching the end of the spiral. Not glad about the knee, of course. The knee is definitely of the bad. But they always say exercise is Good for These Things. I never manage to follow through with that myself, but I suspect it's one of those things we're supposed to say in the hopes that if we say it enough, either the other person will do it or we will, so it'd be a win either way.
Farscape: of the most seriously awesome. I'd be interested in your opinion on a few thoughts re: Crichton at some point, but now's the time to just mainline & wallow in the eye- & mind-candy. *God* it's good stuff, isn't it?
(I have to say that I can't help thinking that both the sentiment and the phrasing of My God, I want to find whoever wrote that speech and fuck him through a mattress. Jesus, that was beautiful. strongly suggest to me that you're on your way to feeling better...)
>I suspect it's one of those things we're supposed to say in the hopes that if we say it enough, either the other person will do it or we will, so it'd be a win either way.
You are most wise. Actually, it is true- the knee never goes unless I go three months without exercising. It's like a time bomb- three months of utter laziness, one evening of writhing around around in pain, and then, sure enough, I exercise twice a week for... well, a couple months at least. Until the memory of pain fades. Fairly effective, really.
>I have to say that I can't help thinking that both the sentiment and the phrasing... strongly suggest to me that you're on your way to feeling better
I thought it strongly suggested that I am a slut for oratory? Which I am. But come on! Don't tell me you don't feel exactly the same way?
Oh no, I am indeed, absolutely. I worry that I have a very slight preference for his election night speech, and that I'm therefore unfit for civilized company given everyone else's raptures about the inaugural speech, but still: slut for oratory all the way.
My original thought was that your enthusiasm and your proposed expression of it were good signs of an improving mood. Well, no. Let's be fair: it's the fact that it was riotously funny that I took to be a good sign.
Well, it's not like I turned my nose up at the election night speech, at all! Frankly, if they were written by different people, I'd take EITHER guy. (Or both. Together or separately. (And if it was written by a woman? Well, her too, probably, if she's got slim hips and a smart vibe. (Yes, I know I could just look up Obama's speechwriting staff, but who lets research interfere with a conversation like this? (Dammit, now I have to count how many parenthesis to close
( ... )
I confess I had trouble getting past the reference to people with disabilities and gays and lesbians in the first few sentences of his election speech, since I was too stunned and thrilled to get a great deal further. I mean, yes, there was more phenomenal stuff in it, but I keep coming back to that. Sort of like the atheism point: utterly clear, utterly unequivocal, and absolutely fucking astonishing. I keep being surprised that he is apparently proud to be my president, and yes, let's not examine the rampant internalized -isms involved in that, but my god--his simple sentences pack as much punch as his longer ones, and that is a hell of a talent, both of intellect and of oratory.
I appear to be having a similar reaction to yours, now I think of it. Doesn't it feel good? Intelligence is always simultaneously soothing and exhilarating, and god knows we need both these days. So no, I wouldn't dream of calling you strange. I would however ask you to pass along the name and number of the speechwriter.
>I had trouble getting past the reference to people with disabilities and gays and lesbians in the first few sentences of his election speech
So we are coming from somewhat the same place, then. Because that was the first positive reference to atheism in ANY major presidential speech EVER, that I can find. Verifiably the first in any inaugural speech. And atheism is far more central to my identity than bisexuality, and we have less of a political movement. But, YES- after a president whose father said I should be considered neither a citizen nor a patriot, and who seemed pretty convinced of that himself? This man, his own beliefs aside, is as proud to have ME as one of his citizens as I am to have him as my president.
Gah. Identity politics. *vague handwave* Yes. You are right about how stunning that was in his election night speech, no question.
I've been trying to put my finger on this nebulous sense I've had ever since the election, something more than an intellectual reaction to the speech and something different from the happiness, something akin to the feeling I have in a safe space, in the anti-oppression sense of that phrase.
You've nailed it here: we're citizens. We're finally full citizens, and we belong here. That's why I didn't recognize it - I've never felt it before.
Farscape: of the most seriously awesome. I'd be interested in your opinion on a few thoughts re: Crichton at some point, but now's the time to just mainline & wallow in the eye- & mind-candy. *God* it's good stuff, isn't it?
(I have to say that I can't help thinking that both the sentiment and the phrasing of My God, I want to find whoever wrote that speech and fuck him through a mattress. Jesus, that was beautiful. strongly suggest to me that you're on your way to feeling better...)
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You are most wise. Actually, it is true- the knee never goes unless I go three months without exercising. It's like a time bomb- three months of utter laziness, one evening of writhing around around in pain, and then, sure enough, I exercise twice a week for... well, a couple months at least. Until the memory of pain fades. Fairly effective, really.
>I have to say that I can't help thinking that both the sentiment and the phrasing... strongly suggest to me that you're on your way to feeling better
I thought it strongly suggested that I am a slut for oratory? Which I am. But come on! Don't tell me you don't feel exactly the same way?
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My original thought was that your enthusiasm and your proposed expression of it were good signs of an improving mood. Well, no. Let's be fair: it's the fact that it was riotously funny that I took to be a good sign.
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I appear to be having a similar reaction to yours, now I think of it. Doesn't it feel good? Intelligence is always simultaneously soothing and exhilarating, and god knows we need both these days. So no, I wouldn't dream of calling you strange. I would however ask you to pass along the name and number of the speechwriter.
Reply
So we are coming from somewhat the same place, then. Because that was the first positive reference to atheism in ANY major presidential speech EVER, that I can find. Verifiably the first in any inaugural speech. And atheism is far more central to my identity than bisexuality, and we have less of a political movement. But, YES- after a president whose father said I should be considered neither a citizen nor a patriot, and who seemed pretty convinced of that himself? This man, his own beliefs aside, is as proud to have ME as one of his citizens as I am to have him as my president.
Gah. Identity politics. *vague handwave* Yes. You are right about how stunning that was in his election night speech, no question.
Reply
You've nailed it here: we're citizens. We're finally full citizens, and we belong here. That's why I didn't recognize it - I've never felt it before.
Reply
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