old-fashioned finances

After 3 1/2 years I have finally managed to exhaust my check supply. It's amazing how little we depend on checks these days. Anyway, I reorded from the Check Gallery (an environmentally friendly check company, which I recommend). It is awfully strange to see the right address on my checks!

Brokeback mtn

I think I am the only person I know who has seen Brokeback Mountain and has not thought it is a wonderful movie. Perhaps this is b/c I am from Wyoming and am upset that all the movies made about the state and books written about the state are about cowboys. Really, folks, very few Wyomites actually dorn a 10 gallon hat. I mean Ashlee from NJ has a better selection of cowboy boots than I do. And then there's the whole portrayal of Wyoming folk as close-minded Matthew Shepard hating people (even if the movie took place 3 decades ago, the point is still there). Yes, there is definitely that faction present in my lovely home state. However, there are also people who feel just the opposite and I personally feel the more people are confronted w/these issues (i.e. gay people in Wyoming live openly) the better things will be.

And then there's just the fact that it was a very sad love story. Their relationship was so violent and aggressive. It made me think if I was a gay male if I would embrace this movie. I don't know if I would.

And-- to boot, the film is deceptive as it was not filmed in Wyoming, but in Alberta. So, even though it talks about the Bighorns (my home range) you don't see them.

hmmmm.... perhaps some of my discontent comes w/my home state's portrayal by someone, Annie Proulx who moved to Wyo later in life. She actually lives outside Sheridan. I often meet people who are "fascinated" or "moved" by Wyoming and I think it's very difficult for people to fully understand it-what it means for someone to be born and raised there.

ok...enough rants for today!

la-la land

going up to LA (like I did this morning) always confronts me w/the best and worst of humanity. There is the worst -- including the traffic, pollution, homelessness, gentrification, and overall poverty suckiness -- and then there is the best -- beautiful city parks, lovely skylines, great culture, wonderful ethnic food, and terrific lawyers and activists working to combat the overall poverty suckiness. LA is such a city of extremes w/rare middle ground. Fascinating place that always gets my head spinning.

mlk day

so this time of year always reminds me of my young radical self (ha!) in high school - we never got MLK day off from school so a few of my friends and I would get together and ditch afternoon classes and read King's a letter from birmingham jail in the school hallway. good times.

resolutions

So I am one of those people that makes New Year's Resolutions. Generally, like most people, I break them. Some however, I have managed to keep. I think it is all about picking resolutions you know you can meet and in fact want to meet. None of this running 3 times a week stuff. Nothing to do w/eating healthier or losing weight. So, w/o further ado - here's this year's list:

1. Grow hair long. I need a change-up and my last hair cut sucked so it's a natural reaction.
2. Thank Kuan Yin often. She stays on an alter on a bookshelf being compassionate - and I'm very thankful for that.
3. Read more nonfiction - including finishing The World is Flat which my brother gave me for graduation back in May.
4. Make strides towards deciding upon geographic settling point.
5. Research adoption procedures.
6. Work on my Espanol skills.
7. Get a stamp in my passport. It's been way too long.

I think I'll end w/lucky #7.