Monday, January 26, 2009

Twilight

I just finished reading the book "Twilight", which had been passed along for me to read by my mother-in-law.  Though dubious, you can't not read books passed along from your mother-in-law.  It took me about 8 hours to read and only about a half hour to understand why this book is such a success.

Theory number 1.  
Secretly, every woman is in love with love.  Meaning she wants to be the subject of some dude's rock song, to receive handwritten letters or a bouquet of origami lilies, and generally to be swept off her feet in a movie worthy flourish (sorry, Chuck Klosterman...you were right. Stupid John Cusack and his dumb radio).  

I won't lie.  I am no exception to this theory.  I am also attracted to shiny things and impulsively buy boxes of fortune cookies from the endcaps at the grocery store.  Get over it, people.  I'm female. Sheesh.  

Anyway, "Twilight" satisfies theory number one.  The achingly gorgeous male lead, who also happens to be a vampire, is constantly dazzling the female lead, who is the self-described ordinary girl who is hopelessly and endearingly clumsy but is seen as totally hot by all high school boys and can't help but get asked to the prom by every boy.  

Theory number 2.
Everyone gets caught up in the classic story of two people who love each other but can't be together for whatever reason.  In this case, it just happens to be that the achingly gorgeous lead just can't help being what he is and that means they can never be in love because he might accidentally suck all of her blood, thus making her a vampire. Isn't that ultimately a good thing?  Then they can spend eternity together making vampire babies.  If you said 'yes' you'd be wrong. Achingly gorgeous vampire finds blushing to be the one quality that he loves most about self-described ordinary, yet hopelessly and endearingly clumsy human female.  Vampire ladies don't blush.  OMG. How romantic.

Again, "Twilight" delivers.  And again, who doesn't like the Romeo and Juliet-esque tragedy?  

There you have it.  Due to the Harlequin romance novel nature of this book, I apologize that I may be slightly less smart for a few days. Sorry.  Also, see Tyler for those lilies.      

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Blergh

As part of getting my hygiene degree we had to take a class on recognizing child abuse because we are mandated to report it if we see or suspect it.  The images we saw in that class were so awful and made me so angry.  I never expected to have to make such a report until I had to do it today-for a 4 year old patient.  There aren't words to express the anger and sense of injustice I feel.  

That said, I can only pray that this child would be removed from this situation.  I hope you will too.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Crooked

Water flows across the breast in frantic lines,
like a hungry snake whose meal escaped its fate.
I am the hunted vermin who found solace in the crooked vines,
and your crooked smile brings a peace when the hour is late.

The blackened sod beneath me writhes and yearns,
like a half-born child whose lungs have yet to taste the air.
I am the suffocated who found breath in a steady breeze,
and your steady hand brings warmth to a soul stripped bare.

(c) Mel Muscarella 01/09    (so don't steal my stuff, k?)


*No chorus and I haven't yet rhymed either "yearns" or "breeze" though I'm leaning on keeping "breeze".

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Really?

Four friends of mine, Scott and Tracey Austin(whose links are to your right) and Brian and Bec Haak ran a marathon a little over a year ago.  I thought they were crazy, because really-who wants to run some 26 miles in a row?  But I thought that it was pretty cool to set up a goal like that and then accomplish it. I was so impressed by their accomplishment and even thought I'd give some thought to a half marathon if they decided to ever do something like that again.

It looks like they've decided to do something like that again...only this time it's a triathlon instead.  So I think I'm going to seriously look into doing a triathlon. I've been looking for some motivation to get back into shape and I think this would be sufficient motivation.  

I'm going to do a little research to see what such an endeavor would physically, monitarily and emotionally entail, but in the meantime I'm going to start working to get myself to a place where I'm physically capable of beginning the training.

I'm interested to see where this goes.  I'm not always reliable when it comes to long distance type things, in that I don't always finish what I start.  I've got a dumb puzzle in my basement that's been 3/4 done for over a year now...I'd really like to impress myself by setting a sizeable goal and then meeting it.

Wish me luck!