Oops. I wrote this two hours ago and forgot to press Post.
Well, Bill's gone again. He left early in the morning yesterday. The drive up and back was less disturbing to me this time. In fact, the days prior to his departure weren't as tear-filled as the last time. The fact that he'll be gone for, at most, 12 days, is a big factor, but I'm going to be honest; I'm so attached to Bill that I get a little pouty when he has to leave for a regular work day. I made myself go for a jog, though. Then I spent some time outside, reading in the sun. So, I'm getting my endorphins.
He's in Augusta, now, doing what sounds like the Marine Biologist equivalent of being a cowboy, herding fishes into or out of, toward or away from, through, under, I dunno... areas. I think he's working with a reservoir. Today's his first day at work, so I guess I'll be hearing what it's all about tonight.
Even though Bill taught me the proper uses of "fish" vs. "fishes", I still think the latter always sounds awkward.
When I asked him what the area he's staying in was like, he said "Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Ruby Tuesdays, Dollar Tree, Home Depot.." and went on to list the details that gave me the picture that Augusta, like Cape May Court House, like many other places, is that hefty portion of homogenization we're all being served. I was kind of hoping he was in a more untouched part of Maine, not by civilization, but by those planners who use photocopies of other corporate shopping center towns. Ah well.
It's a shame he left yesterday, because last night I casually made a magnificent dinner. I grilled some tofu and green peppers and made a spicy peanut satay to drizzle over it with peanut butter, milk, ginger, crushed red peppers, honey, ketchup, and a little garlic. It was wonderful. Maybe I'll recreate it in a couple days after my other block of tofu is done freezing and thawing
Over the weekend, Bill and I went out on a proper date. We went to the Beach Theatre, where they were showing Girls Rock! I very much enjoyed it. I hope a lot of people get to see it. It was about a rock & roll camp for girls of all sorts of ages up to 18.
The primary subjects of Girls Rock! are Laura, an articulate adopted Korean obsessed with death metal; Misty, who is emerging from a life of meth-addiction, homelessness and gang activity; Palace, a sweet-seeming 8-year-old with a heavy metal sneer, and Amelia, who's writing a 14-song cycle about her dog Pippi. The film ultimately explores what happens to the girls as they are given a temporary reprieve from being sexualized, analyzed, and pressured to conform.
In the camp, the girls are guided by counselors from all sorts of roots and icons of the Riot Grrrl movement. Carrie form Sleater-Kinney, members of The Gossip, many others. The girls are also surrounded by images of strong female writers and performers. The girls are encouraged to pick their instruments and a style that appeals to them, form a band, and write a song. There aren't any rules, and they encounter, pretty much, the same bullshit with each other that their adult counterparts on the radio do.
But that's not the point of the gathering. Their songs matter, but they really don't. The point is the process. The girls are taught to trust their own creative abilities. They're taught to love themselves and to rely on their abilities to be strong and truly beautiful rather than obedient and polished. It's very individual-centered. In addition to being taught how to scream and how to keep a rhythm, a self-defense course is as much a part of the programme as the band formation.
The filmmakers, in my opinion, did a really good job. They documented the girls' interactions at the camp and relied just as heavily on what I found to be very thoughtful, sensitive interviews with the girls as with their parents and the counselors involved. I would recommend this film to anyone, because I think there are some key points even the most socially conscious people I know would need to see.
Of course, the theater was nearly empty (though there were more patrons than usual - yay tourists), and of course, Bill was the only male in the theater. I get so sick of everyone.
Here's the trailer.
We then had dinner at a restaurant that serves fantastic wasabi-encrusted tuna.
The next night, we watched War Dance. It was great, if you're at all invested in that area of the world. If you're not and you're an asshole, it probably wouldn't be.
I told my African Drumming instructor after I saw it how funny I found it that band competitions, worldwide, all have the same feel.
These kids though, they were pretty amazing.
Here's the trailer of that again, though I know I posted it before. Whatever, the chorus in the last third of the trailer is fucking awesome, and the kid in the suit at 1:54 is goddamn charming.
Gabriella called me this morning. She may be in town tonight. That'll be so cool.
Things to do today:
Call Dr. White about dining together
Work out
Get hair cut
Possibly hang out with Gab
Possibly hang out with Jon
He's in Augusta, now, doing what sounds like the Marine Biologist equivalent of being a cowboy, herding fishes into or out of, toward or away from, through, under, I dunno... areas. I think he's working with a reservoir. Today's his first day at work, so I guess I'll be hearing what it's all about tonight.
Even though Bill taught me the proper uses of "fish" vs. "fishes", I still think the latter always sounds awkward.
When I asked him what the area he's staying in was like, he said "Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Ruby Tuesdays, Dollar Tree, Home Depot.." and went on to list the details that gave me the picture that Augusta, like Cape May Court House, like many other places, is that hefty portion of homogenization we're all being served. I was kind of hoping he was in a more untouched part of Maine, not by civilization, but by those planners who use photocopies of other corporate shopping center towns. Ah well.
It's a shame he left yesterday, because last night I casually made a magnificent dinner. I grilled some tofu and green peppers and made a spicy peanut satay to drizzle over it with peanut butter, milk, ginger, crushed red peppers, honey, ketchup, and a little garlic. It was wonderful. Maybe I'll recreate it in a couple days after my other block of tofu is done freezing and thawing
Over the weekend, Bill and I went out on a proper date. We went to the Beach Theatre, where they were showing Girls Rock! I very much enjoyed it. I hope a lot of people get to see it. It was about a rock & roll camp for girls of all sorts of ages up to 18.
The primary subjects of Girls Rock! are Laura, an articulate adopted Korean obsessed with death metal; Misty, who is emerging from a life of meth-addiction, homelessness and gang activity; Palace, a sweet-seeming 8-year-old with a heavy metal sneer, and Amelia, who's writing a 14-song cycle about her dog Pippi. The film ultimately explores what happens to the girls as they are given a temporary reprieve from being sexualized, analyzed, and pressured to conform.
In the camp, the girls are guided by counselors from all sorts of roots and icons of the Riot Grrrl movement. Carrie form Sleater-Kinney, members of The Gossip, many others. The girls are also surrounded by images of strong female writers and performers. The girls are encouraged to pick their instruments and a style that appeals to them, form a band, and write a song. There aren't any rules, and they encounter, pretty much, the same bullshit with each other that their adult counterparts on the radio do.
But that's not the point of the gathering. Their songs matter, but they really don't. The point is the process. The girls are taught to trust their own creative abilities. They're taught to love themselves and to rely on their abilities to be strong and truly beautiful rather than obedient and polished. It's very individual-centered. In addition to being taught how to scream and how to keep a rhythm, a self-defense course is as much a part of the programme as the band formation.
The filmmakers, in my opinion, did a really good job. They documented the girls' interactions at the camp and relied just as heavily on what I found to be very thoughtful, sensitive interviews with the girls as with their parents and the counselors involved. I would recommend this film to anyone, because I think there are some key points even the most socially conscious people I know would need to see.
Of course, the theater was nearly empty (though there were more patrons than usual - yay tourists), and of course, Bill was the only male in the theater. I get so sick of everyone.
Here's the trailer.
Click to viewWe then had dinner at a restaurant that serves fantastic wasabi-encrusted tuna.
The next night, we watched War Dance. It was great, if you're at all invested in that area of the world. If you're not and you're an asshole, it probably wouldn't be.
I told my African Drumming instructor after I saw it how funny I found it that band competitions, worldwide, all have the same feel.
These kids though, they were pretty amazing.
Here's the trailer of that again, though I know I posted it before. Whatever, the chorus in the last third of the trailer is fucking awesome, and the kid in the suit at 1:54 is goddamn charming.
Gabriella called me this morning. She may be in town tonight. That'll be so cool.
Things to do today:
Call Dr. White about dining together
Work out
Get hair cut
Possibly hang out with Gab
Possibly hang out with Jon